## The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 2008 CIA World Factbook

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Title: The 2008 CIA World Factbook

Author: United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Release date: June 25, 2009 [eBook #29233]
Most recently updated: October 3, 2025

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Al Haines

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 2008 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK ***

###### THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK 2008

# CONTENTS

Countries and Locations

Field Listings

Rank Orders

Appendixes

Notes and Definitions

History of the World Factbook

Contributors and Copyright Information

Purchasing Information

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What's New

- Country information has been updated as of 18 December 2008.

- In the People category, two new fields provide information on education in terms of opportunity and resources. "School Life Expectancy" is an estimate of the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment ratio at that age. "Education expenditures" provides an estimate of the public expenditure on education as a percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

- In order to help policymakers understand the nature and global dimensions of the current financial crisis, The World Factbook has added five new fields to the Economy category. "Central bank discount rate" provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds. "Commercial bank prime lending rate" provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit-worthy customers. "Stock of money" also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency, held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. "Stock of quasi money" comprises the total quantity of time and savings deposits denominated in the national currency, held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. When added together with "M1" the total money supply is known as "M2." "Stock of domestic credit" is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by banks to nonbanking institutions.

- In the Geography category, two new fields focus on the increasingly vital resource of water: "Total renewable water resources" and "Freshwater withdrawal."

- Revision of some individual country maps, first introduced in the 2001 edition, is continued in this edition. Several regional maps have also been updated to reflect boundary changes and place name spelling changes.

======================================================================

The World Factbook (2008) - Country Listing

[Transcriber's note: To search on a country in this file, prefix the country's name with "@", e.g. "@Afghanistan". "Afghanistan" will find all occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]

World

#### A

Afghanistan
Akrotiri
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Arctic Ocean
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Atlantic Ocean
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan

#### B

Bahamas, The
Bahrain
Baker Island description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burma
Burundi

#### C

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the
Cook Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic

#### D

Denmark
Dhekelia
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

#### E

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
European Union entry follows Taiwan

#### F

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

#### G

Gabon
Gambia, The
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana

#### H

Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Hungary

#### I

Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy

#### J

Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Jersey
Johnston Atoll description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Jordan

#### K

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

#### L

Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

#### M

Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique

#### N

Namibia
Nauru
Navassa Island
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway

#### O

Oman

#### P

Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
Palau
Palmyra Atoll description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

#### Q

Qatar

#### R

Romania
Russia
Rwanda

#### S

Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Southern Ocean
Spain
Spratly Islands
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria

#### T

Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu

#### U

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

#### V

Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands

#### W

Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara

#### Y

Yemen

#### Z

Zambia
Zimbabwe

Taiwan
European Union

=====================================================================

Code Field Description

2001 GDP (purchasing power parity) 2002 Population growth rate (%) 2003 GDP - real growth rate (%) 2004 GDP - per capita (PPP) 2006 Dependency status 2007 Diplomatic representation from the US 2008 Transportation - note 2010 Age structure (%) 2011 Geographic coordinates 2012 GDP - composition by sector (%) 2013 Radio broadcast stations 2015 Television broadcast stations 2018 Sex ratio (male(s)/female) 2019 Heliports 2020 Elevation extremes (m) 2021 Natural hazards 2022 People - note 2023 Area - comparative 2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age) 2025 Manpower fit for military service 2026 Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually 2028 Background 2030 Airports - with paved runways 2031 Airports - with unpaved runways 2032 Environment - current issues 2033 Environment - international agreements 2034 Military expenditures (% of GDP) 2038 Electricity - production (kWh) 2042 Electricity - consumption (kWh) 2043 Electricity - imports (kWh) 2044 Electricity - exports (kWh) 2046 Population below poverty line (%) 2047 Household income or consumption by percentage share (%) 2048 Labor force - by occupation (%) 2049 Exports - commodities (%) 2050 Exports - partners (%) 2051 Administrative divisions 2052 Agriculture - products 2053 Airports 2054 Birth rate (births/1,000 population) 2055 Military branches 2056 Budget 2057 Capital 2058 Imports - commodities (%) 2059 Climate 2060 Coastline (km) 2061 Imports - partners (%) 2062 Economic aid - donor 2063 Constitution 2064 Economic aid - recipient 2065 Currency (code) 2066 Death rate (deaths/1,000 population) 2068 Dependent areas 2070 Disputes - international 2075 Ethnic groups (%) 2076 Exchange rates 2077 Executive branch 2078 Exports 2079 Debt - external 2080 Fiscal year 2081 Flag description 2085 Roadways (km) 2086 Illicit drugs 2087 Imports 2088 Independence 2089 Industrial production growth rate (%) 2090 Industries 2091 Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births) 2092 Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%) 2093 Waterways (km) 2094 Judicial branch 2095 Labor force 2096 Land boundaries (km) 2097 Land use (%) 2098 Languages (%) 2100 Legal system 2101 Legislative branch 2102 Life expectancy at birth (years) 2103 Literacy (%) 2105 Manpower available for military service 2106 Maritime claims 2107 International organization participation 2108 Merchant marine 2109 National holiday 2110 Nationality 2111 Natural resources 2112 Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population) 2113 Geography - note 2115 Political pressure groups and leaders 2116 Economy - overview 2117 Pipelines (km) 2118 Political parties and leaders 2119 Population 2120 Ports and terminals 2121 Railways (km) 2122 Religions (%) 2123 Suffrage 2124 Telephone system 2125 Terrain 2127 Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 2128 Government type 2129 Unemployment rate (%) 2137 Military - note 2138 Communications - note 2140 Government - note 2142 Country name 2144 Location 2145 Map references 2146 Irrigated land (sq km) 2147 Area (sq km) 2149 Diplomatic representation in the US 2150 Telephones - main lines in use 2151 Telephones - mobile cellular 2153 Internet users 2154 Internet country code 2155 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) 2156 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 2157 HIV/AIDS - deaths 2172 Distribution of family income - Gini index 2173 Oil - production (bbl/day) 2174 Oil - consumption (bbl/day) 2175 Oil - imports (bbl/day) 2176 Oil - exports (bbl/day) 2177 Median age (years) 2178 Oil - proved reserves (bbl) 2179 Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m) 2180 Natural gas - production (cu m) 2181 Natural gas - consumption (cu m) 2182 Natural gas - imports (cu m) 2183 Natural gas - exports (cu m) 2184 Internet hosts 2185 Investment (gross fixed) (% of GDP) 2186 Public debt (% of GDP) 2187 Current account balance 2188 Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2193 Major infectious diseases 2194 Refugees and internally displaced persons 2195 GDP (official exchange rate) 2196 Trafficking in persons 2198 Stock of direct foreign investment - at home 2199 Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad 2200 Market value of publicly traded shares 2201 Total renewable water resources (cu km) 2202 Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) () 2203 Geographic overview 2204 Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots 2205 School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years) 2206 Education expenditures (% of GDP) 2207 Central bank discount rate (%) 2208 Commercial bank prime lending rate (%) 2209 Stock of money 2210 Stock of quasi money 2211 Stock of domestic credit

======================================================================

Rank Orders

[Transcriber's note: To search on a rank order in this file, prefix the rank's name with "@", e.g. "@Population". "Population" will find all occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]

Rank Order pages are presorted lists of data from selected Factbook data fields. Rank Order pages are generally given in descending order - highest to lowest - such as Population and Area. The two exceptions are Unemployment Rate and Inflation Rate, which are in ascending - lowest to highest - order. Rank Order pages are available for the following 55 fields in six of the nine Factbook categories.

Geography

Area - total

People

Population
Population growth rate
Birth rate
Death rate
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy at birth - total
Total fertility rate
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS - deaths

Economy

GDP (purchasing power parity)
GDP - real growth rate
GDP - per capita
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of money
Stock of quasi money
Stock of domestic credit
Investment (gross fixed)
Public debt
Industrial production growth rate
Electricity - production
Electricity - consumption
Oil - production
Oil - consumption
Oil - exports
Oil - imports
Oil - proved reserves
Natural Gas - production
Natural Gas - consumption
Natural Gas - exports
Natural Gas - imports
Natural Gas - proved reserves
Current account balance
Exports
Imports
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt - external
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
Market value of publicly traded shares

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use
Telephones - mobile cellular
Internet hosts
Internet users

Transportation

Airports
Railways - total
Roadways - total
Waterways
Merchant marine - total

Military

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

Factbook fields with Rank Order pages are easily identified with a small bar chart icon to the right of the data field title.

Not all Rank Order pages include the same number of entries because information for a particular field is not available for all countries. In addition, not all data fields are suitable for displaying as Rank Order pages, such as those containing textual information. Textual information is more readily viewed by clicking on the Field Listing icon next to the Data field title. The other icon next to the data field title provides the definition of the field.

All of the 'Rank Order' pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data files and can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and databases. To save a Rank Order page in a spreadsheet, first click on the 'Download Datafile' choice above the Rank Order page you selected; then, at the top of your browser window, click on 'File' and 'Save As'. After saving the file, open the spreadsheet, find the saved file, and 'Open' it.

Additional Rank Order pages being considered for future updates of the
Factbook Web site include:

Median age
Literacy
Population below the poverty line

This page was last updated on 20 November, 2008

=====================================================================

Appendixes

Appendix A - Abbreviations

Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups

Appendix C - Selected International Environmental Agreements

Appendix D - Cross-Reference list of Country Data Codes

Appendix E - Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

Appendix F - Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Appendix G - Weights and Measures

======================================================================

Notes and Definitions

In addition to the regular information updates, The World Factbook 2008 features several new additions. In the Geography category, two new fields focus on the increasingly vital resource of water: "Total renewable water resources" and "Freshwater withdrawal."

In the Economy category, the Factbook has added three fields: "Stock of direct foreign investment - at home", "Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad", and "Market value of publicly traded shares." Additionally, the data for GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) has been rebased using new PPP conversion rates, benchmarked to the year 2005, which were released on 17 December 2007 by the International Comparison Program (ICP). The 2005 PPP data replace previous estimates, many from studies dating to 1993 or earlier. The preliminary ICP report provides estimates of internationally comparable price levels and the relative purchasing power of currencies for 146 countries. The 2005 benchmark revises downward the size of the world economy in PPP terms from the previous estimates, and changes the relative sizes of many of the world's economies.

Concise descriptions of the major religions mentioned in the Factbook have been added to the Notes and Definitions. France 's redesignation of some of its overseas possessions caused the five former Indian Ocean island possessions making up Iles Eparses to be incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, while two new Caribbean entities, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin, were created.

Revision of some individual country maps, first introduced in the 2001 edition, is continued in this edition. The revised maps include elevation extremes and a partial geographic grid. Several regional maps have also been updated to reflect boundary changes and place name spelling changes.

Abbreviations: This information is included in Appendix A: Abbreviations, which includes all abbreviations and acronyms used in the Factbook, with their expansions.

Acronyms: An acronym is an abbreviation coined from the initial letter of each successive word in a term or phrase. In general, an acronym made up solely from the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered in all capital letters (NATO from North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an exception would be ASEAN for Association of Southeast Asian Nations). In general, an acronym made up of more than the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered with only an initial capital letter (Comsat from Communications Satellite Corporation; an exception would be NAM from Nonaligned Movement). Hybrid forms are sometimes used to distinguish between initially identical terms (ICC for International Chamber of Commerce and ICCt for International Criminal Court).

Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted.

Age structure: This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Agriculture - products: This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.

Airports: This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) but may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Airports - with paved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Airports - with unpaved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Appendixes: This section includes Factbook-related material by topic.

Area: This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.

Area - comparative: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).

Background: This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.

Birth rate: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.

Budget: This entry includes revenues, expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Capital: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.

Central bank discount rate: This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds.

Climate: This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.

Coastline: This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.

Commercial bank prime lending rate: This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit- worthy customers.

Communications: This category deals with the means of exchanging information and includes the telephone, radio, television, and Internet host entries.

Communications - note: This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere.

Constitution: This entry includes the dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): UTC is the international atomic time scale that serves as the basis of timekeeping for most of the world. The hours, minutes, and seconds expressed by UTC represent the time of day at the Prime Meridian (0 deg. longitude) located near Greenwich, England as reckoned from midnight. UTC is calculated by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures (BIPM) in Sevres, France. The BIPM averages data collected from more than 200 atomic time and frequency standards located at about 50 laboratories worldwide. UTC is the basis for all civil time with the Earth divided into time zones expressed as positive or negative differences from UTC. UTC is also referred to as "Zulu time." See the Standard Time Zones of the World map included with the Reference Maps.

Country data codes: see Data codes.

Country map: Most versions of the Factbook provide a country map in color. The maps were produced from the best information available at the time of preparation. Names and/or boundaries may have changed subsequently.

Country name: This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.

Crude oil: See entry for oil.

Current account balance: This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Data codes: This information is presented in Appendix D: Cross-
Reference List of Country Data Codes and Appendix E: Cross-Reference
List of Hydrographic Data Codes.

Date of information: In general, information available as of 1 January 2007 was used in the preparation of this edition.

Daylight Saving Time (DST): This entry is included for those entities that have adopted a policy of adjusting the official local time forward, usually one hour, from Standard Time during summer months. Such policies are most common in mid-latitude regions.

Death rate: This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.

Debt - external: This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Dependency status: This entry describes the formal relationship between a particular nonindependent entity and an independent state.

Dependent areas: This entry contains an alphabetical listing of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a particular independent state.

Diplomatic representation: The US Government has diplomatic relations with 189 independent states, including 187 of the 192 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the US itself). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 2 independent states that are not in the UN, the Holy See and Kosovo, as well as with the EU.

Diplomatic representation from the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.

Diplomatic representation in the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.

Disputes - international: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.

Distribution of family income - Gini index: This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100.

Economy: This category includes the entries dealing with the size, development, and management of productive resources, i.e., land, labor, and capital.

Economy - overview: This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.

Education expenditures: This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP

Electricity - consumption: This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.

Electricity - exports: This entry is the total exported electricity in kilowatt-hours.

Electricity - imports: This entry is the total imported electricity in kilowatt-hours.

Electricity - production: This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.

Elevation extremes: This entry includes both the highest point and the lowest point.

Entities: Some of the independent states, dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US Government. "Independent state" refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependencies" and "areas of special sovereignty" refer to a broad category of political entities that are associated in some way with an independent state. "Country" names used in the table of contents or for page headings are usually the short-form names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names and may include independent states, dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty, or other geographic entities. There are a total of 266 separate geographic entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:

##### INDEPENDENT STATES

194 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy
See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

##### OTHER

2 Taiwan, European Union

##### DEPENDENCIES AND AREAS OF SPECIAL SOVEREIGNTY

6 Australia - Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

2 China - Hong Kong, Macau

2 Denmark - Faroe Islands, Greenland

9 France - Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna

2 Netherlands - Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

3 New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

3 Norway - Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

17 UK - Akrotiri, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dhekelia, Falkland Islands,
Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands,
Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and
Caicos Islands

14 US - American Samoa, Baker Island*, Guam, Howland Island*, Jarvis
Island*, Johnston Atoll*, Kingman Reef*, Midway Islands*, Navassa
Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll*, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands, Wake Island (* consolidated in United States Pacific Island
Wildlife Refuges entry)

##### MISCELLANEOUS

6 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank, Western Sahara

##### OTHER ENTITIES

5 oceans - Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean

1 World

266 total

Environment - current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:

Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).

Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.

Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.

Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.

Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.

Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.

Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.

Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.

Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.

Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.

Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.

Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth.

Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi- arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.

Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.

Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean."

Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.

Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.

Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.

Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.

Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs.

Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders economic resources.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 145,000 Inuits of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.

Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed.

Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.

Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.

Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.

Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species.

Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.

Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.

Salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.

Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.

Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment.

Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.

Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.

Waterborne diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.

Environment - international agreements: This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.

Environmental agreements: This information is presented in Appendix C: Selected International Environmental Agreements, which includes the name, abbreviation, date opened for signature, date entered into force, objective, and parties by category.

Ethnic groups: This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.

Exchange rates: This entry provides the official value of a country's monetary unit at a given date or over a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US dollar and as determined by international market forces or official fiat. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis.

Executive branch: This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. Elections include the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election.

Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Exports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest- valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Exports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Flag description: This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.

Flag graphic: Most versions of the Factbook include a color flag at the beginning of the country profile. The flag graphics were produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time of preparation. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic kilometers removed from available sources for use in any purpose. Water drawn-off is not necessarily entirely consumed and some portion may be returned for further use downstream. Domestic sector use refers to water supplied by public distribution systems. Note that some of this total may be used for small industrial and/or limited agricultural purposes. Industrial sector use is the quantity of water used by self-supplied industries not connected to a public distribution system. Agricultural sector use includes water used for irrigation and livestock watering, and does not account for agriculture directly dependent on rainfall. Included are figures for total annual water withdrawal and per capita water withdrawal.

GDP (official exchange rate): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at official exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis-à-vis its neighbors, judging that an exchange rate captures the purchasing power a nation enjoys in the international marketplace. Official exchange rates, however, can be artificially fixed and/or subject to manipulation - resulting in claims of the country having an under- or over-valued currency - and are not necessarily the equivalent of a market-determined exchange rate. Moreover, even if the official exchange rate is market-determined, market exchange rates are frequently established by a relatively small set of goods and services (the ones the country trades) and may not capture the value of the larger set of goods the country produces. Furthermore, OER-converted GDP is not well suited to comparing domestic GDP over time, since appreciation/depreciation from one year to the next will make the OER GDP value rise/fall regardless of whether home- currency-denominated GDP changed.

GDP (purchasing power parity): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per- capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The difference between the OER- and PPP- denominated GDP values for most of the wealthy industrialized countries are generally much smaller.

GDP - composition by sector: This entry gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.

GDP - per capita (PPP): This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.

GDP - real growth rate: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent.

GDP methodology: In the Economy category, GDP dollar estimates for countries are reported both on an official exchange rate (OER) and a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. Both measures contain information that is useful to the reader. The PPP method involves the use of standardized international dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of final goods and services produced in a given economy. The data derived from the PPP method probably provide the best available starting point for comparisons of economic strength and well- being between countries. In contrast, the currency exchange rate method involves a variety of international and domestic financial forces that may not capture the value of domestic output. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries are often rough approximations. In developing countries with weak currencies, the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Most of the GDP estimates for developing countries are based on extrapolation of PPP numbers published by the UN International Comparison Program (UNICP) and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. GDP derived using the OER method should be used for the purpose of calculating the share of items such as exports, imports, military expenditures, external debt, or the current account balance, because the dollar values presented in the Factbook for these items have been converted at official exchange rates, not at PPP. One should use the OER GDP figure to calculate the proportion of, say, Chinese defense expenditures in GDP, because that share will be the same as one calculated in local currency units. Comparison of OER GDP with PPP GDP may also indicate whether a currency is over- or under-valued. If OER GDP is smaller than PPP GDP, the official exchange rate may be undervalued, and vice versa. However, there is no strong historical evidence that market exchange rates move in the direction implied by the PPP rate, at least not in the short- or medium-term. Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data should not be chained together from successive volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar measuring rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or different sources of information, and changes in national statistical methods and practices.

GNP: Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned by its citizens abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production. The Factbook, following current practice, uses GDP rather than GNP to measure national production. However, the user must realize that in certain countries net remittances from citizens working abroad may be important to national well-being.

GWP: This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or aggregate value of all final goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.

Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.

Geographic names: This information is presented in Appendix F: Cross- Reference List of Geographic Names. It includes a listing of various alternate names, former names, local names, and regional names referenced to one or more related Factbook entries. Spellings are normally, but not always, those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names and additional information are included in parentheses.

Geography: This category includes the entries dealing with the natural environment and the effects of human activity.

Geography - note: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.

Gini index: See entry for Distribution of family income - Gini index

Government: This category includes the entries dealing with the system for the adoption and administration of public policy.

Government - note: This entry includes miscellaneous government information of significance not included elsewhere.

Government type: This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.):

Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition.

Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority.

Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.

Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.

Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).

Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.

Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.

Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.

Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.

Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.

Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.

Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).

Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.

Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.

Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.

Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.

Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.

Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.

Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - Communism.

Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.

Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.

Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.

Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.

Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.

Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).

Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).

Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.

Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.

Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.

Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.

Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): The mean solar time at the Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich, England, with the hours and days, since 1925, reckoned from midnight. GMT is now a historical term having been replaced by UTC on 1 January 1972. See Coordinated Universal Time.

Gross domestic product: see GDP

Gross national product: see GNP

Gross world product: see GWP

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.

HIV/AIDS - deaths: This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.

Heliports: This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard- surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.

Hydrographic data codes: see Data codes

Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).

Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.

Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.

Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).

Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.

Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.

Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self- awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).

Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).

Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.

Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.

Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).

Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in
Southwest Asia and Africa.

Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).

Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.

Poppy straw is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use.

Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.

Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.

Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and
activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines
(Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor,
Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others
(Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).

Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Imports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest- valued imported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Imports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.

Industrial production growth rate: This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).

Industries: This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.

Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.

Inflation rate (consumer prices): This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.

International disputes: see Disputes - international

International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.

International organizations: This information is presented in Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, date established, aim, and members by category.

Internet country code: This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).

Internet hosts: This entry lists the number of Internet hosts available within a country. An Internet host is a computer connected directly to the Internet; normally an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) computer is a host. Internet users may use either a hard-wired terminal, at an institution with a mainframe computer connected directly to the Internet, or may connect remotely by way of a modem via telephone line, cable, or satellite to the Internet Service Provider's host computer. The number of hosts is one indicator of the extent of Internet connectivity.

Internet users: This entry gives the number of users within a country that access the Internet. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who access it only once within a period of several months.

Introduction: This category includes one entry, Background.

Investment (gross fixed): This entry records total business spending on fixed assets, such as factories, machinery, equipment, dwellings, and inventories of raw materials, which provide the basis for future production. It is measured gross of the depreciation of the assets, i.e., it includes investment that merely replaces worn-out or scrapped capital.

Irrigated land: This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.

Judicial branch: This entry contains the name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.

Labor force: This entry contains the total labor force figure.

Labor force - by occupation: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.

Land boundaries: This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by contiguous countries may differ.

Land use: This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest; permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest; includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber; other - any land not arable or under permanent crops; includes permanent meadows and pastures, forests and woodlands, built-on areas, roads, barren land, etc.

Languages: This entry provides a rank ordering of languages starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent of total population speaking that language.

Legal system: This entry contains a brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.

Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.

Life expectancy at birth: This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. The entry includes total population as well as the male and female components. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.

Literacy: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology- driven world.

Location: This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.

Major infectious diseases: This entry lists major infectious diseases likely to be encountered in countries where the risk of such diseases is assessed to be very high as compared to the United States. These infectious diseases represent risks to US government personnel traveling to the specified country for a period of less than three years. The degree of risk is assessed by considering the foreign nature of these infectious diseases, their severity, and the probability of being affected by the diseases present. The diseases listed do not necessarily represent the total disease burden experienced by the local population.

The risk to an individual traveler varies considerably by the specific location, visit duration, type of activities, type of accommodations, time of year, and other factors. Consultation with a travel medicine physician is needed to evaluate individual risk and recommend appropriate preventive measures such as vaccines.

Diseases are organized into the following six exposure categories shown in italics and listed in typical descending order of risk. Note: The sequence of exposure categories listed in individual country entries may vary according to local conditions.

food or waterborne diseases acquired through eating or drinking on the local economy:

Hepatitis A - viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; spread through consumption of food or water contaminated with fecal matter, principally in areas of poor sanitation; victims exhibit fever, jaundice, and diarrhea; 15% of victims will experience prolonged symptoms over 6-9 months; vaccine available.

Hepatitis E - water-borne viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; most commonly spread through fecal contamination of drinking water; victims exhibit jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and dark colored urine.

Typhoid fever - bacterial disease spread through contact with food or water contaminated by fecal matter or sewage; victims exhibit sustained high fevers; left untreated, mortality rates can reach 20%.

vectorborne diseases acquired through the bite of an infected arthropod:

Malaria - caused by single-cell parasitic protozoa Plasmodium; transmitted to humans via the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito; parasites multiply in the liver attacking red blood cells resulting in cycles of fever, chills, and sweats accompanied by anemia; death due to damage to vital organs and interruption of blood supply to the brain; endemic in 100, mostly tropical, countries with 90% of cases and the majority of 1.5-2.5 million estimated annual deaths occurring in sub- Saharan Africa.

Dengue fever - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated with urban environments; manifests as sudden onset of fever and severe headache; occasionally produces shock and hemorrhage leading to death in 5% of cases.

Yellow fever - mosquito-borne viral disease; severity ranges from influenza-like symptoms to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever; occurs only in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa, where most cases are reported; fatality rate is less than 20%.

Japanese Encephalitis - mosquito-borne (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) viral disease associated with rural areas in Asia; acute encephalitis can progress to paralysis, coma, and death; fatality rates 30%.

African Trypanosomiasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma; transmitted to humans via the bite of bloodsucking Tsetse flies; infection leads to malaise and irregular fevers and, in advanced cases when the parasites invade the central nervous system, coma and death; endemic in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa; cattle and wild animals act as reservoir hosts for the parasites.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa leishmania; transmitted to humans via the bite of sandflies; results in skin lesions that may become chronic; endemic in 88 countries; 90% of cases occur in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Peru; wild and domesticated animals as well as humans can act as reservoirs of infection.

Plague - bacterial disease transmitted by fleas normally associated with rats; person-to-person airborne transmission also possible; recent plague epidemics occurred in areas of Asia, Africa, and South America associated with rural areas or small towns and villages; manifests as fever, headache, and painfully swollen lymph nodes; disease progresses rapidly and without antibiotic treatment leads to pneumonic form with a death rate in excess of 50%.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever - tick-borne viral disease; infection may also result from exposure to infected animal blood or tissue; geographic distribution includes Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe; sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle aches followed by hemorrhaging in the bowels, urine, nose, and gums; mortality rate is approximately 30%.

Rift Valley fever - viral disease affecting domesticated animals and humans; transmission is by mosquito and other biting insects; infection may also occur through handling of infected meat or contact with blood; geographic distribution includes eastern and southern Africa where cattle and sheep are raised; symptoms are generally mild with fever and some liver abnormalities, but the disease may progress to hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, or ocular disease; fatality rates are low at about 1% of cases.

Chikungunya - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated with urban environments, similar to Dengue Fever; characterized by sudden onset of fever, rash, and severe joint pain usually lasting 3-7 days, some cases result in persistent arthritis.

water contact diseases acquired through swimming or wading in freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers:

Leptospirosis - bacterial disease that affects animals and humans; infection occurs through contact with water, food, or soil contaminated by animal urine; symptoms include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea; untreated, the disease can result in kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, or respiratory distress; fatality rates are low but left untreated recovery can take months.

Schistosomiasis - caused by parasitic trematode flatworm Schistosoma; fresh water snails act as intermediate host and release larval form of parasite that penetrates the skin of people exposed to contaminated water; worms mature and reproduce in the blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and intestines releasing eggs, which become trapped in tissues triggering an immune response; may manifest as either urinary or intestinal disease resulting in decreased work or learning capacity; mortality, while generally low, may occur in advanced cases usually due to bladder cancer; endemic in 74 developing countries with 80% of infected people living in sub-Saharan Africa; humans act as the reservoir for this parasite.

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease acquired through inhalation of aerosols contaminated with rodent urine:

Lassa fever - viral disease carried by rats of the genus Mastomys; endemic in portions of West Africa; infection occurs through direct contact with or consumption of food contaminated by rodent urine or fecal matter containing virus particles; fatality rate can reach 50% in epidemic outbreaks.

respiratory disease acquired through close contact with an infectious person:

Meningococcal meningitis - bacterial disease causing an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; one of the most important bacterial pathogens is Neisseria meningitidis because of its potential to cause epidemics; symptoms include stiff neck, high fever, headaches, and vomiting; bacteria are transmitted from person to person by respiratory droplets and facilitated by close and prolonged contact resulting from crowded living conditions, often with a seasonal distribution; death occurs in 5-15% of cases, typically within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms; highest burden of meningococcal disease occurs in the hyperendemic region of sub-Saharan Africa known as the "Meningitis Belt" which stretches from Senegal east to Ethiopia.

animal contact disease acquired through direct contact with local animals:

Rabies - viral disease of mammals usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, most commonly dogs; virus affects the central nervous system causing brain alteration and death; symptoms initially are non-specific fever and headache progressing to neurological symptoms; death occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.

Manpower available for military service: This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the military age range for a country (defined as being ages 16-49) and assumes that every individual is fit to serve.

Manpower fit for military service: This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the military age range for a country (defined as being ages 16-49) and who are not otherwise disqualified for health reasons; accounts for the health situation in the country and provides a more realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve.

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: This entry gives the number of males and females entering the military manpower pool (i.e., reaching age 16) in any given year and is a measure of the availability of military-age young adults.

Map references: This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.

Maritime claims: This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:

territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the mean low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.

contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (e.g. the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea).

exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2500 meter isobath; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS, some states (e.g., the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ, but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used; the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200 nautical miles.

Market value of publicly traded shares: This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares, cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.

Median age: This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Uganda and Gaza Strip to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a higher median age.

Merchant marine: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries.

Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of cargo, plus bunkers, stores, etc., that a ship can carry when immersed to the appropriate load line. GRT or gross register tonnage is a figure obtained by measuring the entire sheltered volume of a ship available for cargo and passengers and converting it to tons on the basis of 100 cubic feet per ton; there is no stable relationship between GRT and DWT.

Ships by type includes a listing of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, chemical tankers, combination bulk carriers, combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers, multifunctional large-load carriers, petroleum tankers, passenger ships, passenger/cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships, specialized tankers, and vehicle carriers.

Foreign-owned are ships that fly the flag of one country but belong to owners in another.

Registered in other countries are ships that belong to owners in one country but fly the flag of another.

Military: This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.

Military - note: This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere.

Military branches: This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).

Military expenditures: This entry gives spending on defense programs for the most recent year available as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP); the GDP is calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).

Military service age and obligation: This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service obligation.

Money figures: All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

National holiday: This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.

Nationality: This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.

Natural gas - consumption: This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.

Natural gas - exports: This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).

Natural gas - imports: This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).

Natural gas - production: This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.

Natural gas - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.

Natural hazards: This entry lists potential natural disasters.

Natural resources: This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.

Net migration rate: This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. High levels of migration can cause problems such as increasing unemployment and potential ethnic strife (if people are coming in) or a reduction in the labor force, perhaps in certain key sectors (if people are leaving).

Oil - consumption: This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.

Oil - exports: This entry is the total oil exported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.

Oil - imports: This entry is the total oil imported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.

Oil - production: This entry is the total oil produced in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.

Oil - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.

People: This category includes the entries dealing with the characteristics of the people and their society.

People - note: This entry includes miscellaneous demographic information of significance not included elsewhere.

Personal Names - Capitalization: The Factbook capitalizes the surname or family name of individuals for the convenience of our users who are faced with a world of different cultures and naming conventions. The need for capitalization, bold type, underlining, italics, or some other indicator of the individual's surname is apparent in the following examples: MAO Zedong, Fidel CASTRO Ruz, George W. BUSH, and TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah. By knowing the surname, a short form without all capital letters can be used with confidence as in President Castro, Chairman Mao, President Bush, or Sultan Tunku Salahuddin. The same system of capitalization is extended to the names of leaders with surnames that are not commonly used such as Queen ELIZABETH II. For Vietnamese names, the given name is capitalized because officials are referred to by their given name rather than by their surname. For example, the president of Vietnam is Tran Duc LUONG. His surname is Tran, but he is referred to by his given name - President LUONG.

Personal Names - Spelling: The romanization of personal names in the Factbook normally follows the same transliteration system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling place names. At times, however, a foreign leader expressly indicates a preference for, or the media or official documents regularly use, a romanized spelling that differs from the transliteration derived from the US Government standard. In such cases, the Factbook uses the alternative spelling.

Personal Names - Titles: The Factbook capitalizes any valid title (or short form of it) immediately preceding a person's name. A title standing alone is not capitalized. Examples: President PUTIN and President BUSH are chiefs of state. In Russia, the president is chief of state and the premier is the head of the government, while in the US, the president is both chief of state and head of government.

Petroleum: See entries under Oil.

Petroleum products: See entries under Oil.

Pipelines: This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.

Political parties and leaders: This entry includes a listing of significant political organizations and their leaders.

Political pressure groups and leaders: This entry includes a listing of a country's political, social, labor, or religious organizations that are involved in politics, or that exert political pressure, but whose leaders do not stand for legislative election. International movements or organizations are generally not listed.

Population: This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.

Ports and terminals: This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered.

Public debt: This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.

Radio broadcast stations: This entry includes the total number of AM,
FM, and shortwave broadcast stations.

Railways: This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed under note.

Reference maps: This section includes world and regional maps.

Refugees and internally displaced persons: This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.

Religions: This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below.

Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace may be achieved on earth. Baha'i revelation contends the prophets of major world religions reflect some truth or element of the divine, believes all were manifestations of God given to specific communities in specific times, and that Baha'u'llah is an additional prophet meant to call all humankind. Bahais are an open community, located worldwide, with the greatest concentration of believers in South Asia.

Buddhism - Religion or philosophy inspired by the 5th century B.C. teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha "the enlightened one"). Buddhism focuses on the goal of spiritual enlightenment centered on an understanding of Gautama Buddha's Four Noble Truths on the nature of suffering, and on the Eightfold Path of spiritual and moral practice, to break the cycle of suffering of which we are a part. Buddhism ascribes to a karmic system of rebirth. Several schools and sects of Buddhism exist, differing often on the nature of the Buddha, the extent to which enlightenment can be achieved - for one or for all, and by whom - religious orders or laity.

Basic Groupings

Theravada Buddhism: The oldest Buddhist school, Theravada is practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand, with minority representation elsewhere in Asia and the West. Theravadans follow the Pali Canon of Buddha's teachings, and believe that one may escape the cycle of rebirth, worldly attachment, and suffering for oneself; this process may take one or several lifetimes.

Mahayana Buddhism, including subsets Zen and Tibetan Buddhism: Forms of Mahayana Buddhism are common in East Asia and Tibet, and parts of the West. Mahayanas have additional scriptures beyond the Pali Canon and believe the Buddha is eternal and still teaching. Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana schools maintain the Buddha-nature is present in all beings and all will ultimately achieve enlightenment.

Christianity - Descending from Judaism, Christianity's central belief maintains Jesus of Nazareth is the promised messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that his life, death, and resurrection are salvific for the world. Christianity is one of the three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Islam and Judaism, which traces its spiritual lineage to Abraham of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament (or the Christian Gospels).

Basic Groupings

Catholicism (or Roman Catholicism): This is the oldest established western Christian church and the world's largest single religious body. It is supranational, and recognizes a hierarchical structure with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as its head, located at the Vatican. Catholics believe the Pope is the divinely ordered head of the Church from a direct spiritual legacy of Jesus' apostle Peter. Catholicism is comprised of 23 particular Churches, or Rites - one Western (Latin- Rite) and 22 Eastern. The Latin Rite is by far the largest, making up about 98% of Catholic membership. Eastern-Rite Churches, such as the Maronite Church and the Ukrainian Catholic Church, are in communion with Rome although they preserve their own worship traditions and their immediate hierarchy consists of clergy within their own rite. The Catholic Church has a comprehensive theological and moral doctrine specified for believers in its catechism, which makes it unique among most forms of Christianity.

Mormonism (including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints): Originating in 1830 in the United States under Joseph Smith, Mormonism is not characterized as a form of Protestant Christianity because it claims additional revealed Christian scriptures after the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. The Book of Mormon maintains there was an appearance of Jesus in the New World following the Christian account of his resurrection, and that the Americas are uniquely blessed continents. Mormonism believes earlier Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant reform faiths, are apostasies and that Joseph Smith's revelation of the Book of Mormon is a restoration of true Christianity. Mormons have a hierarchical religious leadership structure, and actively proselytize their faith; they are located primarily in the Americas and in a number of other Western countries.

Orthodox Christianity: The oldest established eastern form of Christianity, the Holy Orthodox Church, has a ceremonial head in the Bishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), also known as a Patriarch, but its various regional forms (e.g., Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox) are autocephalous (independent of Constantinople's authority, and have their own Patriarchs). Orthodox churches are highly nationalist and ethnic. The Orthodox Christian faith shares many theological tenets with the Roman Catholic Church, but diverges on some key premises and does not recognize the governing authority of the Pope.

Protestant Christianity: Protestant Christianity originated in the 16th century as an attempt to reform Roman Catholicism's practices, dogma, and theology. It encompasses several forms or denominations which are extremely varied in structure, beliefs, relationship to state, clergy, and governance. Many protestant theologies emphasize the primary role of scripture in their faith, advocating individual interpretation of Christian texts without the mediation of a final religious authority such as the Roman Pope. The oldest Protestant Christianities include Lutheranism, Calvinism (Presbyterians), and Anglican Christianity (Episcopalians), which have established liturgies, governing structure, and formal clergy. Other variants on Protestant Christianity, including Pentecostal movements and independent churches, may lack one or more of these elements, and their leadership and beliefs are individualized and dynamic.

Hinduism - Originating in the Vedic civilization of India (second and first millennium B.C.), Hinduism is an extremely diverse set of beliefs and practices with no single founder or religious authority. Hinduism has many scriptures; the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita are among some of the most important. Hindus may worship one or many deities, usually with prayer rituals within their own home. The most common figures of devotion are the gods Vishnu, Shiva, and a mother goddess, Devi. Most Hindus believe the soul, or atman, is eternal, and goes through a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) determined by one's positive or negative karma, or the consequences of one's actions. The goal of religious life is to learn to act so as to finally achieve liberation (moksha) of one's soul, escaping the rebirth cycle.

Islam - The third of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, Islam originated with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. Muslims believe Muhammad is the final of all religious prophets (beginning with Abraham) and that the Qu'ran, which is the Islamic scripture, was revealed to him by God. Islam derives from the word submission, and obedience to God is a primary theme in this religion. In order to live an Islamic life, believers must follow the five pillars, or tenets, of Islam, which are the testimony of faith (shahada), daily prayer (salah), giving alms (zakah), fasting during Ramadan (sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).

Basic Groupings

The two primary branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia, which split from each other over a religio-political leadership dispute about the rightful successor to Muhammad. The Shia believe Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was the only divinely ordained Imam (religious leader), while the Sunni maintain the first three caliphs after Muhammad were also legitimate authorities. In modern Islam, Sunnis and Shia continue to have different views of acceptable schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and who is a proper Islamic religious authority. Islam also has an active mystical branch, Sufism, with various Sunni and Shia subsets.

Sunni Islam accounts for over 75% of the world's Muslim population. It recognizes the Abu Bakr as the first caliph after Muhammad. Sunni has four schools of Islamic doctrine and law - Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali - which uniquely interpret the Hadith, or recorded oral traditions of Muhammad. A Sunni Muslim may elect to follow any one of these schools, as all are considered equally valid.

Shia Islam represents 10-20% of Muslims worldwide, and its distinguishing feature is its reverence for Ali as an infallible, divinely inspired leader, and as the first Imam of the Muslim community after Muhammad. A majority of Shia are known as "Twelvers," because they believe that the 11 familial successor imams after Muhammad culminate in a 12th Imam (al-Mahdi) who is hidden in the world and will reappear at its end to redeem the righteous.

Variants

Ismaili faith: A sect of Shia Islam, its adherents are also known as "Seveners," because they believe that the rightful seventh Imam in Islamic leadership was Isma'il, the elder son of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq. Ismaili tradition awaits the return of the seventh Imam as the Mahdi, or Islamic messianic figure. Ismailis are located in various parts of the world, particularly South Asia and the Levant.

Alawi faith: Another Shia sect of Islam, the name reflects followers' devotion to the religious authority of Ali. Alawites are a closed, secretive religious group who assert they are Shia Muslims, although outside scholars speculate their beliefs may have a syncretic mix with other faiths originating in the Middle East. Alawis live mostly in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Druze faith: A highly secretive tradition and a closed community that derives from the Ismaili sect of Islam; its core beliefs are thought to emphasize a combination of Gnostic principles believing that the Fatimid caliph, al-Hakin, is the one who embodies the key aspects of goodness of the universe, which are, the intellect, the word, the soul, the preceder, and the follower. The Druze have a key presence in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

Jainism - Originating in India, Jain spiritual philosophy believes in an eternal human soul, the eternal universe, and a principle of "the own nature of things." It emphasizes compassion for all living things, seeks liberation of the human soul from reincarnation through enlightenment, and values personal responsibility due to the belief in the immediate consequences of one's behavior. Jain philosophy teaches non-violence and prescribes vegetarianism for monks and laity alike; its adherents are a highly influential religious minority in Indian society.

Judaism - One of the first known monotheistic religions, likely dating to between 2000-1500 B.C., Judaism is the native faith of the Jewish people, based upon the belief in a covenant of responsibility between a sole omnipotent creator God and Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism's Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. Divine revelation of principles and prohibitions in the Hebrew Scriptures form the basis of Jewish law, or halakhah, which is a key component of the faith. While there are extensive traditions of Jewish halakhic and theological discourse, there is no final dogmatic authority in the tradition. Local communities have their own religious leadership. Modern Judaism has three basic categories of faith: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform/Liberal. These differ in their views and observance of Jewish law, with the Orthodox representing the most traditional practice, and Reform/Liberal communities the most accommodating of individualized interpretations of Jewish identity and faith.

Shintoism - A native animist tradition of Japan, Shinto practice is based upon the premise that every being and object has its own spirit or kami. Shinto practitioners worship several particular kamis, including the kamis of nature, and families often have shrines to their ancestors' kamis. Shintoism has no fixed tradition of prayers or prescribed dogma, but is characterized by individual ritual. Respect for the kamis in nature is a key Shinto value. Prior to the end of World War II, Shinto was the state religion of Japan, and bolstered the cult of the Japanese emperor.

Sikhism - Founded by the Guru Nanak (born 1469), Sikhism believes in a non-anthropomorphic, supreme, eternal, creator God; centering one's devotion to God is seen as a means of escaping the cycle of rebirth. Sikhs follow the teachings of Nanak and nine subsequent gurus. Their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib - also known as the Adi Granth - is considered the living Guru, or final authority of Sikh faith and theology. Sikhism emphasizes equality of humankind and disavows caste, class, or gender discrimination.

Taoism - Chinese philosophy or religion based upon Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, which centers on belief in the Tao, or the way, as the flow of the universe and the nature of things. Taoism encourages a principle of non-force, or wu-wei, as the means to live harmoniously with the Tao. Taoists believe the esoteric world is made up of a perfect harmonious balance and nature, while in the manifest world - particularly in the body - balance is distorted. The Three Jewels of the Tao - compassion, simplicity, and humility - serve as the basis for Taoist ethics.

Zoroastrianism - Originating from the teachings of Zoroaster in about the 9th or 10th century B.C., Zoroastrianism may be the oldest continuing creedal religion. Its key beliefs center on a transcendent creator God, Ahura Mazda, and the concept of free will. The key ethical tenets of Zoroastrianism expressed in its scripture, the Avesta, are based on a dualistic worldview where one may prevent chaos if one chooses to serve God and exercises good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is generally a closed religion and members are almost always born to Zoroastrian parents. Prior to the spread of Islam, Zoroastrianism dominated greater Iran. Today, though a minority, Zoroastrians remain primarily in Iran, India, and Pakistan.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.

Roadways: This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions.

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary): School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment ratio at that age. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this indicator in international comparisons. For example, a year or grade completed in one country is not necessarily the same in terms of educational content or quality as a year or grade completed in another country. SLE represents the expected number of years of schooling that will be completed, including years spent repeating one or more grades.

Sex ratio: This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually, it could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to find partners.

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies - of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.

Stock of domestic credit: This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by banks to nonbanking institutions. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.

Stock of money: This entry, also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency, held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.

Stock of quasi money: This entry comprises the total quantity of time and savings deposits denominated in the national currency, held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. When added together with "M1" the total money supply is known as "M2." The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.

Suffrage: This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.

Telephone numbers: All telephone numbers in The World Factbook consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that is not presented is the international access code, which varies from country to country. For example, an international direct dial telephone call placed from the US to Madrid, Spain, would be as follows: 011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx, where 011 is the international access code for station-to- station calls; 01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls, [34] is the country code for Spain, (1) is the city code for Madrid, 577 is the local exchange, and xxxx is the local telephone number. An international direct dial telephone call placed from another country to the US would be as follows: international access code + [1] (202) 939- xxxx, where [ 1] is the country code for the US, (202) is the area code for Washington, DC, 939 is the local exchange, and xxxx is the local telephone number.

Telephone system: This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:

Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia).

Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense).

CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications.

Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange.

Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other.

Coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies.

Comsat - Communications Satellite Corporation (US).

DSN - Defense Switched Network (formerly Automatic Voice Network or
Autovon); basic general-purpose, switched voice network of the Defense
Communications System (US Department of Defense).

Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris).

Fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light.

GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982.

HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz range.

Inmarsat - International Maritime Satellite Organization (London); provider of global mobile satellite communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in the air, and on land.

Intelsat - International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
(Washington, DC).

Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications
(Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East
European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with
earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia.

Landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground.

Marecs - Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the
Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency.

Marisat - satellites of the Comsat Corporation that participate in the
Inmarsat system.

Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern
telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking
Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in
Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was
known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications
Network.

Microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path.

NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone system that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).

Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet- switched digital telephone network.

Radiotelephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets.

PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT).

SAFE - South African Far East Cable

Satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system.

Satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna and required receiving and transmitting equipment for communicating with satellites.

Satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels).

SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range.

Shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances.

Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere.

Statsionar - Russia's geostationary system for satellite telecommunications.

Submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water.

TAT - Trans-Atlantic Telephone; any of a number of high-capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables linking Europe with North America.

Telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network.

Telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission.

Telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges.

Tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth; powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals; reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances.

Trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines.

UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-
MHz range.

VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300-MHz range.

Telephones - main lines in use: This entry gives the total number of main telephone lines in use.

Telephones - mobile cellular: This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone subscribers.

Television broadcast stations: This entry gives the total number of separate broadcast stations plus any repeater stations.

Terminology: Due to the highly structured nature of the Factbook database, some collective generic terms have to be used. For example, the word Country in the Country name entry refers to a wide variety of dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities in addition to the traditional countries or independent states. Military is also used as an umbrella term for various civil defense, security, and defense activities in many entries. The Independence entry includes the usual colonial independence dates and former ruling states as well as other significant nationhood dates such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession that are not strictly independence dates. Dependent areas have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.

Terrain: This entry contains a brief description of the topography.

Time difference: This entry is expressed in The World Factbook in two ways. First, it is stated as the difference in hours between the capital of an entity and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) during Standard Time. Additionally, the difference in time between the capital of an entity and that observed in Washington, D.C. is also provided. Note that the time difference assumes both locations are simultaneously observing Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time.

Time zones: Ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, and the United States) and the island of Greenland observe more than one official time depending on the number of designated time zones within their boundaries. An illustration of time zones throughout the world and within countries can be seen in the Standard Time Zones of the World map included in the Reference Maps section of The World Factbook.

Total fertility rate: This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years.

Total renewable water resources: This entry provides the long-term average water availability for a country in cubic kilometers of precipitation, recharged ground water, and surface inflows from surrounding countries. The values have been adjusted to account for overlap resulting from surface flow recharge of groundwater sources. Total renewable water resources provides the water total available to a country but does not include water resource totals that have been reserved for upstream or downstream countries through international agreements. Note that these values are averages and do not accurately reflect the total available in any given year. Annual available resources can vary greatly due to short-term and long-term climatic and weather variations.

Trafficking in persons: Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. The International Labor Organization (ILO), the UN agency charged with addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues, estimates that 12.3 million people worldwide are enslaved in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, sexual servitude, and involuntary servitude at any given time. Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat, depriving people of their human rights and freedoms, risking global health, promoting social breakdown, inhibiting development by depriving countries of their human capital, and helping fuel the growth of organized crime. In 2000, the US Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), reauthorized in 2003 and 2005, which provides tools for the US to combat trafficking in persons, both domestically and abroad. One of the law's key components is the creation of the US Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which assesses the government response (i.e., the current situation) in some 150 countries with a significant number of victims trafficked across their borders who are recruited, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Countries in the annual report are rated in three tiers, based on government efforts to combat trafficking. The countries identified in this entry are those listed in the 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report as Tier 2 Watch List or Tier 3 based on the following tier rating definitions:

Tier 2 Watch List countries do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but are making significant efforts to do so, and meet one of the following criteria:

1. they display high or significantly increasing number of victims,

2. they have failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, or,

3. they have committed to take action over the next year.

Tier 3 countries neither satisfy the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking nor demonstrate a significant effort to do so. Countries in this tier are subject to potential non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.

Transnational issues: This category includes four entries - Disputes - international, Refugees and internally displaced persons, Trafficking in persons, and Illicit drugs - that deal with current issues going beyond national boundaries.

Transportation: This category includes the entries dealing with the means for movement of people and goods.

Transportation - note: This entry includes miscellaneous transportation information of significance not included elsewhere.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): See entry for Coordinated Universal
Time.

Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.

Waterways: This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.

Weights and Measures: This information is presented in Appendix G: Weights and Measures and includes mathematical notations (mathematical powers and names), metric interrelationships (prefix; symbol; length, weight, or capacity; area; volume), and standard conversion factors.

Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is an accounting period of 12 months from 1 January to 31 December. The fiscal year is an accounting period of 12 months other than 1 January to 31 December.

Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence Community estimates.

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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CIA - The World Factbook — History

A Brief History of Basic Intelligence and The World Factbook

The Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired, converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers. Information is raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary, contradictory, unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong. Intelligence is information that has been collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finished intelligence is the final product of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to the policymaker.

The three types of finished intelligence are: basic, current, and estimative. Basic intelligence provides the fundamental and factual reference material on a country or issue. Current intelligence reports on new developments. Estimative intelligence judges probable outcomes. The three are mutually supportive: basic intelligence is the foundation on which the other two are constructed; current intelligence continually updates the inventory of knowledge; and estimative intelligence revises overall interpretations of country and issue prospects for guidance of basic and current intelligence. The World Factbook , The President's Daily Brief , and the National Intelligence Estimates are examples of the three types of finished intelligence.

The United States has carried on foreign intelligence activities since the days of George Washington but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a government-wide basis. Three programs have highlighted the development of coordinated basic intelligence since that time: (1 ) the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS), (2 ) the National Intelligence Survey ( NIS ), and (3) The World Factbook .

During World War II, intelligence consumers realized that the production of basic intelligence by different components of the US Government resulted in a great duplication of effort and conflicting information. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 brought home to leaders in Congress and the executive branch the need for integrating departmental reports to national policymakers. Detailed and coordinated information was needed not only on such major powers as Germany and Japan , but also on places of little previous interest. In the Pacific Theater, for example, the Navy and Marines had to launch amphibious operations against many islands about which information was unconfirmed or nonexistent. Intelligence authorities resolved that the United States should never again be caught unprepared.

In 1943, Gen. George B. Strong (G-2), Adm. H. C. Train (Office of Naval Intelligence—ONI), and Gen. William J. Donovan (Director of the Office of Strategic Services—OSS ) decided that a joint effort should be initiated. A steering committee was appointed on 27 April 1943 that recommended the formation of a Joint Intelligence Study Publishing Board to assemble, edit, coordinate, and publish the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS). JANIS was the first interdepartmental basic intelligence program to fulfill the needs of the US Government for an authoritative and coordinated appraisal of strategic basic intelligence. Between April 1943 and July 1947, the board published 34 JANIS studies. JANIS performed well in the war effort, and numerous letters of commendation were received, including a statement from Adm. Forrest Sherman, Chief of Staff, Pacific Ocean Areas, which said, "JANIS has become the indispensable reference work for the shore-based planners."

The need for more comprehensive basic intelligence in the postwar world was well expressed in 1946 by George S. Pettee, a noted author on national security. He wrote in The Future of American Secret Intelligence (Infantry Journal Press, 1946, page 46) that world leadership in peace requires even more elaborate intelligence than in war. "The conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities—not just the enemy and his war production."

The Central Intelligence Agency was established on 26 July 1947 and officially began operating on 18 September 1947. Effective 1 October 1947, the Director of Central Intelligence assumed operational responsibility for JANIS. On 13 January 1948, the National Security Council issued Intelligence Directive (NSCID) No. 3, which authorized the National Intelligence Survey ( NIS ) program as a peacetime replacement for the wartime JANIS program. Before adequate NIS country sections could be produced, government agencies had to develop more comprehensive gazetteers and better maps. The US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) compiled the names; the Department of the Interior produced the gazetteers; and CIA produced the maps.

The Hoover Commission's Clark Committee, set up in 1954 to study the structure and administration of the CIA, reported to Congress in 1955 that: "The National Intelligence Survey is an invaluable publication which provides the essential elements of basic intelligence on all areas of the world. There will always be a continuing requirement for keeping the Survey up-to-date." The Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The NIS program was terminated in 1973 except for the Factbook , map, and gazetteer components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO). The Factbook was first made available on the Internet in June 1997. The year 2008 marks the 61st anniversary of the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 65th year of continuous basic intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its two predecessor programs.

The Evolution of The World Factbook

National Basic Intelligence Factbook produced semiannually until 1980.
Country entries include sections on Land, Water, People, Government,
Economy, Communications, and Defense Forces.

1981—Publication becomes an annual product and is renamed The World Factbook. A total of 165 nations are covered on 225 pages.

1983—Appendices (Conversion Factors, International Organizations) first introduced.

1984—Appendices expanded; now include: A. The United Nations, B.
Selected United Nations Organizations, C. Selected International
Organizations, D. Country Membership in Selected Organizations, E.
Conversion Factors.

1987—A new Geography section replaces the former separate Land and Water sections. UN Organizations and Selected International Organizations appendices merged into a new International Organizations appendix. First multi-color-cover Factbook.

1988—More than 40 new geographic entities added to provide complete world coverage without overlap or omission. Among the new entities are Antarctica, oceans (Arctic, Atlantic , Indian, Pacific), and the World. The front-of-the-book explanatory introduction expanded and retitled to Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations. Two new Appendices added: Weights and Measures (in place of Conversion Factors) and a Cross- Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook size reaches 300 pages.

1989—Economy section completely revised and now includes an Overview briefly describing a country's economy. New entries added under People, Government, and Communications.

1990—The Government section revised and considerably expanded with new entries.

1991—A new International Organizations and Groups appendix added. Factbook size reaches 405 pages.

1992—Twenty new successor state entries replace those of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia . New countries are respectively: Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , Estonia , Georgia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Latvia , Lithuania , Moldova , Russia , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Ukraine , Uzbekistan ; and Bosnia and Hercegovina , Croatia , Macedonia , Serbia and Montenegro , Slovenia . Number of nations in the Factbook rises to 188.

1993—Czechoslovakia 's split necessitates new Czech Republic and Slovakia entries. New Eritrea entry added after it secedes from Ethiopia . Substantial enhancements made to Geography section.

1994—Two new appendices address Selected International Environmental Agreements. The gross domestic product (GDP) of most developing countries changed to a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather than an exchange rate basis. Factbook size up to 512 pages.

1995—The GDP of all countries now presented on a PPP basis. New appendix lists estimates of GDP on an exchange rate basis. Communications category split; Railroads, Highways, Inland waterways, Pipelines, Merchant marine, and Airports entries now make up a new Transportation category. The World Factbook is first produced on CD- ROM.

1996—Maps accompanying each entry now present more detail. Flags also introduced for nearly all entities. Various new entries appear under Geography and Communications. Factbook abbreviations consolidated into a new Appendix A. Two new appendices present a Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes and a Cross-Reference List of Hydrogeographic Data Codes. Geographic coordinates added to Appendix H, Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook size expands by 95 pages in one year to reach 652.

1997—A special edition for the CIA's 50 th anniversary. A schema or Guide to Country Profiles introduced. New color maps and flags now accompany each country profile. Category headings distinguished by shaded backgrounds. Number of categories expanded to nine—the current number—with the addition of an Introduction (for only a few countries) and Transnational Issues (which includes Disputes— international and Illicit drugs). The World Factbook introduced onto the Internet.

1998—The Introduction category with two entries, Current issues and Historical perspective, expanded to more countries. Last year for the production of CD-ROM versions of the Factbook.

1999—Historical perspective and Current issues entries in the Introduction category combined into a new Background statement. Several new Economy entries introduced. A new physical map of the world added to the back-of-the-book reference maps.

2000—A new "country profile" added on the Southern Ocean. The Background statements dramatically expanded to over 200 countries and possessions. A number of new Communications entries added.

2001—Background entries completed for all 267 entities in the Factbook. Several new HIV/AIDS entries introduced under the People category. Revision begun on individual country maps to include elevation extremes and a partial geographic grid. Weights and Measures appendix deleted.

2002—New entry on Distribution of Family income—Gini index added. Revision of individual country maps continued (process still ongoing).

2003—In the Economy category, petroleum entries added for oil production, consumption, exports, imports, and proved reserves, as well as natural gas proved reserves.

2004—Additional petroleum entries included for natural gas production, consumption, exports, and imports. In the Transportation category, under Merchant marine, subfields added for foreign-owned vessels and those registered in other countries. Descriptions of the many forms of government mentioned in the Factbook incorporated into the Notes and Definitions.

2005—In the People category, a Major infectious diseases field added for countries deemed to pose a higher risk for travelers. In the Economy category, entries included for Current account balance, Investment, Public debt, and Reserves of foreign exchange and gold. The Transnational issues category expanded to include Refugees and internally displaced persons. Category headings receive distinctive colored backgrounds. These distinguishing colors are used in both the printed and online versions of the Factbook. Size of the printed Factbook reaches 702 pages.

2006—In the Economy category, national GDP figures now presented at Official Exchange Rates (OER) in addition to GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP).

2007—In the Government category, the Capital entry significantly expanded with up to four subfields, including new information having to do with time. The subfields consist of the name of the capital itself, its geographic coordinates , the time difference at the capital from coordinated universal time (UTC), and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note is added to highlight those countries with multiple time zones. A Trafficking in persons entry added to the Transnational issues category. A new appendix, Weights and Measures, (re)introduced to the online version of the Factbook.

2008—In the Geography category, two fields focus on the increasingly vital resource of water: Total renewable water resources and Freshwater withdrawal. In the Economy category, three fields added for: Stock of direct foreign investment—at home, Stock of direct foreign investment—abroad, and Market value of publicly traded shares. Concise descriptions of the major religions mentioned in the Factbook included in the Notes and Definitions.

This page was last updated on 8 October, 2008

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CIA - The World Factbook — FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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General

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Geography

I can't find a geographic name for a particular country. Why not?

The World Factbook is not a gazetteer (a dictionary or index of places, usually with descriptive or statistical information) and cannot provide more than the names of the administrative divisions (in the Government category) and major cities/towns (on the country maps). Our expanded Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names, however, includes many of the world's major geographic features as well as historic (former) names of countries and cities mentioned in The World Factbook.

Why are Taiwan and the European Union listed out of alphabetical order at the end of the Factbook entries?

Taiwan is listed after the regular entries because even though the mainland People's Republic of China claims Taiwan, elected Taiwanese authorities de facto administer the island and reject mainland sovereignty claims. With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledging the Chinese position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.

The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these are likely to be expanded in the future. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into the Factbook may be found in the Preliminary statement.

Since we have an ambassador who represents the US at the Vatican, why is this entity not listed in the Factbook?

Vatican City is found under Holy See. The term "Holy See" refers to the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisors to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. The Holy See has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives. Vatican City, created in 1929 to administer properties belonging to the Holy See in Rome, is recognized under international law as a sovereign state, but it does not send or receive diplomatic representatives. Consequently, Holy See is included as a Factbook entry, with Vatican City cross-referenced in the Geographic Names appendix.

Why is Palestine not listed in The World Factbook?

The areas that could potentially form a future Palestinian state — the West Bank and Gaza Strip — do appear in the Factbook. These areas are presently Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian 1995 Interim Agreement; their permanent status is to be determined through further negotiation.

Why are the Golan Heights not shown as part of Israel or Northern
Cyprus with Turkey?

Territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United
States Government are not shown on US Government maps.

Why don't you include information on entities such as Tibet or
Kashmir?

The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.

Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands). Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries are not covered.

What do you mean when you say that a country is "doubly landlocked"?

A doubly landlocked country is one that is separated from an ocean or an ocean-accessible sea by two intervening countries. Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only countries that fit this definition.

Why is the area of the United States described as "slightly larger than China" in the Factbook , while other sources list China as larger in area than the United States?

It all depends on whether one is looking at total area (land and water) when making the comparison (which is the criterion used by the Factbook) or just land area (which excludes inland water features such as rivers or lakes).

Total area (combining land and water)

United States = 9,826,630 sq km
China = 9,596,960 sq km

Land only (without any water features)

United States = 9,161,923 sq km
China = 9,326,410 sq km

Why has The World Factbook dropped the four French departments of
Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, and French Guiana?

The reason the four entities are no longer in The World Factbook is because their status has changed. While they are overseas departments of France, they are also now recognized as French regions, having equal status to the 22 metropolitan regions that make up European France. In other words, they are now recognized as being part of France proper. Their status is somewhat analogous to Alaska and Hawaii vis-a-vis the contiguous United States. Although separated from the larger geographic entity, they are still considered to be an integral part of it.

Spelling and Pronunciation

Why is the spelling of proper names such as rulers, presidents, and prime ministers in The World Factbook different than their spelling in my country?

The Factbook staff applies the names and spellings from the Chiefs of State link on the CIA Web site. The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings. Surnames are always spelled with capital letters; they may appear first in some cultures.

The spelling of geographic names, features, cities, administrative divisions, etc. in the Factbook differs from those used in my country. Why is this?

The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) recommends and approves names and spellings. The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to use uniform names of geographic features. (A note is usually included where changes may have occurred but have not yet been approved by the BGN). The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings.

Why doesn't The World Factbook include pronunciations of country or leader names?

There are too many variations in pronunciation among English-speaking countries, not to mention English renditions of non-English names, for pronunciations to be included. American English pronunciations are included for some countries like Qatar and Kiribati.

Why is the name of the Labour party misspelled?

When American and British spellings of common English words differ, The World Factbook always uses the American spelling, even when these common words form part of a proper name in British English.

Policies and Procedures

What is The World Factbook's source for a specific subject field?

The Factbook staff uses many different sources to publish what we judge are the most reliable and consistent data for any particular category. Space considerations preclude a listing of these various sources.

The names of some geographic features provided in the Factbook differ from those used in other publications. For example, in Asia the Factbook has Burma as the country name, but in other publications Myanmar is used; also, the Factbook uses Sea of Japan whereas other publications label it East Sea. What is your policy on naming geographic features?

The Factbook staff follows the guidance of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features. The position of the BGN is that the names Burma and Sea of Japan be used in official US Government maps and publications.

Why is most of the statistical information in the Factbook given in metric units, rather than the units standard to US measure?

US Federal agencies are required by the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-168) and by Executive Order 12770 of July 1991 to use the International System of Units, commonly referred to as the metric system or SI. In addition, the metric system is used by over 95 percent of the world's population.

Why don't you include information on minimum and maximum temperature extremes?

The Factbook staff judges that this information would only be useful for some (generally smaller) countries. Larger countries can have large temperature extremes that do not represent the landmass as a whole. In the future, such a category may be adopted listing the extremes, but also adding a normal temperature range found throughout most of a country's territory.

What information sources are used for the country flags?

Flag designs used in The World Factbook are those recognized by the protocol office of the US Department of State.

Why do your GDP (Gross Domestic Product) statistics differ from other sources?

We have two sets of GDP dollar estimates in The World Factbook , one derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations and the other derived using official exchange rates (OER). Other sources probably use one of the two. See the Notes and Definitions section on GDP and GDP methodology for more information.

On the CIA Web site, Chiefs of State is updated weekly, but the last update for the Factbook was an earlier date. Why the discrepancy?

Although Chiefs of State and The World Factbook both appear on the CIA Web site, they are produced and updated by separate staffs. Chiefs of State includes fewer countries but more leaders, and is updated more frequently than The World Factbook, which has a much larger database, and includes all countries.

Some percentage distributions do not add to 100. Why not?

Because of rounding, percentage distributions do not always add precisely to 100%. Rounding of numbers always results in a loss of precision—i.e., error. This error becomes apparent when percentage data are totaled, as the following two examples show:

Original Data Rounded to whole integer

Example 1 43.2 43
30.4 30
26.4 26
—— —
100.0 99

Example 2 42.8 43
31.6 32
25.6 26
—— —
100.0 101

When this occurs, we do not force the numbers to add exactly to 100, because doing so would introduce additional error into the distribution.

What rounding convention does The World Factbook use?

In deciding on the number of digits to present, the Factbook staff assesses the accuracy of the original data and the needs of US Government officials. All of the economic data are processed by computer—either at the source or by the Factbook staff. The economic data presented in The Factbook, therefore, follow the rounding convention used by virtually all numerical software applications, namely, any digit followed by a "5" is rounded up to the next higher digit, no matter whether the original digit is even or odd. Thus, for example, when rounded to the nearest integer, 2.5 becomes 3, rather than 2, as occurred in some pre-computer rounding systems.

Why do you list "Independence" dates for countries like France,
Germany, and the United Kingdom?

For most countries, this entry presents the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For other countries, the date may be some other significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession and so may not strictly be an "Independence" date. Dependent entities have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.

Technical

Does The World Factbook comply with Section 508 of the
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The World Factbook home page has a link entitled "Text/Low Bandwidth Version." The country data in the text version is fully accessible. We believe The World Factbook is compliant with the Section 508 law in both fact and spirit. If you are experiencing difficulty, please use our comment form to provide us details of the specific problem you are experiencing and the assistive software and/or hardware that you are using so that we can work with our technical support staff to find and implement a solution. We welcome visitors' suggestions to improve accessibility of The World Factbook and the CIA Web site.

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Hundreds of "Factbook" look-alikes exist on the Internet. The
Factbook site at: www.cia.gov is the only official site.

When I attempt to download a PDF (Portable Document Format) map file (or some other map) the file has no image. Can you fix this?

Some of the files on The World Factbook Web site are large and could take several minutes to download on a dial-up connection. The screen might be blank during the download process.

When I open a map on The World Factbook site, it is fuzzy or granular, or too big or too small. Why?

Adjusting the resolution setting on your monitor should correct this problem.

Is The World Factbook country data available in machine-readable format? All I can find is HTML, but I'm looking for simple tabular data.

The Factbook Web site now features "Rank Order" pages for selected Factbook entries. "Rank Order" pages are available for those data fields identified with a small bar chart icon located next to the title of the data entry. In addition, all of the "Rank Order" pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data files that can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and databases.

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@Afghanistan

Introduction
Afghanistan

Background:

Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December. Despite gains toward building a stable central government, a resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability - particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challenges for the Afghan Government.

Geography
Afghanistan

Location:

Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Geographic coordinates:

##### 33 00 N, 65 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 647,500 sq km land: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,529 km border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones

Land use:

arable land: 12.13% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 87.66% (2005)

Irrigated land:

27,200 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

65 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 23.26 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%) per capita: 779 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)

People
Afghanistan

Population:

32,738,376 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.6% (male 7,474,394/female 7,121,145) 15-64 years: 53% (male 8,901,880/female 8,447,983) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 383,830/female 409,144) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.6 years male: 17.6 years female: 17.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.626% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

45.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

19.56 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 154.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 158.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 150.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 44.21 years male: 44.04 years female: 44.39 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

Ethnic groups:

Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%,
Baloch 2%, other 4%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%

Languages:

Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 28.1% male: 43.1% female: 12.6% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 11 years female: 4 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Afghanistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form: Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan

Government type:

Islamic republic

Capital:

name: Kabul geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis,
Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor,
Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar,
Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika,
Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan,
Wardak, Zabul

Independence:

19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

Constitution:

new constitution drafted 14 December 2003-4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004

Legal system:

based on mixed civil and Sharia law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former King ZAHIR Shah held the honorific, "Father of the Country," and presided symbolically over certain occasions but lacked any governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary; King ZAHIR Shah died on 23 July 2007 head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004) cabinet: 25 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly elections: the president and two vice presidents are elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if no candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a second round; a president can only be elected for two terms; election last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote - Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANUNI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ 11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda JALAL 1.2%

Legislative branch:

the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for five-year terms, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, one-third elected from provincial councils for four-year terms, one-third elected from local district councils for three-year terms, and one-third nominated by the president for five-year terms) note: on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils elections: last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held for the Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008) election results: the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system used in the election did not make use of political party slates; most candidates ran as independents

Judicial branch:

the constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama or Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms by the president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High Courts and Appeals Courts; there is also a minister of justice; a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established by the Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abuses and war crimes

Political parties and leaders:

Afghanistan Peoples' Treaty Party [Sayyed Amir TAHSEEN];
Afghanistan's Islamic Mission Organization [Abdul Rasoul SAYYAF];
Afghanistan's Islamic Nation Party [Toran Noor Aqa Ahmad ZAI];
Afghanistan's National Islamic Party [Rohullah LOUDIN];
Afghanistan's Welfare Party [Meer Asef ZAEEFI]; Afghan Social
Democratic Party [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; Afghan Society for the Call to
the Koran and Sunna [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Comprehensive
Movement of Democracy and Development of Afghanistan Party [Sher
Mohammad BAZGAR]; Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Tawos ARAB];
Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Kabir RANJBAR]; Elites People
of Afghanistan Party [Abdul Hamid JAWAD]; Freedom and Democracy
Movement of Afghanistan [Abdul Raqib Jawid KOHISTANEE]; Freedom
Party of Afghanistan [Ilaj Abdul MALEK]; Freedom Party of
Afghanistan [Dr. Ghulam Farooq NEJRABEE]; Hizullah-e-Afghanistan
[Qari Ahmad ALI]; Human Rights Protection and Development Party of
Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATI]; Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan
[Mohammad Kabir MARZBAN]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan [Mohammad
Ali JAWID]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Mukhtar
MUFLEH]; Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Khalid FAROOQI];
Islamic Party of the Afghan Land [Mohammad Hassan FEROZKHEL];
Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hussain
ANWARY]; Islamic Society of Afghanistan [Ustad RABBANI]; Islamic
Unity of the Nation of Afghanistan Party [Qurban Ali URFANI];
Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim KHALILI]; Islamic
Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ];
Labor and Progress of Afghanistan Party [Zulfiqar OMID]; Muslim
People of Afghanistan Party [Besmellah JOYAN]; Muslim Unity Movement
Party of Afghanistan [Wazir Mohammad WAHDAT]; National and Islamic
Sovereignty Movement Party of Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI];
National Congress Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Latif PEDRAM];
National Country Party [Ghulam MOHAMMAD]; National Development Party
of Afghanistan [Dr. Aref BAKTASH]; National Freedom Seekers Party
[Abdul Hadi DABEER]; National Independence Party of Afghanistan [Taj
Mohammad WARDAK]; National Islamic Fighters Party of Afghanistan
[Amanat NINGARHAREE]; National Islamic Front of Afghanistan [Pir
Sayed Ahmad GAILANEE]; National Islamic Moderation Party of
Afghanistan [Qara Bik Eized YAAR]; National Islamic Movement of
Afghanistan [Sayed NOORULLAH]; National Islamic Unity Party of
Afghanistan [Mohammad AKBAREE]; National Movement of Afghanistan
[Ahmad Wali MASOOUD]; National Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid
ARYAN]; National Patch of Afghanistan Party [Sayed Kamal SADAT];
National Peace Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Shah Mohammood Popal
ZAI]; National Peace & Islamic Party of the Tribes of Afghanistan
[Abdul Qaher SHARIATEE]; National Peace & Unity Party of Afghanistan
[Abdul Qader IMAMI]; National Prosperity and Islamic Party of
Afghanistan [Mohammad Osman SALEKZADA]; National Prosperity Party
[Mohammad Hassan JAHFAREE]; National Solidarity Movement of
Afghanistan [Pir Sayed Eshaq GAILANEE]; National Solidarity Party of
Afghanistan [Sayed Mansoor NADREEI]; National Sovereignty Party
[Sayed Mustafa KAZEMI]; National Stability Party [Mohammad Same
KHAROTI]; National Stance Party [Habibullah JANEBDAR]; National
Tribal Unity Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANI];
National United Front [Burhanuddin RABBANI] (a coalition); National
Unity Movement [Sultan Mohammad GHAZI]; National Unity Movement of
Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH]; National Unity Party of
Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid JALILI]; New Afghanistan Party [Mohammad
Yunis QANUNI]; Peace and National Welfare Activists Society [Shamsul
Haq Noor SHAMS]; Peace Movement [Shahnawaz TANAI]; People's
Aspirations Party of Afghanistan [Ilhaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];
People's Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan [Feda Mohammad EHSAS];
People's Liberal Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan [Ajmal
SUHAIL]; People's Message Party of Afghanistan [Noor Aqa WAINEE];
People's Movement of the National Unity of Afghanistan [Abdul Hakim
NOORZAI]; People's Party of Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah ASAR]; People's
Prosperity Party of Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad ZAREEF]; People's
Sovereignty Movement of Afghanistan [Hayatullah SUBHANEE]; People's
Uprising Party of Afghanistan [Sayed Zahir Qayed Omul BELADI];
People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASIQ]; People's
Welfare Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; Progressive
Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Wali ARYA]; Republican Party
[Sebghatullah SANJAR]; Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq
NEMAT]; The Afghanistan's Mujahid Nation's Islamic Unity Movement
[Saeedullah SAEED]; The People of Afghanistan's Democratic Movement
[Sharif NAZARI]; Tribes Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad
Zarif NASERI]; Understanding and Democracy Party of Afghanistan
[Ahamad SHAHEEN]; United Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Wasil RAHIMEE];
United Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Wahidullah SABAWOON]; Young
Afghanistan's Islamic Organization [Sayed Jawad HUSSINEE]; Youth
Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; note -
includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: religious groups; tribal leaders

International organization participation:

ADB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO
(guest), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806 telephone: [93] 0700 108 001 FAX: [93] 0700 108 564

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan

Economy
Afghanistan

Economy - overview:

Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service sector growth. Real GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2007. Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, agriculture, and trade with neighboring countries. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. Criminality, insecurity, and the Afghan Government's inability to extend rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. It will probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attention to significantly raise Afghanistan's living standards from its current level, among the lowest in the world. International pledges made by more than 60 countries and international financial institutions at the Berlin Donors Conference for Afghan reconstruction in March 2004 reached $8.9 billion for 2004-09. While the international community remains committed to Afghanistan's development, pledging over $24 billion at three donors' conferences since 2002, Kabul will need to overcome a number of challenges. Expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium trade generate roughly $4 billion in illicit economic activity and looms as one of Kabul's most serious policy concerns. Other long-term challenges include: budget sustainability, job creation, corruption, government capacity, and rebuilding war torn infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$35 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.842 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 38% industry: 24% services: 38% note: data exclude opium production (2005 est.)

Labor force:

15 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry: 10% services: 10% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

40% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

53% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $715 million expenditures: $2.6 billion note: Afghanistan has also received $273 million from the Reconstruction Trust Fund and $63 million from the Law and Order Trust Fund (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

21 March - 20 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18.14% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.426 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$958.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$20.06 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

opium, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins

Industries:

small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

839 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.088 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

230 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 36.3% hydro: 63.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,036 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,534 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

##### NA

Exports:

$274 million; note - not including illicit exports or reexports (2006)

Exports - commodities:

opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems

Exports - partners:

India 22.8%, Pakistan 21.8%, US 20.5%, Tajikistan 7.2% (2007)

Imports:

$3.823 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Pakistan 36.8%, US 11%, India 5%, Germany 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.775 billion (2005)

Debt - external:

$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

afghani (AFA)

Currency code:

##### AFA

Exchange rates:

afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - NA (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)

Communications
Afghanistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

280,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.4 million (2008)

Telephone system:

general assessment: limited landline telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks in major cities domestic: aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service is improving rapidly international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 21, FM 5, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashto, Dari (Afghan
Persian), Urdu, and English) (2006)

Radios:

167,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

at least 7 (1 government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in 6 of the 34 provinces) (2006)

Televisions:

100,000 (1999)

Internet country code:

.af

Internet hosts:

31 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

580,000 (2007)

Communications - note:

Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul (2005)

Transportation
Afghanistan

Airports:

46 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 34 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Heliports:

9 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 466 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 42,150 km paved: 12,350 km unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,200 km (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Military
Afghanistan

Military branches:

Afghan Armed Forces: Afghan National Army (ANA, includes Afghan
National Army Air Corps) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-year term (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,431,147 females age 16-49: 7,004,819 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,234,180 females age 16-49: 3,946,685 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 371,451 female: 351,295 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Afghanistan

Disputes - international:

Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to foreign terrorists and other illegal activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 132,246 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in south and west due to drought and instability) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

world's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation increased 17% to a near-record 202,000 hectares in 2007; good growing conditions pushed potential opium production to a record 8,000 metric tons, up 42% from last year; if the entire opium crop were processed, 947 metric tons of heroin potentially could be produced; drug trade is a source of instability and the Taliban and other antigovernment groups participate in and profit from the drug trade; widespread corruption impedes counterdrug efforts; most of the heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan opium; vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal financial networks; regional source of hashish

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Akrotiri

Introduction
Akrotiri

Background:

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

Geography
Akrotiri

Location:

Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Geographic coordinates:

##### 34 37 N, 32 58 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 123 sq km note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 47.4 km border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km

Coastline:

56.3 km

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues:

shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

Geography - note:

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

People
Akrotiri

Population:

approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK-based contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents

Languages:

English, Greek

Government
Akrotiri

Country name:

conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area conventional short form: Akrotiri

Dependency status:

a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Capital:

name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia) geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution:

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960, functions as a basic legal document

Legal system:

the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

the flag of the UK is used

Economy
Akrotiri

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Currency (code):

euro (EUR) adopted 1 January 2008; note - the Cypriot pound (CYP) formerly used

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Communications
Akrotiri

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

Military
Akrotiri

Military - note:

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on
Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Albania

Introduction
Albania

Background:

Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.

Geography
Albania

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north

Geographic coordinates:

##### 41 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 717 km border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km

Coastline:

362 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Terrain:

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3,530 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

41.7 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%) per capita: 546 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

People
Albania

Population:

3,619,778 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.6% (male 447,126/female 406,757) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,239,819/female 1,180,720) 65 years and over: 9.5% (male 160,241/female 185,115) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.5 years male: 28.9 years female: 30.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.538% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.78 years male: 75.12 years female: 80.71 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Ethnic groups:

Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.) note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

Religions:

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Languages:

Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach,
Romani, Slavic dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.2% female: 98.3% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2002)

Government
Albania

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Government type:

emerging democracy

Capital:

name: Tirana (Tirane) geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore

Independence:

28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution:

adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998

Legal system:

has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; People's Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority (84 votes) required): Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts

Political parties and leaders:

Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania or
PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [Neritan
CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement
Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [Arjan
STAROVA]; Movement for National Development or LZhK [Dashamir
SHEHI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Artur ROSHI];
New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or
PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social
Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration
or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for
Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade
Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian
National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement; Omonia
[Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH
[Gezim KALAJA]

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 2247285 FAX: [355] (4) 2232222

Flag description:

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Economy
Albania

Economy - overview:

Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray economy and attracting foreign investment. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for more than one-fifth of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The completion of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission line between Albania and Montenegro will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side, macroeconomic growth was strong in 2003-07 and inflation is low and stable.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.87 billion note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50% of official GDP (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.62 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.2% industry: 20.5% services: 58.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (September 2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 58% industry: 15% services: 27% (September 2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13.2% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 24.4% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26.7 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.782 billion expenditures: $3.155 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

51.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.1% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.707 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$6.433 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$7.341 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products

Industries:

food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.892 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.607 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

6,425 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

30,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

748.9 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

24,860 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

199.1 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

30 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

30 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

849.5 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.202 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.076 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Exports - partners:

Italy 72%, Greece 8.8%, China 2.7% (2007)

Imports:

$3.999 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Italy 27.6%, Greece 14.8%, Turkey 7.4%, China 6.8%, Germany 5.6%,
Switzerland 5%, Russia 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA: $318.7 million note: top donors were Italy, EU, Germany (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.162 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.55 billion (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

lek (ALL) note: the plural of lek is leke

Currency code:

##### ALL

Exchange rates:

leke (ALL) per US dollar - 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003)

Communications
Albania

Telephones - main lines in use:

353,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.3 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains low with roughly 10 lines per 100 people; cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density is approximately 75 telephones per 100 persons domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003, two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's neighbors; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005; Internet cafes are popular in Tirana and have started to spread outside the capital international: country code - 355; submarine cable provides connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; the Trans-Balkan Line, a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:

1 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005)

Televisions:

700,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.al

Internet hosts:

10,162 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2001)

Internet users:

471,200 (2006)

Transportation
Albania

Airports:

11 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Waterways:

43 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 24 by type: cargo 22, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Military
Albania

Military branches:

Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense
Command, General Staff Headquarters (includes Logistics Command,
Training and Doctrine Command) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 944,592 females age 16-49: 908,527 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 798,454 females age 16-49: 767,143 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 36,340 female: 33,077 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.49% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Albania

Disputes - international:

the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals; the mass emigration of unemployed Albanians remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Albania is a source country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; it is no longer considered a major country of transit; Albanian victims are trafficked to Greece, Italy, Macedonia, and Kosovo, with many trafficked onward to Western European countries; children were also trafficked to Greece for begging and other forms of child labor; approximately half of all Albanian trafficking victims are under age 18; internal sex trafficking of women and children is on the rise tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Albania is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of victim protection; the government did not appropriately identify trafficking victims during 2007, and has not demonstrated that it is vigorously investigating or prosecuting complicit officials (2008)

Illicit drugs:

increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Algeria

Introduction
Algeria

Background:

After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crackdown on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing activities of extremist militants. The 2006 merger of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) with al-Qaida (followed by a name change to al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb) signaled an increase in bombings, including high-profile, mass-casualty suicide attacks targeted against the Algerian government and Western interests. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems.

Geography
Algeria

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 28 00 N, 3 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 6,343 km border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

Coastline:

998 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

Climate:

arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer

Terrain:

mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m highest point: Tahat 3,003 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

Land use:

arable land: 3.17% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 96.55% (2005)

Irrigated land:

5,690 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

14.3 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 6.07 cu km/yr (22%/13%/65%) per capita: 185 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

People
Algeria

Population:

33,769,668 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.3% (male 4,528,919/female 4,349,746) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,699,701/female 11,509,619) 65 years and over: 5% (male 779,467/female 902,217) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26 years male: 25.8 years female: 26.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.209% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.03 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.77 years male: 72.13 years female: 75.49 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.82 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian

Ethnic groups:

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools

Religions:

Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%

Languages:

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.9% male: 79.6% female: 60.1% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (1999)

Government
Algeria

Country name:

conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Algiers geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

48 provinces (wilayat, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain
Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida,
Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa,
El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel,
Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila,
Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi
Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret,
Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen

Independence:

5 July 1962 (from France)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

Constitution:

8 September 1963; revised 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, 28 November 1996, and 12 November 2008

Legal system:

socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 23 June 2008) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a third term under 2008 amendment to constitution); election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS 6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Al-Shabi Al-Watani (389 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; to serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years) elections: National People's Assembly - last held 17 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 28 December 2006 (next to be held in 2009) election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 136, RND 61, MSP 52, PT 26, RCD 19, FNA 13, other 49, independents 33; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 29, RND 12, MSP 3, RCD 1, independents 3, presidential appointees (unknown affiliation) 24; note - Council seating reflects the number of replaced council members rather than the whole Council

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Ahd 54 [Ali Fauzi REBAINE]; Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa
TOUATI]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali
BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; National Democratic Rally
(Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA];
National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National
Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general];
National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Mohamed BOULAHIA];
National Renewal Party or PRA [Mohamed BENSMAIL]; Rally for Culture
and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda
Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait
AHMED]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace
Movement or MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa
HANOUNE]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted
in March 1997

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Algerian Human Rights League or LADDH [Hocine ZEHOUANE]; SOS
Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC,
OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah BAALI chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David D. PEARCE embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16000 Algiers mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers telephone: [213] 770-08-2000 FAX: [213] 21-60-7355

Flag description:

two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary note: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)

Economy
Algeria

Economy - overview:

The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the eighth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the fourth-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building up record foreign exchange reserves. Algeria has decreased its external debt to less than 10% of GDP after repaying its Paris Club and London Club debt in 2006. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. Structural reform within the economy, such as development of the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure, moves ahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$222.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$131.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.2% industry: 61.5% services: 30.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

9.38 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.3 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $57.03 billion expenditures: $40.53 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

18% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$55.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$28.59 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

##### NA

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle

Industries:

petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

33.12 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

26.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

300 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

382 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.7% hydro: 0.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.173 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

279,800 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.844 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

13,110 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

85.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

26.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

59.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.502 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$32.05 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$60.51 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

Exports - partners:

US 29.4%, Italy 13.8%, Spain 9.6%, Canada 8.4%, France 7.4%,
Netherlands 5% (2007)

Imports:

$26.25 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 18.7%, China 9%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 6%, US 5.5%, Germany 5.3%,
Russia 4.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$370.6 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$110.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.957 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$12.04 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$851 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Algerian dinar (DZD)

Currency code:

##### DZD

Exchange rates:

Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003)

Communications
Algeria

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.068 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

27.563 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: a weak network of fixed-main lines, which remains low at less than 10 telephones per 100 persons, is partially offset by the rapid increase in mobile cellular subscribership; in 2007, combined fixed-line and mobile telephone density surpassed 90 telephones per 100 persons domestic: privatization of Algeria's telecommunications sector began in 2000; three mobile cellular licenses have been issued and, in 2005, a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; the license will allow Orascom to develop high-speed data and other specialized services and contribute to meeting the large unfulfilled demand for basic residential telephony; Internet broadband services began in 2003 with approximately 200,000 subscribers in 2006 international: country code - 213; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

Radios:

7.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.dz

Internet hosts:

477 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

3.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Algeria

Airports:

150 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 52 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 98 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 44 under 914 m: 25 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 1,532 km; gas 13,861 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,408 km; oil 6,878 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,973 km standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 108,302 km paved: 76,028 km (includes 645 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 33 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 9, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 18 (Jordan 7, UK 11) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran,
Skikda

Military
Algeria

Military branches:

National Popular Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian National
Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months civil projects) (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,736,757 females age 16-49: 9,590,978 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,141,864 females age 16-49: 8,215,895 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 374,365 female: 360,942 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Algeria

Disputes - international:

Algeria, and many other states, rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; Algeria remains concerned about armed bandits operating throughout the Sahel who sometimes destabilize southern Algerian towns; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) IDPs: undetermined (civil war during 1990s) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Algeria is a transit country for men and women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude; Algerian children are trafficked internally for the purpose of domestic servitude or street vending tier rating: Tier 3 - Algeria did not report any serious law enforcement actions to punish traffickers who force women into commercial sexual exploitation or men into involuntary servitude in 2007; the government again reported no investigations of trafficking of children for domestic servitude or improvements in protection services available to victims of trafficking; Algeria still lacks victim protection services, and its failure to distinguish between trafficking and illegal migration may result in the punishment of victims of trafficking (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@American Samoa

Introduction
American Samoa

Background:

Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.

Geography
American Samoa

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

116 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

Natural resources:

pumice, pumicite

Land use:

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons common from December to March

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines

Geography - note:

Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South
Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by
peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the
South Pacific Ocean

People
American Samoa

Population:

64,827 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.4% (male 11,337/female 10,946) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 20,335/female 19,728) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 1,161/female 1,320) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.8 years male: 22.7 years female: 23 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.236% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.47 years male: 70.55 years female: 76.56 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups:

native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%

Languages:

Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2% note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
American Samoa

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS

Dependency status:

unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Pago Pago geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

Independence:

none (territory of the US)

National holiday:

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution:

ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967

Legal system:

##### NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003) cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18 note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial branch:

High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F.
FAALEVAO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa

Economy
American Samoa

Economy - overview:

American Samoa has a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US with which American Samoa conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector. note: as a territory of the US, American Samoa does not treat the US as an external trade partner

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$510.1 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$333.8 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

17,630 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate:

29.8% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) expenditures: $127 million (FY96/97)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

##### NA%

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock

Industries:

tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

180 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

167.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,053 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,066 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$445.6 million (FY04 est.)

Exports - commodities:

canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)

Exports - partners:

Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan 11.2%, NZ 7.1% (2006)

Imports:

$308.8 million (FY04 est.)

Imports - commodities:

materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)

Imports - partners:

Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
American Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,200 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

57,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2006)

Televisions:

14,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.as

Internet hosts:

1,923 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
American Samoa

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 221 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Pago Pago

Military
American Samoa

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 806 female: 781 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
American Samoa

Disputes - international:

Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains
Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Andorra

Introduction
Andorra

Background:

For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Geography
Andorra

Location:

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Geographic coordinates:

##### 42 30 N, 1 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 468 sq km land: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 120.3 km border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Terrain:

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Land use:

arable land: 2.13% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

avalanches

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

People
Andorra

Population:

82,627 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 6,606/female 6,192) 15-64 years: 72.5% (male 31,313/female 28,563) 65 years and over: 12% (male 4,906/female 5,047) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.9 years male: 39.2 years female: 38.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.899% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.59 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

13.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 82.67 years male: 80.35 years female: 85.14 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran

Ethnic groups:

Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)

Religions:

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Languages:

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.3% of GDP (2006)

Government
Andorra

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra

Government type:

parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives

Capital:

name: Andorra la Vella geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Independence:

1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel)

National holiday:

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Constitution:

Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993

Legal system:

based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002) and Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since 30 July 2003) head of government: Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005) cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held in April-May 2009) election results: Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the seven parishes; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 24 April 2005 (next to be held in March-April 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%, CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2

Judicial branch:

Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or
Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal
Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or
Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri
Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional

Political parties and leaders:

Andorran Democratic Center Party (formerly Democratic Party or PD) and Century 21 or CDA and S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA] (formerly Liberal Union or UL); Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY] (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carles FONT-ROSSELL chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem

Economy
Andorra

Economy - overview:

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.77 billion (2005)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,800 (2005)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

42,420 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 20.3% services: 79.4% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

0% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $333.5 million expenditures: $386.6 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep

Industries:

tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking, tobacco, furniture

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France;
Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

Electricity - production by source:

##### NA

Exports:

$148.7 million f.o.b. (2005)

Exports - commodities:

tobacco products, furniture

Imports:

$1.879 billion (2005)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, food, electricity

Economic aid - recipient:

$0

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Andorra

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

68,500 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

16,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (1997)

Televisions:

27,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ad

Internet hosts:

23,368 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

58,900 (2007)

Transportation
Andorra

Roadways:

total: 270 km

Military
Andorra

Military branches:

no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,685 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,976 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 412 female: 395 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Transnational Issues
Andorra

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Angola

Introduction
Angola

Background:

Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. President DOS SANTOS has announced legislative elections will be held in September 2008, with presidential elections planned for sometime in 2009.

Geography
Angola

Location:

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,198 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline:

1,600 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use:

arable land: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 97.12% (2005)

Irrigated land:

800 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

184 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%) per capita: 22 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Environment - current issues:

overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

People
Angola

Population:

12,531,357 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.6% (male 2,760,264/female 2,707,665) 15-64 years: 53.6% (male 3,416,914/female 3,302,552) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 151,609/female 192,353) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18 years male: 18 years female: 18 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.136% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

44.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

24.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 182.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 194.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 169.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 37.92 years male: 36.99 years female: 38.9 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

240,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

21,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan

Ethnic groups:

Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.4% male: 82.9% female: 54.2% (2001 est.)

Education expenditures:

2.4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Angola

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Capital:

name: Luanda geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela,
Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene,
Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico,
Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Independence:

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution:

adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by MPLA on 26 September 2008 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 1992 constitution; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held because SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6%, UNITA 10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%; seats by party - MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, ND 2, FNLA 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed between Ngola KABANGU and Lucas NGONDA]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) [Isaias SAMAKUVA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS]; Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA] note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats; they and more than 100 other smaller parties have little influence in the National Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita
Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258 consulate(s) general: Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dan MOZENA embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550 telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000 FAX: [244] (222) 64-1232

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

Economy
Angola

Economy - overview:

Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2007. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Much of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit, since increased to $7 billion, from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects were completed in 2006. Angola also has large credit lines from Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation. This policy became more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings; it has significantly reduced inflation. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2007, the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. Angola became a member of OPEC in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1.9 million barrels a day, somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement government reforms, increase transparency, and reduce corruption. The government has rejected a formal IMF monitored program, although it continues Article IV consultations and ad hoc cooperation. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, and the negative effects of large inflows of foreign exchange, are major challenges facing Angola.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$95.46 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$61.36 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

16.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.5% industry: 65.8% services: 24.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7.148 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 85% industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

9.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $20.18 billion expenditures: $15.53 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

12% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

19.57% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.7% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.153 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$7.216 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.385 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish

Industries:

petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

23.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.513 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.084 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 36.4% hydro: 63.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.91 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

55,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.23 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

19,550 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

9.035 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

680 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

680 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

269.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$13.58 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$45.03 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Exports - partners:

US 32.1%, China 32%, France 5.9%, Taiwan 5.3%, South Africa 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$12.29 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports - partners:

Portugal 19.7%, US 10.9%, China 10.5%, Brazil 10.3%, South Africa 6.6%, France 6.3%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$441.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.357 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$17.23 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$227 million (2006 est.)

Currency (code):

kwanza (AOA)

Currency code:

##### AOA

Exchange rates:

kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003)

Communications
Angola

Telephones - main lines in use:

98,200 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.307 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system inadequate; fewer than one fixed-line per 100 persons; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeded 25 telephones per 100 persons in 2007 domestic: state-owned telecom had monopoly for fixed-lines until 2005; demand outstripped capacity, prices were high, and services poor; Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan company, became the first private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network; Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been extended to larger towns; a privately-owned, mobile-cellular service provider began operations in 2001 international: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)

Radios:

815,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2000)

Televisions:

196,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.ao

Internet hosts:

3,562 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2007)

Transportation
Angola

Airports:

232 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 31 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 201 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 95 under 914 m: 69 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 234 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 896 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,761 km narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Waterways:

1,300 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 6 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1) registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe

Military
Angola

Military branches:

Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG),
Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,856,492 females age 16-49: 2,755,864 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,430,658 females age 16-49: 1,371,689 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 142,791 female: 139,539 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Angola

Disputes - international:

Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan exclave from exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006 ceasefire and peace agreement

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 12,615 (Democratic Republic of Congo) IDPs: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Anguilla

Introduction
Anguilla

Background:

Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.

Geography
Anguilla

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 15 N, 63 10 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 102 sq km land: 102 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

61 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources:

salt, fish, lobster

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues:

supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

Geography - note:

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

People
Anguilla

Population:

14,108 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.8% (male 1,795/female 1,706) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 4,569/female 4,970) 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 510/female 558) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.3 years male: 31.3 years female: 33.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.332% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

13.11 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

14.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.53 years male: 78.01 years female: 83.12 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic groups:

black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 12 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% (1984 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Anguilla

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: The Valley geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

Constitution:

Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Andrew N. GEORGE (since 10 July 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%, ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1

Judicial branch:

High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders:

Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS] (a
coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla
National Alliance or ANA); Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert
HUGHES]; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla
Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below

Economy
Anguilla

Economy - overview:

Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector, contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

6,049 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

23% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $22.8 million expenditures: $22.5 million (2000 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2006 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.76% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$23.57 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$470.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$447.7 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Industries:

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Current account balance:

-$42.87 million (2003 est.)

Exports:

$13 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Exports - partners:

UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2006)

Imports:

$143 million (2006)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Imports - partners:

US, Puerto Rico, UK (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$9 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.8 million (1998)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976

Communications
Anguilla

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: modern internal telephone system international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

3,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ai

Internet hosts:

205 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

3,000 (2002)

Transportation
Anguilla

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 175 km paved: 82 km unpaved: 93 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Military
Anguilla

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,538 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,929 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 103 female: 103 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Anguilla

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Antarctica

Introduction
Antarctica

Background:

Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.

Geography
Antarctica

Location:

continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Geographic coordinates:

##### 90 00 S, 0 00 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 14 million sq km land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:

0 km note: see entry on Disputes - international

Coastline:

17,968 km

Maritime claims:

Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 21 of 28 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entry

Climate:

severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing

Terrain:

about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

Natural resources:

iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2005)

Natural hazards:

katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf

Environment - current issues:

in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the Antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an Antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled Antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming

Geography - note:

the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable

People
Antarctica

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and summer-only staffed research stations note: 28 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate through their National Antarctic Program a number of seasonal-only (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty); these stations' population of persons doing and supporting science or engaged in the management and protection of the Antarctic region varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel, including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research, are present in the waters of the treaty region; peak summer (December-February) population - 4,219 total; Argentina 667, Australia 200, Brazil 40, Bulgaria 15, Chile 237, China 70, Czech Republic 20, Ecuador 26, Finland 20, France 100, France and Italy jointly 45, Germany 90, India 65, Italy 90, Japan 125, South Korea 70, NZ 85, Norway 44, Peru 28, Poland 40, Romania 3, Russia 429, South Africa 80, Spain 28, Sweden 20, Ukraine 24, UK 205, US 1,293, Uruguay 60 (2007-2008); winter (June-August) station population - 1,088 total; Argentina 176, Australia 62, Brazil 12, Chile 96, China 29, France 26, France and Italy jointly 13, Germany 9, India 25, Italy 2, Japan 40, South Korea 18, NZ 10, Norway 7, Poland 12, Russia 148, South Africa 10, Ukraine 12, UK 37, US 337, Uruguay 9 (2008); research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south latitude) by National Antarctic Programs: year-round stations - 38 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France 1, France and Italy jointly 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 5, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (2008); a range of seasonal-only (summer) stations, camps, and refuges - Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, and Uruguay (2007-2008); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research (March 2008 est.)

Government
Antarctica

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica

Government type:

Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Delhi, India in April/May 2007; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2007, there were 46 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 18 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management and 6) liability arising from environmental emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Legal system:

Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extraterritorially; some US laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8030, or visit their website at www.nsf.gov; more generally, access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees south latitude, is subject to a number of relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty

Economy
Antarctica

Economy - overview:

Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2005-06 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 128,081 metric tons (estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which extends slightly beyond the Antarctic Treaty area). Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), is a serious problem. The CCAMLR determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total of 36,460 tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2006-07 Antarctic summer, up from the 30,877 visitors the previous year (estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO); this does not include passengers on overflights). Nearly all of them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Most tourist trips last approximately two weeks.

Communications
Antarctica

Telephones - main lines in use:

0; note - information for US bases only (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: local systems at some research stations domestic: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number of locations international: country code - none allocated; via satellite (including mobile Inmarsat and Iridium systems) to and from all research stations, ships, aircraft, and most field parties (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

FM 2, shortwave 1 (information for US bases only); note - many research stations have a local FM radio station (2007)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (cable system with 6 channels; American Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo - information for US bases only) (2002)

Televisions:

several hundred at McMurdo Station (US) note: information for US bases only (2001)

Internet country code:

.aq

Internet hosts:

7,748 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Transportation
Antarctica

Airports:

27 (2008)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (2008)

Heliports:

53 note: all year-round and seasonal stations operated by National Antarctic Programs stations have some kind of helicopter landing facilities, prepared (helipads) or unprepared (2007)

Ports and terminals:

there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), and Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage is sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states parties to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude south, have to be complied with (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica (HCA), a special hydrographic commission of International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area; members of HCA are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, UK, and US (2007)

Military
Antarctica

Military - note:

the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes

Transnational Issues
Antarctica

Disputes - international:

the Antarctic Treaty freezes, and most states do not recognize, the land and maritime territorial claims made by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom (some overlapping) for three-fourths of the continent; the US and Russia reserve the right to make claims; no claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; the International Whaling Commission created a sancturary around the entire continent to deter catches by countries claiming to conduct scientific whaling; Australia has established a similar preserve in the waters around its territorial claim

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Antigua and Barbuda

Introduction
Antigua and Barbuda

Background:

The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

Geography
Antigua and Barbuda

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 17 03 N, 61 48 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 442.6 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

153 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Natural resources:

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Land use:

arable land: 18.18% permanent crops: 4.55% other: 77.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%) per capita: 63 cu m/yr (1990)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor

People
Antigua and Barbuda

Population:

84,522 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 11,670/female 11,318) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 26,138/female 29,859) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 2,408/female 3,129) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.5 years male: 28 years female: 30.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.305% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.49 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.25 years male: 72.33 years female: 76.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Ethnic groups:

black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%,
Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%,
Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or
unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), local dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 85.8% male: NA% female: NA% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2002)

Government
Antigua and Barbuda

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government

Capital:

name: Saint John's geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip

Independence:

1 November 1981 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)

Constitution:

1 November 1981

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ALP 4, UPP 13

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction); member Caribbean Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur NIBBS]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three parties - Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM, United National Democratic Party or UNDP)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's
Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Flag description:

red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band

Economy
Antigua and Barbuda

Economy - overview:

Antigua has a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most other Caribbean nations. It has experienced solid growth since 2003, driven by a construction boom in hotels and housing that which should wind down in 2008. Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals. Since taking office in 2004, the SPENCER government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program, but will continue to be saddled by its debt burden with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.526 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.089 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$18,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 22% services: 74.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

30,000 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7% industry: 11% services: 82% (1983)

Unemployment rate:

11% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $123.7 million expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.44% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$294.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$902 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.002 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

Industries:

tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

105 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

97.65 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,109 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

157.7 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,556 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$-211 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$84.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals

Exports - partners:

Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore 5.8%, UK 4.9% (2006)

Imports:

$522.8 million (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil

Imports - partners:

US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.7%, Spain 6.5% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$7.23 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$359.8 million (June 2006)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976

Communications
Antigua and Barbuda

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,500 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

110,200 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: good automatic telephone system international: country code - 1-268; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

36,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

31,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ag

Internet hosts:

2,215 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

60,000 (2007)

Transportation
Antigua and Barbuda

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,165 km paved: 384 km unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,146 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 50, cargo 651, carrier 4, chemical tanker 5, container 392, liquefied gas 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 20 foreign-owned: 1,113 (Australia 1, Colombia 2, Cyprus 18, Denmark 19, Estonia 23, France 1, Germany 941, Greece 3, Iceland 12, Italy 1, Latvia 13, Lithuania 5, Netherlands 20, NZ 2, Norway 8, Poland 2, Russia 4, Slovenia 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 8, Turkey 6, UK 9, US 8) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Saint John's

Military
Antigua and Barbuda

Military branches:

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 19,560 females age 16-49: 18,977 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,591 females age 16-49: 15,542 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 744 female: 742 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Antigua and Barbuda

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Arctic Ocean

Introduction
Arctic Ocean

Background:

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.

Geography
Arctic Ocean

Location:

body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle

Geographic coordinates:

##### 90 00 N, 0 00 E

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 14.056 million sq km note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:

45,389 km

Climate:

polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

Terrain:

central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)

Natural hazards:

ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack

Geography - note:

major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months

Economy
Arctic Ocean

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

Transportation
Arctic Ocean

Ports and terminals:

Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Transportation - note:

sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

Transnational Issues
Arctic Ocean

Disputes - international:

the littoral states are engaged in various stages of demonstrating the limits of their continental shelves beyond 200 nautical miles from their declared baselines in accordance with Article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; record summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has restimulated interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor exploration

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Argentina

Introduction
Argentina

Background:

In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents. The economy has recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002.

Geography
Argentina

Location:

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Chile and Uruguay

Geographic coordinates:

##### 34 00 S, 64 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 2,766,890 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 30,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 9,861 km border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261 km, Chile 5,308 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 580 km

Coastline:

4,989 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Terrain:

rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza)

Natural resources:

fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Land use:

arable land: 10.03% permanent crops: 0.36% other: 89.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:

15,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

814 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 29.19 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%) per capita: 753 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding

Environment - current issues:

environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

People
Argentina

Population:

40.482 million (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.8% (male 5,341,642/female 5,095,325) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 12,807,458/female 12,884,745) 65 years and over: 10.8% (male 1,784,652/female 2,568,176) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.7 years male: 28.8 years female: 30.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.068% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

18.11 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.36 years male: 73.11 years female: 79.77 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.37 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

130,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine

Ethnic groups:

white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%

Religions:

nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.2% male: 97.2% female: 97.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2004)

Government
Argentina

Country name:

conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Buenos Aires geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 40 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends third Saturday in March; note - a new policy of daylight saving time was initiated by the government on 30 December 2007

Administrative divisions:

23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur, Tucuman note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

Independence:

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Constitution:

1 May 1853; amended many times starting in 1860

Legal system:

mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007); Vice President Julio COBOS (since 10 December 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007); Vice President Julio COBOS (since 10 December 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 October 2007 (next election to be held in 2011) election results: Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER elected president; percent of vote - Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER 45%, Elisa CARRIO 23%, Roberto LAVAGNA 17%, Alberto Rodriguez SAA 8%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 28 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 28 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - FV 12, UCR 4, CC 4, other 4; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - FV 5, UCR 10, PJ 10, PRO 6, CC 16, FJ 2, other 31; note - Senate and Chamber of Deputies seating reflect the number of replaced senators and deputies, rather than the whole Senate and Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate) note: the Supreme Court currently has two unfilled vacancies, and the Argentine Congress is considering a bill to reduce the number of Supreme Court judges to five

Political parties and leaders:

Coalicion Civica (a broad coalition loosely affiliated with Elisa CARRIO); Front for Victory or FV (a broad coalition, including elements of the UCR and numerous provincial parties) [Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition of approximately 12 parties including PRO); Justicialist Front or FJ; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Gerardo MORALES]; Republican Proposal or PRO (including Federal Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY] and Commitment for Change or CPC [Mauricio MACRI]); Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincial parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Roman Catholic Church other: business organizations; Peronist-dominated labor movement; Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that can be either pro or anti-government); students

International organization participation:

AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN
(associate), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina
(observer), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hector Marcos TIMERMAN chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Earl Anthony WAYNE embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires mailing address: international mail: use embassy street address; APO address: US Embassy Buenos Aires, Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533 FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May

Economy
Argentina

Economy - overview:

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - the largest in history - on the government's foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 9% annually over the subsequent five years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation, however, reached double-digit levels in 2006 and the government of President Nestor KIRCHNER responded with "voluntary" price agreements with businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints. Multi-year price freezes on electricity and natural gas rates for residential users stoked consumption and kept private investment away, leading to restrictions on industrial use and blackouts in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$526.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$260 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.5% industry: 34% services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

16.03 million note: urban areas only (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1% industry: 23% services: 76% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

23.4% (January-June 2007)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 35% (January-March 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $48.99 billion expenditures: $61.23 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

56.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.8% official rate; actual rate may be double the official rate (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.05% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$33.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$45.92 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$72.55 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock

Industries:

food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

109.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

97.72 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

10.27 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 52.2% hydro: 40.8% nuclear: 6.7% other: 0.2% (2001)

Oil - production:

790,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

525,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

339,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

23,380 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

2.587 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

44.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

44.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

2.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

446 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$7.438 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$55.78 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat

Exports - partners:

Brazil 19.1%, China 9.4%, US 7.9%, Chile 7.6% (2007)

Imports:

$42.53 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics

Imports - partners:

Brazil 34.6%, US 12.6%, China 12%, Germany 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$99.66 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$46.12 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$135.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$65.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$26.26 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$79.73 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Argentine peso (ARS)

Currency code:

##### ARS

Exchange rates:

Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.1105 (2007), 3.0543 (2006), 2.9037 (2005), 2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003)

Communications
Argentina

Telephones - main lines in use:

9.5 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

40.402 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market to competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of modern telecommunications technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being installed between all major cities; major networks are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is improving; fixed-line telephone density is gradually increasing reaching nearly 25 lines per 100 people in 2007; mobile telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and has reached a level of 100 telephones per 100 persons domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network; more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone use is rapidly expanding; broadband services are gaining ground international: country code - 54; landing point for the Atlantis-2, UNISUR, and South America-1 optical submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations - 112; 2 international gateways near Buenos Aires (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 260 (includes 10 inactive stations), FM (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios:

24.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

7.95 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ar

Internet hosts:

3.813 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

33 (2000)

Internet users:

9.309 million (2007)

Transportation
Argentina

Airports:

1,272 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 154 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,118 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 44 914 to 1,523 m: 515 under 914 m: 556 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 28,657 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 5,607 km; refined products 3,052 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 31,902 km broad gauge: 20,858 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified) narrow gauge: 7,922 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 231,374 km paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 161,962 km (2004)

Waterways:

11,000 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 46 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 9, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 14 (Brazil 1, Chile 7, Spain 2, UK 4) registered in other countries: 19 (Liberia 3, Panama 8, Paraguay 5, Uruguay 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Arroyo Seco, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada,
Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin

Military
Argentina

Military branches:

Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine Republic
(Armada Republica; includes naval aviation and naval infantry),
Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires parental permission); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,029,488 females age 16-49: 9,889,002 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,352,147 females age 16-49: 8,366,781 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 348,310 female: 332,944 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military - note:

the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military is implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2008)

Transnational Issues
Argentina

Disputes - international:

Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims; unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in 2006, Argentina went to the ICJ to protest, on environmental grounds, the construction of two pulp mills in Uruguay on the Uruguay River, which forms the boundary; both parties presented their pleadings in 2007 with Argentina's reply in January and Uruguay's rejoinder in July 2008; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Argentina is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; most victims are trafficked within the country, from rural to urban areas; child sex tourism is a problem; foreign women and children, primarily from Paraguay, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic, are trafficked to Argentina for commercial sexual exploitation; Argentine women and girls are also trafficked to neighboring countries, Mexico, and Western Europe for sexual exploitation; a significant number of Bolivians, Peruvians, and Paraguayans are trafficked into the country for forced labor in sweatshops, agriculture, and as domestic servants tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - despite some progress, Argentina remains on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of providing adequate assistance to victims and curbing official complicity with trafficking activity, especially on the provincial and local levels; the Argentine Congress has demonstrated progress by enacting much-needed and first-ever federal anti-trafficking legislation (2008)

Illicit drugs:

a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; law enforcement corruption; a source for precursor chemicals; increasing domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers, especially cocaine base and synthetic drugs

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Armenia

Introduction
Armenia

Background:

Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Geography
Armenia

Location:

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

##### 40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 29,743 sq km land: 28,454 sq km water: 1,289 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain:

Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Natural resources:

small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 16.78% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.21% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,860 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

10.5 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%) per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Environment - current issues:

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

People
Armenia

Population:

2,968,586 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.7% (male 296,401/female 259,594) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 975,438/female 1,111,989) 65 years and over: 11% (male 128,398/female 196,766) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.1 years male: 28.4 years female: 34 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.077% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.53 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.34 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.4 years male: 68.79 years female: 76.55 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups:

Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)

Religions:

Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Languages:

Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4% male: 99.7% female: 99.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.2% of GDP (2001)

Government
Armenia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Yerevan geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Independence:

21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Constitution:

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013); prime minister appointed by the president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program election results: Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - HHK 33.9%, Prosperous Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party 6%, other 24.7%; seats by party - HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF (Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Political parties and leaders:

Armenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABYAN]; Armenian
People's Party [Tigran KARAPETYAN]; Armenian Ramkavar Azadagan Party
Alliance or HRAK (includes former Dashink Party, National Revival
Party, and Ramkavar Liberal Party); Armenian Revolutionary
Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Heritage
Party [Raffi HOVHANNISYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh
KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN];
National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN]; People's Party of Armenia
[Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSAROUKYAN]; Republic
Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Republican Party of Armenia or HHK [Serzh
SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur BAGHDASARIAN];
Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor
Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Aylentrank (Impeachment) [Nikol PASHINYAN]; Yerkrapah Union [Manvel
GRIGORIAN]

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC,
EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082 mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020 telephone: [374](10) 464-700 FAX: [374](10) 464-742

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

Economy
Armenia

Economy - overview:

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has made progress in implementing many economic reforms including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates. Economic growth has averaged over 13% in recent years. Armenia has managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Nuclear power plants built at Metsamor in the 1970s were closed following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, though they sustained no damage. One of the two reactors was re-opened in 1995, but the Armenian government is under international pressure to close it due to concerns that the Soviet era design lacks important safeguards. Metsamor provides 40 percent of the country's electricity - hydropower accounts for about one-fourth. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005. Construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Armenia is halfway completed and is scheduled to be commissioned by January 2009. Armenia has some mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite). Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other nonferrous metals are Armenia's highest valued exports. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement. Despite strong economic growth, Armenia's unemployment rate remains high. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to improve its economic competitiveness and to build on recent improvements in poverty and unemployment, especially given its economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.17 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.974 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

13.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.2% industry: 36.4% services: 46.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.2 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 46.2% industry: 15.6% services: 38.2% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

26.5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

33.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.666 billion expenditures: $1.735 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.52% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.507 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$765.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.256 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Industries:

diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.544 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

4.539 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

322.6 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

400.6 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 42.3% hydro: 27% nuclear: 30.7% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

41,090 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

44,670 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.05 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.05 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance:

-$571.4 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports - partners:

Russia 17.5%, Germany 14.7%, Netherlands 13.5%, Belgium 8.7%, Georgia 7.6%, US 6.6%, Switzerland 4.3%, Bulgaria 4.1%, Ukraine 4% (2007)

Imports:

$2.807 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners:

Russia 15.1%, Ukraine 7.7%, Kazakhstan 7.4%, Germany 6.8%, China 6%,
France 4.6%, US 4.5%, Iraq 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $180 million (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.657 billion (December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.372 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$42.8 million (2005)

Currency (code):

dram (AMD)

Currency code:

##### AMD

Exchange rates:

drams (AMD) per US dollar - 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003)

Communications
Armenia

Telephones - main lines in use:

603,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,185,400 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a second provider began operations in mid-2005 domestic: reliable modern landline and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan in major cities and towns; significant but ever-shrinking gaps remain in mobile-cellular coverage in rural areas international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)

Radios:

850,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

48 (private television stations alongside 2 public networks; major Russian channels widely available) (2006)

Televisions:

825,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.am

Internet hosts:

26,081 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2001)

Internet users:

172,800 (2006)

Transportation
Armenia

Airports:

12 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,036 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 839 km broad gauge: 839 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified) note: some lines are out of service (2006)

Roadways:

total: 7,700 km paved: 7,700 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2006)

Military
Armenia

Military branches:

Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force
(NKSDF), Air Force and Air Defense (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 809,576 females age 16-49: 870,864 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 637,776 females age 16-49: 729,846 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 30,548 female: 29,170 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

6.5% of GDP (FY01)

Transnational Issues
Armenia

Disputes - international:

Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; Armenians continue to emigrate, primarily to Russia, seeking employment

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 113,295 (Azerbaijan) IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Armenia is primarily a source country for women and girls trafficked to the UAE and Turkey for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Armenian men and women are trafficked to Turkey and Russia for the purpose of forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for a fourth consecutive year; its efforts to increase compliance with the minimum standards were assessed based on its commitments to undertake future actions, particularly in the areas of improving victim protection and assistance; while the government elevated anti-trafficking responsibilities to the ministerial level, adopted a new National Action Plan, and drafted a National Referral Mechanism, it has yet to show tangible progress in identifying and protecting victims or in tackling trafficking complicity of government officials; the Armenian Government made some notable improvements in its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, but it failed to demonstrate evidence of investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences of officials complicit in trafficking (2008)

Illicit drugs:

illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Aruba

Introduction
Aruba

Background:

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

Geography
Aruba

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 30 N, 69 58 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 193 sq km land: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

68.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Natural resources:

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Land use:

arable land: 10.53% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)

People
Aruba

Population:

101,541 note: estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-1999 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent with the 2000 census (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.4% (male 9,933/female 9,747) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,123/female 37,228) 65 years and over: 10.4% (male 4,189/female 6,321) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.6 years male: 35.8 years female: 39.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.501% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.81 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

9.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.06 years male: 72.03 years female: 78.14 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic groups:

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 80.8%, Protestant 9%, other (includes Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish) 5.6%, none or unspecified 4.6%

Languages:

Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%, Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 97.3% male: 97.5% female: 97.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.8% of GDP (2005)

Government
Aruba

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status:

member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Oranjestad geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:

Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

Constitution:

1 January 1986

Legal system:

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held in 2005 (next to be held by 2009) election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1

Judicial branch:

Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: environmental groups

International organization participation:

Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba

Flag description:

blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy
Aruba

Economy - overview:

Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the country's oil refinery reopened in 1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.4% industry: 33.3% services: 66.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Unemployment rate:

6.9% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $507.9 million expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

46.3% of GDP (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2005)

Central bank discount rate:

5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.01% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$640.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$792.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.348 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

aloes; livestock; fish

Industries:

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

800 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

744 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2,356 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

7,102 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

233,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

238,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Exports:

$124 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2006)

Exports - commodities:

live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Exports - partners:

Panama 29.7%, Colombia 17%, Netherlands Antilles 13.2%, US 11.3%,
Venezuela 10.9%, Netherlands 9.2% (2007)

Imports:

$1.054 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

US 54.6%, Netherlands 12%, UK 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$11.3 million (2004)

Debt - external:

$478.6 million (2005 est.)

Currency (code):

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code:

##### AWG

Exchange rates:

Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)

Communications
Aruba

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

105,700 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

50,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

20,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.aw

Internet hosts:

17,661 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

24,000 (2007)

Transportation
Aruba

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Military
Aruba

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; the Netherlands maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 24,585 females age 16-49: 25,742 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,173 females age 16-49: 21,062 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 705 female: 719 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues
Aruba

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Introduction
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Background:

These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000.

Geography
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island

Area - comparative:

about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

74.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

low with sand and coral

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:

illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems

Geography - note:

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983;
Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000

People
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only

Government
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Legal system:

the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Transnational Issues
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Disputes - international:

as the closest Australian territory to Indonesia, these islands became the target of human traffickers for the landing of illegal immigrants; in 2001, the Australian government removed these islands from the Australian Migration Zone making illegal arrivals ineligible for temporary visas and entry into Australia

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Atlantic Ocean

Introduction
Atlantic Ocean

Background:

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.

Geography
Atlantic Ocean

Location:

body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:

##### 0 00 N, 25 00 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 76.762 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador
Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the
Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:

111,866 km

Climate:

tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November

Terrain:

surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones

Natural hazards:

icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December)

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea

Geography - note:

major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

Economy
Atlantic Ocean

Economy - overview:

The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).

Transportation
Atlantic Ocean

Ports and terminals:

Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona
(Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon
(Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),
Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands,
Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille
(France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy),
New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway),
Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam
(Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)

Transportation - note:

Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US; the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore Atlantic waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa, the east coast of Brazil, and the Caribbean Sea; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Transnational Issues
Atlantic Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Australia

Introduction
Australia

Background:

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include climate-change issues such as the depletion of the ozone layer and more frequent droughts, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

Geography
Australia

Location:

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

##### 27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 7,686,850 sq km land: 7,617,930 sq km water: 68,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

25,760 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Terrain:

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports

Land use:

arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.04% other: 93.81% (2005)

Irrigated land:

25,450 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

398 cu km (1995)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%) per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world

People
Australia

Population:

21,007,310 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.8% (male 2,022,151/female 1,919,002) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,233,555/female 7,038,722) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,266,166/female 1,527,714) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.1 years male: 36.4 years female: 37.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.221% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.53 years male: 79.16 years female: 84.02 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

Ethnic groups:

white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Religions:

Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)

Languages:

English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 20 years male: 20 years female: 21 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Australia

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia

Government type:

federal parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Canberra geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March note: Australia is divided into three time zones

Administrative divisions:

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent areas:

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)
Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands,
Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island

Independence:

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the
anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25
April (1915)

Constitution:

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system:

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3 December 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3 December 2007) cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives) elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be held no later than 2010); House of Representatives - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be called no later than 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, other 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10, independents 2

Judicial branch:

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

Political parties and leaders:

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN];
Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Jodeen
CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [Malcolm
TURNBULL]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: business groups; environmental groups; social groups; trade unions

International organization participation:

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris
Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000 FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr. embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 mailing address: APO AP 96549 telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600 FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars

Economy
Australia

Economy - overview:

Australia has an enviable, strong economy with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Robust business and consumer confidence and high export prices for raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy, particularly in mining states. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, a housing market boom, and growing ties with China have been key factors behind the economy's 16 solid years of expansion. Drought, robust import demand, and a strong currency have pushed the trade deficit up in recent years, while infrastructure bottlenecks and a tight labor market are constraining growth in export volumes and stoking inflation. Australia's budget has been in surplus since 2002 due to strong revenue growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$773 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$908.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$37,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3% industry: 26.4% services: 70.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

10.95 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.2% services: 75.2% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.5 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $321.9 billion expenditures: $315.8 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

15.6% of GDP note: the Commonwealth government eliminated its net debt in 2006, but continues a gross debt issue to support the market for risk-free securities (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.02% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$298.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$667.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.312 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

244.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

220 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 8.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0.9% (2001)

Oil - production:

600,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

966,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

337,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

615,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

43.62 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

19.91 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

5.689 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$56.78 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$142.1 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports - partners:

Japan 18.9%, China 14.2%, South Korea 8%, US 6%, NZ 5.6%, India 5.5%, UK 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$160 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

Imports - partners:

China 15.5%, US 12.8%, Japan 9.6%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany 5.2%, UK 4.3%, Thailand 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $2.123 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$26.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$826.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$315 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$280.6 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$804.1 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Australia

Telephones - main lines in use:

9.76 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

21.26 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

25.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

104 (1997)

Televisions:

10.15 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.au

Internet hosts:

11.134 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

571 (2002)

Internet users:

11.24 million (2007)

Transportation
Australia

Airports:

461 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 317 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 138 914 to 1,523 m: 143 under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 144 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 109 under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 469 km; gas 26,719 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,720 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 38,550 km broad gauge: 3,727 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 20,519 km 1.435-m gauge (1,877 km electrified) narrow gauge: 14,074 km 1.067-m gauge (2,453 km electrified) dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 812,972 km paved: 341,448 km unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)

Waterways:

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 50 by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 24 (Canada 9, France 1, Germany 2, Japan 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Singapore 1, UK 5, US 2) registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Belize 1, Bermuda 1, Dominica 2, Fiji 1, Marshall Islands 1, NZ 1, Panama 4, Singapore 12, Tonga 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,
Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney

Military
Australia

Military branches:

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian
Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,999,988 females age 16-49: 4,870,043 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,137,176 females age 16-49: 4,022,588 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 144,934 female: 137,511 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Australia

Disputes - international:

Timor-Leste and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Timor-Leste hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia in the Timor Sea; regional states continue to express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; in 2004 Australia submitted its claims to Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental margins covering over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly thirty percent more than its claimed exclusive economic zone; since 2003, Australia has led the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security

Illicit drugs:

Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Austria

Introduction
Austria

Background:

Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

Geography
Austria

Location:

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 83,870 sq km land: 82,444 sq km water: 1,426 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 2,562 km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

Terrain:

in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

Natural resources:

oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 16.59% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 82.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

84 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%) per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)

Natural hazards:

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

People
Austria

Population:

8,205,533 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 621,326/female 592,131) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,783,531/female 2,753,389) 65 years and over: 17.7% (male 599,415/female 855,741) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.7 years male: 40.7 years female: 42.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.064% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.36 years male: 76.46 years female: 82.41 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian

Ethnic groups:

Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)

Languages:

German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA female: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Austria

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Vienna geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),
Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),
Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Independence:

976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality

Constitution:

1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; note - during the period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution in place

Legal system:

civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004) head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2 December 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2010); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER 47.6% note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according to its population; members serve a five- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council - last held 28 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2013) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%; seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20

Judicial branch:

Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Stefan PETZNER];
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERER]; Freedom Party of
Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party
of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER
BELLEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional
members), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Andreas Riecken chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David F. GIRARD-DICARLO embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0 FAX: [43] (1) 3100682

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Economy
Austria

Economy - overview:

Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. The Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. The outgoing government has successfully pursued a comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining government and creating a more competitive business environment, further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment location. It has implemented effective pension reforms; however, lower taxes in 2005-06 led to a small budget deficit in 2006 and 2007. Boosted by strong exports, growth nevertheless reached 3.3% in both 2006 and 2007, although the economy may slow in 2008 because of the strong euro, high oil prices, and problems in international financial markets. To meet increased competition - especially from new EU members and Central European countries - Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging population.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$322 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$373.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$39,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.6% industry: 30.3% services: 68% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.566 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3% industry: 27% services: 70% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

5.9% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $177.5 billion expenditures: $179.9 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

59.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.3% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$599.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Industries:

construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

59.31 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

62.35 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

15.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

22.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 29.3% hydro: 67.2% nuclear: 0% other: 3.5% (2001)

Oil - production:

24,920 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

289,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

46,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

313,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

50 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.848 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.436 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

2.767 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

9.658 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$12.03 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$162.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 29.8%, Italy 8.8%, US 4.9%, Switzerland 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$160.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Germany 45.5%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.498 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$18.22 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$752.5 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$222.9 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$208.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$126.3 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Austria

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.374 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9.768 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed and efficient domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

6.08 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

4.25 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.at

Internet hosts:

2.806 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

37 (2000)

Internet users:

4.277 million (2007)

Transportation
Austria

Airports:

55 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 26 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 6,383 km standard gauge: 5,924 km 1.435-m gauge (3,772 km electrified) narrow gauge: 371 km 1.000-m gauge; 88 km 0.760-m gauge (25 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 107,262 km paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

358 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 4 by type: cargo 2, container 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Military
Austria

Military branches:

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military service age and obligation:

18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 7 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,986,411 females age 16-49: 1,944,834 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,617,385 females age 16-49: 1,583,886 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 50,869 female: 48,246 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Austria

Disputes - international:

while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Azerbaijan

Introduction
Azerbaijan

Background:

Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 600,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the government has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years, the promise of widespread wealth from development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.

Geography
Azerbaijan

Location:

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and
Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Geographic coordinates:

##### 40 30 N, 47 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 86,600 sq km land: 86,100 sq km water: 500 sq km note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain:

large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,550 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

30.3 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%) per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

People
Azerbaijan

Population:

8,177,717 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,061,318/female 947,607) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 2,753,277/female 2,855,406) 65 years and over: 6.8% (male 208,293/female 351,816) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.9 years male: 26.3 years female: 29.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.723% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 62.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.31 years male: 62.2 years female: 71 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.05 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani

Ethnic groups:

Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Religions:

Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

Languages:

Azerbaijani (Azeri) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.2% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.1% of GDP (2006)

Government
Azerbaijan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Baku (Baki, Baky) geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar -
singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika)
rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu,
Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda
Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,
Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,
Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,
Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,
Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,
Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax
Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,
Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,
Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar
Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab
Rayonu
cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran
Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit
Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari
autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi

Independence:

30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)

Constitution:

adopted 12 November 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 88.7%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates with smaller percentages note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, Motherland 2, other parties with single seats 9, independents 42, undetermined 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Azadliq (Freedom) coalition (Popular Front Party, Liberal Party,
Citizens' Development Party); Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP
[Sardar JALALOGLU]; Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (ADRP) Youth
Movement [Ramin HAJILI]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF, now split
in two [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform" APF party; Mirmahmud
MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" APF party]; Azerbaijan Public Forum
[Eldar NAMAZOV]; Citizens' Development Party [Ali ALIYEV]; Civil
Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Dalga Youth Movement
[Vafa JAFAROVA]; Green Party [Mais GULALIYEV and Tarana MAMMADOVA];
Hope (Umid) Party [Iqbal AGAZADE]; Ireli Youth Movement [Jeyhun
OSMANLI, Roya TALIBOVA, Farhad MAMMADOV, Elnara GARIBOVA, Elnur
MAMMADOV, Ziya ALIYEV]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV]; Liberal
Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Magam Youth Movement
[Emin HUSEYNOV]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; Musavat
(Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Musavat Party Youth Movement
[Elnur MAMMADLI]; National Democratic Party or Grey Wolves
(Nationalist, Pan-Turkic) [Iskender HAMIDOV]; Open Society Party
[Rasul GULIYEV, in exile in the US]; Party for National Independence
of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Ayaz RUSTAMOV]; Popular Front Party Youth
Movement [Seymur KHAZIYEV]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or
SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)]; Turkish
Nationalist Party [Vugar BAYTURAN]; United Azerbaijan Party [Karrar
ABILOV]; United Azerbaijan National Unity Party [Hajibaba AZIMOV];
United Party [Tahir KARIMLI]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party [President
Ilham ALIYEV]; Yeni Azerbaijan Party Youth Movement [Ramil HASANOV];
Yox (No) Youth Movement [Ali ISMAYILOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties;

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (self-proclaimed); Karabakh Liberation Organization; Sadval, Lezgin movement; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces or UPAF

International organization participation:

ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yashar ALIYEV chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE embassy: 83 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337 FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

Economy
Azerbaijan

Economy - overview:

Azerbaijan's high economic growth in 2006 and 2007 is attributable to large and growing oil exports. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997, but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have committed $60 billion to long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. A consortium of Western oil companies began pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early 2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. By 2010 revenues from this project will double the country's current GDP. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, pervasive corruption, and elevated inflation. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance, while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$64.66 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$31.32 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

23.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.2% industry: 63.3% services: 30.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

5.243 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 41% industry: 7% services: 52% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

1% official rate (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

24% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29.5% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.5 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.755 billion expenditures: $8.572 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

6.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

16.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

13% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.13% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.261 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.593 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.726 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Industries:

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

25% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

23.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

27.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

800 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

500 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 89.7% hydro: 10.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.099 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

160,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

795,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

4,267 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

7 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.77 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.77 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$9.019 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$21.27 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Turkey 17.4%, Italy 15.5%, Russia 8.7%, Iran 7.2%, Indonesia 6.4%,
Israel 6.1%, Georgia 5.7%, US 4.8%, France 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$6.045 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Russia 17.6%, Turkey 10.9%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 8.2%, UK 7.2%,
Japan 5.2%, China 4.9%, US 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $223.4 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.273 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.439 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$7.829 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$4.912 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Azerbaijani manat (AZN)

Currency code:

##### AZM

Exchange rates:

Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8581 (2007), 0.8934 (2006), 4,727.1 (2005), 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003) note: on 1 January 2006 Azerbaijan revalued its currency, with 5,000 old manats equal to 1 new manat

Communications
Azerbaijan

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.254 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.3 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and modernization; teledensity of 15 main lines per 100 persons is low; mobile-cellular penetration is increasing and is currently about 50 telephones per 100 persons domestic: fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with three providers in 2006; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan international: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

175,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

170,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.az

Internet hosts:

6,995 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

1.036 million (2007)

Transportation
Azerbaijan

Airports:

35 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 3,857 km; oil 2,436 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,122 km broad gauge: 2,122 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 89 by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 46, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3 registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 2, Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Baku (Baki)

Military
Azerbaijan

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,278,888 females age 16-49: 2,291,770 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,696,167 females age 16-49: 1,923,556 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 94,402 female: 89,686 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Azerbaijan

Disputes - international:

Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 2,400 (Russia) IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Azerbaijan is primarily a source and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, particularly efforts to investigate, prosecute, and punish traffickers; to address complicity among law enforcement personnel; and to adequately identify and protect victims in Azerbaijan; the government has yet to develop a much-needed mechanism to identify potential trafficking victims and refer them to safety and care; poor treatment of trafficking victims in courtrooms continues to be a problem (2008)

Illicit drugs:

limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Bahamas, The

Introduction
Bahamas, The

Background:

Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Geography
Bahamas, The

Location:

Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Geographic coordinates:

##### 24 15 N, 76 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 13,940 sq km land: 10,070 sq km water: 3,870 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,542 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain:

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Natural resources:

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 0.58% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.13% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

Environment - current issues:

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited

People
Bahamas, The

Population:

307,451 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 40,608/female 40,506) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 101,150/female 104,457) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 8,472/female 12,258) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.4 years male: 27.6 years female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.57% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.72 years male: 62.5 years female: 69 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian

Ethnic groups:

black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%

Religions:

Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)

Languages:

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.6% male: 94.7% female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

3.6% of GDP (2000)

Government
Bahamas, The

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas

Government type:

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Nassau geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Administrative divisions:

21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island,
Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay,
Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh
Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands,
Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

Independence:

10 July 1973 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution:

10 July 1973

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Arthur D. HANNA (since 1 February 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the Parliament and call elections at any time elections: last held 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18

Judicial branch:

Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court;
Magistrates' Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; Progressive Liberal
Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Friends of the Environment other: trade unions

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ned L. SIEGEL embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370 telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours) FAX: [1] (242) 328-2206

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

Economy
Bahamas, The

Economy - overview:

The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but tourist arrivals have been on the decline since 2006. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 36% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the government enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international businesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector. Tourism, in turn, depends on growth in the US, the source of more than 80% of the visitors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.553 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.586 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$28,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3% industry: 7% services: 90% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

181,900 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.6% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

9.3% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: 27% (2000)

Budget:

revenues: $1.03 billion expenditures: $1.03 billion (FY04/05)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.5% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.274 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.324 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$7.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Industries:

tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

2.05 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.793 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

26,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

transshipments of 38,740 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

69,780 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.442 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$674 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables

Exports - partners:

US 20.4%, Singapore 15.5%, Spain 14.5%, Poland 14.3%, Germany 6.6%,
Guatemala 5.7%, Switzerland 5.2% (2007)

Imports:

$2.401 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals

Imports - partners:

US 26.7%, South Korea 14.1%, Japan 13.5%, Italy 7.5%, Singapore 5.2%, Venezuela 4.5%, Spain 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.78 million (2004)

Debt - external:

$342.6 million (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Currency code:

##### BSD

Exchange rates:

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003)

Communications
Bahamas, The

Telephones - main lines in use:

132,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

374,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern facilities domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links 14 of the islands and is designed to satisfy increasing demand for voice and broadband internet services international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:

215,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2006)

Televisions:

67,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bs

Internet hosts:

41 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

120,000 (2007)

Transportation
Bahamas, The

Airports:

62 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 24 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,717 km paved: 1,560 km unpaved: 1,133 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,223 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 210, cargo 226, carrier 2, chemical tanker 88, combination ore/oil 12, container 65, liquefied gas 77, passenger 109, passenger/cargo 35, petroleum tanker 209, refrigerated cargo 119, roll on/roll off 16, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 51 foreign-owned: 1,150 (Angola 6, Belgium 15, Bermuda 12, Brazil 2, Canada 84, China 10, Croatia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 25, Denmark 67, Finland 9, France 30, Germany 44, Greece 209, Hong Kong 30, Iceland 1, Indonesia 2, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 1, Italy 4, Japan 87, Jordan 2, Kenya 1, Malaysia 13, Monaco 15, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 9, Nigeria 2, Norway 189, Poland 17, Russia 4, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 17, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, Spain 14, Sweden 4, Switzerland 1, Thailand 5, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 8, UAE 23, UK 56, US 106, Venezuela 1) registered in other countries: 12 (Bolivia 1, Panama 9, Peru 1, Portugal 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Military
Bahamas, The

Military branches:

Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 80,200 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 50,282 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 3,016 female: 3,024 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Bahamas, The

Disputes - international:

disagrees with the US on the alignment the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary; continues to monitor and interdict drug dealers and Haitian and Cuban refugees in Bahamian waters

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bahrain

Introduction
Bahrain

Background:

In 1783, the al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community. Shia political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shi'a discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.

Geography
Bahrain

Location:

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 26 00 N, 50 33 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 665 sq km land: 665 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

161 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Natural resources:

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Land use:

arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2005)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%) per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; dust storms

Environment - current issues:

desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs)

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

People
Bahrain

Population:

718,306 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 95,709/female 93,747) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 288,957/female 212,706) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 14,224/female 12,963) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.9 years male: 33 years female: 26.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.337% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.36 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.92 years male: 72.41 years female: 77.5 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.53 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Ethnic groups:

Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

Languages:

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 88.6% female: 83.6% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (1991)

Government
Bahrain

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Manama geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Independence:

15 August 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

Constitution:

adopted 14 February 2002

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa (since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of Representatives - last held November-December 2006 (next election to be held in 2010) election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11; note - seats by party as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8, al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4, unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1

Judicial branch:

High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:

political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators other: several small leftist and other groups are active

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Houda Ezra Ibrahim NUNU chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Adam ERELI embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1727-0547

Flag description:

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Economy
Bahrain

Economy - overview:

With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries), underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Aluminum is Bahrain's second major export after oil. Other major segments of Bahrain's economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is focused on Islamic banking and is competing on an international scale with Malaysia as a worldwide banking center. Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Continued strong growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are long-term economic problems.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$24.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$19.66 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$33,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 43.6% services: 56% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

437,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1% industry: 79% services: 20% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.418 billion expenditures: $4.968 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

31.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.35% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.169 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$10.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$10.32 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Industries:

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.233 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

8.742 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

48,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

32,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

238,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

221,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

11.33 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

11.33 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$2.907 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$13.79 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 3.5%, US 2.5%, UAE 2.5% (2007)

Imports:

$10.93 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 37.7%, Japan 7.2%, US 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, UK 4.5%, UAE 4.2%, China 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$103.9 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$13.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$7.72 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$21.12 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code:

##### BHD

Exchange rates:

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003)

Communications
Bahrain

Telephones - main lines in use:

194,200 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.116 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

338,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (1997)

Televisions:

275,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bh

Internet hosts:

2,621 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

250,000 (2007)

Transportation
Bahrain

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 3,498 km paved: 2,768 km unpaved: 730 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 9 by type: bulk carrier 4, container 4, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 5, UAE 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Military
Bahrain

Military branches:

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense),
Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 210,938 females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 171,536 females age 16-49: 142,714 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,543 female: 6,429 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Bahrain

Disputes - international:

none

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand, Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims of trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the government did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial problem of involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bangladesh

Introduction
Bangladesh

Background:

Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. A military-backed caretaker regime suspended planned parliamentary elections in January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption; the regime has pledged new democratic elections by the end of 2008. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.

Geography
Bangladesh

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Geographic coordinates:

##### 24 00 N, 90 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 144,000 sq km land: 133,910 sq km water: 10,090 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Iowa

Land boundaries:

total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline:

580 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Land use:

arable land: 55.39% permanent crops: 3.08% other: 41.53% (2005)

Irrigated land:

47,250 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,210.6 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 79.4 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%) per capita: 560 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season

Environment - current issues:

many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal

People
Bangladesh

Population:

153,546,896 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.4% (male 26,364,370/female 24,859,792) 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 49,412,903/female 47,468,013) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,912,321/female 2,529,502) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.8 years male: 22.8 years female: 22.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.022% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 57.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 58.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.21 years male: 63.14 years female: 63.28 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

650 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations water contact disease: leptospirosis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladeshi

Ethnic groups:

Bengali 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims) (1998)

Religions:

Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

Languages:

Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 43.1% male: 53.9% female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

2.7% of GDP (2005)

Government
Bangladesh

Country name:

conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh conventional short form: Bangladesh local long form: Gana Prajatantri Banladesh local short form: Banladesh former: East Bengal, East Pakistan

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Dhaka geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet

Independence:

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Constitution:

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972; suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002) note: the country has a caretaker government until a general election is held; Iajuddin AHMED remains as President and Minister of Defense, and all other Cabinet portfolios are held by Caretaker Advisers (CAs); the Chief CA, Fakhruddin AHMED, is roughly equivalent to a prime minister elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election NA); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared president-elect by the Election Commission; he ran unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies; members serve five-year terms; note - parliament not in session during the extended caretaker regime elections: last held 1 October 2001 (the scheduled January 2007 election has been postponed until 29 December 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 41%, AL 40%, other 19%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI 17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 12; note - the election of October 2001 brought to power a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - JI, IOJ, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or
BCP [Manjurul A. KHAN]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda
ZIA]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI];
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Matiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya
Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party
(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]; Liberal Democratic Party or
LDP [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY and Oli AHMED]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Advocacy to End Gender-based Violence through the MoWCA (Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs) other: environmentalists; Islamist groups; religious leaders; teachers; union leaders

International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador M. Humayun KABIR chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183 FAX: [1] (202) 244-7830/2771 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500 FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744

Flag description:

green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh

Economy
Bangladesh

Economy - overview:

The economy has grown 5-6% over the past few years despite inefficient state-owned enterprises, delays in exploiting natural gas resources, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Garment exports and remittances from Bangladeshis working overseas, mainly in the Middle East and East Asia, fuel economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$208.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$72.42 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 19% industry: 28.7% services: 52.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

69.4 million note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $4.8 billion in 2005-06. (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 63% industry: 11% services: 26% (FY95/96)

Unemployment rate:

2.5% (includes underemployment) (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

45% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 27.9% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.4 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $7.01 billion expenditures: $9.464 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

37.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$8.444 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$32.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$40.15 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Industries:

cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Industrial production growth rate:

8.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

22.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

21.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 93.7% hydro: 6.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

6,746 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

89,940 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,351 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

83,220 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

28 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

15.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

141.6 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$804.7 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$12.45 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood

Exports - partners:

US 23%, Germany 13%, UK 9.1%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4% (2007)

Imports:

$16.67 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement

Imports - partners:

China 15%, India 14.3%, Kuwait 8.3%, Singapore 6.2%, Hong Kong 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.321 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.278 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$21.23 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$4.971 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$104 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$3.61 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

taka (BDT)

Currency code:

##### BDT

Exchange rates:

taka (BDT) per US dollar - 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004), 58.15 (2003)

Communications
Bangladesh

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.187 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

34.37 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate for a modern country; fixed-line telephone density remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and is approaching 25 per 100 persons domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities international: country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)

Radios:

6.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (1999)

Televisions:

770,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bd

Internet hosts:

1,440 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:

500,000 (2007)

Transportation
Bangladesh

Airports:

16 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,644 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,768 km broad gauge: 946 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 239,226 km paved: 22,726 km unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)

Waterways:

8,370 km note: includes up to 3,060 km main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in dry season (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 40 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, container 5, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4 foreign-owned: 1 (China 1) registered in other countries: 10 (Comoros 2, Honduras 1, Malta 2, Panama 2, Singapore 2, Togo 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Chittagong, Mongla Port

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh as high risk for armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military
Bangladesh

Military branches:

Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,
Bangladesh Air Force (Bangladesh Biman Bahini, BAF) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; 17 years of age for officers (both with parental consent); conscription legally possible in emergency, but has never been implemented (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 41,199,340 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 31,968,168 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,311,850 female: 1,246,012 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Bangladesh

Disputes - international:

discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, exchange territory for 51 small Bangladeshi exclaves in India and 111 small Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's fencing and walling off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; a joint Bangladesh-India boundary commission resurveyed and reconstructed 92 missing pillars in 2007; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; after 21 years, Bangladesh resumes talks with Burma on delimiting a maritime boundary

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 26,268 (Burma) IDPs: 65,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Barbados

Introduction
Barbados

Background:

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.

Geography
Barbados

Location:

Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 431 sq km land: 431 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

97 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain:

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 37.21% permanent crops: 2.33% other: 60.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:

50 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%) per capita: 333 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

easternmost Caribbean island

People
Barbados

Population:

281,968 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.3% (male 27,270/female 27,193) 15-64 years: 71.7% (male 99,357/female 102,683) 65 years and over: 9% (male 9,856/female 15,609) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.4 years male: 34.2 years female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.36% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.48 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.21 years male: 71.2 years female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial) adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%

Religions:

Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2005)

Government
Barbados

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Bridgetown geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

Independence:

30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution:

30 November 1966

Legal system:

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996) head of government: Prime Minister David THOMPSON (since 16 January 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at his discretion) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2013) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service
Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services); Caribbean Court of
Justice is the highest court of appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]; Democratic Labor Party or
DLP [David THOMPSON]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David
COMISSIONG]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST]; Barbados
Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS]; Congress of Trade Unions
and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU,
NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN]; Barbados Workers Union or BWU
[Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG];
National Union of Public Workers [Joseph GODDARD]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200 FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN embassy: U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006 mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055 telephone: [1] (246) 227-4399 FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Economy
Barbados

Economy - overview:

Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism, with about three-quarters of GDP and 80% of exports being attributed to services. Growth has rebounded since 2003, bolstered by increases in construction projects and tourism revenues - reflecting its success in the higher-end segment. The country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region and an investment grade rating which benefits from its political stability and stable institutions. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners and thrive from having the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and a relatively highly educated workforce. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.31 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.739 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$18,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6% industry: 16% services: 78% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

128,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10% industry: 15% services: 75% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.7% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $847 million (including grants) expenditures: $886 million (2000 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.8% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.478 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.717 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.533 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Industries:

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Industrial production growth rate:

-3.2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.003 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

939.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1,111 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,674 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

10,710 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

2.2 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

141.6 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$254 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$385 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components

Exports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 15.5%, Jamaica 13.5%, UK 9.4%, US 9.3%, Brazil 8.3%, Saint Lucia 7.2%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$1.586 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Imports - partners:

US 30.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 27.6%, UK 6.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.07 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$620 million (2007)

Debt - external:

$668 million (2003)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.513 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Currency code:

##### BBD

Exchange rates:

Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Communications
Barbados

Telephones - main lines in use:

134,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

237,100 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 85 per 100 persons domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat -Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

237,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 2 cable channels) (2004)

Televisions:

76,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bb

Internet hosts:

104 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

160,000 (2005)

Transportation
Barbados

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,600 km paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 85 by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 50, chemical tanker 7, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 80 (Canada 9, Greece 12, India 1, Iran 2, Lebanon 1, Norway 38, Sweden 7, Syria 1, UK 9) registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bridgetown

Military
Barbados

Military branches:

Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger requires parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 75,265 females age 16-49: 75,389 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 58,556 females age 16-49: 58,143 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,157 female: 2,155 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military - note:

the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)

Transnational Issues
Barbados

Disputes - international:

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Belarus

Introduction
Belarus

Background:

After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Alexandr LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion continue.

Geography
Belarus

Location:

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Geographic coordinates:

##### 53 00 N, 28 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 207,600 sq km land: 207,600 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:

total: 3,306 km border countries: Latvia 171 km, Lithuania 680 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

Terrain:

generally flat and contains much marshland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

Natural resources:

forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

Land use:

arable land: 26.77% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 72.63% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,310 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

58 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.79 cu km/yr (23%/47%/30%) per capita: 286 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes

People
Belarus

Population:

9,685,768 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 717,885/female 677,254) 15-64 years: 70.9% (male 3,333,699/female 3,531,920) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 459,627/female 965,383) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.4 years male: 35.4 years female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.393% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

13.92 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.34 years male: 64.63 years female: 76.4 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

15,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian

Ethnic groups:

Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

Languages:

Belarusian, Russian, other

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.8% female: 99.4% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.1% of GDP (2006)

Government
Belarus

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: Byelarus' former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Capital:

name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers

Independence:

25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Sergey SIDORSKIY (since 19 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed the president to run in a third election, which was held on 19 March 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 82.6%, Aleksandr MILINKEVICH 6%, Aleksandr KOZULIN 2.3%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and eight members appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held 28 September 2008 (next to be held fall of 2012); international observers widely denounced the elections as flawed and undemocratic based on massive government falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won all 110 seats election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)

Political parties and leaders:

pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolay ULAKHOVICH, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergey GAYDUKEVICH]; Party of Labor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party [Vladimir ALEXANDROVICH] opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (unregistered) [Pavel SEVERINETS]; Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Sergey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered) [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV, Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Vintsyuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada (People's Assembly) or BSDPH [Aleksandr KOZULIN; Anatoliy LEVKOVICH, acting]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and Progress (unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatoliy LEBEDKO]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH, chairperson] other opposition includes: Christian Conservative BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party of Popular Accord [Sergey YERMAKK]; Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH]; Belarusian
Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK]; Belarusian
Helsinki Committee [Tatiana PROTKO]; Belarusian Organization of
Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; Charter 97 [Andrey SANNIKOV]; For
Freedom (unregistered) [Aleksandr MILINKEVICH]; Lenin Communist
Union of Youth (youth wing of the Belarusian Party of Communists or
PKB); National Strike Committee of Entrepreneurs [Aleksandr
VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership NGO [Nikolay ASTREYKA];
Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol SHUMCHENKO]; Vyasna [Ales
BYALATSKY]; Women's Independent Democratic Movement [Ludmila
PETINA]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dmitriy DASHKEVICH, Sergey
BAKHUN]; Zubr youth group [Vladimir KOBETS]

International organization participation:

BSEC (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jonathan MOORE embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723 telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348 FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

Flag description:

red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red

Economy
Belarus

Economy - overview:

Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure by central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world. Because of these restrictive economic policies, Belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment. Nevertheless, GDP growth has been strong in recent years, reaching nearly 7% in 2007, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing, rate of inflation. Belarus receives heavily discounted oil and natural gas from Russia and much of Belarus' growth can be attributed to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices. Trade with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner - decreased in 2007, largely as a result of a change in the way the Value Added Tax (VAT) on trade was collected. Russia has introduced an export duty on oil shipped to Belarus, which will increase gradually through 2009, and a requirement that Belarusian duties on re-exported Russian oil be shared with Russia - 80% will go to Russia in 2008, and 85% in 2009. Russia also increased Belarusian natural gas prices from $47 per thousand cubic meters (tcm) to $100 per tcm in 2007, and plans to increase prices gradually to world levels by 2011. Russia's recent policy of bringing energy prices for Belarus to world market levels may result in a slowdown in economic growth in Belarus over the next few years. Some policy measures, including tightening of fiscal and monetary policies, improving energy efficiency, and diversifying exports, have been introduced, but external borrowing has been the main mechanism used to manage the growing pressures on the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$103.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$44.77 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.7% industry: 40.6% services: 50.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.3 million (31 December 2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 14% industry: 34.7% services: 51.3% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers (2005)

Population below poverty line:

27.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 23.5% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29.7 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $20.75 billion expenditures: $20.87 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.58% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.065 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$6.823 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$12.16 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Industries:

metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

29.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

30.43 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

5.789 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

10.15 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

33,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

179,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

256,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

394,100 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

198 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

164 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

21.76 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

21.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$2.876 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$24.47 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Russia 36.5%, Netherlands 17.8%, UK 6.3%, Ukraine 6.1%, Poland 5%,
Latvia 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$28.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals

Imports - partners:

Russia 59.9%, Germany 7.6%, Ukraine 5.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$53.76 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.266 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.347 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)

Currency code:

##### BYB/BYR

Exchange rates:

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006), 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004), 2,051.27 (2003)

Communications
Belarus

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.672 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.96 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; state-owned Beltelcom is the sole provider of fixed-line local and long distance service; fixed-line teledensity of roughly 35 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 60 per 100 persons; modernization of the network progressing with roughly two-thirds of switching equipment now digital domestic: fixed-line penetration is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved; 3 GSM wireless networks are experiencing rapid growth; strict government controls on telecommunications technologies international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:

3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

2.52 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.by

Internet hosts:

68,118 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

23 (2002)

Internet users:

6 million (2007)

Transportation
Belarus

Airports:

67 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 5,250 km; oil 1,528 km; refined products 1,730 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 5,512 km broad gauge: 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified) standard gauge: 15 km 1.435 m (2006)

Roadways:

total: 94,797 km paved: 84,028 km unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)

Waterways:

2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by shallowness) (2003)

Ports and terminals:

Mazyr

Military
Belarus

Military branches:

Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,491,643 females age 16-49: 2,528,779 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,727,974 females age 16-49: 2,093,106 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 64,232 female: 60,788 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Belarus

Disputes - international:

Boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania in 2006; 1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Belgium

Introduction
Belgium

Background:

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Geography
Belgium

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the
Netherlands

Geographic coordinates:

##### 50 50 N, 4 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative:

about the size of Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 1,385 km border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

Coastline:

66.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Climate:

temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Terrain:

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Natural resources:

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Land use:

arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

20.8 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%) per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)

Natural hazards:

flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Environment - current issues:

the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

People
Belgium

Population:

10,403,951 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 864,287/female 828,435) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,476,802/female 3,416,383) 65 years and over: 17.5% (male 751,745/female 1,066,299) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.4 years male: 40.2 years female: 42.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.106% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.07 years male: 75.9 years female: 82.38 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups:

Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

Languages:

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6% of GDP (2004)

Government
Belgium

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie local short form: Belgique/Belgie

Government type:

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Brussels geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders* region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities

Independence:

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

National holiday:

21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I

Constitution:

7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state

Legal system:

based on civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Yves LETERME (20 March 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 June 2007 (next to be held no later than June 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit 10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker List 3.4%, FN 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 9, Open VLD 5, MR 6, VB 5, PS 4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2, Groen! 1, Dedecker List 1, FN 1 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB 12%, Open VLD 11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo 5.1%, Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 30, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A-Spirit 14, CDH 10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 1 note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de
Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the
government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice
Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Marianne
THYSSEN]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; Flemish Liberals and
Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Groen! [Mieke VOGELS] (formerly
AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE
WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ];
VlaamsProgressieven (Flemish Progressives) or VP [Bettina GEYSEN] -
formerly Spirit; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno
VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center or
CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS]; Reform
Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI
RUPO]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries other: numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants

International organization participation:

ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA,
EU, FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB
(nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dominique STRUYE DE SWIELANDE chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York consulate(s): Atlanta

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Sam FOX embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111 FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red note: the design was based on the flag of France

Economy
Belgium

Economy - overview:

This modern, private-enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is more than 85% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-07. Economic growth and foreign direct investment are expected to slow down in 2008, due to credit tightening, falling consumer and business confidence, and above average inflation. However, with the successful negotiation of the 2008 budget and devolution of power within the government, political tensions seem to be easing and could lead to an improvement in the economic outlook for 2008.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$376.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$453.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$36,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.1% industry: 24.5% services: 74.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.94 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2% industry: 25% services: 73% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

15.2% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $220.1 billion expenditures: $221 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

84.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.98% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$767.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Industries:

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

82.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

85.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

9.035 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

15.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 38.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 59.3% other: 1.8% (2001)

Oil - production:

8,671 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

628,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

528,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1.119 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

17.39 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

17.34 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance:

$3.282 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$322.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 19.5%, France 16.7%, Netherlands 11.9%, UK 7.6%, US 5.7%,
Italy 5.2% (2007)

Imports:

$323.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners:

Germany 17.7%, Netherlands 17.6%, France 11.2%, UK 6.2%, US 5.4%,
Ireland 4.9%, China 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.978 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.51 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$678.2 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$540.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$422.7 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Belgium

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.668 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.23 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

8.075 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

4.72 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.be

Internet hosts:

3.841 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

61 (2000)

Internet users:

5.22 million (2007)

Transportation
Belgium

Airports:

43 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,562 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,536 km standard gauge: 3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 152,256 km paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)

Waterways:

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 79 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, container 6, liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 10 foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 4, France 2) registered in other countries: 111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6, Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta 15, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Portugal 7, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge

Military
Belgium

Military branches:

Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations
Command, Air Operations Command (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,407,128 females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,973,167 females age 16-49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 64,659 female: 61,881 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Belgium

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Belize

Introduction
Belize

Background:

Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.

Geography
Belize

Location:

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and
Mexico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline:

386 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Terrain:

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m

Natural resources:

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

18.6 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%) per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

People
Belize

Population:

301,270 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 58,987/female 56,674) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 88,521/female 86,450) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,095/female 5,543) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.1 years male: 20 years female: 20.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.207% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

27.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.19 years male: 66.39 years female: 70.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups:

mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)

Languages:

Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.9% male: 76.7% female: 77.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2004)

Government
Belize

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Belmopan geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence:

21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution:

21 September 1981

Legal system:

English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party
or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil
MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic
Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP
[Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito
BAUTISTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR
[Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David
VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene
GOMEZ]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize telephone: [501] 822-4011 FAX: [501] 822-4012

Flag description:

blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

Economy
Belize

Economy - overview:

In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth in 2006 and 2007. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable foreign debt. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which will reduce interest payments and relieve liquidity concerns. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.444 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.274 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.3% industry: 13.7% services: 65% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

113,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 22.5% industry: 15.2% services: 62.3% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.4% (2006)

Population below poverty line:

33.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $307 million expenditures: $344 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.33% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$323.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$549 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$877.6 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments

Industries:

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Industrial production growth rate:

0.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

213.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

193.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

3,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

7,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,960 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

7,122 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$43 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$429 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners:

US 28.7%, UK 16.3%, Thailand 5.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.4%, Finland 4.2%,
Spain 4% (2007)

Imports:

$642 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners:

US 31.2%, Mexico 13.6%, Cuba 8.5%, Guatemala 8%, Russia 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$12.91 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$109 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code:

##### BZD

Exchange rates:

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Communications
Belize

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

118,300 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:

133,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2006)

Televisions:

41,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bz

Internet hosts:

2,751 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

32,000 (2007)

Transportation
Belize

Airports:

44 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 3,007 km paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Waterways:

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 216 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 32, cargo 152, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 178 (Australia 1, China 71, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, Estonia 6, Greece 1, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 8, South Korea 1, Latvia 12, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 31, Singapore 2, Spain 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 7, UAE 5, UK 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Belize City, Big Creek

Military
Belize

Military branches:

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing, BDF Volunteer Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 74,605 females age 16-49: 72,926 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 54,627 females age 16-49: 53,500 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 3,580 female: 3,449 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Belize

Disputes - international:

OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures saw cooperation in repatriation of Guatemalan squatters and other areas, but Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea remain unresolved; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the Differendum

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Benin

Introduction
Benin

Background:

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI has begun a high profile fight against corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Geography
Benin

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and
Togo

Geographic coordinates:

##### 9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 112,620 sq km land: 110,620 sq km water: 2,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Coastline:

121 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Natural resources:

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use:

arable land: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:

120 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

25.8 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%) per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

People
Benin

Population:

8,532,547 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.5% (male 1,978,897/female 1,901,005) 15-64 years: 51.9% (male 2,195,667/female 2,236,458) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 91,213/female 129,307) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.1 years male: 16.7 years female: 17.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.01% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

39.8 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 69.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.56 years male: 57.42 years female: 59.76 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

68,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups:

Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)

Religions:

Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)

Languages:

French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 34.7% male: 47.9% female: 23.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 9 years female: 6 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2004)

Government
Benin

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Porto-Novo (official capital) geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Cotonou (seat of government)

Administrative divisions:

12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Independence:

1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Constitution:

adopted by referendum 2 December 1990

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2011) election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of Progress Forces
or AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou
FAGBOHOUN]; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an
Emerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD
[Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movement for
the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for
Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social
Democrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for the Relief or UPR
[Issa SALIFOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS
[Sacca LAFIA]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50 FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Economy
Benin

Economy - overview:

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past seven years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. Specific projects to improve the business climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture though the government annulled the privatization of Benin's state cotton company in November 2007 after the discovery of irregularities in the bidding process. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.433 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 33.2% industry: 14.5% services: 52.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

5.38 million (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

37.4% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.5 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $959.2 million expenditures: $1.211 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$1.324 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$627.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$520.6 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock

Industries:

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

120 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

595 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

590 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 14.2% hydro: 85.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

9,232 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

6,484 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

16,830 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

8 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$441 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$586 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Exports - partners:

China 24.7%, India 8.2%, Niger 6.6%, Togo 5.4%, Nigeria 5.3%,
Belgium 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$1.085 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

China 44.5%, France 8.2%, US 6.5%, Thailand 6.3%, Malaysia 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$374.7 million (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.209 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Benin

Telephones - main lines in use:

110,300 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.895 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment with fixed-line teledensity stuck at 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership is increasing domestic: system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; multiple mobile-cellular providers international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)

Radios:

660,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2007)

Televisions:

66,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.bj

Internet hosts:

848 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2002)

Internet users:

150,000 (2007)

Transportation
Benin

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Railways:

total: 758 km narrow gauge: 758 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 16,000 km paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)

Waterways:

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Cotonou

Military
Benin

Military branches:

Benin Armed Forces (FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces
Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People's Air Force (Force Aerienne
Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,908,457 females age 16-49: 1,882,421 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,173,742 females age 16-49: 1,162,113 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 97,543 female: 94,008 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Benin

Disputes - international:

in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005 ICJ decision; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival cross-border gang clashes; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point used by Nigerian traffickers for narcotics destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bermuda

Introduction
Bermuda

Background:

Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.

Geography
Bermuda

Location:

North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of
South Carolina (US)

Geographic coordinates:

##### 32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 53.3 sq km land: 53.3 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

103 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter

Terrain:

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Natural resources:

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use:

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (June to November)

Environment - current issues:

sustainable development

Geography - note:

consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995

People
Bermuda

Population:

66,536 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18% (male 6,055/female 5,954) 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 22,795/female 23,189) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 3,728/female 4,815) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41 years male: 40.1 years female: 41.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.546% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.3 years male: 76.15 years female: 80.48 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.297% (2005)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

163 (2005)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

392 (2005)

Nationality:

noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups:

black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)

Languages:

English (official), Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2006)

Government
Bermuda

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

parliamentary; self-governing territory

Capital:

name: Hamilton geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 47 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Administrative divisions:

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution:

8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007) head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms) elections: last general election held 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or
BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed
BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Flag description:

red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

Economy
Bermuda

Economy - overview:

Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world, more than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companies relocated to the island following the 11 September 2001 attacks and again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues to struggle but remains the island's number two industry. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited with only 20% of the land being arable.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$69,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

38,360 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $738 million expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (November 2005)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey

Industries:

international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

675.6 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

619.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,566 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,378 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$763 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:

Spain 13.8%, Germany 11.7%, Switzerland 8.8%, Denmark 6.6%, UK 6% (2007)

Imports:

$1.162 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities:

clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Imports - partners:

South Korea 36.4%, US 15.7%, Germany 13.2%, Italy 11.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$90,000 (2004)

Debt - external:

$160 million (FY99/00)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$2.125 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Currency code:

##### BMD

Exchange rates:

Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Communications
Bermuda

Telephones - main lines in use:

57,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

60,100 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines international: country code - 1-441; landing point for the Atlantica-1 telecommunications submarine cable that extends from the US to Brazil; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

82,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2005)

Televisions:

66,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bm

Internet hosts:

1,628 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2000)

Internet users:

48,000 (2007)

Transportation
Bermuda

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 137 by type: bulk carrier 23, chemical tanker 3, container 22, liquefied gas 33, passenger 24, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 9 foreign-owned: 115 (Australia 1, China 10, France 1, Germany 22, Greece 9, Hong Kong 4, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Japan 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 20, UK 3, US 23) registered in other countries: 50 (Bahamas 12, Marshall Islands 4, Philippines 34) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Hamilton, Saint George

Military
Bermuda

Military branches:

Bermuda Regiment (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-23 years of age; eligible men required to register for conscription as needed into the Bermuda Regiment, which is largely voluntary; term of service 39 months (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,623 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,682 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 426 female: 445 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Bermuda

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bhutan

Introduction
Bhutan

Background:

In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of over 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience as head of state before the democratic transition. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty to allow Bhutan greater autonomy in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate policy decisions in this area with New Delhi. In July 2007, seven ministers of Bhutan's ten-member cabinet resigned to join the political process, and the cabinet acted as a caretaker regime until democratic elections for seats to the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008. The king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008.

Geography
Bhutan

Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:

##### 27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about one-half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain:

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use:

arable land: 2.3% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 97.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

95 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.43 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%) per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People
Bhutan

Population:

682,321 note: the Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first modern census of Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook population estimates for this country, which were on the order of three times the total population reported here, were based on Bhutanese government publications that did not include the census (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.8% (male 107,360/female 103,093) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 231,323/female 203,649) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 19,561/female 17,335) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.5 years male: 24.1 years female: 22.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.301% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.56 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.92 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.53 years male: 64.75 years female: 66.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.48 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic groups:

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several
Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Religions:

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Languages:

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47% male: 60% female: 34% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7% of GDP (2005)

Government
Bhutan

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul

Government type:

in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital:

name: Thimphu geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang,
Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Independence:

1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

National holiday:

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907)

Constitution:

ratified 23 July 2008

Legal system:

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him head of government: Prime Minister Jigme THINLEY (since 9 April 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly occurred in March 2008; the leader of the majority party is nominated as the prime minister

Legislative branch:

new bicameral Parliament consists of the non-partisan National Council (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20 electoral districts (dzongkhags) for four-year terms and 5 members nominated by the King); and the National Assembly (47 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms) elections: National Council elections last held on 31 December 2007 and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December 2012); National Assembly elections last held on 24 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013) election results: National Council - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party - DPT 45, PDP 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch); note - the draft constitution establishes a Supreme Court, which will serve as chief court of appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT
[Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Sangay NGEDUP]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

United Front for Democracy (exiled) other: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community

International organization participation:

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM,
OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; address: 763 First Avenue, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Economy
Bhutan

Economy - overview:

The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India had a major impact on growth in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.359 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.308 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

22.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.3% industry: 37.9% services: 39.8% (2006)

Labor force:

NA note: major shortage of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 63% industry: 6% services: 31% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.5% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

31.7% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $272 million expenditures: $350 million note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2005)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

81.4% of GDP (2004)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.9% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$381.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$220.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$169.9 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

Industries:

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

9.3% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.475 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

528.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

3.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

11 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,250 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,152 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$116 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$350 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices

Exports - partners:

India 58.6%, Hong Kong 30.1%, Bangladesh 7.3% (2007)

Imports:

$320 million c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

Imports - partners:

India 74.5%, Japan 7.4%, Sweden 3.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$941.2 million; note - substantial aid from India (2006)

Debt - external:

$713.3 million (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code:

##### BTN; INR

Exchange rates:

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003) note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee

Communications
Bhutan

Telephones - main lines in use:

29,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

149,400 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: urban towns and district headquarters have telecommunications services domestic: very low teledensity; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003 international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2007)

Radios:

37,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2007)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bt

Internet hosts:

9,046 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

40,000 (2007)

Transportation
Bhutan

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)

Military
Bhutan

Military branches:

Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 190,104 females age 16-49: 167,289 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 146,063 females age 16-49: 131,193 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 7,847 female: 7,530 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Bhutan

Disputes - international:

Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and along the Chumbi salient

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bolivia

Introduction
Bolivia

Background:

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority. However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of the eastern lowlands.

Geography
Bolivia

Location:

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates:

##### 17 00 S, 65 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 1,098,580 sq km land: 1,084,390 sq km water: 14,190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 6,940 km border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Terrain:

rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Natural resources:

tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.78% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 97.03% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,320 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

622.5 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.44 cu km/yr (13%/7%/81%) per capita: 157 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

flooding in the northeast (March-April)

Environment - current issues:

the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

People
Bolivia

Population:

9,247,816 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.5% (male 1,580,887/female 1,519,960) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 2,800,457/female 2,912,375) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 192,701/female 241,436) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.6 years male: 21.9 years female: 23.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.383% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 49.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 52.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.53 years male: 63.86 years female: 69.33 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

4,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian

Ethnic groups:

Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%,
Aymara 25%, white 15%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%

Languages:

Spanish 60.7% (official), Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara 14.6% (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.7% male: 93.1% female: 80.7% (2001 census)

Education expenditures:

6.4% of GDP (2003)

Government
Bolivia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Republica de Bolivia local short form: Bolivia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: La Paz (administrative capital) geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Sucre (constitutional capital)

Administrative divisions:

9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Independence:

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Constitution:

2 February 1967; revised in August 1994; possible referendum on new constitution to be held in 2008

Legal system:

based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 18 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma elected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 53.7%; Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez 28.6%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 7.8%; Michiaki NAGATANI Morishit 6.5%; Felipe QUISPE Huanca 2.2%; Guildo ANGULA Cabrera 0.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 70 members are directly elected from their districts and 60 are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PODEMOS 13, MAS 12, UN 1, MNR 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 73, PODEMOS 43, UN 8, MNR 6

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases); Constitutional Tribunal (five primary or titulares and five alternate or suplente magistrates appointed by Congress; to rule on constitutional issues); National Electoral Court (six members elected by Congress, Supreme Court, the President, and the political party with the highest vote in the last election for 4-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz BARRIOS]; Movement Toward
Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]; Movement Without Fear or
MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; National Revolutionary Movement or MNR
[Mirta QUEVEDO]; National Unity [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]; Poder
Democratico Nacional or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez];
Social Alliance [Rene JOAQUINO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB other: Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions

International organization participation:

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Erika DUENAS chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Krishna URS embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000 FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band

Economy
Bolivia

Economy - overview:

Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America. Following a disastrous economic crisis during the early 1980s, reforms spurred private investment, stimulated economic growth, and cut poverty rates in the 1990s. The period 2003-05 was characterized by political instability, racial tensions, and violent protests against plans - subsequently abandoned - to export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern hemisphere markets. In 2005, the government passed a controversial hydrocarbons law that imposed significantly higher royalties and required foreign firms then operating under risk-sharing contracts to surrender all production to the state energy company, which was made the sole exporter of natural gas. The law also required that the state energy company regain control over the five companies that were privatized during the 1990s - a process that is still underway. In 2006, higher earnings for mining and hydrocarbons exports pushed the current account surplus to about 12% of GDP and the government's higher tax take produced a fiscal surplus after years of large deficits. Debt relief from the G8 - announced in 2005 - also has significantly reduced Bolivia's public sector debt burden. Private investment as a share of GDP, however, remains among the lowest in Latin America, and inflation reached double-digit levels in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$39.75 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.19 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.5% industry: 30.5% services: 55% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

4.377 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40% industry: 17% services: 43% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.5% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

60% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 47.2% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

59.2 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.723 billion expenditures: $5.495 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

46.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.86% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$3.032 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.729 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.759 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber

Industries:

mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing

Industrial production growth rate:

1.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.668 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

5.092 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 44.4% hydro: 54% nuclear: 0% other: 1.5% (2001)

Oil - production:

61,790 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

31,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

18,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

8,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

465 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

14.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

11.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

750.4 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.796 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.49 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin

Exports - partners:

Brazil 46%, US 9.8%, Japan 7.6%, Argentina 5.8%, South Korea 4.8%,
Peru 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$3.249 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans

Imports - partners:

Brazil 29.9%, Argentina 16.2%, Chile 10.5%, US 9.8%, Peru 8.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$582.9 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.318 billion (31 October 2007)

Debt - external:

$4.495 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$6.88 billion (31 December 2004)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$2.2 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

boliviano (BOB)

Currency code:

##### BOB

Exchange rates:

bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 7.8616 (2007), 8.0159 (2006), 8.0661 (2005), 7.9363 (2004), 7.6592 (2003)

Communications
Bolivia

Telephones - main lines in use:

678,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.254 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: privatization begun in 1995; reliability has steadily improved; new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly; fixed-line teledensity of 7 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of 35 per 100 persons domestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)

Radios:

5.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

48 (1997)

Televisions:

900,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bo

Internet hosts:

68,428 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

1 million (2007)

Transportation
Bolivia

Airports:

1,061 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,045 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 57 914 to 1,523 m: 183 under 914 m: 800 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,475 km; refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,504 km narrow gauge: 3,504 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 62,479 km paved: 3,749 km unpaved: 58,730 km (2004)

Waterways:

10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 23 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 7 (Bahamas 1, China 1, Iran 1, Singapore 1, Syria 2, Taiwan 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Puerto Aguirre (inland port on the Paraguay/Parana waterway at the Bolivia/Brazil border); Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

Military
Bolivia

Military branches:

Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Bolivian
Navy (Armada Boliviana; includes marines), Bolivian Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for 12-month compulsory military service; when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; 15-19 years of age for voluntary premilitary service, provides exemption from further military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,295,746 females age 16-49: 2,366,828 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,600,219 females age 16-49: 1,815,514 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 107,051 female: 103,620 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Bolivia

Disputes - international:

Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile offers instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile for Bolivian natural gas and other commodities; an accord placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, under Bolivian administration in 1958, but sovereignty remains in dispute

Illicit drugs:

world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 29,500 hectares under cultivation in 2007, a slight increase over 2006; third largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 120 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007; transit country for Peruvian and Colombian cocaine destined for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Europe; cultivation generally increasing since 2000, despite eradication and alternative crop programs; weak border controls; some money-laundering activity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil and Paraguay; major cocaine consumption (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Bosnia and Herzegovina

Introduction
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background:

Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their mission is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country. EUFOR's mission changed from peacekeeping to civil policing in October 2007, with its presence reduced from nearly 7,000 to 2,500 troops.

Geography
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 44 00 N, 18 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 51,209.2 sq km land: 51,197 sq km water: 12.2 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,538 km border countries: Croatia 932 km, Montenegro 249 km, Serbia 357 km

Coastline:

20 km

Maritime claims:

no data available

Climate:

hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Terrain:

mountains and valleys

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 19.61% permanent crops: 1.89% other: 78.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

37.5 cu km (2003)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro, and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east

People
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Population:

4,590,310 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 347,679/female 326,091) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,634,053/female 1,606,341) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 277,504/female 398,642) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.4 years male: 38.2 years female: 40.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.666% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.33 years male: 74.74 years female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Ethnic groups:

Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000) note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam

Religions:

Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%

Languages:

Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.7% male: 99% female: 94.4% (2000 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Government type:

emerging federal democratic republic

Capital:

name: Sarajevo geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationally supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the district remains under international supervision

Independence:

1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence completed 1 March 1992; independence declared 3 March 1992)

National holiday:

National Day, 25 November (1943)

Constitution:

the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995 in Paris, included a new constitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has its own constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Nebojsa RADMANOVIC (chairman since 6 November 2008; presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Serb); other members of the three-member presidency rotating (every eight months): Haris SILAJDZIC (presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Bosniak); and Zeljko KOMSIC (presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Croat) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola SPIRIC (since 11 January 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman; approved by the National House of Representatives elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for four years); the chairmanship rotates every eight months and resumes where it left off following each national election; election last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); the chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the National House of Representatives election results: percent of vote - Nebojsa RADMANOVIC with 53.3% of the votes for the Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC received 39.6% of the votes for the Croat seat; Haris SILAJDZIC received 62.8% of the votes for the Bosniak seat note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Borjana KRISTO (since 21 February 2007); Vice Presidents Spomenka MICIC (since NA 2007) and Mirsad KEBO (since NA 2007); President of the Republika Srpska: Rajko KUSMANOVIC (since 28 December 2007)

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the national House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats, 28 seats allocated for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats for the Republika Srpska; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation, to serve four-year terms); and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats, 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures elections: national House of Representatives - elections last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); House of Peoples - last constituted in January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007) election results: national House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 9, SBH 8, SNSD 7, SDP 5, SDS 3, HDZ-BH 3, HDZ1990 2, other 5; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 28, SBH 24, SDP 17, HDZ-BH 8, HDZ100 7, other 14; and a House of Peoples (58 seats - 17 Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2010); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SNSD 41, SDS 17, PDP 8, DNS 4, SBH 4, SPRS 3, SDA 3, other 3; as a result of the 2002 constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Council of Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska National Assembly including eight Croats, eight Bosniaks, eight Serbs, and four members of the smaller communities

Judicial branch:

BH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human Rights); BH State Court (consists of nine judges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal - having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law and appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities); a War Crimes Chamber opened in March 2005 note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a number of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in the Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has five municipal courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK];
Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or
GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croat Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and
Herzegovina or HKDU [Marin TOPIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP
[Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC];
Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH
[Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 1990 or HDZ1990 [Bozo
LJUBIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 100 or HDZ100; Croatian Peoples
Union [Milenko BRKIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Rifet
DOLIC]; Democratic Peoples Alliance or DNS [Marko PAVIC]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiative or NHI
[Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBH [Haris
SILAJDZIC]; Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman TIHIC];
Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Serb Democratic
Party or SDS [Mladen BOSIC]; Serb Radical Party of the Republika
Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical Party-Dr.
Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social Democratic
Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Social Democratic Union or
SDU [Sejfudin TOKIC]; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS
[Petar DJOKIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: displaced persons associations; student councils; war veterans

International organization participation:

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS (observer),
OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bisera TURKOVIC chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles L. ENGLISH embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [387] (33) 445-700 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar

Flag description:

a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Economy
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Economy - overview:

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. The private sector is growing and foreign investment is slowly increasing, but government spending, at nearly 40% of adjusted GDP, remains unreasonably high. The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-07 when GDP growth exceeded 5% per year. National-level statistics are limited and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the currency and the banking sector has increased. Implementing privatization, however, has been slow, particularly in the Federation, although more successful in the Republika Srpska. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Western Europe, now control most of the banking sector. A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most serious macroeconomic problems. On 1 January 2006 a new value-added tax (VAT) went into effect. The VAT has been successful in capturing much of the gray market economy and has developed into a significant and predictable source of revenues for all layers of government. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. The country receives substantial reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$27.7 billion note: Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much as 50% of official GDP (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.78 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.2% industry: 23.9% services: 66% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

1.026 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to 25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 21.4% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26.2 (2001)

Budget:

revenues: $7.094 billion expenditures: $7.137 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

34% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$5.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.597 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$8.895 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate:

6.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

12.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

8.501 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

5.123 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.015 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 53.5% hydro: 46.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

27,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

27,370 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

400 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance:

-$1.939 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.243 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

metals, clothing, wood products

Exports - partners:

Croatia 21%, Slovenia 16.5%, Italy 16.1%, Germany 13.3%, Austria 9.6%, Hungary 5.7% (2007)

Imports:

$9.947 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Croatia 24.7%, Slovenia 13.3%, Germany 13.1%, Italy 10.4%, Austria 7%, Turkey 6.5%, Hungary 5.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$546.1 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.525 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.734 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) (BAM)

Currency code:

##### BAM

Exchange rates:

konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.4419 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004), 1.7329 (2003) note: the convertible mark is pegged to the euro

Communications
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.065 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.45 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: post-war reconstruction of the telecommunications network, aided by a internationally sponsored program under ERBD, resulted in sharp increases in the number of main telephone lines available; mobile cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density exceeds 50 per 100 persons international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

940,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.ba

Internet hosts:

56,032 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

1.055 million (2007)

Transportation
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Airports:

28 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Railways:

total: 608 km standard gauge: 608 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 21,846 km paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)

Waterways:

Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje

Military
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Military branches:

Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces (OSBiH): Army of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Air and Air Defense Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana, ZPO) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; conscription abolished January 2006; 4-month service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,212,007 females age 16-49: 1,170,645 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 996,225 females age 16-49: 962,927 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 30,246 female: 28,189 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Disputes - international:

sections along the Drina River remain in dispute between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinder final ratification of the 1999 border agreement

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,269 (Croatia) IDPs: 131,600 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

increasingly a transit point for heroin being trafficked to Western Europe; minor transit point for marijuana; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement, and instances of corruption

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Botswana

Introduction
Botswana

Background:

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

Geography
Botswana

Location:

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

##### 22 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 600,370 sq km land: 585,370 sq km water: 15,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,013 km border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain:

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Land use:

arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

14.7 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%) per capita: 107 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

People
Botswana

Population:

1,842,323 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.2% (male 329,418/female 318,160) 15-64 years: 60.9% (male 566,239/female 556,286) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 29,165/female 43,055) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.2 years male: 21 years female: 21.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.434% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.96 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

14.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 44.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 44.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 50.16 years male: 51.28 years female: 49.02 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

37.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

350,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

33,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Ethnic groups:

Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including
Kgalagadi and white 7%

Religions:

Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)

Languages:

Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.2% male: 80.4% female: 81.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

8.7% of GDP (2007)

Government
Botswana

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Independence:

30 September 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

Constitution:

March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009); vice president appointed by the president election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%, BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1

Judicial branch:

High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)

Political parties and leaders:

Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO];
Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana
Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front
or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP; MELS
Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the
United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence
Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union
[D. K. KWELE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso Ya Ba
Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga
elites)
other: diamond mining companies

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 395-3982 FAX: [267] 395-6947

Flag description:

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

Economy
Botswana

Economy - overview:

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth slowed to 4.7% annually in 2006-07. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of nearly $15,000 in 2007. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially was 23.8% in 2004, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.04 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.31 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.6% industry: 51.5% (including 36% mining) services: 46.9% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.3% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

63 (1993)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.741 billion expenditures: $3.816 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

5.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

14.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16.22% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.026 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.336 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

##### NA

Agriculture - products:

livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Industries:

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

979 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.574 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.959 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

14,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.973 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.025 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Exports - partners:

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs
Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006)

Imports:

$3.403 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Imports - partners:

Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$70.89 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$9.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$408 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$3.947 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

pula (BWP)

Currency code:

##### BWP

Exchange rates:

pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003)

Communications
Botswana

Telephones - main lines in use:

136,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.427 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile-cellular service and participation in regional development; system is fully digital with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east; fixed-line connections declined in recent years and now stand at roughly 8 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density currently is about 80 per 100 persons domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile-cellular service is growing fast international: country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

252,720 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1 state-owned, 1 private)

Televisions:

31,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bw

Internet hosts:

6,374 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2001)

Internet users:

80,000 (2007)

Transportation
Botswana

Airports:

85 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 74 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 54 under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Railways:

total: 888 km narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 25,798 km paved: 8,410 km unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)

Military
Botswana

Military branches:

Botswana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Air Wing (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 487,853 females age 16-49: 464,278 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 290,093 females age 16-49: 257,700 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 23,007 female: 22,551 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Botswana

Disputes - international:

Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and political persecution; Namibia has long supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bouvet Island

Introduction
Bouvet Island

Background:

This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, it has run an automated meteorological station on the island.

Geography
Bouvet Island

Location:

island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Geographic coordinates:

##### 54 26 S, 3 24 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 49 sq km land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

29.6 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate:

antarctic

Terrain:

volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Olav Peak 935 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve Norway

People
Bouvet Island

Population:

uninhabited

Government
Bouvet Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo

Legal system:

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy
Bouvet Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity; declared a nature reserve

Communications
Bouvet Island

Internet country code:

.bv

Internet hosts:

6 (2008)

Communications - note:

automatic meteorological station

Transportation
Bouvet Island

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Bouvet Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Transnational Issues
Bouvet Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Brazil

Introduction
Brazil

Background:

Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.

Geography
Brazil

Location:

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 00 S, 55 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 8,511,965 sq km land: 8,456,510 sq km water: 55,455 sq km note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 16,885 km border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia 1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

Coastline:

7,491 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Land use:

arable land: 6.93% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:

29,200 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

8,233 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 59.3 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%) per capita: 318 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Environment - current issues:

deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

People
Brazil

Population:

196,342,592 note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27% (male 26,986,909/female 25,961,947) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 64,939,225/female 66,157,812) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 5,182,987/female 7,113,707) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.3 years male: 27.5 years female: 29 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.228% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

18.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.71 years male: 68.15 years female: 75.45 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

660,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

15,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian

Ethnic groups:

white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.6% male: 88.4% female: 88.8% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2004)

Government
Brazil

Country name:

conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Brasilia geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February note: Brazil is divided into four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands

Administrative divisions:

26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

Independence:

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

Constitution:

5 October 1988

Legal system:

based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Luiz Inacio "LULA" DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luiz Inacio "LULA" DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 1 October 2006 with runoff 29 October 2006 (next to be held 3 October 2010 and, if necessary, 31 October 2010) election results: Luiz Inacio "LULA" DA SILVA (PT) reelected president - 60.83%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 39.17%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds elected every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Federal Senate - last held 1 October 2006 for one-third of the Senate (next to be held in October 2010 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB 3, PT 2, PDT 1, PSB 1, PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83, PFL 65, PSDB 65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13, PV 13, PSC 9, other 17; note - as of 1 January 2008: Federal Senate - seats by party - PMDB 20, DEM (formerly PFL) 14, PSDB 13, PT 12, PTB 6, PDT 5, PR 4, PRB 2, PSB 2, PCdoB 1, PP 1, PSOL 1; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - PMDB 90, PT 83, PSDB 64, DEM (formerly PFL) 62, PP 41, PR 34, PSB 28, PDT 23, PTB 21, PPS 17, PV 13, PCdoB 13, PSC 7, PAN 4, PSOL 3, PMN 3, PTC 3, PHS 2, PTdoB 1, PRB 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF (11 ministers are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life); note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federal employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70

Political parties and leaders:

Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel
TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Roberto JEFFERSON]; Brazilian
Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz]; Brazilian
Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo DOS SANTOS]; Brazilian
Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Sergio GUERRA]; Brazilian
Socialist Party or PSB [Governor Eduardo Henrique Accioly CAMPOS];
Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]; Communist Party of
Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT
[Carlos Roberto LUPI]; the Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front
Party or PFL) [Federal Deputy Rodrigo MAIA]; Freedom and Socialism
Party or PSOL [Heloisa HELENA]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de
Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Paulo Roberto
MATOS]; Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira
RESENDE]; Liberal Front Party or PFL (now known as the Democrats or
DEM); National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO];
Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio TAMER]; Popular Socialist Party
or PPS [Federal Deputy Fernando CORUJA]; Progressive Party or PP
[Francisco DORNELLES]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge
Abdala NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Ricardo Jose Ribeiro BERZOINI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Landless Workers' Movement or MST other: labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church

International organization participation:

AfDB (nonregional members), BIS, CAN (associate), CPLP, FAO, G-15,
G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSTAH,
NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar PATRIOTA chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000 FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife

Flag description:

green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

Economy
Brazil

Economy - overview:

Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. Having weathered 2001-03 financial turmoil, capital inflows are regaining strength and the currency has resumed appreciating. The appreciation has slowed export volume growth, but since 2004, Brazil's growth has yielded increases in employment and real wages. The resilience in the economy stems from commodity-driven current account surpluses, and sound macroeconomic policies that have bolstered international reserves to historically high levels, reduced public debt, and allowed a significant decline in real interest rates. A floating exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and a tight fiscal policy are the three pillars of the economic program. From 2003 to 2007, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and recorded its first current account surpluses since 1992. Productivity gains coupled with high commodity prices contributed to the surge in exports. Brazil improved its debt profile in 2006 by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. "LULA" DA SILVA restated his commitment to fiscal responsibility by maintaining the country's primary surplus during the 2006 election. Following his second inauguration, "LULA" DA SILVA announced a package of further economic reforms to reduce taxes and increase investment in infrastructure. The government's goal of achieving strong growth while reducing the debt burden is likely to create inflationary pressures.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.849 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.314 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.5% industry: 28.7% services: 65.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

99.23 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 20% industry: 14% services: 66% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

31% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 44.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.7 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $244 billion expenditures: $219.9 billion (FY07)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

45.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

17.85% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

43.72% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$131.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$792.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.377 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Industries:

textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

4.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

437.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

402.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

40.47 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 8.3% hydro: 82.7% nuclear: 4.4% other: 4.6% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.277 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.372 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

481,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

648,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

12.18 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

19.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

347.7 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.712 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$160.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

Exports - partners:

US 16.1%, Argentina 9.2%, China 6.8%, Netherlands 5.6%, Germany 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$120.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

Imports - partners:

US 15.7%, China 10.5%, Argentina 8.6%, Germany 7.2%, Nigeria 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$191.9 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$180.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$229.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$248.9 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$107.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$711.1 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

real (BRL)

Currency code:

##### BRL

Exchange rates:

reals (BRL) per US dollar - 1.85 (2007 est.), 2.1761 (2006), 2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003)

Communications
Brazil

Telephones - main lines in use:

39.4 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

120.98 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good working system; fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive mobile cellular technology is a major driver in expanding telephone service to the low-income segment of the population with mobile-cellular telephone density reaching nearly 65 per 100 persons domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations; mobile-cellular usage has more than tripled in the past 5 years international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide direct links to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)

Radios:

71 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

138 (1997)

Televisions:

36.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.br

Internet hosts:

9.573 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:

50 million (2007)

Transportation
Brazil

Airports:

4,263 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 718 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 167 914 to 1,523 m: 467 under 914 m: 52 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3,545 1,524 to 2,437 m: 83 914 to 1,523 m: 1,555 under 914 m: 1,907 (2007)

Heliports:

16 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 244 km; gas 12,070 km; liquid petroleum gas 351 km; oil 5,214 km; refined products 4,410 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 29,295 km broad gauge: 4,932 km 1.600-m gauge (939 km electrified) standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge narrow gauge: 23,773 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified) dual gauge: 396 km 1.000 m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 1,751,868 km paved: 96,353 km unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)

Waterways:

50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 136 by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 22, carrier 1, chemical tanker 7, container 11, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 45, roll on/roll off 7 foreign-owned: 25 (Chile 1, Denmark 2, Germany 6, Greece 1, Mexico 1, Norway 5, Spain 9) registered in other countries: 8 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 2, Ghana 1, Liberia 3, Marshall Islands 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Guaiba, Ilha Grande, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Santos, Sao Sebastiao,
Tubarao

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Atlantic Ocean as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military
Brazil

Military branches:

Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes
Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian
Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 52,449,957 females age 16-49: 52,375,921 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 39,263,710 females age 16-49: 44,109,056 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,666,791 female: 1,608,363 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Brazil

Disputes - international:

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested boundary dispute with Uruguay over Isla Brasilera at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada rivers, that form a tripoint with Argentina; the Itaipú Dam reservoir covers over a once contested section of Brazil-Paraguay boundary west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana; an accord placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, under Bolivian administration in 1958, but sovereignty remains in dispute

Illicit drugs:

second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@British Indian Ocean Territory

Introduction
British Indian Ocean Territory

Background:

Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Goverment by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return on the part of the Chagossians.

Geography
British Indian Ocean Territory

Location:

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 54,400 sq km land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km water: 54,340 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands

Area - comparative:

land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

698 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Natural resources:

coconuts, fish, sugarcane

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

People
British Indian Ocean Territory

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors were living on the island of Diego Garcia

Government
British Indian Ocean Territory

Country name:

conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Commissioner Colin ROBERTS (since July 2008); Administrator Joanne YEADON (since December 2007); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia cabinet: NA elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag

Economy
British Indian Ocean Territory

Economy - overview:

All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory earns foreign exchange by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps.

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Currency (code):

US Dollar (USD)

Communications
British Indian Ocean Territory

Telephones - main lines in use:

##### NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.io

Internet hosts:

89 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Transportation
British Indian Ocean Territory

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

Ports and terminals:

Diego Garcia

Military
British Indian Ocean Territory

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016

Transnational Issues
British Indian Ocean Territory

Disputes - international:

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2007, the UK Court of Appeals upheld the May 2006 High Court of London judgment reversing the UK government's 2004 Orders of Council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@British Virgin Islands

Introduction
British Virgin Islands

Background:

First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin
Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the
English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the
Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967.
The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US
Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.

Geography
British Virgin Islands

Location:

Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 30 N, 64 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke

Area - comparative:

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

80 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Geography - note:

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

People
British Virgin Islands

Population:

24,041 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20% (male 2,432/female 2,366) 15-64 years: 74.4% (male 9,178/female 8,715) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 697/female 653) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 32 years male: 32.1 years female: 31.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.88% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.23 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.07 years male: 75.88 years female: 78.32 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups:

black 83.4%, white 7%, mixed 5.4%, Indian 3.4%, other 0.8% (1991 census)

Religions:

Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 15 years female: 19 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Government
British Virgin Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

Constitution:

13 June 2007

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006) head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of
Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a
resident of the islands and presides over the High Court);
Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders:

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory
MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk other: environmentalists

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Economy
British Virgin Islands

Economy - overview:

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$853.4 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$839.7 million (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)

Labor force:

12,770 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

3.6% (1997)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $204.7 million expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Industries:

tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

45 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

41.85 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

650 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

649.8 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$134.3 million (1999)

Exports:

$25.3 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

Exports - partners:

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)

Imports:

$187 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Imports - partners:

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

$36.1 million (1997)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
British Virgin Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

9,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.vg

Internet hosts:

465 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

4,000 (2002)

Transportation
British Virgin Islands

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 200 km paved: 200 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Road Town

Military
British Virgin Islands

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,101 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,921 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 184 female: 179 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
British Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Brunei

Introduction
Brunei

Background:

The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.

Geography
Brunei

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 4 30 N, 114 40 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Coastline:

161 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Terrain:

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use:

arable land: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

8.5 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.09 per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)

Natural hazards:

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Environment - current issues:

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia

People
Brunei

Population:

381,371 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 53,400/female 50,333) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 132,895/female 132,391) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 5,927/female 6,425) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.5 years male: 27.5 years female: 27.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.785% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

18.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.28 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.52 years male: 73.32 years female: 77.83 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

Ethnic groups:

Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)

Religions:

Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%

Languages:

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.7% male: 95.2% female: 90.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (2000)

Government
Brunei

Country name:

conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam local short form: Brunei

Government type:

constitutional sultanate

Capital:

name: Bandar Seri Begawan geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Independence:

1 January 1984 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection

Constitution:

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

Legal system:

based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Sharia law supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age for village elections; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005; council met in March 2006 and in March 2007 elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)

Political parties and leaders:

National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi] note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregistered; parties are small and have limited activity

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angela SHIM chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838 FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William E. TODD embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811 mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam telephone: [673] 222-0384 FAX: [673] 222-5293

Flag description:

yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Economy
Brunei

Economy - overview:

Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.64 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.39 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$51,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 71.6% services: 27.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

180,400 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 61.1% services: 36% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4% (2006)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $3.765 billion expenditures: $4.815 billion (2004 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.4% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.5% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.674 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.258 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

Industries:

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

1.8% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.924 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

180,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

200,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

304 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

13.8 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.99 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$7.101 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$6.767 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, natural gas, refined products, clothing

Exports - partners:

Japan 32.8%, Indonesia 24.4%, Australia 13.4%, South Korea 12.2%, US 5.5% (2007)

Imports:

$2 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

UK 46.4%, Singapore 19.5%, Malaysia 11.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$770,000 (2004)

Debt - external:

$0 (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Currency code:

##### BND

Exchange rates:

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)

Communications
Brunei

Telephones - main lines in use:

79,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

339,800 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US domestic: every service available international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)

Radios:

329,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service) (2006)

Televisions:

201,900 (1998)

Internet country code:

.bn

Internet hosts:

14,950 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

199,532 (2007)

Transportation
Brunei

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 3,650 km paved: 2,819 km unpaved: 831 km (2005)

Waterways:

209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: liquefied gas 8 foreign-owned: 1 (UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Lumut, Muara, Seria

Military
Brunei

Military branches:

Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 108,356 females age 16-49: 110,153 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 91,297 females age 16-49: 93,228 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 3,223 female: 3,182 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Brunei

Disputes - international:

Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims on land; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants

Illicit drugs:

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Bulgaria

Introduction
Bulgaria

Background:

The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

Geography
Bulgaria

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and
Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

##### 43 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 110,910 sq km land: 110,550 sq km water: 360 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Coastline:

354 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 29.94% permanent crops: 1.9% other: 68.16% (2005)

Irrigated land:

5,880 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

19.4 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%) per capita: 895 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes, landslides

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

People
Bulgaria

Population:

7,262,675 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 514,238/female 489,608) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 2,449,812/female 2,532,845) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 520,962/female 755,210) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.1 years male: 38.9 years female: 43.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.813% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.58 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

14.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.83 years male: 69.22 years female: 76.66 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

346 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian

Ethnic groups:

Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including
Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)

Religions:

Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)

Languages:

Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.2% male: 98.7% female: 97.7% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Bulgaria

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Balgariya local short form: Balgariya

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Sofia geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas,
Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana,
Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,
Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Independence:

3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Constitution:

adopted 12 July 1991

Legal system:

civil and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Georgi PARVANOV (since 22 January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August 2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, and Emel ETEM (since 16 August 2005) and Meglena PLUGCHIEVA (since 25 April 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly election results: Georgi PARVANOV reelected president; percent of vote - Georgi PARVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Sergei STANISHEV elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held in June 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%, MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%, other 8.7%; seats by party - CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17, BPU 13, independents 4; note - seats by party as of January 2008 - CfB 82, NMS2 36, MRF 34, Bulgarian New Democracy 16, DSB 16, UDF 16, BPU 13, ATAKA 11, independents 16

Judicial branch:

Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation; Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members; responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)

Political parties and leaders:

ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack
National Union); Attack National Union [Volen SIDEROV]; Bulgarian
Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia MOZER];
Bulgarian New Democracy [Borislav RALCHEV]; Bulgarian People's Union
or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU); Bulgarian Socialist Party
or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens for the European Development of
Bulgaria or GERB [Tsvetan TSVETANOV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB
(coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV];
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir
KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed
DOGAN]; National Movement for Stability and Progress or NMSS [Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2);
New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Petar
STOYANOV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI];
United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition of center-right
parties dominated by UDF)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas

International organization participation:

ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU
(new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Latechezar PETKOV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy McELDOWNEY embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed

Economy
Bulgaria

Economy - overview:

Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, has experienced strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996. Successive governments have demonstrated commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but have failed so far to rein in rising inflation and large current account deficits. Bulgaria has averaged more than 6% growth since 2004, attracting significant amounts of foreign direct investment, but corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain significant challenges.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$86.71 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$39.61 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.2% industry: 32.3% services: 61.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.593 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 8.5% industry: 33.6% services: 57.9% (2nd qtr. 2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

14.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.4% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31.6 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $16.84 billion expenditures: $15.35 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

10.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.58% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$15.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$17.03 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$25.18 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock

Industries:

electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Industrial production growth rate:

14% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

43.15 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

30.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

7.534 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.054 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47.8% hydro: 8.1% nuclear: 44.1% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

3,661 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

109,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

50,530 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

158,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.6 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

5.179 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$8.53 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$18.44 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Exports - partners:

Turkey 11.5%, Germany 10.3%, Italy 10.2%, Greece 9.1%, Belgium 6.2%,
Romania 4.9% (2007)

Imports:

$28.67 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Imports - partners:

Russia 12.3%, Germany 12.3%, Italy 8.7%, Ukraine 7.2%, Turkey 6.9%,
Greece 6.2%, Romania 4.5%, Austria 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$742 million (2005-06 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.38 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$34.88 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$33.91 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$559 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$10.32 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

lev (BGN)

Currency code:

##### BGN

Exchange rates:

leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003)

Communications
Bulgaria

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.3 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9.897 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 when alternative fixed-line operators were given access to its network; a drop in fixed-line connections in recent years has been more than offset by a sharp increase in mobile-cellular telephone use fostered by multiple service providers; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now exceeds the population domestic: a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions; the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay international: country code - 359; submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

4.51 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.bg

Internet hosts:

513,470 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

200 (2001)

Internet users:

1.899 million (2007)

Transportation
Bulgaria

Airports:

214 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 131 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 95 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 83 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 72 (2007)

Heliports:

4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,500 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 4,294 km standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified) narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 40,231 km paved: 39,587 km (includes 331 km of expressways) unpaved: 644 km (2005)

Waterways:

470 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 74 by type: bulk carrier 37, cargo 14, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 65 (Germany 63, Ireland 1, Russia 1) registered in other countries: 31 (Comoros 2, Malta 5, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15, Slovakia 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Burgas, Varna

Military
Bulgaria

Military branches:

Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air
Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription ended as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and Naval Forces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,701,979 females age 16-49: 1,691,092 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,364,029 females age 16-49: 1,401,348 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 39,477 female: 37,339 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Bulgaria

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Burkina Faso

Introduction
Burkina Faso

Background:

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.

Geography
Burkina Faso

Location:

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries:

total: 3,193 km border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Natural resources:

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt

Land use:

arable land: 17.66% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 82.12% (2005)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

17.5 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.8 cu km/yr (13%/1%/86%) per capita: 60 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts

Environment - current issues:

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas

People
Burkina Faso

Population:

15,264,735 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.3% (male 3,549,034/female 3,521,684) 15-64 years: 51.1% (male 3,885,124/female 3,922,198) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 154,476/female 232,219) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.7 years male: 16.5 years female: 16.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.109% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

44.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

13.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 86.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 93.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 78.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.55 years male: 50.67 years female: 54.49 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

300,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

29,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe

Ethnic groups:

Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo,
Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)

Religions:

Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly Roman
Catholic) 10%

Languages:

French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 21.8% male: 29.4% female: 15.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 5 years male: 5 years female: 4 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (2006)

Government
Burkina Faso

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso local long form: none local short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Ouagadougou geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Independence:

5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

Constitution:

2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted; last amended January 2002

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Tertius ZONGO (since 4 June 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 13 November 2005 (next to be held in 2010); in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 4.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly election last held 6 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB 2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Citizen's Popular Rally or RPC [Antoine
QUARE]; Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or CFD-B [Amadou
Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch
Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP
[Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI
[Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress/Socialist
Party or PDP/PS [Ali LANKOANDE]; Party for Democracy and Socialism
or PDS [Felix SOUBEIGA]; Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Oumar
DJIGUIMDE]; Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Antoine
KARGOUGOU]; Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram
OUEDRAGO]; Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS
[Cyril GOUNGOUNGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
[Fidele HIEN]; Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS
[Benewende STANISLAS]; Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel
COULIBALY]; Union of Sankarist Parties or UPS [Ernest Nongma
OUEDRAOGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON]; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE]; Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO]; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE] other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Paramanga Ernest YONLI chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4 mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440 telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23 FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Burkina Faso

Economy - overview:

One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop and the government has joined with three other cotton producing countries in the region - Mali, Niger, and Chad - to lobby in the World Trade Organization for fewer subsidies to producers in other competing countries. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual but successful privatization of state-owned enterprises. Having revised its investment code in 2004, Burkina Faso hopes to attract foreign investors. Thanks to this new code and other legislation favoring the mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration and production. While the bitter internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire is beginning to be resolved, it is still having a negative effect on Burkina Faso's trade and employment. In 2007 higher costs for energy and imported foodstuffs, as well as low cotton prices, dampened a GDP growth rate that had averaged 6% in the last 10 years. Burkina Faso received a Millennium Challenge Account threshold grant to improve girls' education at the primary school level, and appears likely to receive a grant in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, and land reform.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.41 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.977 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 29.7% industry: 19.4% services: 50.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

5 million note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

77% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

46.4% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.2% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.5 (2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.415 billion expenditures: $1.847 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$1.051 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$663 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$905.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Industries:

cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

611.6 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

509.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 69.9% hydro: 30.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,470 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

8,446 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$706 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$617 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, livestock, gold

Exports - partners:

China 29.6%, Singapore 15.7%, Thailand 7.2%, Ghana 6.4%, Niger 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$1.296 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners:

Cote d'Ivoire 25.8%, France 20.6%, Togo 7.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$659.6 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.029 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.33 billion (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Burkina Faso

Telephones - main lines in use:

94,800 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.611 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: services only fair; in 2006 the government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company; fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly from a low base domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 26, shortwave 3

Radios:

394,020 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (1 national, 2 private)

Televisions:

131,340 (2002)

Internet country code:

.bf

Internet hosts:

116 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

80,000 (2006)

Transportation
Burkina Faso

Airports:

33 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Railways:

total: 622 km narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire (2006)

Roadways:

total: 92,495 km paved: 3,857 km unpaved: 88,638 km (2004)

Military
Burkina Faso

Military branches:

Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso,
FABF), National Gendarmerie (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,364,288 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,115,948 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 176,358 female: 173,856 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Burkina Faso

Disputes - international:

in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005 ICJ decision; in recent years citizens and rogue security forces rob and harass local populations on both sides of the poorly-defined Burkina Faso-Niger border; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send their migrant workers to work in Ivorian cocoa plantations

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Burma

Introduction
Burma

Background:

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently transferred to house arrest. After Burma's ruling junta in August 2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks. In late September 2007, the government brutally suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests. The junta appointed Labor Minister AUNG KYI in October 2007 as liaison to AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who remains under house arrest and virtually incommunicado with her party and supporters.

Geography
Burma

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 22 00 N, 98 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 678,500 sq km land: 657,740 sq km water: 20,760 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,876 km border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Coastline:

1,930 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)

Terrain:

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 14.92% permanent crops: 1.31% other: 83.77% (2005)

Irrigated land:

18,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,045.6 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 33.23 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%) per capita: 658 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

People
Burma

Population:

47,758,180 note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.7% (male 6,236,484/female 6,038,576) 15-64 years: 68.9% (male 16,300,380/female 16,627,045) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,098,344/female 1,457,352) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.8 years male: 27.2 years female: 28.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.8% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 49.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.53 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.94 years male: 60.73 years female: 65.28 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

330,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

20,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese

Ethnic groups:

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,
Mon 2%, other 5%

Religions:

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Languages:

Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 93.9% female: 86.4% (2006 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2001)

Government
Burma

Country name:

conventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Government type:

military junta

Capital:

name: Rangoon (Yangon) geographic coordinates: 16 48 N, 96 09 E time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital

Administrative divisions:

7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne) divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan

Independence:

4 January 1948 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

Constitution:

30 May 2008

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992) head of government: Prime Minister, Lt. Gen THEIN SEIN (since 24 October 2007) cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by SPDC; military junta assumed power 18 September 1988 under name State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) elections: none

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by junta to convene (junta has announced plans to hold elections in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government), other 60

Judicial branch:

remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executive

Political parties and leaders:

National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI];
National Unity Party or NUP (pro-regime) [TUN YE]; Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other
smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC (based in Thailand); Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates); National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen National Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP; National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of opposition groups); United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary]; 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement) [MIN KO NAING] other: several Shan factions

International organization participation:

ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT LWIN chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry M. DINGER embassy: 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 telephone: [95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038 FAX: [95] (1) 650-306

Flag description:

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 14, white, five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven administrative divisions and seven states

Economy
Burma

Economy - overview:

Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but those efforts stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were rescinded. Despite Burma's increasing oil and gas revenue, socio-economic conditions have deteriorated due to the regime's mismanagement of the economy. Lacking monetary or fiscal stability, the economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including rising inflation, fiscal deficits, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, a distorted interest rate regime, unreliable statistics, and an inability to reconcile national accounts to determine a realistic GDP figure. Most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the results of the 1990 legislative elections. In response to the government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy, the US imposed new economic sanctions in August 2003 including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financial services by US persons. Further, a poor investment climate hampers attracting outside investment slowing the inflow of foreign exchange. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries, especially oil and gas, mining, and timber with the latter especially causing environmental degradation. Other areas, such as manufacturing and services, are struggling with inadequate infrastructure, unpredictable import/export policies, deteriorating health and education systems, and endemic corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003 shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. As of 2007, the largest private banks operated under tight restrictions limiting the private sector's access to formal credit. Moreover, the September 2007 crackdown on prodemocracy demonstrators, including thousands of monks, further strained the economy as the tourism industry, which directly employs about 500,000 people, suffered dramatic declines in foreign visitor levels. In November 2007, the European Union announced new sanctions banning investment and trade in Burmese gems, timber and precious stones, while the United States expanded its sanctions list to include more Burmese government and military officials and their family members, as well as prominent regime business cronies, their family members, and associated companies. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often estimated to be as large as the official economy. Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, better investment and business climates and an improved political situation are needed to promote serious foreign investment, exports, and tourism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$91.13 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.53 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 42.4% industry: 18.9% services: 38.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

29.26 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 70% industry: 7% services: 23% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

32.7% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

13.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA expenditures: NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

35% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$598 billion note: This number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange rate of 5.38 kyat per dollar. At the unofficial black market rate of 1305 kyat per dollar, the stock of kyats would equal only US$2.465 billion and Burma's velocity of money (the number of times money turns over in the course of a year) would be six, in line with the velocity of money for other countries in the region. (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$216.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$887.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products

Industries:

agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; natural gas; garments, jade and gems

Industrial production growth rate:

9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.961 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

4.289 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 44.5% hydro: 43.4% nuclear: 0% other: 12.1% (2002)

Oil - production:

21,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

43,140 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

5,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports:

22,180 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

50 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

12.6 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.62 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.427 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$6.122 billion f.o.b. note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems

Exports - partners:

Thailand 44.3%, India 14.5%, China 7.1%, Japan 5.7% (2007)

Imports:

$2.942 billion f.o.b. note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil

Imports - partners:

China 33.7%, Thailand 19.1%, Singapore 15.5%, South Korea 5.8%,
Indonesia 5.2%, Malaysia 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$144.7 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.262 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.022 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

kyat (MMK)

Currency code:

##### MMK

Exchange rates:

kyats (MMK) per US dollar - 1,296 (2007), 1,280 (2006), 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003) note: unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by yearend 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar; data shown for 2003-05 are official exchange rates

Communications
Burma

Telephones - main lines in use:

503,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

214,200 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government domestic: system barely capable of providing basic service; cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped with a subscribership base of less than 1 per 100 persons international: country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 3 (2007)

Radios:

4.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2008)

Televisions:

320,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.mm

Internet hosts:

108 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)

Internet users:

40,000 (2007)

Transportation
Burma

Airports:

86 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 61 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 32 (2007)

Heliports:

4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,790 km; oil 558 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,955 km narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 27,000 km paved: 3,200 km unpaved: 23,800 km (2006)

Waterways:

12,800 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 24 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 17, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1) registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe

Military
Burma

Military branches:

Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (Tatmadaw
Lay) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes; forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited, reportedly continues (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 13,402,788 females age 16-49: 13,437,042 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,031,046 females age 16-49: 9,396,547 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 423,809 female: 415,843 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Burma

Disputes - international:

over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic refugees, asylum seekers, and rebels, as well as illegal cross-border activities from Burma; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River near the border with Burma; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China is reconsidering construction of 13 dams on the Salween River but energy-starved Burma with backing from Thailand remains intent on building five hydro-electric dams downstream, despite identical regional and international protests; India seeks cooperation from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists, such as the United Liberation Front of Assam, from hiding in remote Burmese Uplands; after 21 years, Bangladesh resumes talks with Burma on delimiting a maritime boundary in January 2008

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 503,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent groups near the eastern borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni, Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Burma is a source country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; Burmese women and children are trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor; Burmese children are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers, beggars, and for work in shops, agriculture, fish processing, and small-scale industries; women are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Malaysia and China; some trafficking victims transit Burma from Bangladesh to Malaysia and from China to Thailand; internal trafficking occurs primarily from villages to urban centers and economic hubs for labor in industrial zones, agricultural estates, and commercial sexual exploitation; military and civilian officials continue to use a significant amount of forced labor; ethnic insurgent groups also used compulsory labor of adults and unlawful recruitment of children; the military junta's gross economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and its policy of using forced labor are the top causal factors for Burma's significant trafficking problem tier rating: Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; military and civilian officials remain directly involved in significant acts of forced labor and unlawful conscription of child soldiers (2008)

Illicit drugs:

remains world's second-largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2008 of 340 metric tons, an increase of 26%, and cultivation in 2008 was 22,500 hectares, a 4% increase from 2007; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94% of poppy cultivation; lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Burundi

Introduction
Burundi

Background:

Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. More than 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defense force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government, led by President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in September of 2006 but still faces many challenges.

Geography
Burundi

Location:

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

##### 3 30 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,650 sq km water: 2,180 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

Terrain:

hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Heha 2,670 m

Natural resources:

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 35.57% permanent crops: 13.12% other: 51.31% (2005)

Irrigated land:

210 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

3.6 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.29 cu km/yr (17%/6%/77%) per capita: 38 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

flooding, landslides, drought

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

People
Burundi

Population:

8,691,005 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,021,320/female 1,998,502) 15-64 years: 51.2% (male 2,210,157/female 2,240,921) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,600/female 132,505) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.7 years male: 16.4 years female: 17 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.443% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

41.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 60.77 deaths/1,000 live births male: 67.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.71 years male: 50.86 years female: 52.6 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

250,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

25,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian

Ethnic groups:

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Religions:

Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%

Languages:

Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 59.3% male: 67.3% female: 52.2% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2005)

Government
Burundi

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi former: Urundi

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Bujumbura geographic coordinates: 3 22 S, 29 21 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Independence:

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution:

28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum

Legal system:

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal (adult)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November 2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November 2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9 February 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the parliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the legislature

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats, 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of state) elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59, FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30, FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; High Court of
Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court)

Political parties and leaders:

governing parties: Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Jeremie NGENDAKUMANA]; Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA] note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD [Leonard NYANGOMA]; National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les malversations economiques or OLUCOME [Gabriel RUFYIRI] (anti-corruption pressure group) other: Hutu and Tutsi militias (loosely organized)

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] 223454 FAX: [257] 222926

Flag description:

divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below)

Economy
Burundi

Economy - overview:

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the population. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000 refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally. Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 15 adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply. Burundi's GDP grew around 5% annually in 2006-07. Political stability and the end of the civil war have improved aid flows and economic activity has increased, but underlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate, poor education rates, a weak legal system, and low administrative capacity - risk undermining planned economic reforms. Burundi will continue to remain heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors; the delay of funds after a corruption scandal cut off bilateral aid in 2007 reduced government's revenues and its ability to pay salaries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.907 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.001 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 33.7% industry: 20.9% services: 45.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.99 million (2002)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

68% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

42.4 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $264.2 million expenditures: $335.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10.12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16.84% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$208.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$141 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$342 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Industries:

light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

87 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

120.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

40 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,956 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,635 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$101 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$44 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Exports - partners:

Germany 31.3%, Pakistan 6.8%, Belgium 5.8%, Sweden 4.3%, Rwanda 4.3%, France 4.2%, Sudan 4% (2007)

Imports:

$272 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 17%, Kenya 11.4%, Belgium 8.7%, France 6.1%, Uganda 5.4%, Germany 5.4%, India 4.8%, Pakistan 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$365 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$177.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (2003)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Burundi franc (BIF)

Currency code:

##### BIF

Exchange rates:

Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,065 (2007), 1,030 (2006), 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91 (2004), 1,082.62 (2003)

Communications
Burundi

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

250,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: primitive system; telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing but remains at a meager 3 per 100 persons domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

440,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

25,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bi

Internet hosts:

162 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

60,000 (2006)

Transportation
Burundi

Airports:

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 12,322 km paved: 1,286 km unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Waterways:

mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Bujumbura

Military
Burundi

Military branches:

National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN): Army (includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), Gendarmerie (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; children as young as 10 years of age have been conscripted into the armed forces; the enrollment of children is still not prohibited (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,878,544 females age 16-49: 1,851,676 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,083,899 females age 16-49: 1,062,488 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 98,105 female: 98,533 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Burundi

Disputes - international:

Burundi and Rwanda dispute sections of border on the Akanyaru/Kanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers, which have changed course since the 1960s, when the boundary was delimited; cross-border conflicts among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces persist in the Great Lakes region

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,849 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo)
IDPs: 100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most
IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Burundi is a source country for children trafficked for the purposes of child soldiering, domestic servitude, and commercial sexual exploitation; a small number of Burundian children may be trafficked internally for domestic servitude or commercial sexual exploitation; in early 2008, Burundian children were allegedly trafficked to Uganda, via Rwanda, for agricultural labor and commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Burundi is on the Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; the government's inability to provide adequate protective services to children accused of association with armed groups and to conduct anti-trafficking law enforcement activities continue to be causes for concern; Burundi has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Cambodia

Introduction
Cambodia

Background:

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863 and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the remaining Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King SIHANOUK abdicated the throne due to illness and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, and there was little in the way of pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections are scheduled for July 2008.

Geography
Cambodia

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand,
Vietnam, and Laos

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 181,040 sq km land: 176,520 sq km water: 4,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries:

total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Coastline:

443 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 20.44% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 78.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

476.1 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%) per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts

Environment - current issues:

illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap

People
Cambodia

Population:

14,241,640 note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.2% (male 2,389,668/female 2,338,838) 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,372,480/female 4,627,895) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,338/female 319,421) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.7 years male: 21 years female: 22.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.752% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

25.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 63.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.69 years male: 59.65 years female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

170,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

15,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian

Ethnic groups:

Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Religions:

Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73.6% male: 84.7% female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

1.7% of GDP (2004)

Government
Cambodia

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation) local short form: Kampuchea former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Government type:

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Phnom Penh geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural) provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville)

Independence:

9 November 1953 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Constitution:

promulgated 21 September 1993

Legal system:

primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) [co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]; Permanent Deputy Prime Minister MEN SAM AN (since 25 September 2008); Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); BIN CHHIN (since 5 September 2007); KEAT CHHON, YIM CHHAI LY (since 25 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister elections: the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the king

Legislative branch:

bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%, others 20%; seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, others 7; Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority

Political parties and leaders:

Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front
for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Norodom Ranariddh Party or NRP
[Norodom RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Cambodian Freedom Fighters or CFF; Partnership for Transparency Fund or PTF (anti-corruption organization); Students Movement for Democracy; The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or Comfrel other: human rights organizations; vendors

International organization participation:

ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MENG EANG NAY chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742 FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carol A. RODLEY embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 728-000 FAX: [855] (23) 728-600

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design

Economy
Cambodia

Economy - overview:

From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector and tourism. The US and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international labor standards in the industry. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced producing countries such as China and India. Better-than-expected garment sector performance led to more than 9% growth in 2007. Its vibrant garment industry employs more than 350,000 people and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports. The Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy supporting high labor standards in an attempt to maintain buyer interest. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the northeastern parts of the country, and the government has said opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In 2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed and the first round of discussions took place in early 2007. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals reaching 2 million in 2007. In 2007 the government signed a joint venture agreement with two companies to form a new national airline. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.19 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.604 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 31% industry: 26% services: 43% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

2.5% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

35% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 34.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41.7 (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.015 billion expenditures: $1.168 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$513.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.131 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca

Industries:

tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

15% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.163 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.178 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

110 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 65% hydro: 35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,736 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

3,618 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

##### NA

Current account balance:

-$506.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.089 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Exports - partners:

US 58.1%, Germany 7.3%, UK 5.2%, Canada 4.6%, Vietnam 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$5.424 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Imports - partners:

Thailand 23.1%, Vietnam 16.9%, China 15%, Hong Kong 10.4%, Singapore 7.5%, Taiwan 7.2%, South Korea 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$698.2 million pledged in grants and concession loans for 2007 by international donors (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.143 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

riel (KHR)

Currency code:

##### KHR

Exchange rates:

riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003)

Communications
Cambodia

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.583 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: mobile-phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition among service providers, is increasing and stands at nearly 20 per 100 persons domestic: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 17, shortwave NA (2003)

Radios:

1.34 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

9 (including 2 TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); excludes 18 regional relay stations (2006)

Televisions:

94,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kh

Internet hosts:

1,230 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

70,000 (2007)

Transportation
Cambodia

Airports:

17 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 602 km narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 38,257 km paved: 2,406 km unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)

Waterways:

2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 626 by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 530, carrier 3, chemical tanker 10, container 8, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 467 (Canada 2, China 193, Cyprus 7, Egypt 13, Gabon 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 8, Indonesia 2, Japan 1, South Korea 22, Latvia 1, Lebanon 8, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Russia 83, Singapore 4, Syria 48, Taiwan 1, Turkey 26, Ukraine 34, UAE 2, US 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Military
Cambodia

Military branches:

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,759,034 females age 16-49: 3,784,333 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,581,045 females age 16-49: 2,676,075 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 185,959 female: 182,558 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Cambodia

Disputes - international:

Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand accuses Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as part of a planned UN World Heritage site

Illicit drugs:

narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Cameroon

Introduction
Cameroon

Background:

The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Geography
Cameroon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial
Guinea and Nigeria

Geographic coordinates:

##### 6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 475,440 sq km land: 469,440 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,591 km border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate:

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Terrain:

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

Natural resources:

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 12.54% permanent crops: 2.52% other: 84.94% (2005)

Irrigated land:

260 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

285.5 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%) per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano

People
Cameroon

Population:

18,467,692 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.1% (male 3,826,232/female 3,757,859) 15-64 years: 55.7% (male 5,164,338/female 5,122,817) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 274,821/female 321,625) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 19 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.218% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

34.59 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.41 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 64.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 69.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.3 years male: 52.54 years female: 54.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

6.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

560,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

49,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic groups:

Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 77% female: 59.8% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2006)

Government
Cameroon

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Capital:

name: Yaounde geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Independence:

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Constitution:

20 May 1972 approved by referendum, adopted 2 June 1972; revised January 1996

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, with common law influence; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature elections: last held 22 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RDCP 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1, vacant 17; note - vacant seats will be determined in a yet to be scheduled by-election after the Supreme Court nullified results in five districts note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Cameroon
People's Democratic Movement or RDPC [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the
Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the
Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO];
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO
BOUBA]; Progressive Movement or MP; Social Democratic Front or SDF
[John FRU NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin
Frederic KODOCK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]; Southern
Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Janet E. GARVEY embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220 16 03 FAX: [237] 2220 16 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 2220 17 52 branch office(s): Douala

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Cameroon

Economy - overview:

Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. In January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40.24 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$20.65 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 43.9% industry: 15.8% services: 40.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

6.674 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

48% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.6 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.179 billion expenditures: $3.297 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

15.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.616 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.698 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Industries:

petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

3.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.903 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.323 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.7% hydro: 97.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

87,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

24,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

108,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

50,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

200 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$325 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$3.827 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:

Spain 19.8%, Italy 15.7%, France 11.7%, South Korea 9.4%,
Netherlands 6.1%, US 5.7% (2007)

Imports:

$3.714 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners:

France 23.4%, Nigeria 12.8%, China 9%, Belgium 5.8%, US 4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$413.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.932 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.554 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

##### XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Communications
Cameroon

Telephones - main lines in use:

130,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.536 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many parts of the country are unreliable; mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, increased more than 6-fold between 2002 and 2007 reaching a subscribership base of 25 per 100 persons domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:

2.27 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

450,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cm

Internet hosts:

69 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

370,000 (2006)

Transportation
Cameroon

Airports:

45 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 27 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1,110 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 987 km narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 50,000 km paved: 5,000 km unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)

Waterways:

navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Douala, Limboh Terminal

Military
Cameroon

Military branches:

Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air
Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,321,175 females age 16-49: 4,228,625 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,567,428 females age 16-49: 2,498,990 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 212,205 female: 207,545 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Cameroon

Disputes - international:

Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agree on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 20,000-30,000 (Chad); 3,000 (Nigeria); 24,000 (Central African Republic) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Cameroon is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; most victims are children trafficked within country, with girls primarily trafficked for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; both boys and girls are also trafficked within Cameroon for forced labor in sweatshops, bars, restaurants, and on tea and cocoa plantations; children are trafficked into Cameroon from neighboring states for forced labor in agriculture, fishing, street vending, and spare-parts shops; Cameroon is a transit country for children trafficked between Gabon and Nigeria, and from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia; it is a source country for women transported by sex-trafficking rings to Europe tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cameroon is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; while Cameroon reported some arrests of traffickers, none of them were prosecuted or punished; the government does not identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations nor does it monitor the number of victims it intercepts (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Canada

Introduction
Canada

Background:

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

Geography
Canada

Location:

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

Geographic coordinates:

##### 60 00 N, 95 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 9,984,670 sq km land: 9,093,507 sq km water: 891,163 sq km

Area - comparative:

somewhat larger than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Coastline:

202,080 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Terrain:

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 4.57% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 94.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:

7,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

3,300 cu km (1985)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%) per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)

Natural hazards:

continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains

Environment - current issues:

air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border

People
Canada

Population:

33,212,696 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 2,780,491/female 2,644,276) 15-64 years: 68.8% (male 11,547,354/female 11,300,639) 65 years and over: 14.9% (male 2,150,991/female 2,788,945) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.1 years male: 39 years female: 41.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.83% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.16 years male: 78.65 years female: 83.81 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

56,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian

Ethnic groups:

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (2002)

Government
Canada

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada

Government type:

constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

Capital:

name: Ottawa geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 42 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November note: Canada is divided into six time zones

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Independence:

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)

National holiday:

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Constitution:

made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments

Legal system:

based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February 2006) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of five-year terms starting in 2009 elections) elections: House of Commons - last held 14 October 2008 (next to be held 19 October 2009) election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party 18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other 1%; seats by party - Conservative Party 143, Liberal Party 76, New Democratic Party 37, Bloc Quebecois 50, other 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

Political parties and leaders:

Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada
[Stephen HARPER] (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the
Progressive Conservative Party); Green Party [Elizabeth MAY];
Liberal Party [Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: agricultural sector; automobile industry; business groups; chemical industry; commercial banks; communications sector; energy industry; environmentalists; public administration groups; steel industry; trade unions

International organization participation:

ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), APEC,
Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS,
C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO,
G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAFTA, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF
(partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSON chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740 FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430; P.O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1 telephone: [1] (613) 688-5335 FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Flag description:

two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white

Economy
Canada

Economy - overview:

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscal management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997, although public debate continues over the equitable distribution of federal funds to the Canadian provinces. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs 80% of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. During 2007, Canada enjoyed good economic growth, moderate inflation, and the lowest unemployment rate in more than three decades.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.271 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.432 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 28.8% services: 69.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

17.95 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 2%, manufacturing 13%, construction 6%, services 76%, other 3% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.1 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $569.3 billion expenditures: $556.2 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

64.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.1% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$391.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.381 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.382 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Industries:

transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:

0.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

612.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

530 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

50.12 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

19.66 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 28% hydro: 57.9% nuclear: 12.9% other: 1.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

3.425 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.371 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.225 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1.229 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

178.6 billion bbl note: includes oil sands (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

187 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

92.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

107.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

13.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.648 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$12.67 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$431.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Exports - partners:

US 78.9%, UK 2.8%, China 2.1% (2007)

Imports:

$386.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 54.1%, China 9.4%, Mexico 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $3.9 billion (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$41.08 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$758.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$527.4 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$514.7 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.481 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Currency code:

##### CAD

Exchange rates:

Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003)

Communications
Canada

Telephones - main lines in use:

21 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

18.749 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Radios:

32.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

21.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ca

Internet hosts:

5.119 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

760 (2000 est.)

Internet users:

28 million (2007)

Transportation
Canada

Airports:

1,343 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 509 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 149 914 to 1,523 m: 248 under 914 m: 78 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 834 1,524 to 2,437 m: 68 914 to 1,523 m: 356 under 914 m: 410 (2007)

Heliports:

11 (2007)

Pipelines:

crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2006)

Railways:

total: 48,068 km standard gauge: 48,068 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 1,042,300 km paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 626,700 km (2006)

Waterways:

636 km note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 175 by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 13, carrier 1, chemical tanker 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6 foreign-owned: 17 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, US 10) registered in other countries: 206 (Australia 9, Bahamas 84, Barbados 9, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 44, Liberia 7, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 6, Norway 7, Norway 3, Panama 18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 1, Spain 3, Taiwan 2, Vanuatu 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec
City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver

Military
Canada

Military branches:

Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command (MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and military college applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service obligation 3-9 years (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,072,010 females age 16-49: 7,813,462 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,646,281 females age 16-49: 6,417,924 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 227,435 female: 215,556 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Canada

Disputes - international:

managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; Canada, the US, and other countries dispute the status of the Northwest Passage; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people, transport, and commodities across the international border; sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Cape Verde

Introduction
Cape Verde

Background:

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Geography
Cape Verde

Location:

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

##### 16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

965 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Terrain:

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Natural resources:

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Land use:

arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.3 cu km (1990)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%) per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

People
Cape Verde

Population:

426,998 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.1% (male 77,533/female 76,489) 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 120,208/female 125,009) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 10,226/female 17,533) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.6 years male: 19.9 years female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.595% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

23.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 42.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 48.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.33 years male: 67.99 years female: 74.76 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.035% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

775 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

225 (as of 2001)

Nationality:

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Ethnic groups:

Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly
Church of the Nazarene)

Languages:

Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.6% male: 85.8% female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.3% of GDP (2006)

Government
Cape Verde

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Praia geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista,
Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande,
Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao
Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence:

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution:

25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995 substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)

Legal system:

based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2011); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%, UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Political parties and leaders:

African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria
Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr.
Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic
Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES]; Democratic Renovation
Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]; Democratic and Independent Cape
Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement for Democracy or
MPD [Agostinho LOPES]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr.
Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias
RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: environmentalists; political pressure groups

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marianne M. MYLES embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00 FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55

Flag description:

five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side

Economy
Cape Verde

Economy - overview:

This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. Cape Verde became a member of the WTO in July 2008.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.603 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.428 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.3% industry: 16.7% services: 74% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

120,600 (1990)

Unemployment rate:

21% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

37% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $436.1 million expenditures: $449.7 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

8.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.55% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$574 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$689 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.049 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Industries:

food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

47 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

43.71 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,117 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,785 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$132.6 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$76.5 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners:

Spain 37.2%, Portugal 29.9%, Morocco 7%, US 6.6% (2007)

Imports:

$743.6 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:

Portugal 40.7%, Netherlands 10.9%, France 6.5%, Spain 5.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9%, Brazil 4.7%, Italy 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$160.6 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$398 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$325 million (2002)

Currency (code):

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Currency code:

##### CVE

Exchange rates:

Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003)

Communications
Cape Verde

Telephones - main lines in use:

71,600 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

148,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995 domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998; broadband services launched in 2004 international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2 fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 22 (plus 12 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

100,000 (2002 est.)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

15,000 (2002 est.)

Internet country code:

.cv

Internet hosts:

20 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

37,000 (2007)

Transportation
Cape Verde

Airports:

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,350 km paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5 foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Porto Grande

Military
Cape Verde

Military branches:

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory military service; 14-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 103,650 females age 16-49: 103,553 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 83,082 females age 16-49: 88,832 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 5,566 female: 5,441 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.7% of GDP (2005)

Transnational Issues
Cape Verde

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Cayman Islands

Introduction
Cayman Islands

Background:

The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Geography
Cayman Islands

Location:

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Geographic coordinates:

##### 19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 262 sq km land: 262 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

160 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain:

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Natural resources:

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use:

arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Geography - note:

important location between Cuba and Central America

People
Cayman Islands

Population:

47,862 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 4,774/female 4,759) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,594/female 17,434) 65 years and over: 9% (male 2,022/female 2,279) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.8 years male: 37.4 years female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.449% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

16.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.32 years male: 77.68 years female: 83 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups:

mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Religions:

Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentacostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census)

Languages:

English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

2.8% of GDP (2005)

Government
Cayman Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

British crown colony

Capital:

name: George Town (on Grand Cayman) geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Constitution:

1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994

Legal system:

British common law and local statutes

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005) head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Trust other: environmentalists

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Economy
Cayman Islands

Economy - overview:

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$43,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force:

23,450 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

4.4% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2004)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Industries:

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,767 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,818 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$2.52 million (2004)

Exports - commodities:

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners:

mostly US (2006)

Imports:

$866.9 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$390,000 (2004)

Debt - external:

$70 million (1996)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$130 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Currency code:

##### KYD

Exchange rates:

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)

Communications
Cayman Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

33,800 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: reasonably good system domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

36,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 with cable system (2004)

Televisions:

7,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ky

Internet hosts:

4,648 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

22,000 (2007)

Transportation
Cayman Islands

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 109 by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 2, chemical tanker 42, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 107 (Denmark 3, Germany 15, Greece 16, Italy 4, Japan 13, Norway 1, Singapore 10, UK 3, US 42) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cayman Brac, George Town

Military
Cayman Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,790 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,577 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 336 female: 336 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Cayman Islands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Central African Republic

Introduction
Central African Republic

Background:

The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in neighboring nations, Chad, Sudan, and the DRC, continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well.

Geography
Central African Republic

Location:

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

##### 7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,203 km border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain:

vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

144.4 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%) per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Environment - current issues:

tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People
Central African Republic

Population:

4,444,330 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.3% (male 922,053/female 911,601) 15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,206,121/female 1,221,158) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 71,597/female 111,800) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.7 years male: 18.4 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.509% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

33.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

18.04 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 82.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 88.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 75.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 44.22 years male: 44.14 years female: 44.29 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

13.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

260,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Ethnic groups:

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,
Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Languages:

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.6% male: 64.8% female: 33.5% (2000 est.)

Education expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Government
Central African Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Bangui geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Independence:

13 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Constitution:

ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27 December 2004

Legal system:

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 22 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13 March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 35.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KNK 42, MLPC 11, RDC 8, PSD 4, FPP 2, ADP 2, LONDO 1, independents 34, other 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges
appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National
Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Inferior Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];
Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic
Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for
Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Londo Association or LONDO; Movement for
Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the
Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix
PATASSE] (the party of deposed president); National Convergence or
KNK; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's
Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity
Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Enoch LAKOUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Monam (combating gender-base violence)

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Frederick B. COOK embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94 note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band

Economy
Central African Republic

Economy - overview:

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.007 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.714 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 55% industry: 20% services: 25% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

1.857 million (2006)

Unemployment rate:

8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

61.3 (1993)

Budget:

revenues: $250 million expenditures: $273 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$218.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$47.58 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$320.2 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Industries:

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2002)

Electricity - production:

110 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

102.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,322 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,057 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance:

-$77 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$146.7 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners:

Belgium 22.7%, Indonesia 19.3%, Italy 7.7%, France 7.1%, Spain 6.9%,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.8%, China 4.9%, Turkey 4.7% (2007)

Imports:

$237.3 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

France 16.6%, Netherlands 13%, Cameroon 9.7%, US 6.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $95.29 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2005 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.153 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

##### XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Communications
Central African Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

12,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

130,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: limited telephone service; fixed-line connections for well less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 3 per 100 persons; most fixed-line and cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

283,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

18,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cf

Internet hosts:

21 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

13,000 (2006)

Transportation
Central African Republic

Airports:

51 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 48 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 24,307 km (2000)

Waterways:

2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Military
Central African Republic

Military branches:

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA):
Ground Forces, General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG),
Military Air Service, National Police (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,032,828 females age 16-49: 999,330 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 534,141 females age 16-49: 495,303 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 54,655 female: 54,420 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Central African Republic

Disputes - international:

periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,900 (Sudan); 3,700 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo); note - UNHCR resumed repatriation of
Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006
IDPs: 197,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Central African Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, street vending, and forced agricultural, mine, market and restaurant labor; to a lesser extent, children are trafficked from the Central African Republic to Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; rebels conscript children into armed forces within the country tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Central African Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in 2007; efforts to address trafficking through vigorous law enforcement measures and victim protection efforts were minimal, though awareness about trafficking appeared to be increasing in the country; the government does not actively investigate cases, work to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, or rescue and provide care to victims; the government has not taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Chad

Introduction
Chad

Background:

Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing attacks into eastern Chad, despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007, and the capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.

Geography
Chad

Location:

Central Africa, south of Libya

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 N, 19 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 5,968 km border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical in south, desert in north

Terrain:

broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Land use:

arable land: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:

300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

43 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%) per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:

landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

People
Chad

Population:

10,111,337 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47% (male 2,408,638/female 2,346,984) 15-64 years: 50.1% (male 2,317,406/female 2,746,104) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 123,561/female 168,644) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.4 years male: 15.2 years female: 17.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.195% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

41.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 100.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 106.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 94 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.43 years male: 46.4 years female: 48.5 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

200,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

18,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian

Ethnic groups:

Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)

Religions:

Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)

Languages:

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 25.7% male: 40.8% female: 12.8% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 6 years male: 7 years female: 4 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2005)

Government
Chad

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad local short form: Tchad/Tshad

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: N'Djamena geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

18 regions (regions, singular - region); Batha,
Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem,
Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est,
Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile, Ville de
N'Djamena, Wadi Fira

Independence:

11 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Constitution:

passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Youssof Saleh ABBAS (since 16 April 2008) cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%, Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution called for a Senate that has never been formed elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held by 2009); note - legislative elections, originally scheduled for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action and subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between government and opposition parties election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 3, other 11

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire
KOUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh
KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar
Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh
AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol
Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

rebel groups

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Louis NIGRO embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] 251-62-11, [235] 251-70-09, [235] 251-77-59 FAX: [235] 251-56-54

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Economy
Chad

Economy - overview:

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a refinery. The nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 1.5 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.26 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.095 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.5% industry: 47.8% services: 30.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.747 million (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

80% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

11.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.864 billion expenditures: $1.749 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$874.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$55.23 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$82.81 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Industries:

oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

95 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

88.35 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

156,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,352 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

176,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,492 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$171 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.201 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic

Exports - partners:

US 89.5%, Japan 3.7%, China 3.4% (2007)

Imports:

$1.158 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

France 20.4%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.9%, China 10%, Germany 7.5%,
Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $379.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$969 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.6 billion (2005 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$4.5 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

##### XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Communications
Chad

Telephones - main lines in use:

13,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

918,400 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: primitive system with high costs and low telephone density; fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 9 per 100 persons domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2001)

Radios:

1.67 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.td

Internet hosts:

5 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

60,000 (2006)

Transportation
Chad

Airports:

55 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 48 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 250 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)

Waterways:

Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2006)

Military
Chad

Military branches:

Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,906,545 females age 16-49: 2,258,758 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,066,565 females age 16-49: 1,279,318 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 116,824 female: 117,831 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Chad

Disputes - international:

since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central African Republic) IDPs: 178,918 (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of children are trafficked within Chad for involuntary domestic servitude, forced cattle herding, forced begging, forced labor in petty commerce or the fishing industry, or for commercial sexual exploitation; to a lesser extent, Chadian children are also trafficked to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria for cattle herding; children may also be trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African Republic to Chad's oil producing regions for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Chad is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; Chad was destabilized during 2007 by civil conflict leading to a declared state of emergency in February 2008, and a steady influx of refugees fleeing Sudan and the Central African Republic; the government demonstrated insufficient overall efforts to combat trafficking; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Chile

Introduction
Chile

Background:

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians (also known as Mapuches) inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Araucanian Indians were completely subjugated. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

Geography
Chile

Location:

Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Argentina and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

##### 30 00 S, 71 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 756,950 sq km land: 748,800 sq km water: 8,150 sq km note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 6,339 km border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km

Coastline:

6,435 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200/350 nm

Climate:

temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

Terrain:

low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

Natural resources:

copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.62% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:

19,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

922 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%) per capita: 770 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions

People
Chile

Population:

16,454,143 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.6% (male 1,987,962/female 1,899,489) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 5,556,867/female 5,563,666) 65 years and over: 8.8% (male 602,789/female 843,370) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.1 years male: 30.1 years female: 32.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.905% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.15 years male: 73.88 years female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

26,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,400 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean

Ethnic groups:

white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous groups 0.6% (2002 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other
Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)

Languages:

Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 95.8% female: 95.6% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.2% of GDP (2006)

Government
Chile

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Santiago geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

Administrative divisions:

15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence:

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Constitution:

11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

Legal system:

based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; note - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held 15 January 2006 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent of vote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique 46.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve eight-year terms; one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8), independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI 34, RN 20), independent 1; note - as of 8 January 2008: Senate - seats by party - CPD 18, (PDC 5, PS 8, PPD 2, PRSD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7), independent 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CPD 57 (PDC 16, PPD 19, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 53 (UDI 33, RN 20), independent 10.

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional Tribunal

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Chile (Alianza) or APC (including National Renewal or
RN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI
[Hernan LARRAIN Fernandez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy
(Concertacion) or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC
[Soledad ALVEAR], Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA Medina],
Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR Chacra], Radical Social
Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist
Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]; Humanist Party [Marilen CABRERA
Olmos]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations other: revitalized university student federations at all major universities

International organization participation:

APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZ chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746 FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul E. SIMONS embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 330-3000 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710, 330-3160

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the blood spilled to achieve independence note: design was influenced by the US flag

Economy
Chile

Economy - overview:

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Between 2000 and 2007 growth ranged between 2%-6%. Throughout these years Chile maintained a low rate of inflation with GDP growth coming from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and growing domestic consumption. President BACHELET in 2006 established an Economic and Social Stabilization Fund to hold excess copper revenues so that social spending can be maintained during periods of copper shortfalls. This fund probably surpassed $20 billion at the end of 2007. Chile continues to attract foreign direct investment, but most foreign investment goes into gas, water, electricity and mining. Unemployment has exhibited a downward trend over the past two years, dropping to 7.8% and 7.0% at the end of 2006 and 2007, respectively. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. Chile claims to have more bilateral or regional trade agreements than any other country. It has 57 such agreements (not all of them full free trade agreements), including with the European Union, Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$232.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$163.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 51.2% services: 44% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7.167 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13.6% industry: 23.4% services: 63% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18.2% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 45% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

54.9 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $44.96 billion expenditures: $30.51 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

4.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.67% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$16.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$80.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$127.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

Industries:

copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

11.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

50.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

45.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 51.5% nuclear: 0% other: 1.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

11,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

253,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

32,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

222,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

150 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$7.2 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$67.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

Exports - partners:

China 14.8%, US 12.5%, Japan 10.5%, Netherlands 5.8%, South Korea 5.7%, Italy 5.1%, Brazil 5% (2007)

Imports:

$43.99 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas

Imports - partners:

US 16.7%, China 11.2%, Brazil 10.3%, Argentina 9.9% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$0 (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$57.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$91.49 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$24.68 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$174.6 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Chilean peso (CLP)

Currency code:

##### CLP

Exchange rates:

Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003)

Communications
Chile

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.379 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.955 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: privatization begun in 1988; most advanced telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; fixed-line connections have dropped in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching a level of 85 telephones per 100 persons domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: country code - 56; submarine cables provide links to the US and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 180 (8 inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (1 inactive) (1998)

Radios:

5.18 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

3.15 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cl

Internet hosts:

847,215 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7 (2000)

Internet users:

5.57 million (2007)

Transportation
Chile

Airports:

358 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 79 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 279 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 49 under 914 m: 216 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,550 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,002 km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 6,585 km broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified) narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 80,505 km paved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways) unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 44 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3 registered in other countries: 40 (Argentina 7, Brazil 1, Cyprus 1, Isle of Man 6, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 2, Panama 12, Singapore 6, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente,
Valparaiso

Military
Chile

Military branches:

Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes naval
air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine
Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,
FACh), Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained; service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,242,912 females age 16-49: 4,182,509 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,542,448 females age 16-49: 3,500,059 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 147,518 female: 141,139 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Chile

Disputes - international:

Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru, in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile to the ICJ; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the region; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a recent anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significant consumer of cocaine

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@China

Introduction
China

Background:

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

Geography
China

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

##### 35 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 9,596,960 sq km land: 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 22,117 km border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km regional borders: Hong Kong 30 km, Macau 0.34 km

Coastline:

14,500 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain:

mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)

Land use:

arable land: 14.86% permanent crops: 1.27% other: 83.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:

545,960 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

2,829.6 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 549.76 cu km/yr (7%/26%/68%) per capita: 415 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence

Environment - current issues:

air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US); Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak

People
China

Population:

1,330,044,544 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 142,085,665/female 125,300,391) 15-64 years: 71.9% (male 491,513,378/female 465,020,030) 65 years and over: 8% (male 50,652,480/female 55,472,661) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.6 years male: 33.1 years female: 34.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.629% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

13.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.03 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.18 years male: 71.37 years female: 75.18 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.77 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

840,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

44,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:

Han Chinese 91.5%, Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uyghur, Tujia, Yi, Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, and other nationalities 8.5% (2000 census)

Religions:

Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2% note: officially atheist (2002 est.)

Languages:

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.9% male: 95.1% female: 86.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (1999)

Government
China

Country name:

conventional long form: People's Republic of China conventional short form: China local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo local short form: Zhongguo abbreviation: PRC

Government type:

Communist state

Capital:

name: Beijing geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: despite its size, all of China falls within one time zone

Administrative divisions:

23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural) provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan) autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang Uygur, Xizang (Tibet) municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

Independence:

221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic established)

National holiday:

Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1
October (1949)

Constitution:

most recent promulgation 4 December 1982

Legal system:

based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental civil code legal principles; legislature retains power to interpret statutes; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003); Vice President XI Jinping (since 15 March 2008) head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003); Executive Vice Premier LI Keqiang (17 March 2008), Vice Premier HUI Liangyu (since 17 March 2003), Vice Premier ZHANG Deijiang (since 17 March 2008), and Vice Premier WANG Qishan (since 17 March 2008) cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress (NPC) elections: president and vice president elected by National People's Congress for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 15-17 March 2008 (next to be held in mid-March 2013); premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress election results: HU Jintao elected president by National People's Congress with a total of 2,963 votes; XI Jinping elected vice president with a total of 2,919 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,987 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses, and People's Liberation Army to serve five-year terms) elections: last held December 2007-February 2008; date of next election - NA election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 2,987

Judicial branch:

Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and basic courts); Special People's Courts (primarily military, maritime, railway transportation, and forestry courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

the China Democracy Party; the Falungong spiritual movement note: no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the government has identified the organizations listed above as subversive groups

International organization participation:

ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, CDB, EAS, FAO, G-24 (observer), G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador ZHOU Wenzhong chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr. embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Lu, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000 FAX: [86] (10) 8531-3300 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau, Shanghai, Shenyang

Flag description:

red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy
China

Economy - overview:

China's economy during the last quarter century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion, including the sale of minority shares in four of China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets in 2005. After keeping its currency tightly linked to the US dollar for years, China in July 2005 revalued its currency by 2.1% against the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. Cumulative appreciation of the renminbi against the US dollar since the end of the dollar peg reached 15% in January 2008. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2007 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income. Annual inflows of foreign direct investment in 2007 rose to $75 billion. By the end of 2007, more than 5,000 domestic Chinese enterprises had established direct investments in 172 countries and regions around the world. The Chinese government faces several economic development challenges: (a) to sustain adequate job growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) to reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) to contain environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. Economic development has been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior, and approximately 200 million rural laborers have relocated to urban areas to find work. One demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the north - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. In 2007 China intensified government efforts to improve environmental conditions, tying the evaluation of local officials to environmental targets, publishing a national climate change policy, and establishing a high level leading group on climate change, headed by Premier WEN Jiabao. The Chinese government seeks to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil as its double-digit economic growth increases demand. Chinese energy officials in 2007 agreed to purchase five third generation nuclear reactors from Western companies. More power generating capacity came on line in 2006 as large scale investments - including the Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River - were completed.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.099 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.251 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.3% industry: 48.6% services: 40.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

800.7 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 43% industry: 25% services: 32% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4% unemployment in urban areas; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8% note: 21.5 million rural population live below the official "absolute poverty" line (approximately $90 per year); and an additional 35.5 million rural population above that but below the official "low income" line (approximately $125 per year) (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 34.9% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47 (2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

42.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $674.3 billion expenditures: $651.6 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

18.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.33% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.47% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.09 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.437 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.653 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish

Industries:

mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, including footwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships, and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites

Industrial production growth rate:

13.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.256 trillion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

2.859 trillion kWh (2006)

Electricity - exports:

14.04 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

4.771 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 18.5% nuclear: 1.2% other: 0.1% (2001)

Oil - production:

3.725 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

7.578 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

79,060 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - imports:

3.19 million bbl/day (2007)

Oil - proved reserves:

16 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

69.27 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

70.51 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

2.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.92 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.265 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$371.8 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.22 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, electrical products, data processing equipment, apparel, textile, steel, mobile phones

Exports - partners:

US 19.1%, Hong Kong 15.1%, Japan 8.4%, South Korea 4.6%, Germany 4% (2007)

Imports:

$904.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, LED screens, data processing equipment, optical and medical equipment, organic chemicals, steel, copper

Imports - partners:

Japan 14%, South Korea 10.9%, Taiwan 10.5%, US 7.3%, Germany 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.641 billion (FY07)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.534 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$363 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$758.9 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$93.75 billion ( 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.477 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Currency (code):

Renminbi (RMB); note - also referred to by the unit yuan (CNY)

Currency code:

##### CNY

Exchange rates:

Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar - 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.277 (2003)

Communications
China

Telephones - main lines in use:

365.4 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

547.286 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and many towns; nonetheless, by the end of 2006, more than 95% of China's villages had been connected to the telephone network; China continues to develop its telecommunications infrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expand its global reach; 3 of China's 6 major telecommunications operators are part of an international consortium which, in December 2006, signed an agreement with Verizon Business to build the first next-generation fiber optic submarine cable system directly linking the US mainland and China domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing rapidly; the number of Internet users reached 253 million in 2008; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place international: country code - 86; a number of submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)

Radios:

417 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations, and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997)

Televisions:

400 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cn

Internet hosts:

14.306 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

253 million (2008)

Transportation
China

Airports:

467 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 403 over 3,047 m: 58 2,438 to 3,047 m: 128 1,524 to 2,437 m: 130 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 67 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 64 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 26 (2007)

Heliports:

35 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 26,344 km; oil 17,240 km; refined products 6,106 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 75,438 km standard gauge: 75,438 km 1.435-m gauge (20,151 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:

total: 1,930,544 km paved: 1,575,571 km (includes 41,005 km of expressways) unpaved: 354,973 km (2005)

Waterways:

124,000 km navigable (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,826 by type: barge carrier 4, bulk carrier 451, cargo 689, carrier 2, chemical tanker 69, combination ore/oil 1, container 162, liquefied gas 44, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 244, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 17 foreign-owned: 20 (Ecuador 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1) registered in other countries: 1,441 (Bahamas 10, Bangladesh 1, Belize 71, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 193, Cyprus 10, France 5, Georgia 10, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 324, India 1, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Liberia 11, Malta 12, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 36, Panama 532, Philippines 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 94, Sierra Leone 15, Singapore 14, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 16, unknown 39) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Dalian, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen,
Tianjin

Military
China

Military branches:

People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces), and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police (PAP); PLA Reserve Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 375,009,345 females age 16-49: 354,314,328 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 313,321,639 females age 16-49: 295,951,438 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 10,760,380 female: 9,710,032 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
China

Disputes - international:

continuing talks and confidence-building measures work toward reducing tensions over Kashmir that nonetheless remains militarized with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, and other matters; China claims most of India's Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes due to cartographic discrepancies; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Seas, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" eased tensions in the Spratly's but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly's and in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; China and Taiwan continue to reject both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared equidistance line in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privations and oppression, by building a fence along portions of the border and imprisoning North Koreans deported by China; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary is expected to be completed by the end of 2008, while the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries agreements in the Gulf of Tonkin, ratified in June 2004, have been implemented; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, remains intent on building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests; Chinese and Hong Kong authorities met in March 2008 to resolve ownership and use of lands recovered in Shenzhen River channelization, including 96-hectare Lok Ma Chau Loop; Hong Kong developing plans to reduce 2,000 out of 2,800 hectares of its restricted Closed Area by 2010

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 300,897 (Vietnam); estimated 30,000-50,000 (North Korea) IDPs: 90,000 (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: China is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; the majority of trafficking in China occurs within the country's borders, but there is also considerable international trafficking of Chinese citizens to Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America; Chinese women are lured abroad through false promises of legitimate employment, only to be forced into commercial sexual exploitation, largely in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan; women and children are trafficked to China from Mongolia, Burma, North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam for forced labor, marriage, and prostitution; some North Korean women and children seeking to leave their country voluntarily cross the border into China and are then sold into prostitution, marriage, or forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China is on the Tier 2 Watch List for the fourth consecutive year for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of punishment of trafficking crimes and the protection of Chinese and foreign victims of trafficking; victims are sometimes punished for unlawful acts that were committed as a direct result of their being trafficked, such as violations of prostitution or immigration/emigration controls; the Chinese Government continued to treat North Korean victims of trafficking solely as economic migrants, routinely deporting them back to horrendous conditions in North Korea; additional challenges facing the Chinese Government include the enormous size of its trafficking problem and the significant level of corruption and complicity in trafficking by some local government officials (2008)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle region of Southeast Asia; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for chemical precursors, despite new regulations on its large chemical industry

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Christmas Island

Introduction
Christmas Island

Background:

Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Geography
Christmas Island

Location:

Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

138.9 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources:

phosphate, beaches

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Geography - note:

located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

People
Christmas Island

Population:

1,402 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)

Religions:

Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)

Languages:

English (official), Chinese, Malay

Literacy:

##### NA

Government
Christmas Island

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island

Dependency status:

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: The Settlement geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution:

Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the
Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

Legal system:

under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

Economy
Christmas Island

Economy - overview:

Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

Labor force:

##### NA

Budget:

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Agriculture - products:

##### NA

Industries:

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

phosphate

Exports - partners:

Australia, NZ (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods

Imports - partners:

principally Australia (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Christmas Island

Telephones - main lines in use:

##### NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)

Televisions:

600 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cx

Internet hosts:

1,821 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

464 (2001)

Transportation
Christmas Island

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 140 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Flying Fish Cove

Military
Christmas Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues
Christmas Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Clipperton Island

Introduction
Clipperton Island

Background:

This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.

Geography
Clipperton Island

Location:

Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 17 N, 109 13 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 6 sq km land: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

11.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, wet season (May to October)

Terrain:

coral atoll

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

reef 12 km in circumference

People
Clipperton Island

Population:

uninhabited

Government
Clipperton Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy
Clipperton Island

Economy - overview:

Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.

Transportation
Clipperton Island

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Clipperton Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
Clipperton Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Introduction
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Background:

There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.

Geography
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 30 S, 96 50 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 14 sq km land: 14 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Area - comparative:

about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

26 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year

Terrain:

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

cyclone season is October to April

Environment - current issues:

fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geography - note:

islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation; site of a World War I naval battle in November 1914 between the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German raider SMS Emden; after being heavily damaged in the engagement, the Emden was beached by her captain on North Keeling Island

People
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Population:

596 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups:

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Languages:

Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Literacy:

##### NA

Government
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status:

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: West Island geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution:

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

Legal system:

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Suffrage:

##### NA

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) cabinet: NA elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre

International organization participation:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Economy - overview:

Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

Labor force:

##### NA

Labor force - by occupation:

note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others

Unemployment rate:

60% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Industries:

copra products and tourism

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

copra

Exports - partners:

Australia (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Australia (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

287 (1992)

Telephone system:

general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular network is in operation domestic: NA international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

300 (1992)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2007)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.cc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 22 km paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Port Refuge

Military
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force

Transnational Issues
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Colombia

Introduction
Colombia

Background:

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups - both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence. More than 32,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as a formal organization had ceased to function. Still, some renegades continued to engage in criminal activities. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Geography
Colombia

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Geographic coordinates:

##### 4 00 N, 72 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 6,309 km border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline:

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Terrain:

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005)

Irrigated land:

9,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

2,132 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%) per capita: 235 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

People
Colombia

Population:

45,013,672 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 6,688,530/female 6,531,768) 15-64 years: 65.1% (male 14,292,647/female 15,017,204) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 1,072,644/female 1,410,881) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.8 years male: 25.9 years female: 27.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.405% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

19.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.54 years male: 68.71 years female: 76.5 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

190,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.8% male: 92.9% female: 92.7% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.7% of GDP (2006)

Government
Colombia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia

Government type:

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Capital:

name: Bogota geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Independence:

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Constitution:

5 July 1991; amended many times

Legal system:

based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and reached full implemention in January 2008; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002) cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest parties that supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC, and CR - and independents elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president; percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%, Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41

Judicial branch:

four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Efrain Jose CEPEDA Sarabia]; Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz]; Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]; Social National Unity Party or U Party [Carlos GARCIA Orjuela] note: Colombia has 15 formally recognized political parties, and numerous unofficial parties that did not meet the vote threshold in the March 2006 legislative elections required for recognition

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC note: two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia

International organization participation:

BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C. mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C. telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Economy
Colombia

Economy - overview:

Colombia's economy has experienced positive growth over the past five years despite a serious armed conflict. In fact, 2007 is regarded by policy makers and the private sector as one of the best economic years in recent history, after 2005. The economy continues to improve in part because of austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth strategy, improved domestic security, and high commodity prices. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE include reforming the pension system, reducing high unemployment, and funding new exploration to offset declining oil production. The government's economic reforms and democratic security strategy, coupled with increased investment, have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy. However, the business sector continues to be concerned about failure of the US Congress to approve the signed FTA.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$327.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$171.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.5% industry: 36% services: 52.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

20.5 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 22.7% industry: 18.7% services: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

49.2% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 7.9% highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

53.8 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $63.69 billion expenditures: $64.96 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

52.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

11.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.38% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$21.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$27.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$85.34 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp

Industries:

textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Industrial production growth rate:

9.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

51.83 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

39.58 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

876.7 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

39.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 26% hydro: 72.7% nuclear: 0% other: 1.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

550,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

265,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

276,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

12,480 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.506 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

7.22 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

7.22 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

122.9 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$5.862 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$30.58 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut flowers

Exports - partners:

US 35.4%, Venezuela 17.4%, Ecuador 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$31.17 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 26.2%, China 10.1%, Mexico 9.3%, Brazil 7.3%, Venezuela 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$511.1 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$20.95 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$41.39 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$56.19 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$10.38 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$56.2 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Colombian peso (COP)

Currency code:

##### COP

Exchange rates:

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 2,013.8 (2007), 2,358.6 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003)

Communications
Colombia

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.936 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

33.941 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system in many respects; telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services; fixed-line connections stand at about 18 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage is about 75 per 100 persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed line services domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities international: country code - 57; submarine cables provide links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Radios:

21 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

60 (1997)

Televisions:

4.59 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.co

Internet hosts:

1.554 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

18 (2000)

Internet users:

12.1 million (2007)

Transportation
Colombia

Airports:

934 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 103 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 831 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 216 under 914 m: 580 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 4,329 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,145 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,304 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 164,257 km (2005)

Waterways:

18,000 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 17 by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 3, specialized tanker 1 registered in other countries: 6 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo

Military
Colombia

Military branches:

National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional,
includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina,
Colmar), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de
Colombia, FAC) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,478,109 females age 16-49: 11,809,279 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,056,336 females age 16-49: 9,919,952 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 442,403 female: 433,192 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Colombia

Disputes - international:

in December 2007, ICJ allocates San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but does not rule on 82°W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries; Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1.8-3.5 million (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2007, a 6% increase over 2006, producing a potential of 535 metric tons of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to most of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets; in 2007, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 153,000 hectares with another 67,000 hectares manually eradicated, but aggressive replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between 2006 and 2007 with a corresponding estimated 27% decline in the yield of pure heroin to 1.9 metric tons; (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Comoros

Introduction
Comoros

Background:

Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. In 2007, BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.

Geography
Comoros

Location:

Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the
Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern
Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 10 S, 44 15 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

340 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain:

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Karthala 2,360 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 35.87% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

1.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%) per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)

Natural hazards:

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

People
Comoros

Population:

731,775 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 155,662/female 154,520) 15-64 years: 54.6% (male 197,178/female 202,231) 65 years and over: 3% (male 10,203/female 11,981) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.7 years male: 18.5 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.803% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 68.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 76.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 60.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.1 years male: 60.72 years female: 65.55 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran

Ethnic groups:

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Languages:

Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.5% male: 63.6% female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2002)

Government
Comoros

Country name:

conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Union des Comores local short form: Comores

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Moroni geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore, Anjouan, Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli, Moroni*, Mutsamudu*

Independence:

6 July 1975 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Constitution:

23 December 2001

Legal system:

French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006) head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president; note - the post of prime minister has been vacant since May 2002 election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal suffrage; to serve for five years); elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)

Political parties and leaders:

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani];
Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties
organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union
President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID]
(Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le
Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la
Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement
National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid
AFFRAITANE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: environmentalists

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN Mohamed TOIHIRI chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros) note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy
Comoros

Economy - overview:

One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. The political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.262 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$442 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line:

60% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $27.6 million expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.36% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.5% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$76.68 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$23.39 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$45.09 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Industries:

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Industrial production growth rate:

-2% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

20 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

18.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

712.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

755.4 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$8 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$32 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra

Exports - partners:

Turkey 38%, France 27.5%, Singapore 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$143 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

Imports - partners:

France 18.2%, UAE 10.8%, South Africa 8.5%, Pakistan 7.2%, Kenya 5.7%, China 5.4%, India 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$25.23 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:

$232 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Comoran franc (KMF)

Currency code:

##### KMF

Exchange rates:

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8 (2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003) note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Communications
Comoros

Telephones - main lines in use:

19,100 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

40,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations; fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 5 per 100 persons domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

90,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

##### NA

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.km

Internet hosts:

8 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

21,000 (2006)

Transportation
Comoros

Airports:

4 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 136 by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 87, carrier 2, chemical tanker 5, container 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 68 (Bangladesh 2, Bulgaria 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 6, India 2, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 4, Norway 1, Pakistan 4, Philippines 1, Russia 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 1, Syria 4, Turkey 8, Ukraine 8, UAE 7, US 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Mayotte, Mutsamudu

Military
Comoros

Military branches:

National Development Army (AND): Comoran Security Force; Comoran
Federal Police (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 167,850 females age 16-49: 167,362 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 121,550 females age 16-49: 131,015 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 7,901 female: 7,894 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Comoros

Disputes - international:

claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Introduction
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Background:

Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003. Joseph KABILA as president and four vice presidents represented the former government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil society. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006. KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006. The National Assembly was installed in September 2006. Its president, Vital KAMERHE, was chosen in December. Provincial assemblies were constituted in early 2007, and elected governors and national senators in January 2007.

Geography
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Location:

Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Geographic coordinates:

##### 0 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,345,410 sq km land: 2,267,600 sq km water: 77,810 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 10,730 km border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

Coastline:

37 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)

Terrain:

vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

Natural resources:

cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Land use:

arable land: 2.86% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

110 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,283 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.36 cu km/yr (53%/17%/31%) per capita: 6 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

straddles equator; has narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands

People
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Population:

66,514,504 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.1% (male 15,711,817/female 15,594,449) 15-64 years: 50.4% (male 16,672,399/female 16,875,468) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 674,766/female 985,607) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.3 years male: 16.1 years female: 16.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.236% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 83.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 91.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 74.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.98 years male: 52.22 years female: 55.8 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.1 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups:

over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population

Religions:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%

Languages:

French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language),
Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba total population: 67.2% male: 80.9% female: 54.1% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo local short form: none former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation: DRC

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Kinshasa geographic coordinates: 4 19 S, 15 18 E time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu note: according to the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the current administrative divisions will be subdivided into 26 new provinces by 2009

Independence:

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Constitution:

18 February 2006

Legal system:

a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18 December 2005; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 17 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency which he retained through the 2003-06 transition; he was subsequently elected president in October 2006 head of government: Prime Minister Adolphe MUZITO (since 10 October 2008) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president elections: under the new constitution the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 30 July 2006 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Joseph KABILA elected president; percent of vote (second round) - Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42% note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in January 2001; negotiations with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional government in July 2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and 29 October 2006 confirming Joseph KABILA as president

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly (500 seats; 61 members elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies, 439 members elected by open list proportional-representation in multi-member constituencies; to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (108 seats; members elected by provincial assemblies to serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011); Senate - last held 19 January 2007 (next to be held by 2012) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 111, MLC 64, PALU 34, MSR 27, FR 26, RCD 15, independents 63, others 160 (includes 63 political parties that won 10 or fewer seats); Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2, independents 26, others 18 (political parties that won a single seat)

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Appeals Court or Cour de Cassation; Council of State; High Military Court; plus civil and military courts and tribunals

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democrat Party or PDC [Jose ENDUNDO]; Congolese Rally for
Democracy or RCD [Azarias RUBERWA]; Convention of Christian
Democrats or CDC; Forces of Renewal or FR [Mbusa NYAMWISI]; Movement
for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC [Jean-Pierre BEMBA]; People's
Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD [Joseph KABILA];
Social Movement for Renewal or MSR [Pierre LUMBI]; Unified Lumumbist
Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI]; Union of Mobutuist Democrats
or UDEMO [MOBUTU Nzanga]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

MONUC - UN organization working with the government; FARDC (Forces
Armees de la Republique du Congo) - Army of the Democratic Republic
of the Congo which commits atrocities on citizens; FDLA (Forces
Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda) - Rwandan militia group

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note - Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William GARVELINK embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (81) 225-5872 FAX: [243] (81) 301-0561

Flag description:

sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner

Economy
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Economy - overview:

The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - is slowly recovering from two decades of decline. Conflict, which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of more than 3.5 million people from violence, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. Conditions began to improve in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors, and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms, although progress is slow and the International Monetary Fund curtailed their program for the DRC at the end of March 2006 because of fiscal overruns. Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector, and is not reflected in GDP data. Renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most export income, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth. Government reforms and improved security may lead to increased government revenues, outside budget assistance, and foreign direct investment, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of transparency in government policy are continuing long-term problems.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.03 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.14 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 55% industry: 11% services: 34% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

15 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $700 million expenditures: $2 billion (2006 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

16.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$597 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$677.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$559.5 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Industries:

mining (diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

7.243 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

5.158 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

1.799 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.8% hydro: 98.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

22,160 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

10,460 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

19,820 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

8,220 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

180 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

991.1 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$402 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.587 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt

Exports - partners:

Belgium 23.6%, China 21.7%, US 9.8%, Finland 9.1%, Brazil 9.1%,
France 6.8%, Zambia 6% (2007)

Imports:

$2.263 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:

South Africa 22.5%, Belgium 10.3%, Zambia 8.9%, Zimbabwe 7.5%,
France 6.8%, Kenya 6.3%, US 4.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.828 billion (2005)

Debt - external:

$10 billion (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Congolese franc (CDF)

Currency code:

##### CDF

Exchange rates:

Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 464.69 (2006), 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004), 405.34 (2003)

Communications
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:

9,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.592 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; state-owned fixed-line operator has been unable to expand fixed-line connections and there are now fewer than 10,000 connections - less than 1 per 1000 persons; given the backdrop of a wholly inadequate fixed-line infrastructure, the use of cellular services has surged and subscribership in 2007 reached 6.6 million - 10 per 100 persons domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

18.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2001)

Televisions:

6.478 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cd

Internet hosts:

3,211 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

230,400 (2007)

Transportation
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Airports:

237 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 26 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 211 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 95 under 914 m: 99 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 62 km; oil 71 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 5,138 km narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 153,497 km paved: 2,794 km unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)

Waterways:

15,000 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Congo, Republic of the 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Military
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces
d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Army,
National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force
Aerienne Congolaise, FAC) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-45 years of age for military service

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,101,263 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,562,989 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 783,762 female: 780,922 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Disputes - international:

heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers; members of Uganda's Lords Resistance Army forces continue to seek refuge in Congo's Garamba National Park as peace talks with the Uganda government evolve; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area; Uganda and DROC dispute Rukwanzi island in Lake Albert and other areas on the Semliki River with hydrocarbon potential; boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda river claimed by Zambia near the DROC village of Pweto

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 132,295 (Angola); 37,313 (Rwanda); 17,777 (Burundi); 13,904 (Uganda); 6,181 (Sudan); 5,243 (Republic of Congo) IDPs: 1.4 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; much of this trafficking occurs within the country's unstable eastern provinces and is perpetrated by armed groups outside government control tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Democratic Republic of the Congo is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; while some significant initial advances were noted, the government's capacity to apprehend, convict, or imprison traffickers remained weak; the government lacks sufficient financial, technical, and human resources to effectively address not only trafficking crimes, but also to provide basic levels of security in some parts of the country (2008)

Illicit drugs:

one of Africa's biggest producers of cannabis, but mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Congo, Republic of the

Introduction
Congo, Republic of the

Background:

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Geography
Congo, Republic of the

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 342,000 sq km land: 341,500 sq km water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 5,504 km border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km

Coastline:

169 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain:

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 1.45% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 98.4% (2005)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

832 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%) per capita: 8 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

seasonal flooding

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

People
Congo, Republic of the

Population:

3,903,318 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.1% (male 906,345/female 894,568) 15-64 years: 51% (male 989,126/female 1,002,682) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 45,560/female 65,037) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.7 years male: 16.5 years female: 17 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.696% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

41.76 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.28 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 81.29 deaths/1,000 live births male: 86.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 75.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.74 years male: 52.52 years female: 55 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

90,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,700 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups:

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%

Religions:

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Languages:

French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.8% male: 89.6% female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2005)

Government
Congo, Republic of the

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: none former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Brazzaville geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence:

15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution:

approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); head of government: Prime Minister Isidore MVOUBA (since 7 January 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held in July 2008); National Assembly - last held 24 June and 5 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDU 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD 5, independents 37, other 22

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Congolese Labour Party or PCT; Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR; United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many less important parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Allan EASTHAM embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, BDEAC Building, 4th Floor, Brazzaville; note - a new embassy is expected to open in 2009 mailing address: B.P. 1015, Brazzaville telephone: [242] 281-1481, [242] 281-3368; note - until the new embassy in Brazzaville becomes operational, some duties will still be handled in the US embassy in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Congo, Republic of the

Economy - overview:

The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil, and support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.86 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.657 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.6% industry: 57.1% services: 37.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

##### NA

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

40.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.295 billion expenditures: $2.444 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$204.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

##### NA

Agriculture - products:

cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Industries:

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate:

-12% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

444 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

564 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

411 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.3% hydro: 99.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

261,000 bbl/day

Oil - consumption:

7,677 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

230,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

1,702 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

180 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

180 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.491 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners:

US 41%, China 36.5%, Taiwan 3.6% (2007)

Imports:

$2.634 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 18.1%, South Korea 14.7%, China 12.6%, Italy 10.3%, India 4.7%, US 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.449 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.206 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5 billion (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

##### XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 483.6 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Communications
Congo, Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:

15,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.334 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order; fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged reaching 35 per 100 persons domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:

341,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

33,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cg

Internet hosts:

5 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

70,000 (2006)

Transportation
Congo, Republic of the

Airports:

31 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 758 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 17,289 km paved: 864 km unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)

Waterways:

1,125 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2006)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Military
Congo, Republic of the

Military branches:

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy,
Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie,
Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women allowed to serve (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 842,771 females age 16-49: 833,624 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 519,296 females age 16-49: 509,564 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 45,671 female: 45,248 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Congo, Republic of the

Disputes - international:

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 46,341 (Democratic Republic of Congo);
6,564 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic
Lari) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; girls are trafficked from rural areas within the country for commercial sexual exploitation, forced street vending, and domestic servitude; children are trafficked from other African countries for domestic servitude, forced market vending, and forced labor in the fishing industry tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Republic of the Congo is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; struggling to recover from six years of civil conflict that ended in 2003, the Republic of the Congo's capacity to address trafficking is handicapped; the government neither monitors its borders for trafficking activity nor provides specialized anti-trafficking training for law enforcement officials; the government does not encourage victims to assist in trafficking investigations or prosecutions, and has not taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts in the Republic of the Congo (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Cook Islands

Introduction
Cook Islands

Background:

Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

Geography
Cook Islands

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 236.7 sq km land: 236.7 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

120 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

Terrain:

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 8.33% other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (November to March)

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km

People
Cook Islands

Population:

12,271 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: (male 1,834/female 1,624) 15-64 years: (male 3,973/female 3,747) 65 years and over: (male 542/female 551)

Median age:

total: 29.8 years male: 29 years female: 30.4 years (2001 census)

Population growth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic groups:

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)

Religions:

Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%,
Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other
Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Maori

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

0.2% of GDP (2001)

People - note:

2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Government
Cook Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands

Dependency status:

self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands

Government type:

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Avarua geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Constitution:

4 August 1965

Legal system:

based on New Zealand law and English common law

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal (adult)

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Brian DONNELLY (since 21 February 2008), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consisting of a Legislative Assembly (or lower house) (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a House of Ariki (or upper house) made up of traditional leaders note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1

Judicial branch:

High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo
[Dr. Terepai MAOATE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes) other: various groups lobbying for political change

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW,
PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Economy
Cook Islands

Economy - overview:

Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing about one-third of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.1% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.1% industry: 9.6% services: 75.3% (2004)

Labor force:

6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

13.1% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $70.95 million expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

Industries:

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2002)

Electricity - production:

30 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

27.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

463.7 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

475.5 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$26.67 million (2005)

Exports:

$5.222 million (2005)

Exports - commodities:

copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Exports - partners:

Australia 34%, Japan 27%, NZ 25%, US 8% (2006)

Imports:

$81.04 million (2005)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners:

NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)

Debt - external:

$141 million (1996 est.)

Currency (code):

NZ dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

##### NZD

Exchange rates:

NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Communications
Cook Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

14,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ck

Internet hosts:

2,234 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

3,600 (2002)

Transportation
Cook Islands

Airports:

9 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 26 by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 17 (Latvia 1, Lithuania 1, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 5, Sweden 8) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Avatiu

Military
Cook Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; National Police Department (2007)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 157 female: 133 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Transnational Issues
Cook Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Coral Sea Islands

Introduction
Coral Sea Islands

Background:

Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.

Geography
Coral Sea Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: less than 3 sq km land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important

Area - comparative:

##### NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,095 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:

no permanent fresh water resources

Geography - note:

important nesting area for birds and turtles

People
Coral Sea Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)

Government
Coral Sea Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Legal system:

the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy
Coral Sea Islands

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications
Coral Sea Islands

Communications - note:

there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Transportation
Coral Sea Islands

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Coral Sea Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues
Coral Sea Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Costa Rica

Introduction
Costa Rica

Background:

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Geography
Costa Rica

Location:

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 00 N, 84 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Coastline:

1,290 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

Terrain:

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Natural resources:

hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,080 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

112.4 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%) per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

People
Costa Rica

Population:

4,195,914 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 584,782/female 557,952) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,416,456/female 1,384,692) 65 years and over: 6% (male 116,461/female 135,571) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.1 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.388% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.4 years male: 74.79 years female: 80.14 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

900 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican

Ethnic groups:

white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Languages:

Spanish (official), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.9% male: 94.7% female: 95.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

4.9% of GDP (2004)

Government
Costa Rica

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica

Government type:

democratic republic

Capital:

name: San Jose geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

7 November 1949

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second Vice President (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010) election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, PUN 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or
PAC [Epsy CAMPBELL Barr]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC
[Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Marco
NUNEZ Gonzalez]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto
FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas];
Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona];
Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National
Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National
Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National
Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO Fernandez];
National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas];
National Restoration Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO Hernandez];
National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora]; Nationalist
Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic
Union or UP [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Social Christian Unity
Party or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party or
UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU
[Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO; Costa Rican Solidarity Movement; Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]; Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; National Association of Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC consulate(s): San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter CIANCHETTE embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 519-2000 FAX: [506] 519-2305

Flag description:

five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Economy
Costa Rica

Economy - overview:

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has remained around 20% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans estimated to be in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important source of (mostly unskilled) labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade zones. Exports have become more diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor industry. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for ecotourism. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. Reducing inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. Tax and public expenditure reforms will be necessary to close the budget gap. In October 2007, a national referendum voted in favor of the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$45.77 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$26.24 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.6% industry: 29.4% services: 62.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.92 million note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

16% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37.4% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49.8 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.976 billion expenditures: $3.808 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

46.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

17% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.8% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.504 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.87 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$12.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber

Industries:

microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Industrial production growth rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.521 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

7.779 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

39.55 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.5% hydro: 81.9% nuclear: 0% other: 16.6% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:

45,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2,115 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

43,110 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.499 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$9.268 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment

Exports - partners:

US 25.7%, China 14.1%, Netherlands 10.9%, UK 6.3%, Mexico 5% (2007)

Imports:

$12.26 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US 41%, Mexico 6.1%, Venezuela 5.7%, Japan 5.4%, China 5.1%, Brazil 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$29.51 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.114 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.416 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$8.53 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$490 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.478 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Currency code:

##### CRC

Exchange rates:

Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003)

Communications
Costa Rica

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.437 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.503 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone service; state-run monopoly provider is struggling with the demand for new lines, resulting in long waiting times domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available international: country code - 506; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable and the MAYA-1 submarine cable that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Radios:

980,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions:

525,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cr

Internet hosts:

16,440 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)

Internet users:

1.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Costa Rica

Airports:

151 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 115 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 96 (2007)

Pipelines:

refined products 242 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 278 km narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge note: none of the railway network is in use (2007)

Roadways:

total: 35,330 km paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Waterways:

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Military
Costa Rica

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,134,205 females age 16-49: 1,095,763 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 958,013 females age 16-49: 925,727 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 40,767 female: 38,899 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Costa Rica

Disputes - international:

the ICJ has given Costa Rica until January 2008 to reply and Nicaragua until July 2008 to rejoin before rendering its decision on the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa Rican vessels on the Río San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,699-11,500 (Colombia) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and girls from neighboring states, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines are trafficked into the country for sexual exploitation; Costa Rica also serves as a transit point for victims trafficked to North America and Europe; the government identifies child sex tourism as a serious problem; men, women, and children are also trafficked within the country for forced labor in fishing and construction, and as domestic servants tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Costa Rica is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of its failure to improve its inadequate assistance to victims; while Costa Rican officials recognize human trafficking as a serious problem, the lack of a stronger response by the government is of concern (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Cote d'Ivoire

Introduction
Cote d'Ivoire

Background:

Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular protest forced him to step aside and brought Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country, and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds for citizenship, remained unresolved. In March 2007 President GBAGBO and former New Force rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed the Ouagadougou Political Agreement. As a result of the agreement, SORO joined GBAGBO's government as Prime Minister and the two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the zone of confidence separating North from South, integrate rebel forces into the national armed forces, and hold elections. Several thousand French and UN troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to help the parties implement their commitments and to support the peace process.

Geography
Cote d'Ivoire

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 322,460 sq km land: 318,000 sq km water: 4,460 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 3,110 km border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Coastline:

515 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 10.23% permanent crops: 11.16% other: 78.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:

730 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

81 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.93 cu km/yr (24%/12%/65%) per capita: 51 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

People
Cote d'Ivoire

Population:

20,179,602 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.9% (male 4,161,238/female 4,092,593) 15-64 years: 56.3% (male 5,790,503/female 5,568,621) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 285,116/female 281,531) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 19 years male: 19.2 years female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.156% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

32.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 77.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.64 years male: 53.95 years female: 55.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

570,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

47,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Ivoirian(s) adjective: Ivoirian

Ethnic groups:

Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)

Religions:

Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)

Languages:

French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.7% male: 60.8% female: 38.6% (2000 est.)

Education expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2001)

Government
Cote d'Ivoire

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire note: pronounced coat-div-whar former: Ivory Coast

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators

Capital:

name: Yamoussoukro geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 17 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Administrative divisions:

19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-Huit
Montagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue,
Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama,
Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan

Independence:

7 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

Constitution:

approved by referendum 23 July 2000

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Guillaume SORO (since 4 April 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the current power-sharing agreement the prime minister and the president share the authority to appoint ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held 30 November 2008; elections were to be held in 2005 but have been repeatedly postponed by the government; the UN Security Council has extended the government's mandate); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote - Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other 2.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on 14 January 2001 (next to be held in November 2008 after the government postponed the elections in 2005 and 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2 note: a Senate that was scheduled to be created in the October 2006 elections never took place

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial
Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases,
Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative
Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of
members

Political parties and leaders:

Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Theodore MEL EG]; Democratic
Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular
Front or FPI [Pascale Affi N'GUESSAN]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT
[Francis WODIE]; Opposition Movement of the Future or MFA [Innocent
Augustin ANAKY]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane
OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI
[Toikeuse MABRI]; over 144 smaller registered parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of University and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire
or FESCI [Serges KOFFI]; Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and
Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE MADY]; Young Patriots [Charles BLE
GOUDE]

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC,
OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO,
UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yao Charles KOFFI chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 FAX: [1] (202) 244-3088

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT embassy: Cocody Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01 telephone: [225] 22 49 40 00 FAX: [225] 22 49 43 32

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

Economy
Cote d'Ivoire

Economy - overview:

Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products, and, to a lesser extent, in climatic conditions. Despite government attempts to diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the population. Since 2006, oil and gas production have become more important engines of economic activity than cocoa. According to IMF statistics, earnings from oil and refined products were $1.3 billion in 2006, while cocoa-related revenues were $1 billion during the same period. Cote d'Ivoire's offshore oil and gas production has resulted in substantial crude oil exports and provides sufficient natural gas to fuel electricity exports to Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali and Burkina Faso. Oil exploration by a number of consortiums of private companies continues offshore, and President GBAGBO has expressed hope that daily crude output could reach 200,000 barrels per day (b/d) by the end of the decade. Since the end of the civil war in 2003, political turmoil has continued to damage the economy, resulting in the loss of foreign investment and slow economic growth. GDP grew by 1.8% in 2006 and 1.7% in 2007. Per capita income has declined by 15% since 1999.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$32.85 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$19.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28.1% industry: 21.5% services: 50.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

6.907 million (68% agricultural) (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 68% industry and services: NA (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of the civil war

Population below poverty line:

42% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 34% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.6 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

8.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.884 billion expenditures: $4.106 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

75.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$4.451 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.915 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.404 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Industries:

foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity, ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:

-1.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.274 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.177 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

1.066 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

54,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

25,950 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

84,940 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

71,850 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$146 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.476 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish

Exports - partners:

Germany 9.7%, Nigeria 9.2%, Netherlands 8.4%, France 7.3%, US 7%,
Burkina Faso 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$5.932 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Nigeria 31.1%, France 16.7%, China 7.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $60 million (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.519 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$13.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.155 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Cote d'Ivoire

Telephones - main lines in use:

730,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.05 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: well developed by African standards; telecommunications sector privatized in late 1990s and operational fixed-lines have more than quadrupled since that time; with multiple cellular service providers competing in the market, cellular usage has increased sharply to roughly 40 per 100 persons domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

2.26 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (1998)

Televisions:

1.09 million (2000)

Internet country code:

.ci

Internet hosts:

5,569 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

300,000 (2006)

Transportation
Cote d'Ivoire

Airports:

34 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 102 km; gas 245 km; oil 112 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 660 km narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000 meter gauge note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2006)

Roadways:

total: 80,000 km paved: 6,500 km unpaved: 73,500 km note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable (2006)

Waterways:

980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Abidjan, Espoir, San-Pedro

Military
Cote d'Ivoire

Military branches:

Cote d'Ivoire Defense and Security Forces (FDSC): Army, Navy, Air
Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,369,735 females age 16-49: 4,287,042 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,393,104 females age 16-49: 2,381,607 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 234,032 female: 230,799 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2005 est)

Transnational Issues
Cote d'Ivoire

Disputes - international:

despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict still leaves displaced hundreds of thousands of Ivorians in and out of the country as well as driven out migrants from neighboring states who worked in Ivorian cocoa plantations; the March 2007 peace deal between Ivorian rebels and the government brought significant numbers of rebels out of hiding in neighboring states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 25,615 (Liberia) IDPs: 709,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

Cote d'Ivoire is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; trafficking within the country is more prevalent than international trafficking and the majority of victims are children; women and girls are trafficked from northern areas to southern cities for domestic servitude, restaurant labor, and sexual exploitation; boys are trafficked internally for agricultural and service labor and transnationally for forced labor in agriculture, mining, construction, and in the fishing industry; women and girls are trafficked to and from other West and Central African countries for domestic servitude and forced street vending tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cote d'Ivoire is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking in 2007, particularly with regard to its law enforcement efforts and protection of sex trafficking victims; in addition, Ivoirian law does not prohibit all forms of trafficking, and Cote d'Ivoire has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing political instability; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Croatia

Introduction
Croatia

Background:

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.

Geography
Croatia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 45 10 N, 15 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 56,542 sq km land: 56,414 sq km water: 128 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,982 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 km

Coastline:

5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast

Terrain:

geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Natural resources:

oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 25.82% permanent crops: 2.19% other: 71.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:

110 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

105.5 cu km (1998)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia - some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

People
Croatia

Population:

4,491,543 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 363,551/female 345,132) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 1,501,949/female 1,517,962) 65 years and over: 17% (male 295,229/female 467,720) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.8 years male: 38.9 years female: 42.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.043% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.49 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.13 years male: 71.49 years female: 78.97 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s) adjective: Croatian

Ethnic groups:

Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian,
Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Languages:

Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including
Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.1% male: 99.3% female: 97.1% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2004)

Government
Croatia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Government type:

presidential/parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Zagreb geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad -
singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska,
Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria),
Karlovacka, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka, Krapinsko-Zagorska,
Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska, Osjecko-Baranjska,
Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska,
Sibensko-Kninska, Sisacko-Moslavacka, Splitsko-Dalmatinska
(Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska, Viroviticko-Podravska,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka

Independence:

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

Constitution:

adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

Legal system:

based on Austro-Hungarian law system with Communist law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December 2003) and Damir POLANCEC (since 15 February 2005), Djurdja ADLESIC (since 12 January 2008), Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 16 January 2005 (next to be held in January 2010); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC 66%, Jadranka KOSOR 34% in the second round

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (153 seats; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 56, HNS 7, HSS 6, HDSSB 3, IDS 3, SDSS 3, other 9

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders:

Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB
[Vladimir SISLJAGIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo
SANADER]; Croatian Party of the Right or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian
Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or
HSU [Vladimir JORDAN]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC];
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Djurdja ADLESIC]; Independent
Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian
Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Social Democratic Party
of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: human rights groups

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899 FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. BRADTKE embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb mailing address: use street address telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200 FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Economy
Croatia

Economy - overview:

Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since 2000, however, Croatia's economic fortunes have begun to improve slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period has remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable. Nevertheless, difficult problems still remain, including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade deficit and uneven regional development. The state retains a large role in the economy, as privatization efforts often meet stiff public and political resistance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$69.59 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$51.36 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.2% industry: 31.7% services: 61.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.749 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32.8% services: 64.5% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

11.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

11% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $22.56 billion expenditures: $23.92 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

47.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.33% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$11.61 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$31.86 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$45.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:

chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

12.41 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

15.57 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

3.306 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.374 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 33.6% hydro: 66% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

23,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

101,800 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

43,680 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

112,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

79.15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.58 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.73 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.103 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.54 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$4.85 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$12.62 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners:

Italy 19.3%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.9%, Germany 10.2%, Slovenia 8.4%, Austria 6.2% (2007)

Imports:

$25.99 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Italy 16.1%, Germany 14.4%, Russia 10.1%, China 6.2%, Slovenia 6%,
Austria 5.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $125.4 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$13.67 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$46.3 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$23.13 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$3.161 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$29.01 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

kuna (HRK)

Currency code:

##### HRK

Exchange rates:

kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 5.3735 (2007), 5.8625 (2006), 5.9473 (2005), 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003)

Communications
Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.825 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.035 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s; the number of fixed telephone lines holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions exceeds the population domestic: more than 90 percent of local lines are digital international: country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Radios:

1.51 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

36 (plus 321 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hr

Internet hosts:

1.111 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

1.995 million (2007)

Transportation
Croatia

Airports:

68 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 37 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,556 km; oil 583 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,726 km standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (1,199 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 28,788 km (includes 877 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

785 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 80 by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 11, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2 registered in other countries: 30 (Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Liberia 2, Malta 9, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)

Military
Croatia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ), Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript service obligation; full conversion to professional military service by 2010 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,035,712 females age 16-49: 1,037,896 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 771,323 females age 16-49: 855,937 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 27,500 female: 25,893 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.39% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Croatia

Disputes - international:

dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains un-ratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic; as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia imposed a hard border Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in December 2007

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 2,900-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Cuba

Introduction
Cuba

Background:

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. It was US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic downturn in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 2,864 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal year 2006.

Geography
Cuba

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Geographic coordinates:

##### 21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 110,860 sq km land: 110,860 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 29 km border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba

Coastline:

3,735 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources:

cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 27.63% permanent crops: 6.54% other: 65.83% (2005)

Irrigated land:

8,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

38.1 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.2 cu km/yr (19%/12%/69%) per capita: 728 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

People
Cuba

Population:

11,423,952 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.5% (male 1,088,311/female 1,030,499) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 4,029,381/female 4,025,154) 65 years and over: 10.9% (male 569,002/female 681,605) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.8 years male: 36.1 years female: 37.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.251% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.27 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.27 years male: 75.02 years female: 79.64 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban

Ethnic groups:

white 65.1%, mulatto and mestizo 24.8%, black 10.1% (2002 census)

Religions:

nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

9.1% of GDP (2006)

People - note:

illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and over-land via the southwest border

Government
Cuba

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba

Government type:

Communist state

Capital:

name: Havana geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Independence:

20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence

National holiday:

Triumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)

Constitution:

24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal concepts, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24 February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24 February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 24 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (number of seats in the National Assembly is based on population; 614 seats; members elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 January 2008 (next to be held in January 2013) election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party, and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed

Judicial branch:

People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Human Rights Watch; National Association of Small Farmers

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNITAR,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Jorge BOLANOS Suarez; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518; FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Chief of Mission Jonathan D. FARRAR; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-1653; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag description:

five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Economy
Cuba

Economy - overview:

The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. Since late 2000, Venezuela has been providing oil on preferential terms, and it currently supplies about 100,000 barrels per day of petroleum products. Cuba has been paying for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 20,000 medical professionals. In 2007, high metals prices continued to boost Cuban earnings from nickel and cobalt production. Havana continued to invest in the country's energy sector to mitigate electrical blackouts that had plagued the country since 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$125.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$45.58 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.2% industry: 25% services: 69.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.956 million note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 20% industry: 19.4% services: 60.6% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

1.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

13.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $41.84 billion expenditures: $43.9 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

36.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

##### NA

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

##### NA

Agriculture - products:

sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Industries:

sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

2.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

16.97 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

14.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 93.9% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 5.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

61,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

203,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

123,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

124 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.058 billion cu m (2006)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.058 billion cu m (2006)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$240 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$3.734 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners:

China 27.5%, Canada 26.9%, Netherlands 11.1%, Spain 4.7% (2007)

Imports:

$10.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Venezuela 29.6%, China 13.4%, Spain 10.4%, Canada 6%, US 5.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$87.8 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.247 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.79 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed to Russia (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$11.24 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$4.138 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code):

Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)

Currency code:

CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)

Exchange rates:

Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 0.9259 (2007), 0.9231 (2006) note: Cuba has two currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP) and the convertible peso (CUC); in April 2005 the official exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC (0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individuals can buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban pesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1 ratio.

Communications
Cuba

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.043 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

198,300 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system; wireless service is expensive and must be paid in convertible pesos which effectively limits mobile cellular subscribership domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 95% of switches digitized by end of 2006; fixed telephone line density remains low, at less than 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service expanding but remains at only about 2 per 100 persons international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

3.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

58 (1997)

Televisions:

2.64 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cu

Internet hosts:

3,664 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

1.31 million note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet" (2007)

Transportation
Cuba

Airports:

165 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 70 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 31 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 95 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 71 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 4,226 km standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified) note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations; about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (includes 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (2000)

Waterways:

240 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 11 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1) registered in other countries: 13 (Bahamas 1, Cyprus 1, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 10) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

Military
Cuba

Military branches:

Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR):
Revolutionary Army (ER; includes Territorial Militia Troops, MTT),
Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR; includes
Marine Corps), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Youth Labor Army (EJT) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation; both sexes subject to military service (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,094,388 females age 16-49: 3,024,876 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,543,044 females age 16-49: 2,481,823 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 79,945 female: 76,014 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military - note:

the collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the Cuban Army of its major economic and logistic support, and had a significant impact on equipment numbers and serviceability; the army remains well trained and professional in nature; while the lack of replacement parts for its existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel have increasingly affected operational capabilities, Cuba remains able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power (2008)

Transnational Issues
Cuba

Disputes - international:

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Cuba is principally a source country for women and children trafficked within the country for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and possibly for forced labor; the country is a destination for sex tourism, including child sex tourism, which is a problem in many areas of the country; some Cuban nationals willingly migrate to the United States, but are subsequently exploited for forced labor by their smugglers; Cuba is also a transit point for the smuggling of migrants from China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Lebanon, and other nations to the United States and Canada tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; exact information about trafficking in Cuba is difficult to obtain because the government does not acknowledge or condemn human trafficking as a problem in Cuba; tangible efforts to prosecute offenders, protect victims, or prevent human trafficking activity do not appear to have been made during 2007; Cuba has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for US- and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Cyprus

Introduction
Cyprus

Background:

A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under direct government control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states. The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification negotiations.

Geography
Cyprus

Location:

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

##### 35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 150.4 km (approximately) border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km (approximately)

Coastline:

648 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Terrain:

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources:

copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use:

arable land: 10.81% permanent crops: 4.32% other: 84.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.4 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.21 cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%) per capita: 250 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues:

water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

People
Cyprus

Population:

792,604 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 78,922/female 75,523) 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 275,223/female 267,798) 65 years and over: 12% (male 41,592/female 53,546) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.3 years male: 34.3 years female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.522% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.56 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.15 years male: 75.75 years female: 80.67 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 1,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups:

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and
Armenian Apostolic) 4%

Languages:

Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98.9% female: 96.3% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.3% of GDP (2004)

Government
Cyprus

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti local short form: Kypros/Kibris note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Government type:

republic note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey

Capital:

name: Nicosia (Lefkosia) geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia)

Independence:

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Constitution:

16 August 1960 note: from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any country other than Turkey

Legal system:

based on English common law, with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot head of government: President Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 and 24 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013) election results: Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS elected president; percent of vote (first round) - Ioannis KASOULIDIS 33.5%, Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS 33.3%, Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 31.8%; (second round) Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS 53.4%, Ioannis KASOULIDIS 46.6% note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of the "TRNC", 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "TRNC prime minister" and heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet) in coalition with "Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister" Turgay AVCI

Legislative branch:

unicameral - area under government control: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats, 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: area under government control: last held 21 May 2006 (next to be held 2011); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held in 2008) election results: area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.1%, DISY 30.3%, DIKO 17.9%, EDEK 8.9%, EURO.KO 5.8%, Greens 2.0%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 5, EURO.KO 3, Greens 1; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7; note - "TRNC" seats by party as of September 2006 - CTP 25, OP 3, UBP 13, DP 6, BDH 1, independents 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots

Political parties and leaders:

area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios
KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; European
Democracy or EURO.DI [Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from For Europe
which merged with New Horizons); European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris
SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos
MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for
Social Democrats or EDEK [Yannakis OMIROU]; Political Movement of
Hunters [Michalis PAFITANIS]; Progressive Party of the Working
People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS]; United
Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Liberation Party or
TKP [Huseyin ANGOLEMLI]; Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Kazim
ONGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform
Party or OP [Turgay AVCI]; National Unity Party or UBP [Tahsin
ERTUGRULOGLU]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New
Party or YP [Huseyin TURAN]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];
Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Oguz OZEN]; Peace and Democratic
Movement or BDH [Mustafa AKINCI]; Renewal Progress Party or YAP
[Ertugrul HASIPOGLU]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit
SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Isset IZCAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of
Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot
Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO
(Communist controlled)

International organization participation:

Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),
OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Hilmi AKIL; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Frank C. URBANCIC, Jr. embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia telephone: [357] (22) 393939 FAX: [357] (22) 780944

Flag description:

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star

Economy
Cyprus

Economy - overview:

The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 78% of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area under government control grew by an average of 3.6% per year during the period of 2000-06, well above the EU average. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive austerity program in the preceding years, aimed at paving the way for the euro, helped turn a soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.5% in 2007. As in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001-04 alleviating immediate concerns. Rainfall in 2005 and 2006, however, was well below average, making water rationing a necessity in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$21.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$21.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 19.2% services: 78% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

393,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 8.5% industry: 20.5% services: 71% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues:: $9.996 billion expenditures:: $9.304 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

59.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.74% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.094 billion note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$43.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$52.09 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese

Industries:

tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products

Industrial production growth rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.52 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

4.151 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

57,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

55,970 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

##### NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

##### NA

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

##### NA

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance:

-$2.144 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.495 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, and clothing

Exports - partners:

Greece 21.1%, UK 14.3%, Germany 6.6% (2007)

Imports:

$7.84 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment

Imports - partners:

Greece 17.7%, Italy 10.2%, UK 9.6%, Germany 9.4%, Israel 6.5%,
France 5.4%, China 5.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

$25.9 million (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$15 million (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.507 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$26.97 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$13.36 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$5.419 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$48.2 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Cypriot pound (CYP); euro (EUR) after 1 January 2008

Currency code:

##### CYP; TRL

Exchange rates:

Cypriot pounds (CYP) per US dollar -: 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots:

Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly 30% of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given the north's relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size. Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the work force. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew around 10.6% in 2006, fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the area under government control. GDP declined about 2.0% in 2007. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish Government. Ankara directly finances around one-third of the "TRNC's" budget. Aid from Turkey has exceeded $400 million annually in recent years. GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.865 billion (2006 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2007 est.) GDP - per capita: $11,800 (2006 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 22.5%, services: 69.1% (2006 est.) Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%, services: 56.5% (2004) Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.) Population below poverty line: %NA Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006) Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006) Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.) Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005) Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005) Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.) Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.) Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited Economic aid - recipient: under a July 2006 agreement, Turkey plans to provide the area administered by Turkish Cypriots 1.875 billion YTL ($1.3 billion) over three years (600 million YTL in 2006, 625 million YTL in 2007 and 650 million YTL in 2008); Turkey has forgiven most past aid; additionally, the EU pledged financial assistance of Euro 259 million ($388 million) in 2004, which is yet to be disbursed. Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $NA Debt - external: $NA Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL) Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.319 (2007) 1.4286 (2006) 1.3436 (2005) 1.4255 (2004) 1.5009 (2003)

Communications
Cyprus

Telephones - main lines in use:

area under government control: 376,000 (2007); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

area under government control: 962,200 (2007); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent in both area under government control and area administered by Turkish Cypriots domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat)

Radio broadcast stations:

area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0 area administered by Turkish Cypriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994)

Television broadcast stations:

area under government control: 8 area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

Televisions:

Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994)

Internet country code:

.cy

Internet hosts:

143,099 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

380,000 (2007)

Transportation
Cyprus

Airports:

16 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

10 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 14,630 km (area under government control: 12,280 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km) paved: area under government control: 7,979 km (includes 257 km of expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 858 by type: bulk carrier 295, cargo 182, chemical tanker 63, container 193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 690 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 10, Cuba 1, Denmark 4, Estonia 5, Germany 189, Greece 259, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 4, Italy 7, Japan 21, South Korea 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Netherlands 22, Norway 18, Philippines 1, Poland 18, Portugal 1, Russia 50, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, Spain 6, Sweden 2, Syria 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 9, UK 19, US 5) registered in other countries: 256 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Bahamas 25, Belize 1, Burma 1, Cambodia 7, Comoros 1, Georgia 1, Germany 2, Gibraltar 1, Greece 7, Liberia 63, Malta 31, Marshall Islands 37, Netherlands 8, Netherlands Antilles 21, Panama 19, Poland 1, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Samoa 1, Singapore 1, Tonga 1, Turkey 2, UK 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia

Military
Cyprus

Military branches:

Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Forea, EF; includes air and naval elements); northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service; females are not conscripted; age of military eligibility 17 to 50; length of normal service is 25 months with a minimum of 3 months (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): males age 16-49: 199,767 females age 16-49: 190,665 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): males age 16-49: 165,042 females age 16-49: 158,869 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,482 female: 6,208 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Cyprus

Disputes - international:

hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30 years) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus is on the Tier 2 Watch List for a third consecutive year for failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking during 2007; although Cyprus passed a new trafficking law and opened a government trafficking shelter, these efforts are outweighed by its failure to show tangible and critically needed progress in the areas of law enforcement, victim protection, and the prevention of trafficking (2008)

Illicit drugs:

minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector remains weak

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Czech Republic

Introduction
Czech Republic

Background:

Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Geography
Czech Republic

Location:

Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Geographic coordinates:

##### 49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 78,866 sq km land: 77,276 sq km water: 1,590 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 1,989 km border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km, Slovakia 197 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:

Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Natural resources:

hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Land use:

arable land: 38.82% permanent crops: 3% other: 58.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:

240 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

16 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%) per capita: 187 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

People
Czech Republic

Population:

10,220,911 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 723,521/female 684,786) 15-64 years: 71.2% (male 3,653,679/female 3,619,872) 65 years and over: 15.1% (male 604,419/female 934,634) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.8 years male: 38.2 years female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.082% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.62 years male: 73.34 years female: 80.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech

Ethnic groups:

Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Languages:

Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2004)

Government
Czech Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Cesko

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Prague geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky, Kralovehradecky, Liberecky, Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky, Pardubicky, Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky, Vysocina, Zlinsky

Independence:

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

National holiday:

Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Constitution:

ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

Legal system:

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 9 January 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007), Martin BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Alexandr VONDRA (since 9 January 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last successful election held 15 February 2008 (after earlier elections held 8 and 9 February 2008 were inconclusive; next election to be held in February 2013); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaclav KLAUS reelected president on 15 February 2008; Vaclav KLAUS 141 votes, Jan SVEJNAR 111 votes (third round; combined votes of both chambers of parliament)

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 17-18 and 24-25 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2010); Chamber of Deputies - last held 2-3 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ODS 35, CSSD 29, KDU-CSL 7, others 8, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - ODS 35.4%, CSSD 32.3%, KSCM 12.8%, KDU-CSL 7.2%, Greens 6.3%, other 6%; seats by party - ODS 81, CSSD 74, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6; note - seats by party as of December 2007 - ODS 81, CSSD 72, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6, unaffiliated 2 (former CSSD members)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term

Political parties and leaders:

Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED
[Helmut DOHNALEK]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's
Party or KDU-CSL [Jiri CUNEK]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek
TOPOLANEK]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech
FILIP]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Jiri PAROUBEK]; Union
of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan CERNY]; Green Party
[Martin BURSIK]; Independent Democrats (NEZDEM) [Vladimir ZELEZNY];
Party of Open Society (SOS) [Pavel NOVACEK]; Path of Change [Jiri
LOBKOWITZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Milan STECH]

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Petr KOLAR chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. GRABER embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [420] 257 022 000 FAX: [420] 257 022 809

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

Economy
Czech Republic

Economy - overview:

The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Growth in 2000-07 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases. The current account deficit has declined to around 3.3% of GDP as demand for automotive and other products from the Czech Republic remains strong in the European Union. Rising inflation from higher food and energy prices are a risk to balanced economic growth. Significant increases in social spending in the run-up to June 2006 elections prevented, the government from meeting its goal of reducing its budget deficit to 3% of GDP in 2007. Negotiations on pension and additional healthcare reforms are continuing without clear prospects for agreement and implementation. Intensified restructuring among large enterprises, improvements in the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should strengthen output growth. The pro-business Civic Democratic Party-led government approved reforms in 2007 designed to cut spending on some social welfare benefits and reform the tax system with the aim of eventually reducing the budget deficit to 2.3% of GDP by 2010. Parliamentary approval for any additional reforms could prove difficult, however, because of the parliament's even split. The government withdrew a 2010 target date for euro adoption and instead aims to meet the eurozone criteria around 2012.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$251 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$175.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$24,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 38.7% services: 58.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

5.36 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.1% industry: 37.6% services: 58.3% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

6.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $72.1 billion expenditures: $74.98 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.79% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$84.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$58.77 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$103.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry

Industries:

metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Industrial production growth rate:

9.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

82.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

61.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

26.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

10.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 76.1% hydro: 2.9% nuclear: 20% other: 1% (2001)

Oil - production:

13,530 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

207,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

27,360 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

224,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

172 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.622 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

402 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

8.628 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$4.534 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$122.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 52%, raw materials and fuel 9%, chemicals 5% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Germany 30.7%, Slovakia 8.7%, Poland 5.9%, France 5.4%, UK 5.1%,
Italy 4.9%, Austria 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 31.8%, Netherlands 6.7%, Slovakia 6.4%, Poland 6.3%, Austria 5.1%, China 5.1%, Russia 4.5%, Italy 4.4%, France 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$278.7 million in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$34.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$74.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$86.75 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$6.058 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$48.6 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Czech koruna (CZK)

Currency code:

##### CZK

Exchange rates:

koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006), 23.957 (2005), 25.7 (2004), 28.209 (2003)

Communications
Czech Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.888 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.075 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; access to the fixed-line telephone network expanded throughout the 1990s but the number of fixed line connections has been dropping since then; mobile telephone usage increased sharply beginning in the mid-1990s and the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population domestic: virtually all exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)

Radios:

3,159,134 (December 2000)

Television broadcast stations:

150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)

Televisions:

3,405,834 (December 2000)

Internet country code:

.cz

Internet hosts:

2.434 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

more than 300 (2000)

Internet users:

4.4 million (2007)

Transportation
Czech Republic

Airports:

122 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 45 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 77 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 50 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 9,597 km standard gauge: 9,597 km 1.435-m gauge (3,041 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 128,512 km paved: 128,512 km (includes 657 km of expressways) (2007)

Waterways:

664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) (2006)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Military
Czech Republic

Military branches:

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes
Army and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-28 years of age for voluntary and 19-28 for compulsory military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,522,383 females age 16-49: 2,425,095 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,100,789 females age 16-49: 2,018,101 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 63,124 female: 59,786 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues
Czech Republic

Disputes - international:

while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the popular Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes its controversial Soviet-style nuclear plant in Temelin, bordering Austria

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime; significant consumer of ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Denmark

Introduction
Denmark

Background:

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

Geography
Denmark

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)

Geographic coordinates:

##### 56 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 43,094 sq km land: 42,394 sq km water: 700 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km

Coastline:

7,314 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

Terrain:

low and flat to gently rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Land use:

arable land: 52.59% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 47.22% (2005)

Irrigated land:

4,490 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

6.1 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%) per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

People
Denmark

Population:

5,484,723 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 516,735/female 490,532) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,818,681/female 1,796,753) 65 years and over: 15.7% (male 374,388/female 487,634) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.3 years male: 39.4 years female: 41.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.295% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.25 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.13 years male: 75.8 years female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.74 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish

Ethnic groups:

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and
Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%

Languages:

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

8.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Denmark

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Copenhagen geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to the North Atlantic components

Administrative divisions:

metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007

Independence:

first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy

National holiday:

none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day

Constitution:

5 June 1953 constitution allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Legal system:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms unless the Folketinget is dissolved earlier) elections: last held 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 26.2%, Social Democrats 25.5%, Danish People's Party 13.9%, Socialist People's Party 13.0%, Conservative People's Party 10.4%, Social Liberal Party 5.1%, New Alliance 2.8%, Red-Green Alliance 2.2%, other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 46, Social Democrats 45, Danish People's Party 25, Socialist People's Party 23, Conservative People's Party 18, Social Liberal Party 9, New Alliance 5, Red-Green Alliance 4; note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and the two seats from the Faroe Islands

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian
People's Party); Conservative Party [Bendt BENDTSEN] (sometimes
known as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia
KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; New Alliance
[Naser KHADER]; Red-Green Unity List (Alliance) [collective
leadership] (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of
Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle
THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER];
Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Danish Free Press Society (freedom of speech); Danish National Socialist Movement or DNSB [Jonni HANSEN] (neo-Nazi organization) other: human rights groups

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Friis Arne PETERSEN chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James P. CAIN embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716 telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00 FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23

Flag description:

red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Economy
Denmark

Economy - overview:

The Danish economy has in recent years undergone strong expansion fueled primarily by private consumption growth, but also supported by exports and investments. This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Unemployment is low and capacity constraints are limiting growth potential. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but so far Denmark has decided not to join 15 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through 2007. The controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad printed in a Danish newspaper in September 2005 led to boycotts of some Danish exports to the Muslim world, especially exports of dairy products, but the boycotts did not have a significant impact on the overall Danish economy. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish living standards are among the highest in the world. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$203.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$311.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$37,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.3% industry: 25.7% services: 73% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.86 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

24 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $170.6 billion expenditures: $156.8 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$148.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$81.64 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$684.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish

Industries:

iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

0.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

36.99 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

34.68 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

11.38 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

10.43 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 82.7% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0% other: 17.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

313,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

190,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

320,000 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

164,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.188 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.223 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.555 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

4.517 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

70.51 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$4.279 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills

Exports - partners:

Germany 17.4%, Sweden 14.5%, UK 8%, US 6.1%, Norway 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$102 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Germany 21.6%, Sweden 14.4%, Netherlands 7.1%, Norway 6%, China 5.4%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.1%, France 4% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $2.236 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$34.32 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$492.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$149.7 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$166.6 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$178 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:

##### DKK

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Communications
Denmark

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.824 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.243 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

6.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

3.121 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.dk

Internet hosts:

3.642 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2000)

Internet users:

3.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Denmark

Airports:

91 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 60 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 11 km; gas 4,073 km; oil 617 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,644 km standard gauge: 2,644 km 1.435-m gauge (636 km electrified) (2007)

Roadways:

total: 72,362 km paved: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

400 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 327 by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 63, carrier 2, chemical tanker 78, container 84, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 42, petroleum tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4 foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 1, Germany 1, Germany 9, Greece 4, Iceland 2, Norway 3, Sweden 6) registered in other countries: 534 (Antigua and Barbuda 19, Bahamas 67, Belgium 4, Brazil 2, Cayman Islands 3, Cyprus 4, Egypt 1, Estonia 1, France 2, Germany 1, Gibraltar 7, Hong Kong 24, Isle of Man 29, Italy 3, Jamaica 2, Liberia 12, Lithuania 5, Luxembourg 1, Malta 30, Marshall Islands 10, Mexico 2, Netherlands 29, Netherlands Antilles 2, Norway 25, Panama 40, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16, Singapore 87, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Spain 1, Sweden 4, Togo 1, UAE 1, UK 62, US 31, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Kalundborg

Military
Denmark

Military branches:

Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet,
Island Command Greenland, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,235,067 females age 16-49: 1,215,418 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,012,716 females age 16-49: 996,436 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 36,561 female: 34,603 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2006; 1.28% 2007 est.)

Transnational Issues
Denmark

Disputes - international:

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue
to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with
Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere
Island and Greenland

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Dhekelia

Introduction
Dhekelia

Background:

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Geography
Dhekelia

Location:

Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near
Famagusta

Geographic coordinates:

##### 34 59 N, 33 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 130.8 sq km note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves

Area - comparative:

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 103 km (approximately) border countries: Cyprus 103 km (approximately)

Coastline:

27.5 km

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues:

netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

Geography - note:

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

People
Dhekelia

Population:

approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK Based Contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents

Languages:

English, Greek

Government
Dhekelia

Country name:

conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area conventional short form: Dhekelia

Dependency status:

a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Capital:

name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution:

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960, functions as a basic legal document

Legal system:

the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

the flag of the UK is used

Economy
Dhekelia

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Industries:

none

Currency (code):

euro (EUR) adopted 1 January 2008; note - the Cypriot pound (CYP) formerly used

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Communications
Dhekelia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM 1 (located in Akrotiri), shortwave NA (British Forces
Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to
Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

Military
Dhekelia

Military - note:

includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Djibouti

Introduction
Djibouti

Background:

The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but also has strong ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Geography
Djibouti

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between
Eritrea and Somalia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 11 30 N, 43 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 23,000 sq km land: 22,980 sq km water: 20 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline:

314 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

desert; torrid, dry

Terrain:

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m

Natural resources:

geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.3 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%) per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa

People
Djibouti

Population:

506,221 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.3% (male 110,089/female 109,331) 15-64 years: 53.1% (male 139,164/female 129,614) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 9,068/female 8,955) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.2 years male: 18.6 years female: 17.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.945% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

38.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

19.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 99.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 106.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 91.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.31 years male: 41.89 years female: 44.77 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.14 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

690 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian

Ethnic groups:

Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)

Religions:

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Languages:

French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 78% female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 4 years male: 5 years female: 4 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

8.4% of GDP (2006)

Government
Djibouti

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

Independence:

27 June 1977 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Constitution:

multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 8 February 2008 (next to be held 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP (coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH) 65

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development
Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de
l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress
Assembly or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party); Peoples
Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican
Alliance for Democracy or ARD; Union for a Presidential Majority or
UMP (a coalition of parties including RPP, FRUD, PND, and PPSD);
Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, and UDJ)

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James C. SWAN embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy
Djibouti

Economy - overview:

The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in the Horn of Africa. Two-thirds of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Imports and exports from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia represent 85% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of nearly 60% continues to be a major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% between 1999 and 2006 because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.738 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$841 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.2% industry: 14.9% services: 81.9% (2006)

Labor force:

282,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

59% in urban areas, 83% in rural areas (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $135 million expenditures: $182 million (1999 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$380 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$284.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$224.7 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Industries:

construction, agricultural processing

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:

250 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

232.5 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

19.18 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

11,810 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$212 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$340 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners:

Somalia 66.4%, Ethiopia 21.5%, Yemen 3.4% (2007)

Imports:

$1.555 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 21%, India 18.1%, China 9.4%, Ethiopia 4.7%, Malaysia 4.6%, Japan 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$78.6 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$428 million (2006)

Currency (code):

Djiboutian franc (DJF)

Currency code:

##### DJF

Exchange rates:

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)

Communications
Djibouti

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

45,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city international: country code - 253; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat); Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

52,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

28,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.dj

Internet hosts:

161 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

11,000 (2006)

Transportation
Djibouti

Airports:

13 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Railways:

total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but remains largely inoperable (2006)

Roadways:

total: 3,065 km paved: 1,226 km unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)

Ports and terminals:

Djibouti

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom

Military
Djibouti

Military branches:

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 111,274 females age 16-49: 105,168 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 54,460 females age 16-49: 51,684 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 5,618 female: 5,609 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Djibouti

Disputes - international:

Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Dominica

Introduction
Dominica

Background:

Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.

Geography
Dominica

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 25 N, 61 20 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 754 sq km land: 754 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

148 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Terrain:

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 6.67% permanent crops: 21.33% other: 72% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

##### NA

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr per capita: 213 cu m/yr (1996)

Natural hazards:

flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world

People
Dominica

Population:

72,514 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 9,175/female 8,762) 15-64 years: 65.1% (male 24,192/female 22,995) 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,178/female 4,212) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.4 years male: 29 years female: 29.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.196% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.33 years male: 72.39 years female: 78.41 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups:

black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%,
Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or
unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (1999)

Government
Dominica

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Roseau geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence:

3 November 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution:

3 November 1978

Legal system:

based on English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held in October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.1%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.2%, other 1.1%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor
Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or
UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - Judith Ann ROLLE (Charge d'Affaires) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Flag description:

green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Economy
Dominica

Economy - overview:

The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Tourism has increased as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic and financial crisis of 2001-02 and to meet IMF targets. This restructuring paved the way for the current economic recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and will help to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 100% of GDP. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is researching Dominica's capability to export geothermal energy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$648 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$311 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.7% industry: 32.8% services: 49.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

25,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40% industry: 32% services: 28% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

23% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $73.9 million expenditures: $84.4 million (2001)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$73.71 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$269.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$193.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Industries:

soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

Industrial production growth rate:

-10% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

90 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

83.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47.1% hydro: 52.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

850.5 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

669.6 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$72 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$94 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Exports - partners:

China 24.4%, Jamaica 10.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 10.1%, Guyana 8.5%,
UK 8.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.5%, Saint Lucia 4.6%, Saint Kitts &
Nevis 4% (2007)

Imports:

$296 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

US 24.1%, China 21.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.2%, Japan 11.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$15.17 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:

$213 million (2004)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Communications
Dominica

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41,800 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: fully automatic network international: country code - 1-767; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2003)

Radios:

46,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2004)

Televisions:

6,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.dm

Internet hosts:

29 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

26,500 (2006)

Transportation
Dominica

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 53 by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 27, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 47 (Australia 2, Estonia 7, Greece 10, India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 7, Syria 2, Turkey 5, Ukraine 4, UAE 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Portsmouth, Roseau

Military
Dominica

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,584 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,648 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 756 female: 713 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA (2006)

Transnational Issues
Dominica

Disputes - international:

Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak, making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Dominican Republic

Introduction
Dominican Republic

Background:

Explored and claimed by Christopher COLUMBUS on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962, but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term.

Geography
Dominican Republic

Location:

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

##### 19 00 N, 70 40 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km

Coastline:

1,288 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 6 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Terrain:

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Natural resources:

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Land use:

arable land: 22.49% permanent crops: 10.26% other: 67.25% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,750 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

21 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%) per capita: 381 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

People
Dominican Republic

Population:

9,507,133 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.8% (male 1,537,981/female 1,482,546) 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 3,029,349/female 2,905,471) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 255,898/female 295,888) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.7 years male: 24.6 years female: 24.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.495% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.39 years male: 71.61 years female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

88,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,900 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups:

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87% male: 86.8% female: 87.2% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

3.6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Dominican Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana

Government type:

democratic republic

Capital:

name: Santo Domingo geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*
(distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,
Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia,
La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor
Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata,
Salcedo, Samana, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San
Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez,
Santo Domingo, Valverde

Independence:

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Constitution:

28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002

Legal system:

based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age; note - members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 16 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012) election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ reelected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable ARISTY less than 5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (178 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 22, PRD 6, PRSC 4; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 96, PRD 60, PRSC 22

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and an additional non-governing party congressional representative)

Political parties and leaders:

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon ALBURQUERQUE]; National
Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social
Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ANTUN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice (FINJUS)

International organization participation:

ACP, BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory),
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Flavio Dario ESPINAL Jacobo chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador P. Robert FANNIN embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Flag description:

a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Economy
Dominican Republic

Economy - overview:

The Dominican Republic has enjoyed strong GDP growth since 2005, with double digit growth in 2006. In 2007, exports were bolstered by the nearly 50% increase in nickel prices; however, prices are expected to fall in 2008, contributing to a slowdown in GDP growth for the year. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the source of nearly three-fourths of exports, and remittances represent about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts. With the help of strict fiscal targets agreed to in the 2004 renegotiation of an IMF standby loan, President FERNANDEZ has stabilized the country's financial situation, lowering inflation to less than 6%. A fiscal expansion is expected for 2008 prior to the elections in May and for Tropical Storm Noel reconstruction. Although the economy is growing at a respectable rate, high unemployment and underemployment remains an important challenge. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, which should boost investment and exports and reduce losses to the Asian garment industry.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$61.67 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$36.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.7% industry: 23.8% services: 64.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.027 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 17% industry: 24.3% services: 58.7% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 41.1% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

51.6 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $7.423 billion expenditures: $7.259 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

41% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.83% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.074 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.631 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$15.92 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Industries:

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

2.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

13.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

11.81 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

12 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:

117,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

116,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

250 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

239.8 million cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$2.231 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$7.237 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners:

US 66.4%, Belgium 3.7%, Finland 3.2% (2007)

Imports:

$13.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

US 46%, Venezuela 8.1%, Mexico 5.9%, Colombia 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$76.99 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.562 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.21 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$12.75 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$59 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Dominican peso (DOP)

Currency code:

##### DOP

Exchange rates:

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006), 30.409 (2005), 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003)

Communications
Dominican Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

907,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.513 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network domestic: fixed telephone line density is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile cellular service with a subscribership of roughly 60 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

1.44 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

25 (2003)

Televisions:

770,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.do

Internet hosts:

105,546 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

24 (2000)

Internet users:

1.677 million (2007)

Transportation
Dominican Republic

Airports:

34 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Railways:

total: 517 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge note: additional 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m, and 0.762-m gauges (2006)

Roadways:

total: 19,705 km paved: 9,872 km unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo

Military
Dominican Republic

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,440,203 females age 16-49: 2,326,694 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,020,490 females age 16-49: 1,883,875 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 96,971 female: 93,116 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Dominican Republic

Disputes - international:

Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and Caribbean destinations; a significant number of women, boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, the Dominican Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of not adequately investigating and prosecuting public officials who may be complicit with trafficking activity, and inadequate government efforts to protect trafficking victims; the government has taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions; significant amphetamine consumption

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Ecuador

Introduction
Ecuador

Background:

What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected Presidents. In 2007, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence.

Geography
Ecuador

Location:

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

##### 2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 283,560 sq km land: 276,840 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,237 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain:

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 4.81% other: 89.48% (2005)

Irrigated land:

8,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

432 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%) per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People
Ecuador

Population:

13,927,650 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.1% (male 2,274,986/female 2,189,437) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,355,909/female 4,381,141) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 340,861/female 385,316) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.2 years male: 23.7 years female: 24.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.935% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.81 years male: 73.94 years female: 79.84 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

21,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,700 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 92.3% female: 89.7% (2001 census)

Education expenditures:

1% of GDP (2001)

Government
Ecuador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Quito geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,
Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,
Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,
Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los
Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence:

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Constitution:

10 August 1998

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 15 October 2006 with a runoff election on 26 November 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: Rafael CORREA Delgado elected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 56.7%; Alvaro NOBOA 43.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5; other 6; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties; as of 29 November 2007, Congress is on indefinite recess while a Constituent Assembly is convened

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a simple-majority resolution)

Political parties and leaders:

Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian
Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Democratic Left or
ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED
[Leon ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or
PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New
Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP
[Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro
GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz,
director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO];
Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Gustavo AYALA Cruz]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE
[Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS
[F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of
Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of
Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA
CRUZ, president]

International organization participation:

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000 FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Economy
Ecuador

Economy - overview:

Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracted by more than 6%, with a significant increase in poverty. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined but remained high at 38% in 2006. In 2006 the government of Alfredo PALACIO (2005-07) seized the assets of Occidental Petroleum for alleged contract violations and imposed a windfall revenue tax on foreign oil companies, leading to the suspension of free trade negotiations with the US. These measures, combined with chronic underinvestment in the state oil company, Petroecuador, led to a drop in petroleum production in 2007. PALACIO's successor, Rafael CORREA, raised the specter of debt default - but Ecuador has paid its debt on time. He also decreed a higher windfall revenue tax on private oil companies, then sought to renegotiate their contracts to overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This generated economic uncertainty; private investment has dropped and economic growth has slowed significantly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$98.71 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$44.18 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.7% industry: 35.1% services: 58.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.51 million (urban) (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 8% industry: 24% services: 68% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

8.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

38.3% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 35% note: data for urban households only (October 2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46 note: data are for urban households (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.46 billion expenditures: planned $11.96 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

33.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10.72% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.08% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$7.974 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$8.926 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Industries:

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:

1.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

14.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

12.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

38.53 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

861 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

511,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

160,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

421,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

47,060 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.517 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

280 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

280 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

9.369 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.064 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$14.37 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish

Exports - partners:

US 41.9%, Peru 8.5%, Chile 4.9%, Russia 4.8%, Colombia 4.7% (2007)

Imports:

$12.76 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 23.7%, Colombia 10.3%, China 7.6%, Brazil 5.3%, Japan 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$209.5 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.521 billion (30 November 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$17.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$16.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.456 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.04 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000

Communications
Ecuador

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.805 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.086 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded domestic: fixed-line services provided by three state-owned enterprises; plans to transfer the state-owned operators to private ownership have repeatedly failed; fixed-line density stands at about 13 per 100 persons; mobile cellular use has surged and has a subscribership of nearly 75 per 100 persons international: country code - 593; landing point for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable that provides links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Radios:

5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)

Televisions:

2.5 million (2001)

Internet country code:

.ec

Internet hosts:

45,404 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

31 (2001)

Internet users:

1.549 million (2006)

Transportation
Ecuador

Airports:

406 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 104 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 54 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 302 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 268 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

extra heavy crude oil 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,389 km; refined products 1,185 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 43,670 km paved: 6,472 km unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 37 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 1 (US 1) registered in other countries: 5 (China 1, Panama 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Military
Ecuador

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,536,602 females age 16-49: 3,559,188 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,030,664 females age 16-49: 3,037,892 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 144,821 female: 139,091 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Ecuador

Disputes - international:

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to escape the violence in their home country

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of deportation (2007)

Illicit drugs:

significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with over half of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Egypt

Introduction
Egypt

Background:

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Geography
Egypt

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

Geographic coordinates:

##### 27 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,665 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline:

2,450 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Terrain:

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Land use:

arable land: 2.92% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 96.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:

34,220 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

86.8 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 68.3 cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%) per capita: 923 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees

People
Egypt

Population:

81,713,520 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.8% (male 13,292,961/female 12,690,711) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 26,257,440/female 25,627,390) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 1,636,560/female 2,208,455) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.5 years male: 24.1 years female: 24.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.682% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 30.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.85 years male: 69.3 years female: 74.52 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

700 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian

Ethnic groups:

Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)

Religions:

Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.4% male: 83% female: 59.4% (2005 est.)

Education expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (2006)

Government
Egypt

Country name:

conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Cairo geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Thursday in September

Administrative divisions:

26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al
Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El
Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah
(Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia), Al Minya, Al
Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As
Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf (Beni Suef),
Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai),
Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina (Qena), Shamal Sina'
(North Sinai), Suhaj (Sohag)

Independence:

28 February 1922 (from UK)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Constitution:

11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March 2007

Legal system:

based on Islamic and civil law (particularly Napoleonic codes); judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011 election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

Legislative branch:

bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura that traditionally functions only in a consultative role but 2007 constitutional amendments could grant the Council new powers (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members) elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and 20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December 2010); Advisory Council - last held June 2007 (next to be held May-June 2010) election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10 seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 84, Tagammu 1, independents 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders:

National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow Party [Moussa Mustafa MOUSSA] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are listed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal) note: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Hosni MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, COMESA, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (designate) Sameh SHOUKRY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300 FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

Economy
Egypt

Economy - overview:

Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President Gamel Abdel NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF's government reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew about 5% per year in 2005-06, and topped 7% in 2007. Despite these achievements, the government has failed to raise living standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have contributed to a sizeable budget deficit - roughly 7.5% of GDP in 2007 - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreign direct investment has increased significantly in the past two years, but the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit of reforms in order to sustain the spike in investment and growth and begin to improve economic conditions for the broader population. Egypt's export sectors - particularly natural gas - have bright prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$405.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$127.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.8% industry: 38.1% services: 48% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

22.1 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 32% industry: 17% services: 51% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.4 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $35.05 billion expenditures: $44.83 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

105.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.51% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$27.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$102.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$113.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Industries:

textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures

Industrial production growth rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

109.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

96.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

557 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

208 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

664,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

652,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

204,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

140,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

3.7 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

47.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

31.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

15.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$500.9 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$24.45 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 9.7%, Italy 9.5%, Spain 7.6%, Syria 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%, UK 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$44.95 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners:

US 11.7%, China 9.7%, Italy 6.4%, Germany 6.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%,
Russia 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $925.9 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$31.37 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$29.2 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$48.46 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.295 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$93.48 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code:

##### EGP

Exchange rates:

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509 (2003)

Communications
Egypt

Telephones - main lines in use:

11.229 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

30.065 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Telecom Egypt, the landline monopoly, has been increasing service availability and in 2007 fixed-line density stood at 14 per 100 persons; as of 2007 there were three mobile-cellular networks and service is expanding rapidly domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay international: country code - 20; landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios:

20.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

98 (September 1995)

Televisions:

7.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.eg

Internet hosts:

175,342 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:

8.62 million (2007)

Transportation
Egypt

Airports:

88 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 72 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 483 km; condensate/gas 74 km; gas 6,466 km; liquid petroleum gas 957 km; oil 5,518 km; oil/gas/water 37 km; refined products 895 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 5,063 km standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 92,370 km paved: 74,820 km unpaved: 17,550 km (2004)

Waterways:

3,500 km note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 67 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 28, container 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9 foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 8, Lebanon 1) registered in other countries: 58 (Cambodia 13, Georgia 12, Honduras 3, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Moldova 1, Panama 17, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3, Togo 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Sidi Kurayr, Suez

Military
Egypt

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 21,247,777 females age 16-49: 20,406,408 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,153,158 females age 16-49: 17,405,837 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 825,300 female: 786,590 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Egypt

Disputes - international:

while Sudan retains claim to the Hala'ib Triangle north of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, both states withdrew their military presence in the 1990s and Egypt has invested in and effectively administers the area; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198 (Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Egypt is a transit country for women trafficked from Eastern European countries to Israel for sexual exploitation, and is a source for children trafficked within the country for commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, although the extent to which children are trafficked internally is unknown; children were also recruited for domestic and agricultural work; some of these children face conditions of involuntary servitude, such as restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Egypt is on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third year in a row because it did not provide evidence of increasing efforts to investigate and prosecute traffickers; however, in July 2007, the government established the "National Coordinating Committee to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Persons," which improved inter-governmental coordination on anti-trafficking initiatives; Egypt made no discernible efforts to punish trafficking crimes in 2007 and the Egyptian penal code does not prohibit all forms of trafficking; Egypt did not increase its services to trafficking victims during the reporting period (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@El Salvador

Introduction
El Salvador

Background:

El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

Geography
El Salvador

Location:

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and Honduras

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 50 N, 88 55 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 21,040 sq km land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Coastline:

307 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 31.37% permanent crops: 11.88% other: 56.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

450 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

25.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%) per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

People
El Salvador

Population:

7,066,403 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.8% (male 1,291,147/female 1,237,453) 15-64 years: 59% (male 1,987,671/female 2,179,620) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 162,100/female 208,412) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.2 years male: 21.1 years female: 23.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.679% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

25.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.06 years male: 68.45 years female: 75.84 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

29,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran

Ethnic groups:

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%,
Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 80.2% male: 82.8% female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2006)

Government
El Salvador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: San Salvador geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,
Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union,
Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,
Sonsonate, Usulutan

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

20 December 1983

Legal system:

based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 21 March 2004 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president; percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL 35.6%, Hector SILVA 3.9%, other 2.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 34, FMLN 32, PCN 10, PDC 6, CD 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the
Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme
Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative
conflict)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic
Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA] (formerly United Democratic Center
or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo
GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA];
National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez];
Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary
Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar HERNANDEZ Carcamo]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union
Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez chancery: 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Elizabeth (New Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge (Virginia), Woodstock (Georgia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles L. GLAZER embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450 telephone: [503] 2501-2999 FAX: [503] 2501-2150

Flag description:

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

Economy
El Salvador

Economy - overview:

The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent years. Robust growth in non-traditional exports have offset declines in the maquila exports, while remittances and external aid offset the trade deficit from high oil prices and strong import demand for consumer and intermediate goods. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income. Implementation in 2006 of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which El Salvador was the first to ratify, has strengthened an already positive export trend. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy. The current government has pursued economic diversification, with some success in promoting textile production, international port services, and tourism through tax incentives. It is committed to opening the economy to trade and investment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$41.63 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$20.37 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.8% industry: 30.8% services: 58.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.913 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.2% official rate; but the economy has much underemployment (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.7% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 38.8% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

52.4 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.659 billion expenditures: $3.709 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

37.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.6% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$1.802 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$764.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9.729 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp

Industries:

food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Industrial production growth rate:

3.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.338 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

4.426 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

8.64 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

11.08 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 44% hydro: 30.9% nuclear: 0% other: 25.1% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - consumption:

44,330 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

4,963 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

45,210 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.119 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.035 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity

Exports - partners:

US 51%, Guatemala 13.6%, Honduras 11.2%, Nicaragua 5.5% (2007)

Imports:

$8.108 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 35.7%, Mexico 9.8%, Guatemala 8.5%, China 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$267.6 million of which $55 million from US (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$9.574 billion (December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$5.918 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$384 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$3.623 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

Communications
El Salvador

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.08 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.137 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2007 mobile-cellular density stood at nearly 90 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

2.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1997)

Televisions:

600,000 (1990)

Internet country code:

.sv

Internet hosts:

11,434 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:

700,000 (2006)

Transportation
El Salvador

Airports:

65 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 48 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 562 km narrow gauge: 562 km 0.914-m gauge note: railways not in operation since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2007)

Roadways:

total: 10,886 km paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

Waterways:

Rio Lempa partially navigable for small craft (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco

Military
El Salvador

Military branches:

Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; service obligation - 8 months, but 11 months for officers and NCOs (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,634,816 females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,168,406 females age 16-49: 1,519,375 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 73,915 female: 71,252 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
El Salvador

Disputes - international:

International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Equatorial Guinea

Introduction
Equatorial Guinea

Background:

Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's living standards.

Geography
Equatorial Guinea

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and
Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

##### 2 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Coastline:

296 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain:

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Land use:

arable land: 4.63% permanent crops: 3.57% other: 91.8% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

26 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%) per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

violent windstorms, flash floods

Environment - current issues:

tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

insular and continental regions widely separated

People
Equatorial Guinea

Population:

616,459 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42% (male 131,696/female 127,253) 15-64 years: 53.8% (male 162,458/female 169,445) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 11,394/female 14,213) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.9 years male: 18.3 years female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.732% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

37.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 83.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 84.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.23 years male: 60.36 years female: 62.13 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.16 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,900 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

370 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic groups:

Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)

Religions:

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Languages:

Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official),
Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87% male: 93.4% female: 80.5% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2003)

Government
Equatorial Guinea

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee equatoriale local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale former: Spanish Guinea

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Malabo geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Independence:

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Constitution:

approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995

Legal system:

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup) head of government: Prime Minister Ignacio Milan TANG (since 8 July 2008); cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held 4 May 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 98, CPDS 2 note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

Judicial branch:

Supreme Tribunal

Political parties and leaders:

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo];
Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party)
[Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial
Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or
APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global
Witness (anti-corruption)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 2220-1500 FAX: [237] 2220-1572

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Economy
Equatorial Guinea

Economy - overview:

The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993, because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Government officials and their family members own most businesses. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2007, led by oil.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.54 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.49 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

12.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$28,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 92.2% services: 4.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

##### NA

Unemployment rate:

30% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.963 billion expenditures: $2.494 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

1.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$835.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$174.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

##### NA

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

Industries:

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:

10.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

27 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

25.11 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 94.3% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

368,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

918.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

375,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,070 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$415 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$9.904 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners:

US 20.6%, China 18.8%, Spain 13.9%, Taiwan 13.4%, France 7.5%, Japan 6.5%, Portugal 6.4% (2007)

Imports:

$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners:

US 19.6%, Spain 13.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.9%, France 9.6%, China 7.7%,
Italy 6.6%, UK 6.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$39 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.846 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$338 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

##### XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Communications
Equatorial Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

220,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2007 stood at about 40 percent of the population international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)

Radios:

180,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gq

Internet hosts:

9 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

8,000 (2006)

Transportation
Equatorial Guinea

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 80 km; oil 54 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,880 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bata, Malabo

Military
Equatorial Guinea

Military branches:

National Guard (Guardia Nacional (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and
Air Wing) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) for compulsory military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 136,725 females age 16-49: 138,018 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 101,712 females age 16-49: 104,381 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,784 female: 6,543 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Equatorial Guinea

Disputes - international:

in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final delimitation; UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation, it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in 2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures for providing care to victims (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Eritrea

Introduction
Eritrea

Background:

Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002. However, both parties have been unable to reach agreement on implementing the decision. On 30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission remotely demarcated the border by coordinates and dissolved itself, leaving Ethiopia still occupying several tracts of disputed territory, including the town of Badme. Eritrea accepted the EEBC's "virtual demarcation" decision and called on Ethiopia to remove its troops from the TSZ which it states is Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not accepted the virtual demarcation decision.

Geography
Eritrea

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 N, 39 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 1,626 km border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Coastline:

2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands

Terrain:

dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m highest point: Soira 3,018 m

Natural resources:

gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish

Land use:

arable land: 4.78% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.19% (2005)

Irrigated land:

210 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

6.3 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (3%/0%/97%) per capita: 68 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent droughts; locust swarms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993

People
Eritrea

Population:

5,502,026 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43% (male 1,188,496/female 1,178,520) 15-64 years: 53.4% (male 1,437,653/female 1,502,449) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 89,634/female 105,274) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.3 years male: 17.9 years female: 18.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.631% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

34.94 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 44.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.38 years male: 59.35 years female: 63.46 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.84 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

60,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

6,300 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean

Ethnic groups:

Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%

Religions:

Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages:

Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 5 years male: 6 years female: 4 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

2.4% of GDP (2006)

Government
Eritrea

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Government type:

transitional government note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; parliamentary elections were scheduled in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)

Capital:

name: Asmara (Asmera) geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (Southern), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)

Independence:

24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 May (1993)

Constitution:

a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented

Legal system:

primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been promulgated; government also issues unilateral proclamations setting laws and policies; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Islamic law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993) cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority; members appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); the most recent and only election held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in December 2001 as anticipated) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%, other 5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly, which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely

Judicial branch:

High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military and special courts

Political parties and leaders:

People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS Afworki] (the only party recognized by the government); note - a National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001, but the full National Assembly has yet to debate or vote on it

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) [HAGOS, Mesfin]; Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ (includes Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM also known as the Abu Sihel Movement); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa Movement); Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAS (observer), MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador GHIRMAI Ghebremariam chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald MCMULLEN embassy: 179 Ala Street, Asmara mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Flag description:

red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Economy
Eritrea

Economy - overview:

Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country, accentuated by the recent implementation of restrictive economic policies. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -12.1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and loss, including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productive region, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure, asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war-damaged roads and bridges. Since the war ended, the government has maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's development agenda. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy is heavily dependent on taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the country. The government continues to place its hope for additional revenue on the development of several international mining projects. Despite difficulties for international companies in working with the Eritrean government, a Canadian mining company signed a contract with the GSE in 2007 and plans to begin mineral extraction in 2010. Eritrea also anticipates opening a free trade zone at the port of Massawa in 2008. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and more importantly, on the government's willingness to support a true market economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.619 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.316 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.5% industry: 23.2% services: 59.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

##### NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $234.6 million expenditures: $471.4 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

17% (2007 est.)

Stock of money:

$749.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$932.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.711 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

253 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

216 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,186 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

54.74 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,924 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$205 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$12 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures

Exports - partners:

Italy 34.4%, China 16.2%, Sudan 15.2%, France 9.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, Australia 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$573 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 19.1%, Italy 15.1%, China 11.1%, Turkey 8.3%, Germany 7.2%, Ukraine 5.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$355.2 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$23 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$311 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

nakfa (ERN)

Currency code:

##### ERN

Exchange rates:

nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.5 (2007), 15.4 (2006), 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003) note: the official exchange rate is 15 nakfa to the dollar

Communications
Eritrea

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,500 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

70,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular subscribership is only about 2 per 100 persons domestic: inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002) international: country code - 291; note - international connections exist

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)

Radios:

345,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2006)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.er

Internet hosts:

1,074 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

120,000 (2007)

Transportation
Eritrea

Airports:

18 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 306 km narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 5 by type: cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Assab, Massawa

Military
Eritrea

Military branches:

Eritrean Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,108,836 females age 16-49: 1,096,120 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 715,531 females age 16-49: 731,511 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 60,490 female: 60,639 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

6.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Eritrea

Disputes - international:

Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision but, neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions on its operations and reduced force of 17,000; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 32,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are near the central border region) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Estonia

Introduction
Estonia

Background:

After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography
Estonia

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 59 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Land boundaries:

total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km

Coastline:

3,794 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states

Climate:

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain:

marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Natural resources:

oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Land use:

arable land: 12.05% permanent crops: 0.35% other: 87.6% (2005)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

21.1 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.41 cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%) per capita: 1,060 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Environment - current issues:

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one-20th the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

People
Estonia

Population:

1,307,605 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.9% (male 100,143/female 94,450) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 420,896/female 462,072) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 76,171/female 153,873) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.6 years male: 36.2 years female: 43.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.632% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.28 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

13.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.56 years male: 67.16 years female: 78.3 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Ethnic groups:

Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2004)

Government
Estonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Tallinn geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Independence:

20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was
the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20
August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the
Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23 September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received 174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left blank or invalid

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 4 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%, Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 31, Center Party 29, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian People's Union 6

Judicial branch:

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian
Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union
(Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond)
[Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP
[Yevgeniy TOMBERG]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party
Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR]; Union of Pro Patria and Res
Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Nochnoy Dozor/Night Watch anti-fascist movement (leader Alexander
KOROBOV)

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,
NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vaino REINART chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley Davis PHILLIPS embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] 668-8100 FAX: [372] 668-8265

Flag description:

pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Economy
Estonia

Economy - overview:

Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels in Central Europe. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies, resulting in balanced budgets and low public debt. In 2007, however, a large current account deficit and rising inflation put pressure on Estonia's currency, which is pegged to the euro, highlighting the need for growth in export-generating industries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$28.69 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$21.28 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3% industry: 28.5% services: 68.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

687,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 11% industry: 20% services: 69% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

5% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $7.854 billion expenditures: $7.171 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

3.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.6% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.46% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$7.158 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.253 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$21.35 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Industries:

engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate:

7.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.158 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

7.331 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

3.179 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

400 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.2% (2001)

Oil - production:

7,430 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

30,440 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

7,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

28,170 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$3.771 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$11.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)

Exports - partners:

Finland 17.9%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 11.4%, Russia 8.9%, Lithuania 5.8%, Germany 5.2%, US 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$14.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)

Imports - partners:

Finland 15.9%, Germany 12.8%, Sweden 10.1%, Russia 10%, Latvia 7.6%,
Lithuania 6.9%, Poland 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$135.5 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.27 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$24.82 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$16.59 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$5.873 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.963 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code:

##### EEK

Exchange rates:

krooni (EEK) per US dollar - 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006), 12.584 (2005), 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003) note: the krooni is pegged to the euro

Communications
Estonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

495,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.982 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income-tax returns online, and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services is available throughout the country international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

1.01 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2001)

Televisions:

605,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ee

Internet hosts:

645,495 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

38 (2001)

Internet users:

780,000 (2007)

Transportation
Estonia

Airports:

19 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 859 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 968 km broad gauge: 968 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 57,016 km paved: 12,926 km (includes 99 km of expressways) unpaved: 44,090 km (2005)

Waterways:

320 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 29 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 21, petroleum tanker 2, chemical tanker 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 1, Germany 1, Norway 2) registered in other countries: 85 (Antigua and Barbuda 23, Belize 6, Cyprus 5, Dominica 7, Finland 2, Latvia 2, Liberia 1, Malta 11, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16, Sweden 2, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu

Military
Estonia

Military branches:

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti
Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28; conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17 years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 306,273 females age 16-49: 317,852 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 218,448 females age 16-49: 264,187 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 8,322 female: 7,846 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Estonia

Disputes - international:

Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending prepared a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs:

growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Ethiopia

Introduction
Ethiopia

Background:

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the 1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission in November 2007 remotely demarcated the border by geographical coordinates, but final demarcation of the boundary on the ground is currently on hold because of Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.

Geography
Ethiopia

Location:

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,328 km border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain:

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m highest point: Ras Dejen 4,533 m

Natural resources:

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 10.01% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 89.34% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,900 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

110 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 5.56 cu km/yr (6%/0%/94%) per capita: 72 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean

People
Ethiopia

Population:

82,544,840 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46% (male 18,922,334/female 19,017,593) 15-64 years: 51.4% (male 20,749,002/female 21,656,509) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 947,323/female 1,252,077) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.9 years male: 16.6 years female: 17.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.212% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

43.97 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 82.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 94.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 70.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.99 years male: 52.54 years female: 57.51 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.5 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

120,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian

Ethnic groups:

Oromo 32.1%, Amara 30.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%, Guragie 4.3%,
Sidama 3.5%, Welaita 2.4%, other 15.4% (1994 census)

Religions:

Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)

Languages:

Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%,
Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%,
English (major foreign language taught in schools) (1994 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.7% male: 50.3% female: 35.1% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Ethiopia

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa abbreviation: FDRE

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Addis Ababa geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 ethnically based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples)

Independence:

oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

National holiday:

National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

Constitution:

ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law; currently transitional mix of national and regional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives elections: president elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 9 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - 79%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation (or upper chamber responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues) (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives (or lower chamber responsible for passing legislation) (547 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 15 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPRDF 327, CUD 109, UEDF 52, SPDP 23, OFDM 11, BGPDUF 8, ANDP 8, independent 1, others 6, undeclared 2 note: some seats still remain vacant as detained opposition MPs did not take their seats

Judicial branch:

Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP; Benishangul Gumuz People's
Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for
Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP [AYELE Chamisso] (awarded to
AYELE by the National Electoral Board on 11 January 2008, but AYELE
has virtually no support among former CUD MPs, other CUD MPs must
now be affiliated with their original CUD-precursor parties);
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES
Zenawi] (an alliance of Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM,
Oromo People's Democratic Organization or OPDO, the South Ethiopian
People's Democratic Front or SEPDF, and Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation
Front or TPLF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM;
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM [BULCHA Demeksa]; Omoro
People's Congress or OPC [IMERERA Gudina]; Somali People's
Democratic Party or SPDP; United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF
[BEYENE Petros]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; Ogaden National
Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ASSEFA chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200 FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Y. YAMAMOTO embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] 11-517-40-00 FAX: [251] 11-517-40-01

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

Economy
Ethiopia

Economy - overview:

Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in December 2005 the IMF voted to forgive Ethiopia's debt to the body. Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 3.3% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns helped agricultural and GDP growth recover during 2004-07.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$56.05 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$19.43 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 47% industry: 13.2% services: 39.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

27.27 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry: 8% services: 12% (1985)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

38.7% (FY05/06 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 25.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.231 billion expenditures: $3.785 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

8 July - 7 July

Public debt:

44.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

17.2% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7% (31 December 2006)

Stock of money:

$3.651 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.258 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$6.694 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, qat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

11% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.268 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.941 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 97.6% nuclear: 0% other: 1.2% (2001)

Oil - production:

7.334 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

30,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

29,820 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

428,000 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$826.8 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.288 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

Exports - partners:

Germany 8.2%, Saudi Arabia 7%, US 6.9%, Djibouti 6.6%, China 6.5%,
Italy 6.5%, Japan 5.9%, Netherlands 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$5.165 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 17%, China 15.9%, India 7.8%, Italy 5.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.6 billion (FY05/06)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.294 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.621 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

birr (ETB)

Currency code:

##### ETB

Exchange rates:

birr (ETB) per US dollar - 8.96 (2007), 8.69 (2006), 8.68 (2005), 8.6356 (2004), 8.5997 (2003) note: since 24 October 2001, exchange rates are determined on a daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank

Communications
Ethiopia

Telephones - main lines in use:

880,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.208 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate telephone system; the number of fixed lines and mobile telephones is increasing from a very small base; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is only about 2 per 100 persons domestic: open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; 2 domestic satellites provide the national trunk service international: country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

15.2 million (2002)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 24 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

682,000 (2002)

Internet country code:

.et

Internet hosts:

128 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

291,000 (2007)

Transportation
Ethiopia

Airports:

84 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Railways:

total: 699 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 699 km 1.000-m gauge note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but remains largely inoperable (2006)

Roadways:

total: 36,469 km paved: 6,980 km unpaved: 29,489 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 9 by type: cargo 8, roll on/roll off 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Ethiopia is landlocked and uses ports of Djibouti in Djibouti and
Berbera in Somalia

Military
Ethiopia

Military branches:

Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) (2008) note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; theoretically, no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct call-ups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,666,967 females age 16-49: 17,530,211 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,060,775 females age 16-49: 9,854,710 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 887,061 female: 896,048 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Ethiopia

Disputes - international:

Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions on its operations and reduced force of 17,000; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 66,980 (Sudan); 16,576 (Somalia); 13,078 (Eritrea) IDPs: 200,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000, ethnic clashes in Gambela, and ongoing Ethiopian military counterinsurgency in Somali region; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@European Union

Introduction
European Union

Preliminary statement:

The evolution of the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of history. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe. On a few occasions even country-level unions were arranged - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were examples - but for such a large number of nation-states to cede some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is truly unique. Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN, NAFTA, or Mercosur, and it has many of the attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, anthem, founding date, and currency, as well as an incipient common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations. In the future, many of these nation-like characteristics are likely to be expanded. Thus, inclusion of basic intelligence on the EU has been deemed appropriate as a new, separate entity in The World Factbook. However, because of the EU's special status, this description is placed after the regular country entries.

Background:

Following the two devastating World Wars of the first half of the 20th century, a number of European leaders in the late 1940s became convinced that the only way to establish a lasting peace was to unite the two chief belligerent nations - France and Germany - both economically and politically. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed an eventual union of all Europe, the first step of which would be the integration of the coal and steel industries of Western Europe. The following year the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members, Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, signed the Treaty of Paris. The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was made to integrate other parts of the countries' economies. In 1957, the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six member states undertook to eliminate trade barriers among themselves by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first direct elections were undertaken and they have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The 1980s saw further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union - including a common currency. This further integration created the European Union (EU). In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU, raising the membership total to 15. A new currency, the euro, was launched in world money markets on 1 January 1999; it became the unit of exchange for all of the EU states except the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. In 2002, citizens of the 12 euro-area countries began using the euro banknotes and coins. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia - and in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined, bringing the current membership to 27. In order to ensure that the EU can continue to function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice (in force as of 1 February 2003) set forth rules streamlining the size and procedures of EU institutions. An effort to establish an EU constitution, begun in October 2004, failed to attain unanimous ratification. A new effort, undertaken in June 2007, calls for the creation of an Intergovernmental Conference to form a political agreement, known as the Reform Treaty, which is to serve as a constitution. Unlike the constitution, however, the Reform Treaty would amend existing treaties rather than replace them.

Geography
European Union

Location:

Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia,
Belarus, and Ukraine to the east

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 4,324,782 sq km

Area - comparative:

less than one-half the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 12,440.8 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050 km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km, Macedonia 394 km, Moldova 450 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Norway 2,348 km, Russia 2,257 km, San Marino 39 km, Serbia 945 km, Switzerland 1,811 km, Turkey 446 km, Ukraine 1,257 km note: data for European Continent only

Coastline:

65,992.9 km

Maritime claims:

##### NA

Climate:

cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south

Terrain:

fairly flat along the Baltic and Atlantic coast; mountainous in the central and southern areas

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lammefjord, Denmark -7 m; Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m; note - situated on the border between France and Italy

Natural resources:

iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish

Land use:

arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA

Irrigated land:

168,050 sq km (2003 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 82, Tropical Timber 94 signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

People
European Union

Population:

491,018,683 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.7% (male 37,208,905/female 35,254,445) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 155,807,769/female 153,690,235) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 32,592,595/female 46,273,197) (2008 est.)

Median age:

note - see individual country entries of member states

Population growth rate:

0.11% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.25 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.23 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.32 years male: 74 years female: 80.84 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

note - see individual country entries of member states

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

note - see individual country entries of member states

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

note - see individual country entries of member states

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish

Languages:

Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish note: only official languages are listed; German, the major language of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is the most widely spoken mother tongue - over 19% of the EU population; English is the most widely spoken language - about 49% of the EU population is conversant with it (2007)

Government
European Union

Union name:

conventional long form: European Union abbreviation: EU

Political structure:

a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization

Capital:

name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, Belgium, the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in Luxembourg

Member states:

27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK; note - Canary Islands (Spain), Azores and Madeira (Portugal), French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion (France) are sometimes listed separately even though they are legally a part of Spain, Portugal, and France; candidate countries: Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey

Independence:

7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)

National holiday:

Europe Day 9 May (1950); note - a Union-wide holiday, the day that
Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel
Community to achieve an organized Europe

Constitution:

based on a series of treaties: the Treaty of Paris, which set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951; the Treaties of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957; the Single European Act in 1986; the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) in 1992; the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997; and the Treaty of Nice in 2003; note - a new draft Constitutional Treaty, signed on 29 October 2004 in Rome, gave member states two years for ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006; defeat in French and Dutch referenda in May-June 2005 dealt a severe setback to the ratification process; in June 2007, the European Council agreed on a clear and concise mandate for an Intergovernmental Conference to form a political agreement and put it into legal form; this agreement, known as the Reform Treaty, would have served as a constitution and was presented to the European Council in October 2007 for individual country ratification; it was rejected by Irish voters in June 2008, again stalling the ratification process

Legal system:

comparable to the legal systems of member states; first supranational law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of union: President of the European Commission Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since 22 November 2004) cabinet: European Commission (composed of 27 members, one from each member country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policy areas) elections: the president of the European Commission is designated by member governments and is confirmed by the European Parliament; working from member state recommendations, the Commission president then assembles a "college" of Commission members; the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; the last confirmation process was held 18 November 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: European Parliament approved the European Commission by an approval vote of 449 to 149 with 82 abstentions note: the European Council brings together heads of state and government and the president of the European Commission and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the major political issues relating to European integration and to issue general policy guidelines

Legislative branch:

two legislative bodies consisting of the Council of the European Union (27 member-state ministers having 345 votes; the number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states' population; note - the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU) and the European Parliament (785 seats, as of 1 January 2007; seats allocated among member states by proportion to population; members elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term) elections: last held 10-13 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPP-ED 268, PES 202, ALDE 88, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 36, UEN 27, independents 28; note - seats by party as of 1 December 2007 - EPP-ED 275, PES 217, ALDE 104, UEN 44, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 24, independents 34, 4 unaccounted for

Judicial branch:

Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU; resolve constitutional issues among the EU institutions) - 27 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 13 justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 27 justices appointed for a six-year term

Political parties and leaders:

Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left or
EUL/NGL [Francis WURTZ]; European People's Party-European Democrats
or EPP-ED [Joseph DAUL]; Group of the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe or ALDE [Graham R. WATSON]; Group of
Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Monica FRASSONI and
Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT]; Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty Group or
ITS [Bruno GOLLNISCH]; Independence/Democracy Group or IND/DEM
[Jens-Peter BONDE and Nigel FARAGE]; Socialist Group in the European
Parliament or PES [Martin SCHULZ]; Union for Europe of the Nations
Group or UEN [Brian CROWLEY and Cristiana MUSCARDINI]

International organization participation:

European Union: ARF (dialogue member), ASEAN (dialogue member), IDA,
OAS (observer), PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN (observer)
European Community: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, FAO, EBRD, G-10,
LAIA, NSG (observer), OECD, UNRWA, WCO, WTO, ZC (observer)
European Central Bank: BIS
European Investment Bank: EBRD, WADB (nonregional member)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John BRUTON chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500 FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kristen SILVERBERG embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: same as above telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111 FAX: [32] (2) 508-2063

Flag description:

blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center, representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Economy
European Union

Economy - overview:

Internally, the EU is attempting to lower trade barriers, adopt a common currency, and move toward convergence of living standards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic power. Because of the great differences in per capita income among member states (from $7,000 to $69,000) and historic national animosities, the EU faces difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example, since 2003 Germany and France have flouted the member states' treaty obligation to prevent their national budgets from running more than a 3% deficit. In 2004 and 2007, the EU admitted 10 and two countries, respectively, that are, in general, less advanced technologically and economically than the other 15. Eleven established EU member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later), but the UK, Sweden, and Denmark chose not to participate. Of the 12 most recent member states, only Slovenia (1 January 2007) and Cyprus and Malta (1 January 2008) have adopted the euro; the remaining nine are legally required to adopt the currency upon meeting EU's fiscal and monetary convergence criteria.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.43 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.62 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$32,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 27.1% services: 70.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

222.7 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.4% industry: 27.1% services: 67.1% note: the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

note - see individual country entries of member states

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (2001 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.7 (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Fiscal year:

##### NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2006 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5% note: This is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the Eurosystem (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.03% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$5.742 trillion note: this is the quantity of money, M1, for the Euro Area, converted into US dollars at the exchange rate for the date indicated; it excludes the stock of money carried by non-Eurozone members of the European Union

Stock of quasi money:

$10.93 trillion note: this is the quantity of quasi money, M2, for the Euro Area, converted into US dollars at the exchange rate for the date indicated; it excludes the stock of quasi money carried by non-Eurozone members of the European Union

Stock of domestic credit:

$20.94 trillion note: this figure refers to the Euro area only; it excludes credit data for members of the EU outside the Eurozone (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes; dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry; fish

Industries:

among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, the European Union industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.056 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.858 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh

Oil - production:

2.674 million bbl/day (2007)

Oil - consumption:

14.39 million bbl/day (2007)

Oil - exports:

6.979 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

17.71 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

6.144 billion bbl (1 January 2008)

Natural gas - production:

197.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

500.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

76.48 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

361.2 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.476 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

##### $NA

Exports:

$1.33 trillion; note - external exports, excluding intra-EU trade (2005)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, wood pulp and paper products, textiles, meat, dairy products, fish, alcoholic beverages.

Exports - partners:

US 23.3%, Switzerland 7.6%, Russia 5.2%, China 4.8% (2006)

Imports:

$1.466 trillion; note - external imports, excluding intra-EU trade (2005)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals, textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

US 13.8%, China 13.4%, Russia 8.2%, Japan 6.2% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$11.64 trillion (2006)

Currency (code):

euro, British pound, Bulgarian lev, Czech koruna, Danish krone, Estonian kroon, Hungarian forint, Latvian lat, Lithuanian litas, Polish zloty, Romanian leu, Slovak koruna, Swedish krona

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
European Union

Telephones - main lines in use:

238 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

466 million (2005)

Telephone system:

note - see individual country entries of member states

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 930, FM 13,655, shortwave 71 (1998); note - sum of individual country radio broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide station (Euroradio)

Television broadcast stations:

2,700 (1995); note - sum of individual country television broadcast stations excluding repeaters; there is also a European-wide station (Eurovision)

Internet country code:

.eu (effective 2005); note - see country entries of member states for individual country codes

Internet hosts:

31,693 (2008); note - this sum reflects the number of internet hosts assigned the .eu internet country code

Internet users:

247 million (2006)

Transportation
European Union

Airports:

3,393 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1,991 over 3,047m: 110 2,438 to 3,047m: 347 1,524 to 2,437m: 545 914 to 1,523m: 420 under 914m: 569 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,373 over 3,047m: 2 2,438 to 3,047m: 5 1,524 to 2,437m: 30 914m to 1,523m: 267 under 914m: 1,043 (2007)

Heliports:

100 (2007)

Railways:

total: 236,436 km broad gauge: 28,250 km standard gauge: 200,401 km narrow gauge: 7,771 km other: 23 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 5,454,446 km (2008)

Waterways:

52,332 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila (Romania), Bremen
(Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Copenhagen
(Denmark), Galati (Romania), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany),
Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre
(France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Naples
(Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam
(Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia), Tulcea
(Romania), Varna (Bulgaria)

Military
European Union

Military - note:

the five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and assumed command of the ISAF in Afghanistan in August 2004; Eurocorps directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; in November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating 13 1,500-man battle groups by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis; 22 of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops; France, Italy, and the UK formed the first of three battle groups in 2005; Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland established the Nordic Battle Group effective 1 January 2008; nine other groups are to be formed; a rapid-reaction naval EU Maritime Task Group was stood up in March 2007 (2007)

Transnational Issues
European Union

Disputes - international:

as a political union, the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries, but Estonia has no land boundary agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime disputes with Morocco and with the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 22 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements or "acquis" (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; these agreements became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), and Switzerland since 2008 bringing the total current membership to 25; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in only some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; nine of the 12 new member states that joined the EU since 2004 joined Schengen on 21 December 2007; of the three remaining EU states, Cyprus is expected to join by 2009, while Romania and Bulgaria continue to enhance their border security systems

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Introduction
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Background:

Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Geography
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Location:

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates:

##### 51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,288 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Terrain:

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources:

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment - current issues:

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster

Geography - note:

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

People
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Population:

3,140 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0.011% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups:

British

Religions:

Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other 1.3% (2006 census)

Languages:

English

Literacy:

##### NA

Government
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Stanley geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends third Sunday in April

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution:

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Legal system:

English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006); Chief Executive Dr. Tim THOROGOOD (since 3 January 2008) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats; 2 members are ex officio and 8 are elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders:

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Falkland Islands Association (supports freedom of the people from external causes)

International organization participation:

##### UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Economy - overview:

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date, no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$75 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 95% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

1,724 (est.) (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) industry and services: 5% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

full employment; labor shortage (2001)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million (FY98/99 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (1998)

Agriculture - products:

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

Industries:

fish and wool processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

16 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

14.88 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

252.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

248.9 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$125 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

wool, hides, meat, fish, squid

Exports - partners:

Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5% (2006)

Imports:

$90 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners:

UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands 8.5% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$0 (1997 est.)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Falkland pound (FKP)

Currency code:

##### FKP

Exchange rates:

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Communications
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service) (2006)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to members of UK Forces as well as islanders); cable television is available in Stanley (2006)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.fk

Internet hosts:

91 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

1,900 (2002)

Transportation
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Airports:

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Stanley

Military
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Disputes - international:

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Faroe Islands

Introduction
Faroe Islands

Background:

The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self government was attained in 1948.

Geography
Faroe Islands

Location:

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and Norway

Geographic coordinates:

##### 62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Area - comparative:

eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,117 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate:

mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Terrain:

rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources:

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use:

arable land: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution

Geography - note:

archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

People
Faroe Islands

Population:

48,668 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.9% (male 5,489/female 5,166) 15-64 years: 64% (male 16,650/female 14,482) 65 years and over: 14.1% (male 3,233/female 3,648) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.7 years male: 36 years female: 37.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.376% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

13.25 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.29 years male: 76.86 years female: 81.89 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese

Ethnic groups:

Scandinavian

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 administrative data)

Languages:

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Literacy:

NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

Government
Faroe Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar

Dependency status:

##### part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Torshavn geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 34 municipalities

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

National holiday:

Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July

Constitution:

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 24 September 2008) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012) election results: Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 21%, Social Democratic Party 19.4%, Republican Party 23.3%, People's Party 20.1%, Center Party 8.4%, Self-Government Party 7.2%, other 0.6%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 6, People's Party 7, Center Party 3, Independence Party 2 note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1

Judicial branch:

none

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD];
People's Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL];
Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo
JOHANNESEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sea Shepard [Paul WATSON] (preservation of small whales) other: conservationists

International organization participation:

Arctic Council, FAO, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy
Faroe Islands

Economy - overview:

The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. Since 2003 the Faroese economy has picked up as a result of higher prices for fish and for housing. Unemployment is minimal and government finances are relatively sound. Oil finds close to the Islands give hope for economically recoverable deposits, which could eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (about 15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.7 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)

Labor force:

24,250 (October 2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 33% industry: 33% services: 34% (October 2000)

Unemployment rate:

2.1% (2006)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $588 million expenditures: $623 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Industries:

fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

295 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

274.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,628 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,636 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$634 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Exports - partners:

Denmark 29.6%, UK 24.5%, Norway 13.3%, Nigeria 10.5%, Netherlands 6.8% (2007)

Imports:

$751 million c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt (1999)

Imports - partners:

Denmark 51.9%, Norway 21.6%, Sweden 5%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$105 million; note - annual subsidy from Denmark (2005)

Debt - external:

$64 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:

##### DKK

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Communications
Faroe Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

50,000 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

26,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 43 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

15,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.fo

Internet hosts:

8,516 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

34,000 (2006)

Transportation
Faroe Islands

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 463 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 12 by type: cargo 9, passenger/cargo 3 foreign-owned: 5 (Iceland 1, Norway 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Torshavn, Vagur

Military
Faroe Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,725 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,735 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 400 female: 387 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues
Faroe Islands

Disputes - international:

because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Fiji

Introduction
Fiji

Background:

Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was appointed interim prime minister.

Geography
Fiji

Location:

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 18,270 sq km land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,129 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added

Climate:

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Natural resources:

timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 10.95% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.4% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

28.6 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%) per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited

People
Fiji

Population:

931,741 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.6% (male 145,430/female 139,498) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 302,460/female 301,344) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 19,413/female 23,596) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.2 years male: 24.7 years female: 25.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.388% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.44 years male: 67.9 years female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups:

Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),
Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific
Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)

Religions:

Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%), Hindu 34% (Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%), Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%. other 2.8%), other or unspecified 5.6%, none 0.3% (1996 census)

Languages:

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.7% male: 95.5% female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

6.5% of GDP (2004)

Government
Fiji

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands conventional short form: Fiji local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti local short form: Fiji/Viti

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Suva (on Viti Levu) geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence:

10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Constitution:

enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

Legal system:

based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000); note - ILOILOVATU was reaffirmed as president by the Great Council of Chiefs in a statement issued on 22 December, and reappointed by the coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA in January 2007 head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime minister, he has been confined to his home island; the president appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under the military regime cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006 election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 6-13 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 44.6%, FLP 39.2%, UPP 0.8%, independents 4.9%, other 10.5%; seats by party - SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni
RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor
Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP
(became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP;
Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR;
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or
POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL
[Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for restoration of a democratic government); Viti Landowners Association

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - Penijamini R. LOMALOMA (Charge d'Affaires) chancery: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320 FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador C. Steven McGANN embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: [679] 331-4466 FAX: [679] 330-0081

Flag description:

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Economy
Fiji

Economy - overview:

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to 500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. The coup has created a difficult business climate. Tourist arrivals for 2007 are estimated to be down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector. In July 2007 the Reserve Bank of Fiji announced the economy was expected to contract by 3.1% in 2007. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased significantly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.079 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.409 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-4.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.9% industry: 13.5% services: 77.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

117,500 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 70% industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.6% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

##### 25.5% (FY90/91)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $1.363 billion expenditures: $1.376 billion (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.8% (2007)

Central bank discount rate:

9.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.01% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.088 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.948 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Industries:

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

928 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.016 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 18.5% hydro: 81.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

9,971 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2,848 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

10,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$507 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports - partners:

US 17.3%, UK 11.3%, Australia 10%, Samoa 5.4%, Tonga 4.7%, NZ 4.5%,
Japan 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$3.12 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Singapore 30.4%, Australia 21.6%, NZ 17.7%, China 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$63.96 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$127 million (2004 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$586.7 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code:

##### FJD

Exchange rates:

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)

Communications
Fiji

Telephones - main lines in use:

108,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

437,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is about 60 per 100 persons international: country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

541,476 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

##### NA

Televisions:

88,110 (1999)

Internet country code:

.fj

Internet hosts:

12,592 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

80,000 (2006)

Transportation
Fiji

Airports:

28 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Railways:

total: 597 km narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (2000)

Waterways:

203 km note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 9 by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Lautoka, Suva

Military
Fiji

Military branches:

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 45 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 242,567 females age 16-49: 238,556 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 189,282 females age 16-49: 202,350 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 9,077 female: 8,728 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Fiji

Disputes - international:

none

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Fiji is a source country for children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and a destination country for a small number of women from China and India trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Fiji does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government has demonstrated no action to investigate or prosecute traffickers, assist victims, take steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts, or support any anti-trafficking information or education campaigns; Fiji has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Finland

Introduction
Finland

Background:

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Geography
Finland

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 64 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 338,145 sq km land: 304,473 sq km water: 33,672 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 2,654 km border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,313 km

Coastline:

1,250 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain:

mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

Natural resources:

timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 6.54% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 93.44% (2005)

Irrigated land:

640 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

110 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%) per capita: 444 cu m/yr (1999)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

People
Finland

Population:

5,244,749 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 443,738/female 427,875) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,232/female 1,731,808) 65 years and over: 16.6% (male 349,826/female 518,270) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.8 years male: 40.3 years female: 43.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.112% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.82 years male: 75.31 years female: 82.46 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish

Ethnic groups:

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)

Religions:

Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other
Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)

Languages:

Finnish 91.5% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3% (small
Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2006)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Finland

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland local short form: Suomi/Finland

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Helsinki geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani (Southern Finland), Ita-Suomen Laani (Eastern Finland), Lansi-Suomen Laani (Western Finland), Lappi (Lapland), Oulun Laani

Independence:

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution:

1 March 2000

Legal system:

civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17 April 2007 election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA (VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN reelected prime minister; election results 121-71 note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 March 2007 (next to be held March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%, SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%, other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR 15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance
or VAS [Martti KORHONEN] (composed of People's Democratic League and
Democratic Alternative); National Coalition (conservative) Party or
Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero
HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]; True
Finns [Timo SOINI]

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara BARRETT embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: [358] (9) 616250 FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800

Flag description:

white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy
Finland

Economy - overview:

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important; exports equal nearly two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. High unemployment remains a persistent problem. In 2007 Russia announced plans to impose high tariffs on raw timber exported to Finland. The Finnish pulp and paper industry will be threatened if these duties are put into place in 2008 and 2009, and the matter is now being handled by the European Union.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$188.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$245 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$36,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.1% industry: 32.6% services: 64.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.675 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and forestry 4.4%, industry 18.6%, construction 6%, commerce 16.3%, finance, insurance, and business services 13.9%, transport and communications 7.6%, public services 33.2% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

6.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 22.6% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $62.02 billion expenditures: $58.16 billion (2007)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

35.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.62% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$240.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Industries:

metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Industrial production growth rate:

8.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

77.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

86.04 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.86 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

15.42 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 39% hydro: 18.7% nuclear: 30.4% other: 11.8% (2001)

Oil - production:

8,951 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

228,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

126,300 bbl/day (January-September 2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

281,300 bbl/day (January-September 2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.581 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.576 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance:

$11.4 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$89.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp

Exports - partners:

Germany 10.9%, Sweden 10.7%, Russia 10.3%, US 6.4%, UK 5.8%,
Netherlands 5.6% (2007)

Imports:

$78.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains

Imports - partners:

Germany 15.8%, Russia 14%, Sweden 13.7%, Netherlands 6.8%, China 5.5%, UK 4.9% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.023 billion (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$8.385 billion (2007)

Debt - external:

$271.2 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$85.24 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$113 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.095 trillion (January 2008)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Finland

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.74 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.08 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with excellent service domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs international: country code - 358; submarine cables provide links to Estonia and Sweden; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

7.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999); note - On 1 September 2007, Finland became one of the first countries in the world to broadcast all television signals digitally

Televisions:

3.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax

Internet hosts:

3.877 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2002)

Internet users:

3.6 million (2007)

Transportation
Finland

Airports:

148 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 76 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 72 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 68 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 694 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 5,741 km broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 78,821 km paved: 50,854 km (includes 700 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,967 km (2008)

Waterways:

7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 98 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 28, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: 8 (Estonia 2, Germany 1, Norway 3, Sweden 2) registered in other countries: 47 (Bahamas 9, Germany 4, Gibraltar 3, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sweden 12, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Raahe, Rauma, Turku

Military
Finland

Military branches:

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense
Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory national military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,169,910 females age 16-49: 1,121,187 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 965,131 females age 16-49: 923,224 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 34,152 female: 32,870 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Finland

Disputes - international:

various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@France

Introduction
France

Background:

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.

Geography
France

Location:

metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and
English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK;
bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references:

metropolitan France: Europe
French Guiana: South America
Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean
Reunion: World

Area:

total: 643,427 sq km; 547,030 sq km (metropolitan France) land: 640,053 sq km; 545,630 sq km (metropolitan France) water: 3,374 sq km; 1,400 sq km (metropolitan France) note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion

Area - comparative:

slightly less than the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

metropolitan France - total: 2,889 km border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km French Guiana - total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline:

total: 4,668 km metropolitan France: 3,427 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean) continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)

Terrain:

metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Natural resources:

metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay

Land use:

arable land: 33.46% permanent crops: 2.03% other: 64.51% note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%, other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe - arable land 11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%; Martinique - arable land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%; Reunion - arable land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2005)

Irrigated land:

total: 26,190 sq km; metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

189 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 33.16 cu km/yr (16%/74%/10%) per capita: 548 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones), flooding, volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

Environment - current issues:

some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest West European nation

People
France

Population:

total: 64,057,792 note: 62,150,775 in metropolitan France (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,091,571/female 5,803,127) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 20,884,919/female 20,849,988) 65 years and over: 16.3% (male 4,335,996/female 6,092,189) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.2 years male: 37.7 years female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.574% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.48 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.87 years male: 77.68 years female: 84.23 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

120,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French

Ethnic groups:

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese,
Basque minorities
overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese,
Amerindian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,
unaffiliated 4%
overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,
Buddhist, pagan

Languages:

French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) overseas departments: French, Creole patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.7% of GDP (2005)

Government
France

Country name:

conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique francaise local short form: France

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Paris geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas departments, collectivities, or territories

Administrative divisions:

26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Martinique, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion, Rhone-Alpes note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseas regions (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4 overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)

Dependent areas:

Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Wallis and Futuna note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since 1999, a unique status falling between that of an independent country and a French overseas department

Independence:

486 (Frankish tribes unified); 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire)

National holiday:

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)

Constitution:

adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958 note: amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1997 Amsterdam Treaty, 2003 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term; amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional treaty compatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that the decision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by referendum

Legal system:

civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held 22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held spring 2012); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president election results: Nicolas SARKOZY wins the election; First Round: percent of vote - Nicolas SARKOZY 31.18%, Segolene ROYAL 25.87%, Francois BAYROU 18.57%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.44%, others 13.94%; Second Round: SARKOZY 53.1% and ROYAL 46.9%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (331 seats, 305 for metropolitan France, 9 for overseas departments, 5 for dependencies, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third elected every three years); note - between 2006 and 2011, 15 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 348 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; starting in 2008, members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms, with one-half elected every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats, 555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for dependencies; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008); National Assembly - last held 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held in June 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF (now MoDem) 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - UMP 46.37%, PS 42.25%, miscellaneous left wing parties 2.47%, PCF 2.28%, NC 2.12%, PRG 1.65%, miscellaneous right wing parties 1.17%, the Greens 0.45, other 1.24%; seats by party - UMP 313, PS 186, NC 22, miscellaneous left wing parties 15, PCF 15, miscellaneous right wing parties 9, PRG 7, the Greens 4, other 6

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for
French Democracy or UDF); Democratic and Social European Rally or
RDSE [Pierre LAFFITTE] (mainly Radical Republican and Socialist
Parties, and PRG); French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George
BUFFET]; Greens [Cecile DUFLOT]; Left Radical Party or PRG
[Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and
the Left Radical Movement or MRG); Movement for France or MPF
[Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN];
New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles
PASQUA]; Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean Pierre
CHEVENEMENT and Georges SARRE]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois
HOLLANDE]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Patrick DEVEDJIAN,
Jean-Claude GAUDIN, Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Pierre MEHAIGNERIE];
Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT, left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members; Confederation Generale des Cadres or CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000 members; Confederation Generale du Travail or CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000 members; Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere or FO, independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members; Mouvement des Entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000 companies as members (claimed) French Guiana: conservationists; gold mining pressure groups; hunting pressure groups Guadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement Martinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP Reunion: NA

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer),
CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ,
G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pierre VIMONT chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777 telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22 FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83 consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas

Economy
France

Economy - overview:

France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. It maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. Widespread opposition to labor reform has in recent years hampered the government's ability to revitalize the economy. In 2007, the government launched divisive labor reform efforts that will continue into 2008. France's tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly 50% of GDP in 2005). France brought the budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit for the first time in 2007 and has reduced unemployment to roughly 8%. With at least 75 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.075 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.56 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$32,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 20.6% services: 77.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

27.91 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.1% industry: 24.4% services: 71.5% (1999)

Unemployment rate:

7.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

6.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 24.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.287 trillion expenditures: $1.356 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

63.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.28% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.105 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:

machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

1.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

537.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

447.3 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

67.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

10.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 8.2% hydro: 14% nuclear: 77.1% other: 0.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

69,680 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.95 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

584,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2.465 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

119.8 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

953 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

42.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

966 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

42.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

7.277 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$31.25 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$546 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

Exports - partners:

Germany 14.9%, Spain 9.3%, Italy 8.9%, UK 8.1%, Belgium 7.3%, US 6.1%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$600.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Germany 18.9%, Belgium 11.4%, Italy 8.4%, Spain 7.1%, Netherlands 7%, UK 5.6%, US 4.4%, China 4% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $10.6 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$115.7 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.396 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$942.3 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.307 trillion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.71 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
France

Telephones - main lines in use:

35.533 million; 34.8 million (metropolitan France) (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

56.719 million; 55.358 million (metropolitan France) (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system international: country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe - 590; Martinique - 596; Reunion - 262

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

55.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

34.8 million (1997)

Internet country code:

metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re

Internet hosts:

14.256 million; 14,256,000 (metropolitan France) (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

62 (2000)

Internet users:

31.295 million; 30.838 million (metropolitan France) (2007)

Transportation
France

Airports:

476 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 292 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 97 914 to 1,523 m: 80 under 914 m: 74 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 184 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 108 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 14,665 km; oil 3,032 km; refined products 4,947 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 29,370 km standard gauge: 29,203 km 1.435-m gauge (14,778 km electrified) narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 951,500 km paved: 951,500 km (metropolitan France; includes 10,950 km of expressways) note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2006)

Waterways:

metropolitan France: 8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) French Guiana: 3,760 km (460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 138 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 32, container 25, liquefied gas 12, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 33, petroleum tanker 23, roll on/roll off 7 foreign-owned: 38 (Belgium 6, China 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Italy 2, Japan 1, NZ 1, Norway 5, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Sweden 9, Switzerland 1, Switzerland 2) registered in other countries: 127 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Australia 1, Bahamas 30, Belgium 2, Bermuda 1, Hong Kong 1, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 1, Italy 2, Liberia 5, Luxembourg 17, Malta 5, Morocco 14, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 23, Wallis and Futuna 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris,
Rouen, Strasbourg

Military
France

Military branches:

Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light
Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air), Air Force
(Armee de l'Air, includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military service); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,646,427 females age 16-49: 14,379,630 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,110,718 females age 16-49: 11,849,988 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 401,379 female: 382,409 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
France

Disputes - international:

Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims
Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute
between Suriname and the French overseas department of French
Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie
Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of
New Caledonia

Illicit drugs:

metropolitan France: transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@French Polynesia

Introduction
French Polynesia

Background:

The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.

Geography
French Polynesia

Location:

Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 S, 140 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

2,525 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical, but moderate

Terrain:

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

Natural resources:

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclonic storms in January

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

People
French Polynesia

Population:

283,019 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.8% (male 35,903/female 34,364) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 100,700/female 93,492) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 9,374/female 9,186) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.7 years male: 29 years female: 28.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.425% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.16 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.51 years male: 74.07 years female: 79.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

Religions:

Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%

Languages:

French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)

Education expenditures:

( )

Government
French Polynesia

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise former: French Colony of Oceania

Dependency status:

overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Papeete geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent

Independence:

none (overseas lands of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe COLRAT (since 7 July 2008) head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG (since 15 April 2008); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10 February 2008 (second round) (next to be held NA 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance 45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27, Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held in September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or
Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or
Tribunal Administratif

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip
SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is
Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini
Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile
VERNAUDON]; Our Home alliance; People's Rally for the Republic of
Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Union for
Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

FZ, ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas lands of France)

Flag description:

two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

Government - note:

under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister

Economy
French Polynesia

Economy - overview:

Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.58 billion (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.8 billion (2002)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2002)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$17,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.1% industry: 19% services: 77.8% (2005)

Labor force:

65,930 (December 2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

11.7% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $865 million expenditures: $644.1 million (1999)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products

Industries:

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

475 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

441.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60.7% hydro: 39.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,082 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

6,271 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$211 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat

Exports - partners:

France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5% (2006)

Imports:

$1.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:

France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$579.8 million (2004)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:

##### XPF

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003) note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro

Communications
French Polynesia

Telephones - main lines in use:

53,600 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

174,800 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

128,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

40,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pf

Internet hosts:

14,070 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

75,000 (2007)

Transportation
French Polynesia

Airports:

54 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 37 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)

Merchant marine:

total: 15 by type: cargo 6, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Papeete

Military
French Polynesia

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 79,540 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 64,287 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,699 female: 2,589 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
French Polynesia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Introduction
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Background:

In February 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion, which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840. Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use. Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived. Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau, Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the east), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in 1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they became part of the TAAF in 1955. Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, is made up of one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais. Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency. Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station. Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

Geography
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Location:

southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Geographic coordinates:

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E
Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E
Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region, Africa

Area:

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 sq km;
land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 sq km;
land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Iles Crozet: total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0
sq km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km;
water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq
km; water - 0 sq km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Area - comparative:

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half
the size of Washington, DC
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC
Iles Kerguelen: a little larger than Delaware
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size
of The Mall in Washington, DC
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of
Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of The
Mall in Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 28 km
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul):
Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22.2 km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 24.1 km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 3.7 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly
winds and high humidity
Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy
Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy
Iles Eparses: tropical

Terrain:

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of rugged terrain of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with a number of peninsulas stretching off its coasts Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m; unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1,090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m

Natural resources:

fish, crayfish note: Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts

Land use:

Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% trees, grasses, ferns, and moss; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% grass, ferns, and moss; Iles Crozet - 100% tossock grass, heath, and fern; Iles Kerguelen - 100% tossock grass and Kerguelen cabbage; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses) - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) - 100% lush vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) - 90% forest, 10% other; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% grasses and scattered brush (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs

Environment - current issues:

introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian Toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

Geography - note:

islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses): the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

People
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): has no permanent residents but has a meteorological station Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): is uninhabited but is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research cabin for short stays Iles Crozet: are uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession Iles Kerguelen: 50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): uninhabitable Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): uninhabited, except for visits by scientists

Government
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises abbreviation: TAAF

Dependency status:

overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Eric PILLOTON (since 10 April 2007)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Senior Administrator Rollon MOUCHEL-BLAISOT (16 October 2008)

International organization participation:

##### UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations, military bases, and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.

Communications
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Internet country code:

.tf

Internet hosts:

38 (2008)

Communications - note:

one or more meteorological stations on each possession; note - meteorological station on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) is important for forecasting cyclones

Transportation
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Airports:

4 (one each on Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the Iles Eparses district) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Transportation - note:

aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m (all in the Iles Eparses district)

Military
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Disputes - international:

French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the
US
Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Madagascar
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Mauritius

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Gabon

Introduction
Gabon

Background:

Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Geography
Gabon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between
Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries:

total: 2,551 km border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline:

885 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 1.21% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 98.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:

70 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

164 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%) per capita: 87 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

People
Gabon

Population:

1,485,832 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.1% (male 314,078/female 311,900) 15-64 years: 53.9% (male 399,586/female 401,602) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 24,388/female 34,278) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.954% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 52.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.52 years male: 52.5 years female: 54.57 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

8.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

48,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese

Ethnic groups:

Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

Religions:

Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%

Languages:

French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 63.2% male: 73.7% female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2000)

Government
Gabon

Country name:

conventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: Republique gabonaise local short form: Gabon

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Capital:

name: Libreville geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Independence:

17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

Constitution:

adopted 14 March 1991

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20 January 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2, independents 4, others 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];
Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes
OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE
[Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG
(former sole party) [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for
Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]; Gabonese Union for Democracy
and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of
Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or
RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; Party of Development
and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and
Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG
[Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos BOUNGOU chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eunice S. REDDICK embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171 FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Economy
Gabon

Economy - overview:

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. The devaluation of the CFA franc - its currency - by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices since 1999 have helped growth, but drops in production have hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains, and will continue to temper the gains for most of this decade. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.44 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.1% industry: 58% services: 35.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

582,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 60% industry: 15% services: 25%

Unemployment rate:

21% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.536 billion expenditures: $2.347 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

52.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.547 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$799.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$359.8 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish

Industries:

petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.671 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.365 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 34.5% hydro: 65.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

243,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

255,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,485 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

2 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.552 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$6.956 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Exports - partners:

US 32.5%, China 15.8%, France 9.4%, Malaysia 6%, Trinidad and Tobago 5% (2007)

Imports:

$2.107 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners:

France 27.7%, US 19.1%, Belgium 5.4%, Netherlands 4.7%, China 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$53.87 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.238 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

##### XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Communications
Gabon

Telephones - main lines in use:

26,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.169 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 80 per 100 persons in 2007 domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

208,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

63,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ga

Internet hosts:

88 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

145,000 (2007)

Transportation
Gabon

Airports:

53 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 384 km; oil 1,427 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 814 km standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 9,170 km paved: 937 km unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)

Waterways:

1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2007)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Port-Gentil

Military
Gabon

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 331,181 females age 16-49: 332,498 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 192,717 females age 16-49: 188,539 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 16,558 female: 16,577 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Gabon

Disputes - international:

UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination country for children trafficked from other African countries for the purpose of forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic servitude, forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street hawking and forced labor in small workshops tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders; the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Gambia, The

Introduction
Gambia, The

Background:

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.

Geography
Gambia, The

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Coastline:

80 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: extent not specified

Climate:

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Terrain:

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources:

fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

8 cu km (1982)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%) per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

People
Gambia, The

Population:

1,735,464 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.9% (male 382,385/female 378,853) 15-64 years: 53.4% (male 459,315/female 466,689) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,303/female 23,919) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.9 years male: 17.7 years female: 18 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.724% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

38.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 68.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 75.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.95 years male: 53.06 years female: 56.9 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Ethnic groups:

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)

Religions:

Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Languages:

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 47.8% female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

2% of GDP (2004)

Government
Gambia, The

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Banjul geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence:

18 February 1965 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution:

approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997

Legal system:

based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta; Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6.0%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the
ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambia People's Democratic
Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and
Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National Convention Party or
NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N.
K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and
Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]; United Democratic Party or UDP
[Ousainou DARBOE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building
Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network
Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul Rahman COLE chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Barry L. WELLS embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170 FAX: [220] 439-2475

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Economy
Gambia, The

Economy - overview:

The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource deposits and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.061 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$653 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 32.8% industry: 8.7% services: 58.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 37% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.2 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $181.1 million expenditures: $163.4 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

27.92% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$186.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$180.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$169.9 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Industrial production growth rate:

-2.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

200.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

143.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,082 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

41.62 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,123 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$71 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$88 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners:

India 37.7%, China 17.5%, UK 8.7%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$271 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners:

China 23.7%, Senegal 11.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.3%, Brazil 8%,
Netherlands 5.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$58.15 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$628.8 million (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

dalasi (GMD)

Currency code:

##### GMD

Exchange rates:

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2003)

Communications
Gambia, The

Telephones - main lines in use:

76,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

795,900 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available; two mobile-cellular service providers domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 50 telephones per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

196,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Televisions:

5,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.gm

Internet hosts:

320 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:

100,200 (2007)

Transportation
Gambia, The

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 3,742 km paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Waterways:

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 5 by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Banjul

Military
Gambia, The

Military branches:

Office of the Chief of Defense: Gambian National Army (National
Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 379,668 females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 230,202 females age 16-49: 244,480 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 19,650 female: 19,582 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Gambia, The

Disputes - international:

attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are trafficked for sexual exploitation - in particular to meet the demand for European sex tourism - and for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked within the country for forced begging and street vending; Gambian women and children may be trafficked to Europe through trafficking schemes disguised as migrant smuggling tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, The Gambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking; The Gambia failed to report any trafficking arrests, prosecutions, or convictions in 2007, and the government demonstrated weak victim protection efforts during the reporting period (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Gaza Strip

Introduction
Gaza Strip

Background:

The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of Presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.

Geography
Gaza Strip

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Israel

Geographic coordinates:

##### 31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 360 sq km land: 360 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 62 km border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline:

40 km

Maritime claims:

Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

Climate:

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain:

flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Natural resources:

arable land, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 29% permanent crops: 21% other: 50% (2002)

Irrigated land:

150 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Geography - note:

strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history

People
Gaza Strip

Population:

1,500,202 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 343,988/female 325,856) 15-64 years: 52.7% (male 403,855/female 386,681) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 16,196/female 23,626) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.2 years male: 17 years female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.422% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

37.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.16 years male: 71.6 years female: 74.83 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: NA adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Palestinian Arab

Religions:

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%

Languages:

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.4% male: 96.7% female: 88% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Gaza Strip

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Economy
Gaza Strip

Economy - overview:

High population density, limited land access, and strict internal and external security controls have kept economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority (PA)- even more degraded than in the West Bank. The beginning of the second intifada in September 2000 sparked an economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure policies; these policies, which were imposed to address security concerns in Israel, disrupted labor and trade access to and from the Gaza Strip. In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. The Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005 offered some medium-term opportunities for economic growth, but continued Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which became more restrictive after Hamas violently took over the territory in June 2007, have resulted in widespread private sector layoffs and shortages of most goods.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.034 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.328 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-8% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8% industry: 13% services: 79% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Labor force:

267,000 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 12% industry: 18% services: 70% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

34.8% (2006)

Population below poverty line:

80% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $1.149 billion expenditures: $2.31 billion note: includes West Bank (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (includes West Bank) (2006)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.73% (31 December 2006)

Stock of money:

$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.455 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Industries:

generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis had established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements

Industrial production growth rate:

2.4% (includes West Bank) (2005)

Electricity - production:

140,000 kWh (2005)

Electricity - consumption:

230,000 kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

90,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2005)

Exports:

$301 million f.o.b.; (includes West Bank) (2005)

Exports - commodities:

citrus, flowers, textiles

Exports - partners:

Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)

Imports:

$2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes West Bank) (2005)

Imports - commodities:

food, consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:

Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.4 billion; (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

new Israeli shekel (ILS)

Currency code:

##### ILS

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)

Communications
Gaza Strip

Telephones - main lines in use:

350,400 (includes West Bank) (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.026 million (includes West Bank) (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services international: country code - 970 (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 0 (2008)

Radios:

NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2008)

Televisions:

NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)

Internet country code:

.ps; note - same as West Bank

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (1999)

Internet users:

355,500 (includes West Bank) (2007)

Transportation
Gaza Strip

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

note: see entry for West Bank

Ports and terminals:

Gaza

Military
Gaza Strip

Military branches:

in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 337,670 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 291,467 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 19,275 female: 18,309 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Gaza Strip

Disputes - international:

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Georgia

Introduction
Georgia

Background:

The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August 2008 led to a Russian military response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.

Geography
Georgia

Location:

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 42 00 N, 43 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Coastline:

310 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Terrain:

largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Natural resources:

forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

Land use:

arable land: 11.51% permanent crops: 3.79% other: 84.7% (2005)

Irrigated land:

4,690 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

63.3 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%) per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them

People
Georgia

Population:

4,630,841 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 402,961/female 352,735) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,496,802/female 1,610,725) 65 years and over: 16.6% (male 307,795/female 459,823) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.3 years male: 35.8 years female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.325% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.51 years male: 73.21 years female: 80.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian

Ethnic groups:

Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)

Religions:

Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%,
Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)

Languages:

Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2006)

Government
Georgia

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: T'bilisi geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 47 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika) regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli city: Tbilisi autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Independence:

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 24 August 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Grigol MGALOBLISHVILI (since 1 November 2008); the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008 (next to be held January 2013) election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%, Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (235 seats; 150 members elected by proportional representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies, and 10 represent displaced persons from Abkhazia; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 21 May 2008 (next to be held in spring 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 59.2%, National Council-New Rights 17.7%, other parties 23.1%; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 120, National Council-New Rights 16

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts

Political parties and leaders:

Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front
[Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
[Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome ZOURABICHVILI];
Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia
(Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva
NATELASHVILI]; National Council-New Rights (a bloc uniting a
nine-party alliance with New Rights); National Democratic Party or
NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement-Democratic Front [Mikheil
SAAKASHVILI] (bloc composed of National Movement and
Burjanadze-Democrats); National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New
Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI];
Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki
ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI
and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390 FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131 mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00 FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10

Flag description:

white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century

Economy
Georgia

Economy - overview:

Georgia's economy has sustained robust GDP growth of close to 10% in 2006 and 12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government spending. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Areas of recent improvement include increasing foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services and mining sectors. Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, aircraft and chemicals. The country imports nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable hydropower capacity, a growing component of its energy supplies. Despite the severe damage the economy suffered due to civil strife in the 1990s, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia's GDP growth neared 10% in 2006 and 2007 despite restrictions on commerce with Russia. Areas of recent improvement include increased foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services, and mining sectors. In addition, the reinvigorated privatization process has met with success. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Georgia has suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, the new government is making progress and has reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on corruption. Government revenues have increased nearly four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in customs and financial (tax) enforcement, smuggling is a declining problem. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by bringing newly available natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan. It also has an increased ability to pay for more expensive gas imports from Russia. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on a determined effort to reduce regulation, taxes and corruption in order to attract foreign investment. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas, oil and other goods.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.29 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

12% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13% industry: 28.7% services: 58.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.02 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 55.6% industry: 8.9% services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13.6% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

31% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 27% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.4 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.68 billion expenditures: $3.08 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.3% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

20.41% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.154 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.379 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.374 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

Industrial production growth rate:

13.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

7.116 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.694 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

635 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

532 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 19.7% hydro: 80.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

979.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,980 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2,492 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

15,820 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

35 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

10 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.49 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$2.044 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.104 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts

Exports - partners:

Turkey 13%, US 11.2%, Azerbaijan 6.3%, UK 5.4%, Bulgaria 5.1%,
Ukraine 5%, Armenia 4.8%, Turkmenistan 4.5%, Canada 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$4.977 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

Turkey 14%, Russia 12.3%, Ukraine 8.5%, Azerbaijan 7.3%, Germany 6.8%, US 5%, Bulgaria 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $309.8 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.361 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.5 billion (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.39 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

lari (GEL)

Currency code:

##### GEL

Exchange rates:

laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003)

Communications
Georgia

Telephones - main lines in use:

544,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.4 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network has only limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country domestic: cellular telephone networks now cover the entire country; urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; rural telephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi; nationwide pager service is available international: country code - 995; the Georgia-Russia fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to Russia; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

2.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ge

Internet hosts:

27,905 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

360,000 (2007)

Transportation
Georgia

Airports:

23 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 19 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,591 km; oil 1,253 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,612 km broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified) narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 20,329 km paved: 7,854 km (includes 13 km of expressways) unpaved: 12,475 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 191 by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 148, carrier 2, chemical tanker 1, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: 153 (China 10, Cyprus 1, Egypt 12, Germany 2, Greece 5, Hong Kong 2, Israel 2, Lebanon 4, Monaco 4, Nigeria 1, Romania 16, Russia 12, Syria 49, Turkey 14, Ukraine 18, UAE 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Transportation - note:

large parts of transportation network are in poor condition because of lack of maintenance and repair

Military
Georgia

Military branches:

Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy (includes coast guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,113,251 females age 16-49: 1,168,021 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 910,720 females age 16-49: 967,566 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 35,917 female: 34,566 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.59% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military - note:

a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia

Transnational Issues
Georgia

Disputes - international:

Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,100 (Russia) IDPs: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Germany

Introduction
Germany

Background:

As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation, Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

Geography
Germany

Location:

Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Geographic coordinates:

##### 51 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 357,021 sq km land: 349,223 sq km water: 7,798 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 3,621 km border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline:

2,389 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind

Terrain:

lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m

Natural resources:

coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.13% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 66.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

4,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

188 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 38.01 cu km/yr (12%/68%/20%) per capita: 460 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

People
Germany

Population:

82,369,552 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 5,826,066/female 5,524,568) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 27,763,917/female 26,739,934) 65 years and over: 20% (male 6,892,743/female 9,622,320) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 43.4 years male: 42.2 years female: 44.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.044% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.1 years male: 76.11 years female: 82.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

43,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: German(s) adjective: German

Ethnic groups:

German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek,
Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)

Religions:

Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Languages:

German

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2004)

People - note:

second most populous country in Europe after Russia

Government
Germany

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Berlin geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen, and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat)

Independence:

18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991

National holiday:

Unity Day, 3 October (1990)

Constitution:

23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united Germany 3 October 1990

Legal system:

civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004) head of government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005) cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next scheduled for 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; Bundestag vote for Chancellor last held 22 November 2005 (next will follow the national elections to be held by autumn 2009) election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604 votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN; Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to 202 with 12 abstentions

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (614 seats; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain proportional representation and caucus recognition; to serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has three to six votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block) elections: Bundestag - last held on 18 September 2005 (next to be held no later than autumn 2009); note - there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election election results: Bundestag - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU 35.2%, SPD 34.3%, FDP 9.8%, Left 8.7%, Greens 8.1%, other 3.9%; seats by party - CDU/CSU 225, SPD 222, FDP 61, Left 53, Greens 51, independents 2

Judicial branch:

Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance '90/Greens [Claudia ROTH and Cem OEZDEMIR]; Christian
Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social Union or
CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Guido
WESTERWELLE]; Left Party or Die Linke [Lothar BISKY and Oskar
LAFONTAINE]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Franz MUENTEFERING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: business associations and employers' organizations; religious, trade unions, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS,
CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Klaus SCHARIOTH chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000 FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William R. TIMKEN, Jr. embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin; note - new embassy opened 4 July 2008 mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265, clayallee 170, 14195 Berlin telephone: [49] (030) 2385174 FAX: [49] (030) 8305-1215 consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

Economy
Germany

Economy - overview:

Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy - the fifth largest in the world in PPP terms - showed considerable improvement in 2007 with 2.6% growth. After a long period of stagnation with an average growth rate of 0.7% between 2001-05 and chronically high unemployment, stronger growth led to a considerable fall in unemployment to about 8% near the end of 2007. Among the most important reasons for Germany's high unemployment during the past decade were macroeconomic stagnation, the declining level of investment in plant and equipment, company restructuring, flat domestic consumption, structural rigidities in the labor market, lack of competition in the service sector, and high interest rates. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $80 billion. The former government of Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER launched a comprehensive set of reforms of labor market and welfare-related institutions. The current government of Chancellor Angela MERKEL has initiated other reform measures, such as a gradual increase in the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 67 and measures to increase female participation in the labor market. Germany's aging population, combined with high chronic unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions, but higher government revenues from the cyclical upturn in 2006-07 and a 3% rise in the value-added tax pushed Germany's budget deficit well below the EU's 3% debt limit. Corporate restructuring and growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could help Germany meet the long-term challenges of European economic integration and globalization, although some economists continue to argue the need for change in inflexible labor and services markets. Growth may fall below 2% in 2008 as the strong euro, high oil prices, tighter credit markets, and slowing growth abroad take their toll.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.807 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.322 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$34,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 30.1% services: 69% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

43.54 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.8% industry: 33.4% services: 63.8% (1999)

Unemployment rate:

9% note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

11% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 22.1% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.454 trillion expenditures: $1.453 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

64.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.96% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.081 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries:

among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

594.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

549.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

62.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

46.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 61.8% hydro: 4.2% nuclear: 29.9% other: 4.1% (2001)

Oil - production:

148,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.456 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

563,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

3.026 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

367 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

17.96 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

97.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

12.22 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

88.35 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

254.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$254.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.354 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners:

France 9.7%, US 7.5%, UK 7.3%, Italy 6.7%, Netherlands 6.4%, Austria 5.4%, Belgium 5.3%, Spain 5% (2007)

Imports:

$1.075 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Imports - partners:

Netherlands 12%, France 8.6%, Belgium 7.8%, China 6.2%, Italy 5.8%,
UK 5.6%, US 4.5%, Austria 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $10.44 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$136.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.489 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$855.8 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.218 trillion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.221 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Germany

Telephones - main lines in use:

53.75 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

97.151 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back to World War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part domestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries international: country code - 49; Germany's international service is excellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cable facilities as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

77.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

51.4 million (1998)

Internet country code:

.de

Internet hosts:

22.606 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

200 (2001)

Internet users:

42.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Germany

Airports:

550 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 331 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 52 1,524 to 2,437 m: 58 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 135 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 219 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 181 (2007)

Heliports:

28 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 37 km; gas 25,094 km; oil 3,546 km; refined products 3,828 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 48,215 km standard gauge: 47,962 km 1.435-m gauge (20,278 km electrified) narrow gauge: 229 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 644,480 km paved: 644,480 km (includes 12,400 km of expressways) note: includes local roads (2006)

Waterways:

7,467 km note: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 393 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 43, chemical tanker 13, container 284, liquefied gas 5, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 11 (China 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Finland 4, Netherlands 1, Sweden 1) registered in other countries: 2,998 (Antigua and Barbuda 941, Australia 2, Bahamas 44, Bermuda 22, Brazil 6, Bulgaria 63, Burma 1, Canada 3, Cayman Islands 15, Cyprus 189, Denmark 9, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 1, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 129, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 56, Jamaica 4, Liberia 849, Luxembourg 5, Malaysia 1, Malta 91, Marshall Islands 235, Mongolia 4, Morocco 2, Netherlands 75, Netherlands Antilles 43, Norway 1, NZ 1, Panama 44, Portugal 2, Portugal 18, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 24, Slovakia 3, Spain 1, Spain 4, Sri Lanka 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 1, UK 76, US 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bremen, Bremerhaven, Duisburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Lubeck, Rostock,
Wilhemshaven

Military
Germany

Military branches:

Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche
Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Central
Medical Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (conscripts serve a 9-month tour of compulsory military service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 19,594,118 females age 16-49: 18,543,955 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,906,930 females age 16-49: 15,051,183 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 442,972 female: 420,801 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Germany

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Ghana

Introduction
Ghana

Background:

Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. Kufuor is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in upcoming Presidential elections, which are scheduled for December 2008.

Geography
Ghana

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 239,460 sq km land: 230,940 sq km water: 8,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,094 km border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline:

539 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain:

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources:

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 17.54% permanent crops: 9.22% other: 73.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:

310 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

53.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%) per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment - current issues:

recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

People
Ghana

Population:

23,382,848 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.8% (male 4,470,382/female 4,360,359) 15-64 years: 58.7% (male 6,852,363/female 6,866,470) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 386,150/female 447,124) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.4 years male: 20.2 years female: 20.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.928% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

29.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 52.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 56.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 47.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 59.49 years male: 58.65 years female: 60.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

350,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

30,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Ethnic groups:

Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.9% male: 66.4% female: 49.8% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

5.4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Ghana

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Independence:

6 March 1957 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Constitution:

approved 28 April 1992

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held 7 December 2008) election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 52.4%, John ATTA-MILLS 44.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held 7 December 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPP 128, NDC 94, PNC 4, CPP 3, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic Freedom
Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian Living
Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan
LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI];
New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's National
Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie
OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or CJA (education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (water rights); Public Citizen (water rights); Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform); Third World Network (education reform)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Kwame BAWUAH-EDUSEI chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 741-000 FAX: [233] (21) 741-389

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Economy
Ghana

Economy - overview:

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold and cocoa production, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. Thematic priorities under its current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which also provides the framework for development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability; private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2007. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$31.13 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.86 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 37.3% industry: 25.3% services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

11.29 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28.5% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.4 (2005-06)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.262 billion expenditures: $5.481 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

58.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

13.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$2.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.174 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.173 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Industries:

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Industrial production growth rate:

7.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.204 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

755 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

629 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 5% hydro: 95% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

7,571 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

49,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

5,709 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

45,520 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.549 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.162 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 11%, UK 9%, France 6.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.6%, Belgium 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$8.053 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Nigeria 15.1%, China 14.9%, UK 5.2%, US 5.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.316 billion in loans and grants (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.204 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$13.01 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

Ghana cedi (GHC)

Currency code:

##### GHC

Exchange rates:

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003) note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis

Communications
Ghana

Telephones - main lines in use:

376,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.604 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with subscribership about 35 per 100 persons and rising domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)

Radios:

12.5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (2007)

Televisions:

1.9 million (2001)

Internet country code:

.gh

Internet hosts:

24,018 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

12 (2000)

Internet users:

650,000 (2007)

Transportation
Ghana

Airports:

12 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 13 km; refined products 316 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 953 km narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 62,221 km paved: 9,955 km unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,293 km note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 4 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Tema

Military
Ghana

Military branches:

Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,802,096 females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,737,481 females age 16-49: 3,729,699 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 273,265 female: 267,204 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Ghana

Disputes - international:

Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Gibraltar

Introduction
Gibraltar

Background:

Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Geography
Gibraltar

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates:

##### 36 08 N, 5 21 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Coastline:

12 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain:

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Geography - note:

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People
Gibraltar

Population:

28,002 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,426/female 2,309) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 9,507/female 9,153) 65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,103/female 2,504) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.3 years male: 39.8 years female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.125% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.06 years male: 77.17 years female: 83.09 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic groups:

Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North
Africans

Religions:

Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: above 80% male: NA female: NA

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Gibraltar

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Gibraltar geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain

Constitution:

5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's
Association

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Economy
Gibraltar

Economy - overview:

Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.066 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.066 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: negligible industry: 40% services: 60% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

3% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $455.1 million expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

142 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

142 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

22,620 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

25,080 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%

Exports - partners:

UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%,
Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2006)

Imports:

$2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%,
Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Gibraltar pound (GIP)

Currency code:

##### GIP

Exchange rates:

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Communications
Gibraltar

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,512 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9,797 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

37,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gi

Internet hosts:

1,904 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

6,200 (2002)

Transportation
Gibraltar

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 29 km paved: 29 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 240 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3, Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway 33, Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2) registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Gibraltar

Military
Gibraltar

Military branches:

Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,244 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 190 female: 185 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992

Transnational Issues
Gibraltar

Disputes - international:

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Greece

Introduction
Greece

Background:

Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001.

Geography
Greece

Location:

Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

##### 39 00 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries:

total: 1,228 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km

Coastline:

13,676 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources:

lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 20.45% permanent crops: 8.59% other: 70.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,530 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

72 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%) per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Geography - note:

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

People
Greece

Population:

10,722,816 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.3% (male 789,137/female 742,469) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,101/female 3,575,572) 65 years and over: 19.1% (male 898,337/female 1,149,200) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.5 years male: 40.4 years female: 42.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.146% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.52 years male: 76.98 years female: 82.21 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek

Ethnic groups:

population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census) note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Languages:

Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97.8% female: 94.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Greece

Country name:

conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Athens geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*;
Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis,
Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos,
Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis,
Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria,
Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades,
Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella,
Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia,
Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

Independence:

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Constitution:

11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

Legal system:

based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos (Kostas) KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: elections last held 16 September 2007 (next to be held by 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - ND 41.8%, PASOK 38.1%, KKE 8.2%, Synaspismos 5%, LAOS 3.8%, other 3.1%; seats by party - ND 152, PASOK 102, KKE 22, Synaspismos 14, LAOS 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Political parties and leaders:

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS];
Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or
ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist
Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or
LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS];
Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS];
General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros P. MALLIAS chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tampa consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Flag description:

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Economy
Greece

Economy - overview:

Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP at least 75% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by nearly 4.0% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has sustained record levels of consumer spending. Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criteria in 2007. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average, but are falling. The Greek Government continues to grapple with cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems, in the face of often vocal opposition from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. The economy remains an important domestic political issue in Greece and, while the ruling New Democracy government has had some success in improving economic growth and reducing the budget deficit, Athens faces long-term challenges in its effort to continue its economic reforms, especially social security reform and privatization.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$327.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$314.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 24.5% services: 71.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.92 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 12% industry: 20% services: 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $115.2 billion expenditures: $124.1 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

89.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.71% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$392.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries:

tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate:

2.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

59.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

55.98 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

269 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

5.894 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 94.5% hydro: 3.8% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

4,265 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

441,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

125,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

527,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

10 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

24 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.069 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.982 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$44.4 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$23.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles

Exports - partners:

Germany 11.6%, Italy 10.8%, Cyprus 6.6%, Bulgaria 6.5%, UK 5.5%,
Romania 4.5%, France 4.2%, US 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$80.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Germany 12.9%, Italy 11.7%, Russia 5.6%, France 5.6%, China 5%,
Netherlands 5% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

$424 million (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$8 billion annually from EU (2000-06); Greece will receive about $3.8 billion per year between 2007-13 under the EU's Community Support Funds IV

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.658 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$86.72 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$52.84 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$30.8 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$145 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Greece

Telephones - main lines in use:

6.227 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.997 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

5.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

36 (plus 1,341 repeaters); also 2 stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Televisions:

2.54 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.gr

Internet hosts:

1.626 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

27 (2000)

Internet users:

2.54 million (2007)

Transportation
Greece

Airports:

81 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 66 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Heliports:

9 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,571 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified) narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 117,533 km paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)

Waterways:

6 km note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 869 by type: bulk carrier 260, cargo 66, carrier 1, chemical tanker 66, combination ore/oil 2, container 45, liquefied gas 10, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 115, petroleum tanker 274, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 64 (Belgium 16, Cyprus 7, Turkey 1, UK 32, US 8) registered in other countries: 2,357 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Bahamas 209, Barbados 12, Belize 1, Bermuda 9, Brazil 1, Cambodia 3, Cayman Islands 16, China 2, Comoros 6, Cyprus 259, Denmark 4, Dominica 10, Egypt 8, Georgia 5, Gibraltar 6, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 22, Isle of Man 50, Italy 6, Jamaica 6, North Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Liberia 358, Maldives 1, Malta 452, Marshall Islands 269, Norway 3, Panama 510, Philippines 4, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 71, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 15, Slovakia 2, Turkey 1, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 3, unknown 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Military
Greece

Military branches:

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos
Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki
Aeroporia, EPA) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,535,174 females age 16-49: 2,517,273 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,084,469 females age 16-49: 2,065,956 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 53,858 female: 50,488 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Greece

Disputes - international:

Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex
maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;
Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed
Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly
Greece and Italy

Illicit drugs:

a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Greenland

Introduction
Greenland

Background:

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Geography
Greenland

Location:

Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Geographic coordinates:

##### 72 00 N, 40 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 2,166,086 sq km land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 est.)

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

44,087 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate:

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain:

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Environment - current issues:

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Geography - note:

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

People
Greenland

Population:

57,564 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.5% (male 6,867/female 6,634) 15-64 years: 69.9% (male 21,683/female 18,575) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,892/female 1,913) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.5 years male: 34.9 years female: 31.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.064% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.46 years male: 66.81 years female: 72.25 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100 (1999)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups:

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (2000)

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran

Languages:

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2001 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Greenland

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Dependency status:

##### part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Government type:

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Nuuk (Godthab) geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Greenland is divided into four time zones

Administrative divisions:

3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland) note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Independence:

none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

National holiday:

June 21 (longest day)

Constitution:

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002) cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election results: Hans ENOKSEN reelected prime minister note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 15 November 2005 (next to be held by December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.7%, Demokratiit 22.8%, IA 22.6%, Atassut Party 19.1%; Katusseqatigiit 4.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Demokratiit 7, IA 7, Atassut 6, Katusseqatigiit 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1

Judicial branch:

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or
Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)

Political parties and leaders:

Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Finn KARLSEN] (a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood) [Josef MOTZFELDT] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: conservationists; environmentalists

International organization participation:

Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Economy
Greenland

Economy - overview:

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are ongoing. Press reports in early 2007 indicated that two international aluminum companies were considering building smelters in Greenland to take advantage of local hydropower potential. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. Air Greenland began summer-season direct flights to the US east coast in May 2007, potentially opening a major new tourism market.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.7 billion (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$20,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

32,120 (2004)

Unemployment rate:

9.3% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $1.36 billion expenditures: $1.27 billion (2005)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Industries:

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

305 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

283.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil fuel to hydropower production (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,927 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

149.5 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,089 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$480 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%) (2001 est.)

Exports - partners:

Denmark 61.8%, Japan 9.9%, Canada 7.3%, China 5.8% (2007)

Imports:

$712 million c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Denmark 68.1%, Sweden 19.3%, Canada 2.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$512 million; note - subsidy from Denmark (2005)

Debt - external:

$25 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:

##### DKK

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Communications
Greenland

Telephones - main lines in use:

36,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

66,400 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

30,000 (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

Televisions:

30,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code:

.gl

Internet hosts:

14,132 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

52,000 (2007)

Transportation
Greenland

Airports:

14 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Sisimiut

Military
Greenland

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,221 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,739 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 534 female: 503 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues
Greenland

Disputes - international:

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Grenada

Introduction
Grenada

Background:

Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.

Geography
Grenada

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 07 N, 61 40 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 344 sq km land: 344 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

121 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

volcanic in origin with central mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Natural resources:

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use:

arable land: 5.88% permanent crops: 29.41% other: 64.71% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

People
Grenada

Population:

90,343 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.4% (male 14,725/female 14,524) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 30,911/female 27,502) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,310/female 1,371) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.4 years male: 22.9 years female: 21.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.406% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.6 years male: 63.74 years female: 67.47 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian

Ethnic groups:

black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: NA female: NA (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (2003)

Government
Grenada

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Saint George's geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence:

7 February 1974 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Constitution:

19 December 1973

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27 November 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 10 appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 8 July 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 11, NNP 4

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice (a High Court judge is assigned to and resides in Grenada)

Political parties and leaders:

Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National
Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or
NNP [Keith MITCHELL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel Movement Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The New Jewel 19 Committee

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1177 FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Flag description:

a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

Economy
Grenada

Economy - overview:

Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange, especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output. Grenada has rebounded from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005), but is now saddled with the debt burden from the rebuilding process. The agricultural sector, particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation, has gradually recovered, and the tourism sector has seen substantial increases in foreign direct investment as the regional share of the tourism market increases.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.108 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$590 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.4% industry: 18% services: 76.6% (2003)

Labor force:

42,300 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 24% industry: 14% services: 62% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.5% (2000)

Population below poverty line:

32% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $85.8 million expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.76% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$151.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$533.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$575.8 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Industries:

food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

167.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

144.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,043 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,844 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$138 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$38 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Exports - partners:

Jamaica 92.8%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, US 1.2% (2007)

Imports:

$343 million (2006)

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 36.5%, US 23.3%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$44.87 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$347 million (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Communications
Grenada

Telephones - main lines in use:

27,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

46,200 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

57,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

33,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gd

Internet hosts:

9 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:

23,000 (2007)

Transportation
Grenada

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,127 km paved: 687 km unpaved: 440 km (2000)

Ports and terminals:

Saint George's

Military
Grenada

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 27,309 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,249 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,034 female: 970 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Grenada

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Guam

Introduction
Guam

Background:

Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

Geography
Guam

Location:

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 28 N, 144 47 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 541.3 sq km land: 541.3 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

125.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources:

aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)

Land use:

arable land: 3.64% permanent crops: 18.18% other: 78.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Environment - current issues:

extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Geography - note:

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

People
Guam

Population:

175,877 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.2% (male 25,644/female 23,910) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 58,034/female 55,900) 65 years and over: 7% (male 5,801/female 6,588) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.9 years male: 28.7 years female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.373% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

18.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.93 years male: 75.86 years female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.55 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens) adjective: Guamanian

Ethnic groups:

Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white 6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)

Languages:

English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages 3.5% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Guam

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam local long form: Guahan local short form: Guahan

Dependency status:

organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Hagatna (Agana) geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US)

Independence:

none (territory of the US)

National holiday:

Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)

Constitution:

Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950

Legal system:

modeled on US; US federal laws apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2010) election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7 note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1

Judicial branch:

Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip
J. FLORES] (controls the legislature)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Guam Federation of Teachers' Union; Guam Waterworks Authority Workers other: activists; indigenous groups

International organization participation:

##### IOC, SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

Economy
Guam

Economy - overview:

The economy depends largely on US military spending and tourism. Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to $1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years, the tourist industry has grown to become the largest income source following national defense. The Guam economy continues to experience expansion in both its tourism and military sectors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.5 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.773 billion (2001)

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

62,050 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 26% industry: 10% services: 64% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.4% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

23% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $319.6 million expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Industries:

US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

1.789 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.664 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,780 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

13,530 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products

Exports - partners:

Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2006)

Imports:

$701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Singapore 50%, South Korea 21.4%, Japan 14%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam (2001 est.)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Guam

Telephones - main lines in use:

65,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

98,000 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet international: country code - 1-671; major landing point for submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2005)

Radios:

221,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2006)

Televisions:

106,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gu

Internet hosts:

36 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2000)

Internet users:

65,000 (2005)

Transportation
Guam

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,045 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Apra Harbor

Military
Guam

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,665 female: 1,547 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Guam

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Guatemala

Introduction
Guatemala

Background:

The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million refugees.

Geography
Guatemala

Location:

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean
Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline:

400 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.22% permanent crops: 5.6% other: 81.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

111.3 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%) per capita: 160 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

no natural harbors on west coast

People
Guatemala

Population:

13,002,206 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.1% (male 2,653,915/female 2,565,841) 15-64 years: 56.2% (male 3,539,874/female 3,762,471) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 222,303/female 257,802) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.2 years male: 18.6 years female: 19.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.11% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.99 years male: 68.22 years female: 71.86 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

78,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups:

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Languages:

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized
Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,
Garifuna, and Xinca)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.1% male: 75.4% female: 63.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Guatemala

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala

Government type:

constitutional democratic republic

Capital:

name: Guatemala geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009

Administrative divisions:

22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta
Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso,
Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,
Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa
Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President Jorge SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993

Legal system:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14 January 2008); Vice President Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14 January 2008); Vice President Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 September 2007; runoff held 4 November 2007 (next to be held September 2011) election results: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros elected president; percent of vote - Alvaro COLOM Caballeros 52.8%, Otto PEREZ Molina 47.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 September 2007 (next to be held in September 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - UNE 30.4%, GANA 23.4%, PP 18.9%, FRG 9.5%, PU 5.1%, other 12.7%; seats by party - UNE 48, GANA 37, PP 30, FRG 15, PU 8, CASA 5, EG 4, PAN 4, UCN 4, URNG 2, UD 1

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (five judges are elected for concurrent five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 members serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Center of Social Action or CASA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democracy Front or
FRENTE [Alfonso CABRERA]; Democratic Union or UD [Manuel CONDE
Orellana]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENGRO]; Grand
National Alliance or GANA [Alfredo VILLA]; Guatemalan National
Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Hector NUILA]; Guatemalan Republican
Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; National Advancement Party or PAN
[Ruben Dario MORALES]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvaro COLOM
Caballeros]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. Otto PEREZ Molina];
Unionista Party or PU [Fritz GARCIA]; Unity of National Change or
UCN [Sidney SHAW]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI;
Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of
Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or
CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Providence, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen G. MCFARLAND embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2326-4000 FAX: [502] 2326-4654

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

Economy
Guatemala

Economy - overview:

Guatemala is the most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about one-tenth of GDP, two-fifths of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products, with sugar exports benefiting from increased global demand for ethanol. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and Guatemala since then has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. On 1 July 2006, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force between the US and Guatemala and has since spurred increased investment in the export sector. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with about 56% of the population below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking and rampant crime, and narrowing the trade deficit. Given Guatemala's large expatriate community in the United States, it is the top remittance recipient in Central America, with inflows serving as a primary source of foreign income equivalent to nearly two-thirds of exports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$64.76 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$33.69 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.3% industry: 25.8% services: 60.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.958 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 50% industry: 15% services: 35% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.2% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

56.2% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

55.1 (2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.38 billion expenditures: $4.872 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

20.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.84% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$6.227 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$8.928 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$13.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Industries:

sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

7.643 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.617 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

131.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.11 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 51.9% hydro: 35.2% nuclear: 0% other: 12.9% (2001)

Oil - production:

15,820 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

74,230 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

15,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports:

72,960 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

83.07 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.663 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$6.94 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom

Exports - partners:

US 42.2%, El Salvador 9.6%, Honduras 8.6%, Mexico 6.5%, Costa Rica 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$12.62 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 34.9%, Mexico 9.9%, China 6.8%, El Salvador 4.6%, Costa Rica 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$253.6 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.139 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.908 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed

Currency code:

##### GTQ; USD

Exchange rates:

quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003)

Communications
Guatemala

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.355 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.15 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity 11 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity 80 per 100 persons international: country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios:

835,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

1.323 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.gt

Internet hosts:

124,095 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

1.32 million (2006)

Transportation
Guatemala

Airports:

402 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 390 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 301 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 480 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 886 km narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 14,095 km paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,232 km (2000)

Waterways:

990 km note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Military
Guatemala

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months; women can serve as officers (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,861,696 females age 16-49: 3,062,967 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,310,272 females age 16-49: 2,622,450 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 161,550 female: 159,760 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Guatemala

Disputes - international:

annual ministerial meetings under the OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: undetermined (the UN does not estimate there are any IDPs, although some NGOs estimate over 200,000 IDPs as a result of over three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Guatemala is a source, transit, and destination country for Guatemalans and Central Americans trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; human trafficking is a significant and growing problem in the country; Guatemalan women and children are trafficked within the country for commercial sexual exploitation, primarily to Mexico and the United States; Guatemalan men, women, and children are also trafficked within the country, and to Mexico and the United States, for forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, Guatemala is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, particularly with respect to ensuring that trafficking offenders are appropriately prosecuted for their crimes; while prosecutors initiated trafficking prosecutions, they continued to face problems in court with application of Guatemala's comprehensive anti-trafficking law; the government made modest improvements to its protection efforts, but assistance remained inadequate overall in 2007 (2008)

Illicit drugs:

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Guernsey

Introduction
Guernsey

Background:

Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Geography
Guernsey

Location:

Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

##### 49 28 N, 2 35 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 78 sq km land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

Area - comparative:

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

50 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Terrain:

mostly level with low hills in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m

Natural resources:

cropland

Land use:

arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

People
Guernsey

Population:

65,726 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 4,849/female 4,727) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,013/female 22,380) 65 years and over: 17.9% (male 4,988/female 6,769) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.1 years male: 41 years female: 43 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.228% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.65 years male: 77.64 years female: 83.76 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Ethnic groups:

UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other
European countries

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational,
Methodist

Languages:

English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

Literacy:

##### NA

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Guernsey

Country name:

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Saint Peter Port geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005) head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments elections: last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Political parties and leaders:

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts
[Colin FALLAIZE]

International organization participation:

##### UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Economy
Guernsey

Economy - overview:

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$44,600 (2005)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87% (2000)

Labor force:

31,470 (March 2006)

Unemployment rate:

0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $563.6 million expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (June 2006)

Agriculture - products:

tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle

Industries:

tourism, banking

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables

Exports - partners:

UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:

UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Guernsey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender

Currency code:

##### GBP

Exchange rates:

Guernsey pound 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Communications
Guernsey

Telephones - main lines in use:

45,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

43,800 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.gg

Internet hosts:

156 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

36,000 (2005)

Transportation
Guernsey

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Military
Guernsey

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 379 female: 353 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Guernsey

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Guinea

Introduction
Guinea

Background:

Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls have been marred by irregularities. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased. Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006; a third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in many Guinean cities and prompted two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest, CONTE named a new prime minister in March 2007.

Geography
Guinea

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:

##### 11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Coastline:

320 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain:

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Land use:

arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005)

Irrigated land:

950 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

226 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%) per capita: 161 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands

People
Guinea

Population:

9,806,509 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.9% (male 2,126,575/female 2,080,048) 15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,628,675/female 2,633,876) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 148,159/female 189,176) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.4 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.492% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

37.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 67.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 56.58 years male: 55.12 years female: 58.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups:

Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%

Religions:

Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Languages:

French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 29.5% male: 42.6% female: 18.1% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 10 years female: 7 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2005)

Government
Guinea

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 33 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa,
Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah,
Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia,
Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola,
Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele,
Tougue, Yomou

Independence:

2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Constitution:

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23 May 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December 2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists) elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9 note: legislative elections were due in 2007 but have been postponed

Judicial branch:

Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of
Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP (the governing party) [Lansana CONTE]; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean
Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of
Guinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of
Guinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]); National Council of
Civil Society Organizations of Guinea or CNOSCG [Ben Sekou SYLLA];
Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis
M'Bemba SOUMAH]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elizabeth RASPOLIC embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Guinea

Economy - overview:

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in 2006-07, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.96 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.714 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.8% industry: 38.6% services: 37.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.7 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 76% industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

47% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 41% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.1 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $347.1 million expenditures: $742.7 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

23.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

22.25% (31 December 2005)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$309.8 million (31 December 2005)

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$422.1 million (31 December 2005)

Agriculture - products:

rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Industries:

bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing

Industrial production growth rate:

7.6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

800 million kWh note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

744 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 45.5% hydro: 54.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,559 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

8,811 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$424 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Exports - partners:

Russia 10.8%, Ukraine 9.6%, Spain 8.8%, US 7.5%, Germany 7.4%, South
Korea 7.2%, France 7%, Ireland 5.5%, China 5% (2007)

Imports:

$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

China 10%, France 7%, Netherlands 6.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$182.1 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$119 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code:

##### GNF

Exchange rates:

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003)

Communications
Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

26,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

189,000 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 2 per 100 persons international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)

Radios:

357,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2001)

Televisions:

85,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gn

Internet hosts:

16 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2001)

Internet users:

50,000 (2006)

Transportation
Guinea

Airports:

16 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Railways:

total: 837 km standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Waterways:

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Conakry, Kamsar

Military
Guinea

Military branches:

Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Air
Force, Presidential Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,230,049 females age 16-49: 2,193,236 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,268,193 females age 16-49: 1,259,913 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 106,967 female: 104,631 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Guinea

Disputes - international:

conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra
Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,
Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold and diamond mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea; transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims; the government took no measures to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Guinea-Bissau

Introduction
Guinea-Bissau

Background:

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation.

Geography
Guinea-Bissau

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 00 N, 15 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 36,120 sq km land: 28,000 sq km water: 8,120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 724 km border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Coastline:

350 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain:

mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m

Natural resources:

fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 8.31% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 84.77% (2005)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

31 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%) per capita: 113 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland

People
Guinea-Bissau

Population:

1,503,182 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41% (male 307,353/female 308,726) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 404,747/female 436,245) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 18,819/female 27,292) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.2 years male: 18.6 years female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.035% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

36.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

16.05 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 101.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 111.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 91.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.52 years male: 45.71 years female: 49.39 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

10% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

17,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,200 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups:

African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Religions:

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

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.4% male: 58.1% female: 27.4% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 5 years male: 7 years female: 4 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (1999)

Government
Guinea-Bissau

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Bissau geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Independence:

24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Constitution:

16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and in 1996

Legal system:

based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA (since 1 October 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Carlos CORREIA (since 5 August 2008) cabinet: NA elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malam Bacai SANHA 47.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held 16 November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%, PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at more than $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases valued at less than $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders:

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Party for Social Renewal or PRS
[Kumba YALA]; Democratic Social Front or FDS; Electoral Union or UE;
Guinea-Bissau Civic Forum/Social Democracy or FCGSD [Antonieta Rosa
GOMES]; Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG; Guinea-Bissau
Socialist Democratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE]; Labor and
Solidarity Party or PST [Iancuba INDJAI]; Party for Democratic
Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Party for Renewal and Progress
or PRP; Progress Party or PP [Ibrahima SOW]; Union for Change or UM
[Amine SAAD]; Union of Guinean Patriots or UPG [Francisca VAZ];
United Platform or UP (coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and
RGB-MB); United Popular Alliance or APU; United Social Democratic
Party or PUSD

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Guinea-Bissau

Economy - overview:

One of the five poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. Offshore oil prospecting is underway in several sectors but has not yet led to commercially viable crude deposits. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, resulted in continued low growth in 2002-06. Higher raw material prices boosted growth to 3.7% in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$826.4 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$343 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 62% industry: 12% services: 26% (1999 est.)

Labor force:

480,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 82% industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)

Budget:

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$142.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$12.04 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$46.44 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Industries:

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

60 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

55.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,520 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,560 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$6 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$133 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Exports - partners:

Brazil 56.2%, India 33.6%, Nigeria 8.3% (2007)

Imports:

$200 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Portugal 21.7%, Senegal 16.8%, France 6%, Pakistan 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$79.12 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$941.5 million (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF; GWP

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Guinea-Bissau

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,600 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

296,200 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 20 per 100 in 2007 international: country code - 245

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

49,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

##### NA (2005)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.gw

Internet hosts:

82 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

37,000 (2006)

Transportation
Guinea-Bissau

Airports:

27 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 24 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 3,455 km paved: 965 km unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)

Waterways:

rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Military
Guinea-Bissau

Military branches:

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 344,087 females age 16-49: 347,886 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 188,605 females age 16-49: 195,429 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 16,634 female: 16,841 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Guinea-Bissau

Disputes - international:

in 2006, political instability within Senegal's Casamance region resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees, cross-border raids, and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,454 (Senegal) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country for children trafficked primarily for forced begging and forced agricultural labor to other West African countries tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second year in a row, Guinea-Bissau is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, as evidenced by the continued failure to pass an anti-trafficking law and inadequate efforts to investigate or prosecute trafficking crimes or convict and punish trafficking offenders (2008)

Illicit drugs:

increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine enroute to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations thanks to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography around the capital facilitates drug smuggling

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Guyana

Introduction
Guyana

Background:

Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.

Geography
Guyana

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Suriname and Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

##### 5 00 N, 59 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 214,970 sq km land: 196,850 sq km water: 18,120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Idaho

Land boundaries:

total: 2,949 km border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Coastline:

459 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)

Terrain:

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Land use:

arable land: 2.23% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 97.63% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

241 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.64 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%) per capita: 2,187 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively

People
Guyana

Population:

770,794 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.9% (male 101,712/female 97,907) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 267,239/female 262,188) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 17,610/female 24,138) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.2 years male: 27.7 years female: 28.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.211% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.85 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 30.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.43 years male: 63.81 years female: 69.18 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.03 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

11,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,100 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Ethnic groups:

East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census)

Religions:

Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census)

Languages:

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98.8% male: 99.1% female: 98.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

8.3% of GDP (2006)

Government
Guyana

Country name:

conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Georgetown geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East
Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice,
Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper
Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Independence:

26 May 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Constitution:

6 October 1980

Legal system:

based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN and was reelected in 2001, and again in 2006 head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992, except for a period as chief of state after the death of President Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every five years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of vote 54.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by popular vote, also not more than 4 non-elected non-voting ministers and 2 non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%, AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5, other 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the
Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the
Caribbean Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj RAMJATTAN];
Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N.
SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman
Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat
JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United
Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision
Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert
ROOPNARAINE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana
Citizens Initiative; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana Public
Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades Union
Congress

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John Melvin JONES embassy: US Embassy, 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170 telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909 FAX: [592] 225-8497

Flag description:

green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green

Economy
Guyana

Economy - overview:

The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-07, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Economic recovery since the 2005 flood-related contraction has been buoyed by increases in remittances and foreign direct investment. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. In March 2007, the Inter-American Development Bank, Guyana's principal donor, canceled Guyana's nearly $470 million debt, equivalent to nearly 48% of GDP. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization, and the state-owned sugar industry will conduct efficiency increasing modernizations. Export earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen sharply, while the import bill has risen, driven by higher energy prices. Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 will broaden the country's export market, primarily in the raw materials sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.819 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.039 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 31.1% industry: 21.7% services: 47.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

418,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

9.1% (understated) (2000)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43.2 (1999)

Investment (gross fixed):

34.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $446.2 million expenditures: $531.2 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.61% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$315.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$728.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$739.3 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, rice, shrimp, fish, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products

Industries:

bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:

-26.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

901 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

747 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

10,440 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

10,960 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$157 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$683 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber

Exports - partners:

Canada 18.7%, US 16.5%, UK 9.1%, Portugal 7.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.2%, France 4.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, Jamaica 4% (2007)

Imports:

$1.006 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 26.2%, US 20.5%, Cuba 7.2%, China 7.1%, UK 5.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$136.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$313 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$187.3 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Guyanese dollar (GYD)

Currency code:

##### GYD

Exchange rates:

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (2004), 193.88 (2003)

Communications
Guyana

Telephones - main lines in use:

110,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

281,400 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system for long-distance service domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines; fixed-line teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 37 per 100 persons in 2005 international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

420,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (1 public station; 2 private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)

Televisions:

46,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gy

Internet hosts:

6,218 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

190,000 (2007)

Transportation
Guyana

Airports:

93 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 84 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 69 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)

Waterways:

Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Georgetown

Military
Guyana

Military branches:

Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Coast Guard, Air Corps) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 220,797 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 150,623 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,713 female: 6,451 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Guyana

Disputes - international:

all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Guyana is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; most trafficking appears to take place in remote mining camps in the country's interior; some women and girls are trafficked from northern Brazil; reporting from other nations suggests Guyanese women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation to neighboring countries and Guyanese men and boys are subject to labor exploitation in construction and agriculture; trafficking victims from Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela transit Guyana en route to Caribbean destinations tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, Guyana is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement actions against trafficking offenders; the government has yet to produce an anti-trafficking conviction under the comprehensive Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, which became law in 2005; the government operates no shelters for trafficking victims, but did include limited funding for anti-trafficking NGOs in its 2008 budget; the government did not make any effort to reduce demand for commercial sex acts during 2007 (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Haiti

Introduction
Haiti

Background:

The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion led to the forced resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006.

Geography
Haiti

Location:

Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates:

##### 19 00 N, 72 25 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km

Coastline:

1,771 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Terrain:

mostly rough and mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 28.11% permanent crops: 11.53% other: 60.36% (2005)

Irrigated land:

920 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

14 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.99 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%) per capita: 116 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Geography - note:

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

People
Haiti

Population:

8,924,553 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.8% (male 1,881,509/female 1,851,591) 15-64 years: 54.7% (male 2,386,761/female 2,495,233) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 135,695/female 173,764) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.5 years male: 18.1 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.493% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.15 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 62.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 66.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 57.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 57.56 years male: 55.83 years female: 59.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

280,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

24,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian

Ethnic groups:

black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo

Languages:

French (official), Creole (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.9% male: 54.8% female: 51.2% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (1991)

Government
Haiti

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d' Ayiti local short form: Haiti/Ayiti

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Port-au-Prince geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Independence:

1 January 1804 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Constitution:

approved March 1987; suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; constitutional government ousted in a military coup in September 1991, although in October 1991, military government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994; constitution, while technically in force between 2004-2006, was not enforced; returned to constitutional rule in May 2006

Legal system:

based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Michele PIERRE-LOUIS (since 5 September 2008) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly election results: Rene PREVAL elected president; percent of vote - Rene PREVAL 51%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - in reestablishing the Senate, the candidate in each department receiving the most votes in the last election serves six years, the candidate with the second most votes serves four years, and the candidate with the third most votes serves two years elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2006 with run-off elections on 3 December 2006 (next regular election, for one third of seats, to be held in 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 April 2006 with run-off elections on 3 December 2006 and 29 April 2007 (next regular election to be held in 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 11, FUSION 5, OPL 4, FL 3, LAAA 2, UNCRH 2, PONT 2, ALYANS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 23, FUSION 17, FRN 12, OPL 10, ALYANS 10, LAAA 5, MPH 3, MOCHRENA 3, other 10; results for six other seats contested on 3 December 2006 remain unknown

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:

Artibonite in Action or LAAA [Youri LATORTUE]; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention
for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; Cooperative Action to
Build Haiti or KONBA [Evans LESCOUFALIR]; Democratic Alliance or
ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition composed of KID and PPRH); Effort and
Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph
JASME]; For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL]; Front for Hope or
L'ESPWA [Rene PREVAL] (alliance of ESKAMP, PLB, and grass-roots
organizations Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, the Central Plateau
Peasants' Group, and Kombit Sudest); Haitian Christian Democratic
Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian
Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre
Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together or Tet-Ansanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT];
Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc
FLEURINORD]; Justice for Peace and National Development or JPDN
[Rigaud DUPLAN]; Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Rudy HERIVEAUX]; Liberal Party
of Haiti or PLH [Gehy MICHEL]; Merging of Haitian Social Democratic
Parties or FUSION or FPSDH [Serge GILLES] (coalition of Ayiti
Capable, Haitian National Revolutionary Party, and National Congress
of Democratic Movements); Mobilization for Haiti's Development or
MPH [Samir MOURRA]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN
[Hubert de RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN
[Jean Henold BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in
Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Christian Union for the
Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Marie Claude GERMAIN]; National
Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN [Guy PHILIPPE]; New
Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open
the Gate Party or PLB [Anes LUBIN]; Popular Party for the Renewal of
Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN]; Struggling People's Organization or
OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians
or UNITE [Edouard FRANCISQUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole
ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of
Workers Trade Unions or FOS; General Organization of Independent
Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS]; Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, or
KOREGA; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement
or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering
Power or PROP; Protestant Federation of Haiti; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation:

ACP, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond JOSEPH chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince mailing address: use mailing address telephone: [509] 229-8000 FAX: [509] 229-8028

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Economy
Haiti

Economy - overview:

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. A macroeconomic program developed in 2005 with the help of the International Monetary Fund helped the economy grow 3.5% in 2007, the highest growth rate since 1999. US economic engagement under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, passed in December 2006, has boosted the garment and automotive parts exports and investment by providing tariff-free access to the US. Haiti suffers from high inflation, a lack of investment because of insecurity and limited infrastructure, and a severe trade deficit. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. The government relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP and more than twice the earnings from exports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.38 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.435 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28% industry: 20% services: 52% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.6 million note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 66% industry: 9% services: 25% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

80% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

59.2 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $815.9 million expenditures: $802.2 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.5% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

46.99% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$704.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.561 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.537 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

Industries:

sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly based on imported parts

Industrial production growth rate:

2.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

549 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

330 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60.3% hydro: 39.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

11,980 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$467 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$522 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee

Exports - partners:

US 72.9%, Dominican Republic 8.8%, Canada 3.3% (2007)

Imports:

$1.734 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials

Imports - partners:

US 41.2%, Netherlands Antilles 14.9%, China 4.7%, Brazil 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$515 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$444 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.475 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

gourde (HTG)

Currency code:

##### HTG

Exchange rates:

gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 37.138 (2007), 40.232 (2006), 40.449 (2005), 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003)

Communications
Haiti

Telephones - main lines in use:

150,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.2 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better; telephone density in Haiti remains the lowest in the Latin American and Caribbean region domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 25 per 100 persons international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Radios:

415,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Televisions:

38,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ht

Internet hosts:

7 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

1 million (2007)

Transportation
Haiti

Airports:

14 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (2000)

Ports and terminals:

Cap-Haitien

Military
Haiti

Military branches:

no regular military forces - small Coast Guard; the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper unless they are constitutionally abolished (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,047,083 females age 16-49: 2,047,953 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,303,743 females age 16-49: 1,332,316 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 105,655 female: 104,376 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Haiti

Disputes - international:

since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs:

Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Introduction
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Background:

These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferred from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.

Geography
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Location:

islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Geographic coordinates:

##### 53 06 S, 72 31 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

101.9 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

antarctic

Terrain:

Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being in 2005

People
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Population:

uninhabited

Government
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Legal system:

the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Economy - overview:

The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian
Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.

Communications
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Internet country code:

.hm

Transportation
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols

Transnational Issues
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Holy See (Vatican City)

Introduction
Holy See (Vatican City)

Background:

Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Geography
Holy See (Vatican City)

Location:

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates:

##### 41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain:

urban; low hill

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Climate Change signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)

People
Holy See (Vatican City)

Population:

824 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.003% (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: none adjective: none

Ethnic groups:

Italians, Swiss, other

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Government
Holy See (Vatican City)

Country name:

conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

Government type:

ecclesiastical

Capital:

name: Vatican City geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century

National holiday:

Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)

Constitution:

new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)

Legal system:

based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it

Suffrage:

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch:

chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

Legislative branch:

unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City

Judicial branch:

there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation:

CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WFTU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann GLENDON embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346

Flag description:

two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band

Economy
Holy See (Vatican City)

Economy - overview:

This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

Labor force:

##### NA

Labor force - by occupation:

note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Budget:

revenues: $310 million expenditures: $307 million (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Industries:

printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Holy See (Vatican City)

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,120 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic digital exchange domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network international: country code - 39; uses Italian system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2005)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.va

Internet hosts:

55 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

93 (2000)

Military
Holy See (Vatican City)

Military branches:

Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2007)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Transnational Issues
Holy See (Vatican City)

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Honduras

Introduction
Honduras

Background:

Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage.

Geography
Honduras

Location:

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 N, 86 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,520 km border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km

Coastline:

820 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Terrain:

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Natural resources:

timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 9.53% permanent crops: 3.21% other: 87.26% (2005)

Irrigated land:

800 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

95.9 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.86 cu km/yr (8%/12%/80%) per capita: 119 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast

Environment - current issues:

urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

People
Honduras

Population:

7,639,327 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,508,835/female 1,446,530) 15-64 years: 57.8% (male 2,210,187/female 2,203,620) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 121,839/female 148,316) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.024% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

26.93 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.37 years male: 67.81 years female: 71.01 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

63,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,100 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Languages:

Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80% male: 79.8% female: 80.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (1991)

Government
Honduras

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras

Government type:

democratic constitutional republic

Capital:

name: Tegucigalpa geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Administrative divisions:

18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,
Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco
Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz,
Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many times

Legal system:

rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since 27 January 2006); Vice President Elvin Ernesto SANTOS Ordonez (since 27 January 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since 27 January 2006); Vice President Elvin Ernesto SANTOS Ordonez (since 27 January 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales elected president - 49.8%, Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa 46.1%, other 4.1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votes their party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 62, PN 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Felicito AVILA]; Democratic
Unification Party or PUD [Cesar HAM]; Liberal Party or PL [Patricia
RODAS]; National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Jorge AQUILAR
Paredes]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Porfirio LOBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH;
Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating Committee of
Popular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers Confederation or CGT;
Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; National
Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; National Union of
Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United Confederation of
Honduran Workers or CUTH

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES BERMUDEZ chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo LLORENS embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 236-9320, 238-5114 FAX: [504] 238-4357

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Economy
Honduras

Economy - overview:

Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America and one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and massive unemployment, is banking on expanded trade under the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and on debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Despite improvements in tax collections, the government's fiscal deficit is growing due to increases in current expenditures and financial losses from the state energy and telephone companies. Honduras is the fastest growing remittance destination in the region with inflows representing over a quarter of GDP, equivalent to nearly three-quarters of exports. The economy relies heavily on a narrow range of exports, notably bananas and coffee, making it vulnerable to natural disasters and shifts in commodity prices, however, investments in the maquila and non-traditional export sectors are slowly diversifying the economy. Growth remains dependent on the economy of the US, its largest trading partner, and on reduction of the high crime rate, as a means of attracting and maintaining investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$32.26 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.28 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.4% industry: 28.1% services: 58.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.779 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 34% industry: 23% services: 43% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

27.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50.7% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 42.2% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

53.8 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.344 billion expenditures: $2.631 billion; including capital expenditures of $106 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

24.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16.61% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.573 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.266 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$6.298 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp, tilapia, lobster; corn, African palm

Industries:

sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.753 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

4.233 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

11.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 50.2% hydro: 49.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

46,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

417.9 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

44,040 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.225 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.594 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber

Exports - partners:

US 67.2%, El Salvador 4.9%, Guatemala 3.9% (2007)

Imports:

$8.556 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

US 52.4%, Guatemala 7.1%, El Salvador 5.2%, Mexico 4.5%, Costa Rica 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$680.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.546 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.411 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

lempira (HNL)

Currency code:

##### HNL

Exchange rates:

lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 18.9 (2007), 18.895 (2006), 18.92 (2005), 18.206 (2004), 17.345 (2003)

Communications
Honduras

Telephones - main lines in use:

713,600 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.241 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate system domestic: beginning in 2003, private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed-lines in order to expand telephone coverage; fixed-line teledensity has increased to about 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone service has been increasing rapidly and subscribership in 2006 exceeded 30 per 100 persons international: country code - 504; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)

Radios:

2.45 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

570,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.hn

Internet hosts:

13,370 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

344,100 (2006)

Transportation
Honduras

Airports:

112 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 100 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 83 (2007)

Railways:

total: 699 km narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 13,600 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,825 km (2000)

Waterways:

465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 123 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 57, chemical tanker 6, container 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 42 (Bangladesh 1, Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 3, Greece 4, Hong Kong 1, Israel 1, Japan 4, South Korea 6, Lebanon 1, Mexico 1, Singapore 12, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, Vietnam 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Military
Honduras

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary 2 to 3-year military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,868,940 females age 16-49: 1,825,770 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,359,406 females age 16-49: 1,371,418 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 90,876 female: 87,292 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Honduras

Disputes - international:

International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum; memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea - final public hearings are scheduled for 2007

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Hong Kong

Introduction
Hong Kong

Background:

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography
Hong Kong

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:

##### 22 15 N, 114 10 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 1,092 sq km land: 1,042 sq km water: 50 sq km

Area - comparative:

six times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 30 km regional border: China 30 km

Coastline:

733 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain:

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Natural resources:

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use:

arable land: 5.05% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 93.94% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geography - note:

more than 200 islands

People
Hong Kong

Population:

7,018,636 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 12.6% (male 463,300/female 422,945) 15-64 years: 74.4% (male 2,535,246/female 2,684,495) 65 years and over: 13% (male 425,500/female 487,150) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.7 years male: 41.4 years female: 42 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.532% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

7.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.77 years male: 79.07 years female: 84.69 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 95%, Filipino 1.6%, Indonesian 1.3%, other 2.1% (2006 census)

Religions:

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Languages:

Chinese (Cantonese) 89.2% (official), other Chinese dialects 6.4%,
English 3.2% (official), other 1.2% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 93.5% male: 96.9% female: 89.6% (2002)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2006)

Government
Hong Kong

Country name:

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu local short form: Xianggang abbreviation: HK

Dependency status:

special administrative region of China

Government type:

limited democracy

Administrative divisions:

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:

none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:

Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's
Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

direct election - 18 years of age for a number of non-executive positions; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election - limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, central government bodies, and municipal organizations

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005) cabinet: Executive Council consists of 15 official members and 16 non-official members elections: chief executive elected for five-year term by 800-member electoral committee; last held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Donald TSANG elected chief executive receiving 84.1% of the vote of the election committee; Alan LEONG received 15.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by parties - pro-Beijing 37; pro-democracy 23

Judicial branch:

Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Civic Party [KUAN Hsin-chi]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM Yiu Cheng]; Democratic Party [Albert HO]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing]; League of Social Democrats [Raymond WONG]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun] note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic Party, Frontier Party, League of Social Democrats; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party, The Alliance (a group of five generally pro-government and pro-business Legco members from functional constituencies); there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade
Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE
Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries;
Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong,
executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic
Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber
of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG
Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or
NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHARNWUT, executive
committee member]

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, BIS, ICC, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (special administrative region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington and two other cities carries out normal liaison and communication with the US Government and other US entities

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Joseph A. DONOVAN, Jr. consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2845-1598

Flag description:

red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

Economy
Hong Kong

Economy - overview:

Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on international trade. In 2006, the total value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, was equivalent to 400% of GDP. The territory has become increasingly integrated with mainland China over the past few years through trade, tourism, and financial links. The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for 46% of Hong Kong's total trade by value in 2006. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 13.6 million in 2006, when they outnumbered visitors from all other countries combined. Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. Bolstered by several successful initial public offerings in early 2007, by September 2007 mainland companies accounted for one-third of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and more than half of the Exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly and now accounts for 91% of the territory's GDP. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2007, despite the economy suffering two recessions during the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98 and the global downturn in 2001-02. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$293.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$206.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$42,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 8.1% services: 91.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.64 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 6.5%, construction 2.1%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.3%, financing, insurance, and real estate 20.7%, transport and communications 7.8%, community and social services 19.5% note: above data exclude public sector (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

53.3 (2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $36.9 billion expenditures: $29.4 billion (FY07-08 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

12.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.75% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$51.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$578.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$259.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Industries:

textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

36.61 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

38.02 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

4.035 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

10.96 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

293,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

22,420 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

314,700 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$28.04 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$345.9 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material

Exports - partners:

China 48.7%, US 13.7%, Japan 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$365.6 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Imports - partners:

China 46.3%, Japan 10%, Taiwan 7.1%, Singapore 6.8%, US 4.9%, South
Korea 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$6.95 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$152.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$588 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$1.185 trillion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.027 trillion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$2.97 trillion (2007 est.)

Currency (code):

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Currency code:

##### HKD

Exchange rates:

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.802 (2007), 7.7678 (2006), 7.7773 (2005), 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003)

Communications
Hong Kong

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.875 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.55 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

4.45 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

55 (2 TV networks, each broadcasting on 2 channels) (2007)

Televisions:

1.84 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hk

Internet hosts:

817,766 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:

3.961 million (2007)

Transportation
Hong Kong

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,009 km paved: 2,009 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,114 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 525, cargo 142, carrier 3, chemical tanker 68, combination ore/oil 2, container 205, liquefied gas 22, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 114, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 703 (Belgium 3, Canada 44, China 324, Denmark 24, France 1, Germany 6, Greece 22, Indonesia 7, Iran 15, Japan 111, South Korea 3, Norway 40, Philippines 1, Portugal 1, Russia 2, Singapore 18, Syria 1, Taiwan 11, UAE 1, UK 39, US 29) registered in other countries: 357 (Bahamas 30, Bermuda 4, Cambodia 8, China 12, Cyprus 2, Georgia 2, Honduras 1, India 1, Jamaica 1, Kiribati 4, Liberia 44, Malaysia 14, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Mexico 1, Netherlands Antilles 2, Norway 20, Panama 130, Philippines 1, Portugal 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 47, Tuvalu 7, UK 2, Vietnam 1, unknown 8) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Hong Kong

Military
Hong Kong

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,772,820 females age 16-49: 1,941,448 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,438,165 females age 16-49: 1,561,252 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 42,173 female: 38,753 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues
Hong Kong

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Hungary

Introduction
Hungary

Background:

Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

Geography
Hungary

Location:

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Geographic coordinates:

##### 47 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 2,185 km border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia 166 km, Slovakia 676 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 49.58% permanent crops: 2.06% other: 48.36% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

120 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 21.03 cu km/yr (9%/59%/32%) per capita: 2,082 cu m/yr (2001)

Environment - current issues:

the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between
Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and
Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza
Rivers divide the country into three large regions

People
Hungary

Population:

9,930,915 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 774,092/female 730,485) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 3,393,630/female 3,488,011) 65 years and over: 15.6% (male 559,483/female 985,214) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.1 years male: 36.8 years female: 41.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.254% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.59 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.99 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.18 years male: 69 years female: 77.62 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian

Ethnic groups:

Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4% male: 99.5% female: 99.3% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Hungary

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Budapest geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 urban counties (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros) counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg capital city: Budapest

Independence:

25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date)

National holiday:

Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August

Constitution:

18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system

Legal system:

based on the German-Austrian legal system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29 September 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; other ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed and relieved of their duties by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6-7 June 2005 (next to be held by June 2010); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held 29 September 2004 election results: Laszlo SOLYOM elected president by a simple majority in the third round of voting, 185 to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANY elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 197 to 12 note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the third round

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 and 23 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2010) election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - MSzP 43.2%, Fidesz-KDNP 42%, SzDSz 6.5%, MDF 5%, other 3.3%; seats by party - MSzP 190, Fidesz-KDNP 164, SzDSz 20, MDF 11, independent 1; seats by party as of September 2008 - MSzP 189, Fidesz-KDNP 162, SzDSz 20, MDF 11, independent 3, vacant 1

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor FODOR]; Christian
Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Zsolt SEMJEN]; Hungarian Civic
Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic
Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP
[Ferenc GYURCSANY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Air Work Group (works to reduce air pollution in towns and cities); Company For Freedom Rights (Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert) or TASZ (personal data protection); Danube Circle (protests the building of the Gabchikovo-Nagymaros dam); Green Future (protests the impact of lead contamination of local factory on health of the people); environmentalists: Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (Magyar Madartani Egyesulet)or MME; Green Alternative (Zold Alternativa)

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA
(cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ferenc SOMOGYI chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador April H. FOLEY embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400 FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Economy
Hungary

Economy - overview:

Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy, with a per capita income nearly two-thirds that of the EU-25 average. The private sector accounts for more than 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more than $60 billion since 1989. Hungary issues investment-grade sovereign debt. International observers, however, have expressed concerns over Hungary's fiscal and current account deficits. In 2007, Hungary eliminated a trade deficit that had persisted for several years. Inflation declined from 14% in 1998 to a low of 3.7% in 2006, but jumped to 7.8% in 2007. Unemployment has persisted above 6%. Hungary's labor force participation rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policy challenges include cutting the public sector deficit to 4% of GDP by 2008, from about 6% in 2007. The government's austerity program of tax hikes and subsidy cuts has reduced Hungary's large budget deficit, but the reforms have dampened domestic consumption, slowing GDP growth to about 2% in 2007. The government will need to pass additional reforms to ensure the long-term stability of public finances. The government plans to eventually lower its public sector deficit to below 3% of GDP to adopt the euro.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$191.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$138.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.8% industry: 31.5% services: 65.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.19 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5.5% industry: 33.3% services: 61.2% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8.6% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 22.2% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $64 billion expenditures: $71.87 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

67% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

7.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.09% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$36.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$43.07 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$109.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Industries:

mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Industrial production growth rate:

3.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

37.66 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

37.11 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

10.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

14.68 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60.1% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 39% other: 0.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

32,580 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

162,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

66,660 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

178,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

20.18 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.545 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

13.36 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

138 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10.45 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

8.098 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$8.018 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$87.77 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, food products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Germany 28.1%, Italy 5.6%, France 4.7%, Austria 4.6%, Romania 4.5%,
UK 4.5%, Slovakia 4.2%, Poland 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$86.88 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%, fuels and electricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 26.6%, China 7.8%, Russia 6.9%, Austria 6.1%, Italy 4.5%,
France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$302.6 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$24.05 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$125.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$108.6 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$45.54 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$41.93 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

forint (HUF)

Currency code:

##### HUF

Exchange rates:

forints (HUF) per US dollar - 186.16 (2007), 210.39 (2006), 199.58 (2005), 202.75 (2004), 224.31 (2003)

Communications
Hungary

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.251 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.03 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and is capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service domestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunk services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in 1996; competition among mobile-cellular service providers has led to a sharp increase in the use of mobile cellular phones since 2000 and a decrease in the number of fixed-line connections international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

7.01 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

35 (plus 161 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

4.42 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hu

Internet hosts:

1.879 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

4.2 million (2007)

Transportation
Hungary

Airports:

46 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 8,057 km broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 7,802 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified) narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 159,568 km paved: 70,050 km (30,874 km of interurban roads including 626 km of expressways) unpaved: 89,518 km (2005)

Waterways:

1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)

Military
Hungary

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Legiero, ML) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in June 2004; 6-month service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 50 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,391,400 females age 16-49: 2,337,240 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,890,105 females age 16-49: 1,943,422 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 62,197 female: 59,267 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.75% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Hungary

Disputes - international:

bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking, are improving, but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Iceland

Introduction
Iceland

Background:

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Geography
Iceland

Location:

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Geographic coordinates:

##### 65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,970 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain:

mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

Natural resources:

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:

arable land: 0.07% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

170 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.17 cu km/yr (34%/66%/0%) per capita: 567 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People
Iceland

Population:

304,367 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21% (male 32,500/female 31,566) 15-64 years: 67% (male 103,231/female 100,545) 65 years and over: 12% (male 16,530/female 19,995) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.8 years male: 34.4 years female: 35.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.783% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

13.5 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.55 years male: 78.43 years female: 82.76 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.91 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

220 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic groups:

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%

Religions:

Lutheran Church of Iceland 82.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2.4%,
Reykjavik Free Church 2.3%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%, other
Christian 2.8%, other religions 0.9%, unaffiliated 2.6%, other or
unspecified 5.5% (2006 est.)

Languages:

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 19 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7.6% of GDP (2004)

Government
Iceland

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local long form: Lydveldid Island local short form: Island

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

name: Reykjavik geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland

Independence:

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

Constitution:

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times

Legal system:

civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Geir H. HAARDE (since 7 June 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 12 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 36.6%, Social Democratic Alliance 26.8%, Progressive Party 11.7%, Left-Green Movement 14.3%, Liberal Party 7.3%, other 3.3%; seats by party - Independence Party 25, Social Democratic Alliance 18, Progressive Party 7, Left-Green Alliance 9, Liberal Party 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)

Political parties and leaders:

Independence Party or IP [Geir H. HAARDE]; Left-Green Movement or
LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon
KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Gudni AGUSTSSON]; Social
Democratic Alliance or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR] (includes
People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's
List)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Icelandic Psychiatric Human Rights Group

International organization participation:

Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Albert JONSSON chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carol VAN VOORST embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640 telephone: [354] 562-9100 FAX: [354] 562-9118

Flag description:

blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy
Iceland

Economy - overview:

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 6% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Substantial foreign investment in the aluminum and hydropower sectors has boosted economic growth which, nevertheless, has been volatile and characterized by recurrent imbalances. Government policies include reducing the current account deficit, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, and diversifying the economy. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. The 2006 closure of the US military base at Keflavik had very little impact on the national economy; Iceland's low unemployment rate aided former base employees in finding alternate employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.19 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$20 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$40,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.2% industry: 25.7% services: 69.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

181,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5.1% industry: 23% services: 71.8% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

25 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.64 billion expenditures: $8.602 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

27.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

15.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.29% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$6.64 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$15.05 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of domestic credit:

$49.67 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, dairy products; fish

Industries:

fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production; geothermal power, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

11.71 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.312 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 82.5% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (geothermal) (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

21,120 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

860.8 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

17,450 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$3.189 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.793 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 21.3%, Germany 13.3%, UK 13.2%, Ireland 7.7%, US 7.3%,
Spain 4.6%, Japan 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$6.181 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

US 13.7%, Germany 12.2%, Sweden 10.2%, Denmark 7.5%, Netherlands 5.7%, UK 5.4%, China 5.1%, Norway 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

$6.7 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.436 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.073 billion (2002)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$27.8 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Currency code:

##### ISK

Exchange rates:

Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 63.391 (2007), 70.195 (2006), 62.982 (2005), 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003)

Communications
Iceland

Telephones - main lines in use:

186,700 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

347,500 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network domestic: liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the mobile services segment of the market international: country code - 354; the CANTAT-3 and FARICE-1 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, UK, Denmark, and Germany; a planned new section of the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable will provide additional connectivity to Canada, US, and Ireland; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

260,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (plus 156 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

98,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.is

Internet hosts:

263,980 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2001)

Internet users:

202,300 (2007)

Transportation
Iceland

Airports:

99 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 94 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 63 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 13,058 km paved/oiled gravel: 4,397 km (does not include urban roads) unpaved: 8,661 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 by type: passenger/cargo 2 registered in other countries: 37 (Antigua and Barbuda 12, Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Denmark 2, Faroe Islands 1, Gibraltar 1, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 3, Norway 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik

Military
Iceland

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 74,896 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 62,342 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,393 female: 2,317 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military - note:

Iceland has no standing military force; under a 1951 bilateral agreement - still valid - its defense was provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik; however, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of October 2006; although wartime defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment, in April 2007, Iceland and Norway signed a bilateral agreement providing for Norwegian aerial surveillance and defense of Icelandic airspace (2008)

Transnational Issues
Iceland

Disputes - international:

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@India

Introduction
India

Background:

Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. - which reached its zenith under ASHOKA - united much of South Asia. The Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkic in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. India's nuclear weapons testing in 1998 caused Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. The dispute between the countries over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but discussions and confidence-building measures have led to decreased tensions since 2002. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

Geography
India

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 00 N, 77 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 3,287,590 sq km land: 2,973,190 sq km water: 314,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 14,103 km border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Coastline:

7,000 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain:

upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

Natural resources:

coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 48.83% permanent crops: 2.8% other: 48.37% (2005)

Irrigated land:

558,080 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,907.8 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 645.84 cu km/yr (8%/5%/86%) per capita: 585 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal

People
India

Population:

1,147,995,904 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.5% (male 189,238,487/female 172,168,306) 15-64 years: 63.3% (male 374,157,581/female 352,868,003) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 28,285,796/female 31,277,725) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.1 years male: 24.7 years female: 25.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.578% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 32.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.25 years male: 66.87 years female: 71.9 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5.1 million (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

310,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Indian(s) adjective: Indian

Ethnic groups:

Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)

Religions:

Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9% note: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61% male: 73.4% female: 47.8% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 9 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.2% of GDP (2005)

Government
India

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of India conventional short form: India local long form: Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya local short form: India/Bharat

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: New Delhi geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

28 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*,
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*,
Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Puducherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
West Bengal

Independence:

15 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

Constitution:

26 January 1950; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Pratibha PATIL (since 25 July 2007); Vice President Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 21 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012); vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 12 August 2002 (next to be held August 2007); prime minister chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections; election last held April - May 2004 (next to be held May 2009) election results: Pratibha PATIL elected president; percent of vote - 65.8%; Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT - 34.2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members up to 12 of whom are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: People's Assembly - last held 20 April through 10 May 2004 (next must be held by May 2009) election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - INC 147, BJP 129, CPI (M) 43, SP 38, RJD 23, DMK 16, BSP 15, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 10, JD (U) 8, SAD 8, PMK 6, JMM 5, LJSP 4, MDMK 4, TDP 4, TRS 4, independent 6, other 29, vacant 13; note - seats by party as of December 2006

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (one chief justice and 25 associate justices are appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65 or are removed for "proved misbehavior")

Political parties and leaders:

Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP
[Rajnath SINGH]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]; Communist
Party of India or CPI [Ardhendu Bhushan BARDHAN]; Communist Party of
India-Marxist or CPI-M [Prakash KARAT]; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or
DMK [M. KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia
GANDHI]; Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) [Sharad YADAV]; Jharkhand
Mukti Morcha or JMM [Shibu SOREN]; Left Front (an alliance of Indian
leftist parties); Lok Jan Shakti Party or LJSP [Ram Vilas PASWAN];
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or MDMK [V. Gopalswamy
VAIKO]; Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Pattali
Makkal Katchi or PMK [S. RAMADOSS]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD
[Laloo Prasad YADAV]; Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV];
Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]; Shiv Sena or SS
[Bal THACKERAY]; Telangana Rashtriya Samithi or TRS [K.
Chandrashekhar RAO]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU];
United Progressive Alliance or UPA [Sonia GANDHI] (India's ruling
party coalition of 12 political parties); note - India has dozens of
national and regional political parties; only parties or coalitions
with four or more seats in the People's Assembly are listed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group); Bajrang Dal (religious organization); National Socialist Council of Nagaland in the northeast (separatist group); Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (religious organization); Vishwa Hindu Parishad (religious organization other: numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations; various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy

International organization participation:

ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
BIMSTEC, BIS, C, CERN (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS
(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF
(partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ranendra SEN chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David C. MULFORD embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [91] (011) 2419-8000 FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017 consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Economy
India

Economy - overview:

India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for more than half of India's output with less than one third of its labor force. About three-fifths of the work force is in agriculture, leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to articulate an economic reform program that includes developing basic infrastructure to improve the lives of the rural poor and boost economic performance. The government has reduced controls on foreign trade and investment. Higher limits on foreign direct investment were permitted in a few key sectors, such as telecommunications. However, tariff spikes in sensitive categories, including agriculture, and incremental progress on economic reforms still hinder foreign access to India's vast and growing market. Privatization of government-owned industries remains stalled and continues to generate political debate; populist pressure from within the UPA government and from its Left Front allies continues to restrain needed initiatives. The economy has posted an average growth rate of more than 7% in the decade since 1997, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points. India achieved 8.5% GDP growth in 2006, and again in 2007, significantly expanding production of manufactures. India is capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language to become a major exporter of software services and software workers. Economic expansion has helped New Delhi continue to make progress in reducing its federal fiscal deficit. However, strong growth combined with easy consumer credit and a real estate boom fueled inflation concerns in 2006 and 2007, leading to a series of central bank interest rate hikes that have slowed credit growth and eased inflation concerns. The huge and growing population is the fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.966 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.099 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.8% industry: 29.4% services: 52.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

516.4 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 60% industry: 12% services: 28% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

7.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 31.1% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.8 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

33.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $141.2 billion expenditures: $172.6 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

58.2% of GDP (federal and state debt combined) (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.02% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$250.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$647.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$769.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish

Industries:

textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

665.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

517.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

378 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.189 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 81.7% hydro: 14.5% nuclear: 3.4% other: 0.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

880,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.722 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

450,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

2.159 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

5.625 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

31.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

41.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.075 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$12.11 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$151.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products, textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals, leather manufactures

Exports - partners:

US 15%, China 8.7%, UAE 8.7%, UK 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$230.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals

Imports - partners:

China 10.6%, US 7.8%, Germany 4.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.724 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$275 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$149.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$95.96 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$37.5 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$818.9 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code:

##### INR

Exchange rates:

Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.3 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003)

Communications
India

Telephones - main lines in use:

38.76 million (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

296.08 million (2008)

Telephone system:

general assessment: recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies have prompted rapid growth; local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban areas; steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but combined fixed and mobile telephone density remains low at about 30 for each 100 persons nationwide and much lower for persons in rural areas; rapid growth in cellular service with modest declines in fixed lines domestic: mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles each with about three private service providers and one state-owned service provider; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT) international: country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Sea-Me-We-4 with a landing site at Chennai, Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with a landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with a landing site at Cochin, the i2i cable network linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); 9 gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)

Radios:

116 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

562 (1997)

Televisions:

63 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.in

Internet hosts:

2.707 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

43 (2000)

Internet users:

80 million (2007)

Transportation
India

Airports:

346 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 250 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 52 1,524 to 2,437 m: 75 914 to 1,523 m: 84 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 96 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 47 (2007)

Heliports:

30 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 9 km; gas 7,488 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,861 km; oil 7,883 km; refined products 6,422 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 63,221 km broad gauge: 46,807 km 1.676-m gauge (17,343 km electrified) narrow gauge: 13,290 km 1.000-m gauge (165 km electrified); 3,124 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 3,316,452 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

14,500 km note: 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 501 by type: bulk carrier 102, cargo 241, carrier 1, chemical tanker 19, container 13, liquefied gas 18, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 92, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 12 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 6, UK 2) registered in other countries: 61 (Barbados 1, Comoros 2, Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 27, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 13, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Chennai, Haldia, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta),
Mormugao, Mumbai (Bombay), New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam

Military
India

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu
Sena), Coast Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 301,094,084 females age 16-49: 283,047,141 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 231,161,111 females age 16-49: 236,633,962 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 11,592,516 female: 10,636,857 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
India

Disputes - international:

since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; various talks and confidence-building measures have cautiously begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan have maintained the 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; discussions with Bangladesh remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, to exchange territory for 51 Bangladeshi exclaves in India and 111 Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, to allocate divided villages, and to stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the border; dispute with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; India seeks cooperation from Bhutan and Burma to keep Indian Nagaland and Assam separatists from hiding in remote areas along the borders; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 77,200 (Tibet/China); 69,609 (Sri Lanka); 9,472 (Afghanistan) IDPs: at least 600,000 (about half are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: India is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; internal forced labor may constitute India's largest trafficking problem; men, women, and children are held in debt bondage and face forced labor working in brick kilns, rice mills, agriculture, and embroidery factories; women and girls are trafficked within the country for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriage; children are subjected to forced labor as factory workers, domestic servants, beggars, and agriculture workers, and have been used as armed combatants by some terrorist and insurgent groups; India is also a destination for women and girls from Nepal and Bangladesh trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Indian women are trafficked to the Middle East for commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Bangladesh and Nepal are trafficked through India for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation in the Middle East tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - India is on the Tier 2 Watch List for a fifth consecutive year for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; despite the reported extent of the trafficking crisis in India, government authorities made uneven efforts to prosecute traffickers and protect trafficking victims; government authorities continued to rescue victims of commercial sexual exploitation and forced child labor and child armed combatants, and began to show progress in law enforcement against these forms of trafficking; a critical challenge overall is the lack of punishment for traffickers, effectively resulting in impunity for acts of human trafficking; India has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor production

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Indian Ocean

Introduction
Indian Ocean

Background:

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.

Geography
Indian Ocean

Location:

body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 00 S, 80 00 E

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 68.556 million sq km
note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea,
Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea,
Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of
Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

about 5.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:

66,526 km

Climate:

northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean

Terrain:

surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Natural hazards:

occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea

Geography - note:

major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait

Economy
Indian Ocean

Economy - overview:

The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Transportation
Indian Ocean

Ports and terminals:

Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa),
Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India) Melbourne
(Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa)

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of Malacca; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crew and passengers are often held for ransom, murdered, or cast adrift

Transnational Issues
Indian Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Indonesia

Introduction
Indonesia

Background:

The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and controlling avian influenza. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face a low intensity separatist movement in Papua.

Geography
Indonesia

Location:

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the
Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

##### 5 00 S, 120 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 1,919,440 sq km land: 1,826,440 sq km water: 93,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,830 km border countries: Timor-Leste 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

Coastline:

54,716 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain:

mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Land use:

arable land: 11.03% permanent crops: 7.04% other: 81.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:

45,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

2,838 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 82.78 cu km/yr (8%/1%/91%) per capita: 372 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

People
Indonesia

Population:

237,512,352 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.4% (male 34,343,198/female 33,175,135) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 78,330,830/female 77,812,339) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 6,151,305/female 7,699,548) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.2 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.175% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

19.24 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 31.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.46 years male: 67.98 years female: 73.07 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,400 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian

Ethnic groups:

Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, other or unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)

Religions:

Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.4% male: 94% female: 86.8% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Indonesia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch East Indies

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Jakarta geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones

Administrative divisions:

30 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Papua, Papua Barat (Irian Jaya Barat), Riau, Sulawesi Barat, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Yogyakarta* note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1 January 2001, the 465 regencies and municipalities have become the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services

Independence:

17 August 1945 (declared) note: recognized by the Netherlands on 27 December 1949; in August 2005, the Netherlands announced it recognized de facto Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Constitution:

August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959; series of amendments concluded in 2002

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004); Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004); Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president were elected for five-year terms (eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; last held 20 September 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president receiving 60.6% of vote; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri received 39.4%

Legislative branch:

House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (550 seats; members elected to serve five-year terms); House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating and impeaching president and in amending constitution; consists of popularly elected members in DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy elections: last held 5 April 2004 (next to be held 8 or 9 April 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Golkar 21.6%, PDI-P 18.5%, PKB 10.6%, PPP 8.2%, PD 7.5%, PKS 7.3%, PAN 6.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party - Golkar 128, PDI-P 109, PPP 58, PD 55, PAN 53, PKB 52, PKS 45, others 50 note: because of election rules, the number of seats won does not always follow the percentage of votes received by parties

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the president from a list of candidates selected by the legislature); a separate Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi was invested by the president on 16 August 2003; in March 2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Labor Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in January 2006

Political parties and leaders:

Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [MS KABAN]; Democratic Party or
PD [Hadi UTOMO]; Functional Groups Party or Golkar [Yusuf KALLA];
Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI
Sukarnoputri]; National Awakening Party or PKB; National Mandate
Party or PAN [Sutrisno BACHIR]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS
[Tifatul SEMBIRING]; United Development Party or PPP [Suryadharma
ALI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Indonesian Women's Coalition (Koalisi Perempuan - human rights group); Islamic Defenders Front or FPI; National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Faith; Oil Palm Watch (environmental)

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PIF (partner), UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador SUDJADNAN Parnohadiningrat chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200 FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110 mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520 telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000 FAX: [62] (21) 3435-9922 consulate(s) general: Surabaya

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Economy
Indonesia

Economy - overview:

Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has been undergoing significant economic reforms under President YUDHOYONO. Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio has been declining steadily, its foreign exchange reserves are at an all-time high of over $50 billion, and its stock market has been one of the three best performers in the world in 2006 and 2007, as global investors sought out higher returns in emerging markets. The government has introduced significant reforms in the financial sector, including tax and customs reforms, the introduction of Treasury bills, and improved capital market supervision. Indonesia's new investment law, passed in March 2007, seeks to address some of the concerns of foreign and domestic investors. Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among regions. Indonesia has been slow to privatize over 100 state-owned enterprises, several of which have monopolies in key sectors. The non-bank financial sector, including pension funds and insurance, remains weak. Capital markets are underdeveloped. The high global price of oil in 2007 increased the cost of domestic fuel and electricity subsidies, and are contributing to concerns about higher food prices. Located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" Indonesia remains vulnerable to volcanic and tectonic disasters. Significant progress has been made in rebuilding Aceh after the devastating December 2004 tsunami, and the province now shows more economic activity than before the disaster. Unfortunately, Indonesia suffered new disasters in 2006 and early 2007 including: a major earthquake near Yogyakarta, an industrial accident in Sidoarjo, East Java that created a "mud volcano," a tsunami in South Java, and major flooding in Jakarta, all of which caused additional damages in the billions of dollars. Donors are assisting Indonesia with its disaster mitigation and early warning efforts.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$843.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$432.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.8% industry: 46.7% services: 39.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

109.9 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 43.3% industry: 18% services: 38.7% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17.8% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.3 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $79.56 billion expenditures: $84.87 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

34% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

8% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.86% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$47.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$127 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$170.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs

Industries:

petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

125.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

110.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 86.9% hydro: 10.5% nuclear: 0% other: 2.6% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.044 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.219 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

470,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports:

500,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.37 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

56 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

23.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

32.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.659 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$11.01 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$118 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber

Exports - partners:

Japan 20.7%, US 10.2%, Singapore 9.2%, China 8.5%, South Korea 6.6%,
Malaysia 4.5%, India 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$84.93 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Singapore 13.2%, China 11.5%, Japan 8.8%, Malaysia 8.6%, US 6.4%, Thailand 5.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.5%, South Korea 4.3%, Australia 4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $2.524 billion (2006 est.) note: Indonesia ended 2006 with $67 billion in official foreign debt (about 25% of GDP), with Japan ($25 billion), the World Bank ($8.5 billion) and the Asian Development Bank ($8.4 billion) as the largest creditors; about $6 billion in grant assistance was pledged to rebuild Aceh after the December 2004 tsunami; President YUDHOYONO disbanded the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) donor forum in January 2007

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$56.92 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$140 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$57.6 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$9.225 billion (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$138.9 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Indonesian rupiah (IDR)

Currency code:

##### IDR

Exchange rates:

Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 9,056 (2007 est.), 9,159.3 (2006), 9,704.7 (2005), 8,938.9 (2004), 8,577.1 (2003)

Communications
Indonesia

Telephones - main lines in use:

17.828 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

81.835 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic service fair, international service good domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system; coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile cellular subscribership growing rapidly international: country code - 62; landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks that provide links throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)

Radios:

31.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

54 local TV stations (11 national TV networks; each with its group of local transmitters) (2006)

Televisions:

13.75 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.id

Internet hosts:

753,200 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

24 (2000)

Internet users:

13 million (2007)

Transportation
Indonesia

Airports:

652 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 158 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 49 under 914 m: 39 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 494 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 462 (2007)

Heliports:

17 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 963 km; condensate/gas 81 km; gas 9,003 km; oil 7,471 km; oil/gas/water 77 km; refined products 1,365 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 6,458 km narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 391,009 km paved: 216,714 km unpaved: 174,295 km (2005)

Waterways:

21,579 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 971 by type: bulk carrier 54, cargo 514, chemical tanker 35, container 80, liquefied gas 7, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum tanker 143, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: 43 (China 2, France 1, Germany 1, Japan 6, Norway 1, Philippines 1, Singapore 27, Taiwan 2, UAE 2) registered in other countries: 114 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, China 1, Hong Kong 7, Liberia 2, Mongolia 1, Panama 31, Singapore 66, unknown 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang,
Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military
Indonesia

Military branches:

Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army
(TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL);
includes marines, naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara
(TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan Udara
Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 63,800,825 females age 16-49: 61,729,717 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 52,367,788 females age 16-49: 52,129,123 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,181,303 female: 2,110,397 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Indonesia

Disputes - international:

Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees from Timor-Leste who left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left the sovereignty of Unarang rock and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea in dispute; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait; maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh; most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi Provinces, and Maluku) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Iran

Introduction
Iran

Background:

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts. US-Iranian relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US and UN economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and conventional weapons proliferation. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and similarly a reformer Majles (parliament) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, through the control of unelected institutions, prevented reform measures from being enacted and increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. In December 2006 and March 2007, the international community passed resolutions 1737 and 1747 respectively after Iran failed to comply with UN demands to halt the enrichment of uranium or to agree to full IAEA oversight of its nuclear program. In October 2007, Iranian entities were also subject to US sanctions under EO 13382 designations for proliferation activities and EO 13224 designations for providing material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.

Geography
Iran

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the
Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates:

##### 32 00 N, 53 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 1.648 million sq km land: 1.636 million sq km water: 12,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 5,440 km border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

Coastline:

2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf continental shelf: natural prolongation

Climate:

mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain:

rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use:

arable land: 9.78% permanent crops: 1.29% other: 88.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:

76,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

137.5 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 72.88 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%) per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport

People
Iran

Population:

65,875,224 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.3% (male 7,548,116/female 7,164,921) 15-64 years: 72.3% (male 24,090,976/female 23,522,861) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,713,533/female 1,834,816) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.4 years male: 26.2 years female: 26.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.792% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 36.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 37.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.86 years male: 69.39 years female: 72.4 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

66,000 (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,600 (2005 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Iranian(s) adjective: Iranian

Ethnic groups:

Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%,
Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%

Languages:

Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%,
Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77% male: 83.5% female: 70.4% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2006)

Government
Iran

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran local short form: Iran former: Persia

Government type:

theocratic republic

Capital:

name: Tehran geographic coordinates: 35 40 N, 51 25 E time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e
Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,
Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e
Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan,
Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan,
Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence:

1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Constitution:

2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system:

based on Sharia law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August 2005); First Vice President Parviz DAVUDI (since 11 September 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over appointments to the more sensitive ministries note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkise-Maslahat-e-Nezam) exerts supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been used to advise national religious leaders on matters of national policy; in 2005 the Council's powers were expanded to act as a supervisory body for the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the Constitution or Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye Negaban-e Qanun-e Assassi) determines whether proposed legislation is both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates for suitability, and supervises national elections elections: Supreme Leader is appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term and third nonconsecutive term); last held 17 June 2005 with a two-candidate runoff on 24 June 2005 (next presidential election slated for 12 June 2009) election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI 36%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami or Majles (290 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 14 March 2008 with a runoff held 25 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - conservatives/Islamists 170, reformers 46, independents 71, religious minorities 3

Judicial branch:

The Supreme Court (Qeveh Qazaieh) and the four-member High Council of the Judiciary have a single head and overlapping responsibilities; together they supervise the enforcement of all laws and establish judicial and legal policies; lower courts include a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special administrative court

Political parties and leaders:

formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in Iran and most conservatives still prefer to work through political pressure groups rather than parties, and often political parties or coalitions are formed prior to elections and disbanded soon thereafter; a loose pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad Front, which includes political parties as well as less formal groups and organizations, achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majles in early 2000; groups in the coalition include: Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran), Solidarity Party, Islamic Labor Party, Mardom Salari, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO), and Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition participated in the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; following his defeat in the 2005 presidential elections, former MCS Secretary General and sixth Majles Speaker Mehdi KARUBI formed the National Trust Party; a new conservative group, Islamic Iran Developers Coalition (Abadgaran), took a leading position in the new Majles after winning a majority of the seats in February 2004; following the 2004 Majles elections, traditional and hardline conservatives have attempted to close ranks under the United Front of Principlists; the IIPF has repeatedly complained that the overwhelming majority of its candidates have been unfairly disqualified from the 2008 elections

Political pressure groups and leaders:

groups that generally support the Islamic Republic: Ansar-e Hizballah-Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh); Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader; Islamic Engineers Society; Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat); active pro-reform student group: Office of Strengthening Unity (OSU); opposition groups: Baluchistan People's Party (BPP); Freedom Movement of Iran; Marz-e Por Gohar; National Front; and various ethnic and Monarchist organizations; armed political groups that have been repressed by the government: Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI); Jundallah; Komala; Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO); People's Fedayeen; People's Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK)

International organization participation:

CP, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - the American Interests Section is located in the Swiss Embassy compound at Africa Avenue, West Farzan Street, number 32, Tehran, Iran; telephone [98] 21 8878 2964 or 21 8879 2364; FAX [98] 21 8877 3265

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

Economy
Iran

Economy - overview:

Iran's economy is marked by an inefficient state sector, reliance on the oil sector (which provides 85% of government revenues), and statist policies that create major distortions throughout. Most economic activity is controlled by the state. Private sector activity is typically small-scale workshops, farming, and services. President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD failed to make any notable progress in fulfilling the goals of the nation's latest five-year plan. A combination of price controls and subsidies, particularly on food and energy, continue to weigh down the economy, and administrative controls, widespread corruption, and other rigidities undermine the potential for private-sector-led growth. As a result of these inefficiencies, significant informal market activity flourishes and shortages are common. High oil prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass nearly $70 billion in foreign exchange reserves. Yet this increased revenue has not eased economic hardships, which include double-digit unemployment and inflation - inflation climbed to 26% as of June 2008. The economy has seen only moderate growth. Iran's educated population, economic inefficiency and insufficient investment - both foreign and domestic - have prompted an increasing number of Iranians to seek employment overseas, resulting in significant "brain drain."

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$762.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$294.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.7% industry: 42.9% services: 46.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

28.7 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 25% industry: 31% services: 45% (June 2007)

Unemployment rate:

12% according to the Iranian government (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 33.7% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.5 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $104 billion expenditures: $101 billion (2008 est.)

Fiscal year:

21 March - 20 March

Public debt:

17.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

17.1% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$46.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$68.71 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$109.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, sugar cane, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Industries:

petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Industrial production growth rate:

4.8% excluding oil (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

189.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

149.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.775 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 97.1% hydro: 2.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

4.033 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.679 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.52 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports:

167,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

138.4 billion bbl based on Iranian claims (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

111.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

111.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

6.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

26.85 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$28.95 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$88.26 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets

Exports - partners:

China 15%, Japan 14.3%, Turkey 7.4%, South Korea 7.3%, Italy 6.4% (2007)

Imports:

$53.88 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services

Imports - partners:

China 14.2%, Germany 9.6%, UAE 9.1%, South Korea 6.3%, Russia 5.7%,
Italy 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$104 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$69.2 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$20.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$6.026 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$903 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$45.2 billion (December 2007)

Currency (code):

Iranian rial (IRR)

Currency code:

##### IRR

Exchange rates:

Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar - 9,407.5 (2007), 9,227.1 (2006), 8,964 (2005), 8,614 (2004), 8,193.9 (2003) note: Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regime since unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002

Communications
Iran

Telephones - main lines in use:

23.835 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

29.77 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several thousand villages, not presently connected domestic: the addition of new fiber cables and modern switching and exchange systems installed by Iran's state-owned telecom company have improved and expanded the main line network greatly; main line availability has more than doubled to nearly 24 million lines since 2000; additionally, mobile service has increased dramatically serving nearly 30 million subscribers in 2007 international: country code - 98; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios:

17 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

28 (plus 450 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

4.61 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ir

Internet hosts:

2,860 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

100 (2002)

Internet users:

23 million (2007)

Transportation
Iran

Airports:

331 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 129 over 3,047 m: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 202 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 145 under 914 m: 46 (2007)

Heliports:

14 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 7 km; condensate/gas 397 km; gas 19,161 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,438 km; refined products 7,936 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 8,367 km broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge standard gauge: 8,273 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 172,927 km paved: 125,908 km (includes 1,429 km of expressways) unpaved: 47,019 km (2006)

Waterways:

850 km (on Karun River; additional service on Lake Urmia) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 74 by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 34, chemical tanker 4, container 6, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) registered in other countries: 115 (Barbados 2, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 10, Hong Kong 15, Malta 79, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Assaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e-Eman Khomeyni

Military
Iran

Military branches:

Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force of the Military of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Niru-ye Hava'i-ye Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran; includes air defense); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Qods Force (special operations), and Basij Force (Popular Mobilization Army); Law Enforcement Forces (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation - 18 months; women exempt from military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,212,275 females age 16-49: 19,638,751 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,416,126 females age 16-49: 16,928,226 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 766,668 female: 727,654 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Iran

Disputes - international:

Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries to the Helmand River in periods of drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Iran stands alone among littoral states in insisting upon a division of the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 914,268 (Afghanistan); 54,024 (Iraq) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Iran is a source, transit, and destination country for women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude; Iranian women are trafficked internally for the purpose of forced prostitution and for forced marriages to settle debts; Iranian children are trafficked internally and Afghan children are trafficked into Iran for the purpose of forced marriages, commercial sexual exploitation, and involuntary servitude as beggars or laborers tier rating: Tier 3 - Iran did not provide evidence of law enforcement activities against trafficking, and credible reports indicate that Iranian authorities punish victims of trafficking with beatings, imprisonment, and execution; Iran has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

despite substantial interdiction efforts and considerable control measures along the border with Afghanistan, Iran remains one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; suffers one of the highest opiate addiction rates in the world, and has an increasing problem with synthetic drugs; lacks anti-money laundering laws; has reached out to neighboring countries to share counter-drug intelligence

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Iraq

Introduction
Iraq

Background:

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq under a UNSC mandate, helping to provide security and to support the freely elected government. The Coalition Provisional Authority, which temporarily administered Iraq after the invasion, transferred full governmental authority on 28 June 2004 to the Iraqi Interim Government, which governed under the Transitional Administrative Law for Iraq (TAL). Under the TAL, elections for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were held in Iraq on 30 January 2005. Following these elections, the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) assumed office. The TNA was charged with drafting Iraq's permanent constitution, which was approved in a 15 October 2005 constitutional referendum. An election under the constitution for a 275-member Council of Representatives (CoR) was held on 15 December 2005. The CoR approval in the selection of most of the cabinet ministers on 20 May 2006 marked the transition from the ITG to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half-century.

Geography
Iraq

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Geographic coordinates:

##### 33 00 N, 44 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 437,072 sq km land: 432,162 sq km water: 4,910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries:

total: 3,650 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

Coastline:

58 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq

Terrain:

mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is neither Gundah Zhur 3,607 m nor Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Land use:

arable land: 13.12% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 86.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

35,250 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

96.4 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 42.7 cu km/yr (3%/5%/92%) per capita: 1,482 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms, floods

Environment - current issues:

government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

People
Iraq

Population:

28,221,180 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39.2% (male 5,613,420/female 5,438,770) 15-64 years: 57.9% (male 8,270,573/female 8,057,423) 65 years and over: 3% (male 396,751/female 444,244) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.2 years male: 20.1 years female: 20.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.562% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

30.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.14 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 45.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 51.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.62 years male: 68.32 years female: 70.99 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi

Ethnic groups:

Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%

Religions:

Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%

Languages:

Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.1% male: 84.1% female: 64.2% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Iraq

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al-Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Baghdad geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 23 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 1 October

Administrative divisions:

18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 region*; Al
Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As
Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala,
Karbala', Kurdistan Regional Government*, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad
Din, Wasit

Independence:

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was celebrated under the SADDAM Husayn regime; the Government of Iraq has yet to declare a new national holiday

Constitution:

ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum )

Legal system:

based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Vice Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22 April 2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the Presidency Council) head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Barham SALIH (since 20 May 2006)and Rafi al-ISSAWI (since 19 July 2008) cabinet: 34 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI and Deputy Prime Ministers Barham SALIH and Rafi al-ISSAWI elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives

Legislative branch:

Council of Representatives (consisting of 275 members elected by a closed-list, proportional representation system) elections: last held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives (next to be held January 2009); the Council of Representatives elected the Presidency Council and approved the prime minister and two deputy prime ministers election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Unified Iraqi Alliance 41%, Kurdistan Alliance 22%, Tawafuq Coalition 15%, Iraqi National List 8%, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 4%, other 10%; number of seats by party (as of November 2007) - Unified Iraqi Alliance (including the Sadrist bloc with 30 and Fadilah with 15) 130, Kurdistan Alliance 53, Tawafuq Front 44, Iraqi National List 25, Fadilah 15, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 11, other 12

Judicial branch:

the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law

Political parties and leaders:

Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI]; General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid MAJEED]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; National Reconciliation and Liberation Party [Mishan al-JABBURI]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR] (not an organized political party, but it fields independent candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmed al-RISHAWI] note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER embassy: Baghdad mailing address: APO AE 09316 telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section FAX: NA

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Economy
Iraq

Economy - overview:

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Although looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined economy rebuilding efforts, economic activity is beginning to pick up in areas recently secured by the US military surge. Oil exports are around levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom, and total government revenues have benefited from high oil prices. Despite political uncertainty, Iraq is making some progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy and has negotiated a debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club and a new Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF. Iraq has received pledges for $13.5 billion in foreign aid for 2004-07 from outside of the US, more than $33 billion in total pledges. The International Compact with Iraq was established in May 2007 to integrate Iraq into the regional and global economy, and the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to strengthen its economy. This legislation includes a hydrocarbon law to establish a modern legal framework to allow Iraq to develop its resources and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although both are still bogged down in discussions. The Central Bank has been successful in controlling inflation through appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar. Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to Iraq's economic success.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$102.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$60.12 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5% industry: 68% services: 27% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

7.4 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

18% to 30% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $42.3 billion expenditures: $48.4 billion (FY08 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

20% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.74% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$18.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.67 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Industrial production growth rate:

7.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

33.53 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

35.84 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

2.315 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 98.4% hydro: 1.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.094 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

295,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.67 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

115 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

3.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.8 billion cu m note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$6.025 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$38.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%

Exports - partners:

US 36.8%, Italy 12.6%, South Korea 9.5%, Taiwan 6.3%, Spain 5.2%,
Canada 4.7%, France 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$25.67 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Syria 30.5%, Turkey 19.8%, US 11.1%, Jordan 5%, China 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$21.65 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$25.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004

Currency code:

NID, IQD prior to 22 January 2004

Exchange rates:

New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)

Communications
Iraq

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.547 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

14.021 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications through fiber optic links are in progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly with an estimated 14 million current users in 2007 domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; planned international fiber-optic connections to Iran (terrestrial) with a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations (types NA) on the air inside Iraq (2004)

Radios:

4.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

21 (2004)

Televisions:

1.75 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.iq

Internet hosts:

3 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

54,000 (2007)

Transportation
Iraq

Airports:

110 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 76 over 3,047 m: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 34 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Heliports:

17 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,250 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,509 km; refined products 1,637 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,272 km standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 44,900 km paved: 37,851 km unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Waterways:

5,279 km note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 14 by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

Military
Iraq

Military branches:

Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations
Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal
Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,086,200 females age 16-49: 6,808,954 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,019,795 females age 16-49: 5,878,905 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 302,926 female: 294,747 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

8.6% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Iraq

Disputes - international:

coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey) IDPs: 2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Ireland

Introduction
Ireland

Background:

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is being implemented with some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Geography
Ireland

Location:

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates:

##### 53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Coastline:

1,448 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain:

mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Land use:

arable land: 16.82% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 83.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

46.8 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%) per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin

People
Ireland

Population:

4,156,119 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 448,333/female 418,476) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,400,222/female 1,398,194) 65 years and over: 11.8% (male 218,459/female 272,435) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.6 years male: 33.9 years female: 35.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.133% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.07 years male: 75.44 years female: 80.88 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups:

Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Languages:

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.7% of GDP (2005)

Government
Ireland

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire

Government type:

republic, parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Dublin geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway,
Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth,
Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary,
Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence:

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

National holiday:

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution:

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Legal system:

based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6% note: government coalition - Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats, and independent members of Parliament

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held by July 2012); House of Representatives - last held 24 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%, Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, other 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John
GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary
HARNEY, acting leader]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party
[Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian McCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); Families Against Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism); Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG (encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group); Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters); Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters); 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports a fully sovereign Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist group)

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777 FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Economy
Ireland

Economy - overview:

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging 6% in 1995-2007. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Although the exports sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, remains a key component of Ireland's economy, construction has most recently fueled economic growth along with strong consumer spending and business investment. Property prices have risen more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2006 than in any other developed world economy. Per capita GDP is 40% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg, and in 2007 surpassed that of the United States. The Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, invest in infrastructure, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. A slowdown in the property market, more intense global competition, and increased costs, however, have compelled government economists to lower Ireland's growth forecast slightly for 2008. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$191.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$258.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$46,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

2.217 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 6% industry: 27% services: 67% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $93.22 billion expenditures: $92.46 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.52% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$768.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Industries:

steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

25.77 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

25.67 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

82 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.412 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 95.9% hydro: 2.3% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

200,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

29,780 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

194,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

457 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.984 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.552 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$14.12 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$115.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Exports - partners:

UK 18.7%, US 17.9%, Belgium 14.5%, Germany 7.4%, France 5.8% (2007)

Imports:

$84.76 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports - partners:

UK 38.3%, US 11.3%, Germany 9.7%, Netherlands 5%, France 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.022 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$926.2 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.841 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$191.4 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$139.6 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$114.1 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Ireland

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.112 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.94 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

2.55 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (many repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

1.82 million (2001)

Internet country code:

.ie

Internet hosts:

1.242 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:

1.708 million (2007)

Transportation
Ireland

Airports:

34 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,855 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,237 km broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 96,602 km paved: 96,602 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2003)

Waterways:

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 29 by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 2 (US 2) registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 10, Slovakia 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes

Military
Ireland

Military branches:

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval
Service and Air Corps (Aer-Chor na h-Eireann)) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary military service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; maximum obligation 12 years; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces; EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,024,635 females age 16-49: 1,024,276 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 854,982 females age 16-49: 852,592 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 28,610 female: 27,095 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Ireland

Disputes - international:

Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Isle of Man

Introduction
Isle of Man

Background:

##### Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. Isle of Man is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Geography
Isle of Man

Location:

Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and
Ireland

Geographic coordinates:

##### 54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 572 sq km land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

160 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about one-third of the time

Terrain:

hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 0% other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution

Geography - note:

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary

People
Isle of Man

Population:

76,220 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17% (male 6,629/female 6,318) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 25,251/female 24,959) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,294/female 7,769) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40 years male: 38.8 years female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.509% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.8 years male: 75.46 years female: 82.32 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women) adjective: Manx

Ethnic groups:

Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Languages:

English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy:

##### NA

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Isle of Man

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man abbreviation: I.O.M.

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Douglas geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Tynwald Day, 5 July

Constitution:

unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and Manx statutes

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K. HADDACKS (since 17 October 2005) head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; the chief minister is elected by the Tynwald; election last held 14 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2008) election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief minister by the Tynwald

Legislative branch:

bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats; members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Keys - last held 23 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2011) election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Man Labor Party 1, independents 21

Judicial branch:

High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter
KARRAN]; Man Labor Party; Man Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin)
[Bernard MOFFATT]
note: most members sit as independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog);
Mec Vannin (political party advocating a sovereign state and
environment policies); note - has only had one member elected to the
Tynwald

International organization participation:

##### UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Economy
Isle of Man

Economy - overview:

Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$35,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

39,690 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%, entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

1.5% (December 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $965 million expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (December 2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Industries:

financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

##### 3.2% (FY96/97)

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

Exports - partners:

##### UK (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports - partners:

##### UK (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Isle of Man pound (IMP), also known as the Manx pound note: the British pound is also legal tender, but change is given in IMP

Currency code:

##### GBP

Exchange rates:

Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Communications
Isle of Man

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,000 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Televisions:

27,490 (1999)

Internet country code:

.im

Internet hosts:

426 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Isle of Man

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 65 km standard gauge: 7 km 1.067-m gauge (7 km electrified) narrow gauge: 58 km 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified) note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2006)

Roadways:

total: 500 km (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 273 by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 50, chemical tanker 48, container 12, liquefied gas 41, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 73, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 8, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 181 (Chile 6, Denmark 29, France 1, Germany 56, Greece 50, Ireland 1, Japan 6, Monaco 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 20, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Turkey 2, US 4) registered in other countries: 7 (Bahamas 1, Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Douglas, Ramsey

Military
Isle of Man

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 471 female: 447 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Isle of Man

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Israel

Introduction
Israel

Background:

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. An Israeli-Palestinian agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in February 2005, along with an internally-brokered Palestinian ceasefire, significantly reduced the violence. In the summer of 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS in January 2006 to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in March 2006; following an Israeli military operation in Gaza in June-July 2006 and a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006, he shelved plans to unilaterally evacuate from most of the West Bank. OLMERT in June 2007 resumed talks with the PA after HAMAS seized control of the Gaza Strip and PA President Mahmoud ABBAS formed a new government without HAMAS.

Geography
Israel

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Lebanon

Geographic coordinates:

##### 31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 20,770 sq km land: 20,330 sq km water: 440 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,017 km border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Coastline:

273 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Terrain:

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains;
Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources:

timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Land use:

arable land: 15.45% permanent crops: 3.88% other: 80.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,940 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1.7 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.05 cu km/yr (31%/7%/62%) per capita: 305 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites - including 100 small outpost communities in the West Bank - as well as 42 sites in the Golan Heights, 0 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.); Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source

People
Israel

Population:

7,112,359 note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28% (male 1,018,229/female 971,083) 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 2,242,928/female 2,183,688) 65 years and over: 9.8% (male 303,289/female 393,142) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.9 years male: 28.2 years female: 29.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.713% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.02 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.61 years male: 78.54 years female: 82.79 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.77 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli

Ethnic groups:

Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born 22.6%, Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) (2004)

Religions:

Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

Languages:

Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.1% male: 98.5% female: 95.9% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2004)

Government
Israel

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Jerusalem geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Administrative divisions:

6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence:

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Constitution:

no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law; note - since May 2003 the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee of the Knesset has been working on a draft constitution

Legal system:

mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Ehud OLMERT (since May 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI; note - Prime Minister OLMERT resigned on 17 September 2008, but will serve as acting prime minister until a new government is formed cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset elections: president is largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held 13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the president assigns a Knesset member - traditionally the leader of the largest party - the task of forming a governing coalition note: government coalition - Kadima, Labor Party, GIL (Pensioners), and SHAS election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21; PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 2006 (next scheduled to be held in February 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Kadima 22%, Labor 15.1%, SHAS 9.5%, Likud 9%, Yisrael Beiteinu 9%, NU/NRP 7.1%, GIL 5.9%, Torah and Shabbat Judaism 4.7%, Meretz-YAHAD 3.8%, United Arab List 3%, Balad 2.3%, HADASH 2.7%, other 5.9%; seats by party - Kadima 29, Labor 19, Likud 12, SHAS 12, Yisrael Beiteinu 11, NU/NRP 9, GIL 7, Torah and Shabbat Judaism 6, Meretz-YAHAD 5, United Arab List 4, Balad 3, HADASH 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee - made up of all three branches of the government; mandatory retirement age is 70)

Political parties and leaders:

Balad [Azmi BISHARA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
(HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]; GIL (Pensioners) [Rafael "Rafi" EITAN];
Kadima [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; Labor Party [Ehud BARAK]; Likud
[Binyamin NETANYAHU]; Meretz-Yachad [Haim ORON]; National Democratic
Assembly (Balad) [Jamal ZAHALKA]; National Union (NU)/National
Religious Party (NRP) [Binyamin ELON]; SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; Torah
and Shabbat Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN]; United Arab List
[Ibrahim SARSUR]; Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses; Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General] supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; YESHA Council of Settlements [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise

International organization participation:

BIS, BSEC (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS
(observer), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), PCA, SECI (observer),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Salai MERIDOR chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CUNNINGHAM embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903 mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830 telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575 FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390 consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government

Flag description:

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Economy
Israel

Economy - overview:

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial, though diminishing, government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel imports substantial quantities of grain but is largely self-sufficient in other agricultural products. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, its major source of economic and military aid. Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly in 2001 and 2002 due to the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the high-technology sector, has grown by about 5% per year since 2003. The economy grew an estimated 5.4% in 2007, the fastest pace since 2000. The government's prudent fiscal policy and structural reforms over the past few years have helped to induce strong foreign investment, tax revenues, and private consumption, setting the economy on a solid growth path.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$185.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$161.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$26,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 30.2% services: 67.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.894 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 18.5%, industry 23.7%, services 50%, other 7.8% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21.6% note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 28.3% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.6 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $53.6 billion expenditures: $53.63 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

80.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.27% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$15.36 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$154.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$113.4 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Industries:

high-technology projects (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles, footwear

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

48.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

44.74 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

1.844 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

5,966 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

232,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

82,910 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

334,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.94 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

970 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

970 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

30.44 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.197 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$50.37 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Exports - partners:

US 35%, Belgium 7.5%, Hong Kong 5.8% (2007)

Imports:

$55.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 13.9%, Belgium 7.9%, Germany 6.2%, China 6.1%, Switzerland 5.1%,
UK 4.7%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$240 million from US (FY06)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$28.52 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$89.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$57.97 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$41.96 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$173.3 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

new Israeli shekel (ILS); note - NIS is the currency abbreviation; ILS is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code for the NIS

Currency code:

##### ILS

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)

Communications
Israel

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.005 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.902 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East although not the largest domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; four privately-owned mobile-cellular service providers with countrywide coverage; mobile-cellular teledensity is 140 per 100 persons international: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.07 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

17 (plus 36 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.69 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.il

Internet hosts:

1.415 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

21 (2000)

Internet users:

2 million (2007)

Transportation
Israel

Airports:

53 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 30 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 160 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 853 km standard gauge: 853 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 17,870 km paved: 17,870 km (includes 146 km of expressways) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 11 by type: cargo 2, container 9 registered in other countries: 60 (Bermuda 3, Cyprus 4, Georgia 2, Honduras 1, Liberia 23, Malta 18, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Slovakia 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

Military
Israel

Military branches:

Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Forces (INF), Israel Air
Force (IAF) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for officers; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,717,362 females age 16-49: 1,636,574 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,452,926 females age 16-49: 1,383,796 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 60,602 female: 57,532 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

7.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Israel

Disputes - international:

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 150,000-420,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in northern Israel) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Italy

Introduction
Italy

Background:

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

Geography
Italy

Location:

Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 42 50 N, 12 50 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 301,230 sq km land: 294,020 sq km water: 7,210 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:

total: 1,899.2 km border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km

Coastline:

7,600 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Terrain:

mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

Natural resources:

coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 26.41% permanent crops: 9.09% other: 64.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:

27,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

175 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 41.98 cu km/yr (18%/37%/45%) per capita: 723 cu m/yr (1998)

Natural hazards:

regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

People
Italy

Population:

58,145,320 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.6% (male 4,086,951/female 3,842,765) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 19,534,247/female 19,024,776) 65 years and over: 20% (male 4,864,189/female 6,792,393) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.9 years male: 41.4 years female: 44.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.019% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.07 years male: 77.13 years female: 83.2 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian

Ethnic groups:

Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and
Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
Greek-Italians in the south)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)

Languages:

Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 98.8% female: 98% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Italy

Country name:

conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Rome geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions* (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia*, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Sardegna* (Sardinia), Sicilia*, Toscana (Tuscany), Trentino-Alto Adige* (Trentino-South Tyrol), Umbria, Valle d'Aosta* (Aosta Valley), Veneto (Venetia)

Independence:

17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

Constitution:

passed 11 December 1947, effective 1 January 1948; amended many times

Legal system:

based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (referred to in Italy as the president of the Council of Ministers) (since 8 May 2008) note - in Italy the prime minister is referred to as the president of the Council of Ministers cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 10 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2013); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth round of voting; electoral college vote - 543

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (315 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region; to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 13-14 April 2008 (next to be held April 2010); Chamber of Deputies - last held 13-14 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - S. BERLUSCONI coalition 174 (PdL 147, LN 25, MpA 2), W. VELTRONI coalition 132 (PD 118, IdV 3), UdC 3, other 6; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - S. BERLUSCONI coalition 344 (PdL 276, LN 60, MpA 8), W. VELTRONI coalition 246 (PD 217, IdV 29), UdC 36, other 4

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Silvio BERLUSCONI coalition: People of Freedom or PdL [Silvio
BERLUSCONI]; Lega Nord or LN [Umberto BOSSI]; Movement for Autonomy
or MpA [Raffaele LOMBARDO]
Walter VELTRONI coalition: Democratic Party or PD [Walter VELTRONI];
Italy of Values or IdV [Antonio DI PIETRO]
other non-allied parties: Union of the Centre or UdC [Savino
PEZZOTTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio;
Confindustria; organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori;
Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union
confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL
[Guglielmo EPIFANI] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei
Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNO], which is Roman
Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi
ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist)

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS
(observer), CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,
UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Giovanni CASTELLANETA chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald P. SPOGLI embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 46741 FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797

Economy
Italy

Economy - overview:

Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, welfare-dependent, agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported. Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Unions and has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. The current government has enacted numerous short-term reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and long-term growth. Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from labor unions. But the leadership faces a severe economic constraint: Italy's official debt remains above 100% of GDP, and the government has found it difficult to bring the budget deficit down to a level that would allow a rapid decrease in that debt. The economy continues to grow by less than the euro-zone average and growth is expected to decelerate from 1.9% in 2006 and 2007 to under 1.5% in 2008 as the euro-zone and world economies slow.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.8 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.105 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2% industry: 27% services: 70.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

24.74 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5% industry: 32% services: 63% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

6.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

21% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $991.2 billion expenditures: $1.031 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

104% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.93% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.084 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:

tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Industrial production growth rate:

0.6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

292.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

316.3 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.64 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

48.57 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 78.6% hydro: 18.4% nuclear: 0% other: 3% (2001)

Oil - production:

166,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.702 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

616,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2.223 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

406.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.706 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

84.89 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

68 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

73.95 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

94.15 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$51.03 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$502.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals

Exports - partners:

Germany 12.9%, France 11.4%, Spain 7.4%, US 6.8%, UK 5.8% (2007)

Imports:

$498.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, and tobacco

Imports - partners:

Germany 16.9%, France 9%, China 5.9%, Netherlands 5.5%, Belgium 4.3%, Spain 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $3.641 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$94.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$996.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$364.8 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$520.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$798.2 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Italy

Telephones - main lines in use:

26.89 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

78.571 million (2006)

Telephone system:

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

Radio broadcast stations:

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

Radios:

50.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

30.3 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.it

Internet hosts:

17.702 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

93 (Italy and Holy See) (2000)

Internet users:

32 million (2007)

Transportation
Italy

Airports:

132 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:

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

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Pipelines:

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

Railways:

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

Roadways:

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

Waterways:

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

Merchant marine:

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

Ports and terminals:

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

Military
Italy

Military branches:

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

Military service age and obligation:

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

Manpower available for military service:

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

Manpower fit for military service:

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

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

Military expenditures:

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Italy

Disputes - international:

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

Illicit drugs:

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

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Jamaica

Introduction
Jamaica

Background:

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

Geography
Jamaica

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 15 N, 77 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 10,991 sq km land: 10,831 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,022 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain:

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 15.83% permanent crops: 10.01% other: 74.16% (2005)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (2002)

Total renewable water resources:

9.4 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.41 cu km/yr (34%/17%/49%) per capita: 155 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Environment - current issues:

heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

People
Jamaica

Population:

2,804,332 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32% (male 455,871/female 440,928) 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 837,241/female 861,906) 65 years and over: 7.4% (male 93,415/female 114,971) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.4 years male: 22.9 years female: 24 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.779% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.59 years male: 71.88 years female: 75.38 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

22,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

900 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican

Ethnic groups:

black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)

Languages:

English, English patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 87.9% male: 84.1% female: 91.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Jamaica

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica

Government type:

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation

Independence:

6 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Constitution:

6 August 1962

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Kenneth O. HALL (since 15 February 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Bruce GOLDING (since 11 September 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3 September 2007 (next to be held no later than October 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.8%; seats by party - JLP 33, PNP 27

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Michael WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony JOHNSON chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660 FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange JOHNSON embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5 telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000 FAX: [1] (876) 702-6001

Flag description:

diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Economy
Jamaica

Economy - overview:

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for more than 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 20% of GDP and are equivalent to tourism revenues. Jamaica's economy, already saddled with a record of sluggish growth, will suffer an economic setback from damages caused by Hurricane Dean in August 2007. The economy faces serious long-term problems: high but declining interest rates, increased foreign competition, exchange rate instability, a sizable merchandise trade deficit, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 135%. Jamaica's onerous debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. Inflation also has declined, standing at about 7% at the end of 2007. High unemployment exacerbates the serious crime problem, including gang violence that is fueled by the drug trade. The GOLDING administration faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.48 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.21 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.1% industry: 32.7% services: 62.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.255 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 17% industry: 19% services: 64% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

9.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

14.8% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 35.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45.5 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

34.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.716 billion expenditures: $4.261 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

126.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.2% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.369 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$6.609 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks

Industries:

tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate:

1.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

7.04 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 96.8% hydro: 1.8% nuclear: 0% other: 1.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

73,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,535 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

71,280 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.83 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.331 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

Exports - partners:

US 37.2%, Canada 15%, UK 9.7%, Netherlands 9.1% (2007)

Imports:

$5.784 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US 37.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.5%, Grenada 9.7%, Venezuela 8.3%,
Brazil 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$35.74 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.905 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$9.657 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$12.28 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Currency code:

##### JMD

Exchange rates:

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 69.034 (2007), 65.768 (2006), 62.51 (2005), 61.197 (2004), 57.741 (2003)

Communications
Jamaica

Telephones - main lines in use:

342,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.495 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network domestic: the 1999 agreement to open the market for telecommunications services resulted in rapid growth in mobile-cellular telephone usage while the number of fixed-lines in use has declined; combined mobile-cellular teledensity now exceeds 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-876; the Fibralink submarine cable network provides enhanced delivery of business and broadband traffic and is linked to the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) submarine cable in the Dominican Republic; the link to ARCOS-1 provides seamless connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

1.215 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (1997)

Televisions:

460,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.jm

Internet hosts:

1,292 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

21 (2000)

Internet users:

1.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Jamaica

Airports:

34 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 21,552 km paved: 15,937 km (includes 33 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,615 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 20 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 6, carrier 1, container 4, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 17 (Denmark 2, Germany 4, Greece 6, Hong Kong 1, Latvia 1, Russia 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky Point

Military
Jamaica

Military branches:

Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 688,480 females age 16-49: 709,548 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 566,477 females age 16-49: 583,075 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 32,000 female: 31,428 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Jamaica

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Jan Mayen

Introduction
Jan Mayen

Background:

This desolate, arctic, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985. It is the northernmost active volcano on earth.

Geography
Jan Mayen

Location:

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian
Sea, northeast of Iceland

Geographic coordinates:

##### 71 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 377 sq km land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

124.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 4 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain:

volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

People
Jan Mayen

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station

Government
Jan Mayen

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

Legal system:

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy
Jan Mayen

Economy - overview:

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the island.

Communications
Jan Mayen

Radio broadcast stations:

NA; note - there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)

Transportation
Jan Mayen

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Jan Mayen

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Transnational Issues
Jan Mayen

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Japan

Introduction
Japan

Background:

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians - with heavy input from bureaucrats and business executives - wield actual decisionmaking power. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally.

Geography
Japan

Location:

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the
Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Geographic coordinates:

##### 36 00 N, 138 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 377,835 sq km land: 374,744 sq km water: 3,091 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

29,751 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain:

mostly rugged and mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

Natural resources:

negligible mineral resources, fish note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas as well as the second largest importer of oil

Land use:

arable land: 11.64% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 87.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:

25,920 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

430 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 88.43 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%) per capita: 690 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

strategic location in northeast Asia

People
Japan

Population:

127,288,416 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.7% (male 8,926,439/female 8,460,629) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 41,513,061/female 40,894,057) 65 years and over: 21.6% (male 11,643,845/female 15,850,388) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 43.8 years male: 42.1 years female: 45.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.139% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

7.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 82.07 years male: 78.73 years female: 85.59 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese

Ethnic groups:

Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6% note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)

Religions:

observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Languages:

Japanese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2002)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Japan

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku local short form: Nihon/Nippon

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

Capital:

name: Tokyo geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,
Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,
Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,
Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,
Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,
Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,
Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Independence:

660 B.C. (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)

National holiday:

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)

Constitution:

3 May 1947

Legal system:

modeled after German civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 24 September 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires that prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs) elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2010); House of Representatives - last held 11 September 2005 (next election by September 2009) election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPJ 109, LDP 83, Komeito 20, JCP 7, SDP 5, others 18 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (in single-seat constituencies) - LDP 47.8%, DPJ 36.4%, others 15.8%; seats by party - LDP 296, DPJ 113, Komeito 31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 24 (2007)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Ichiro OZAWA]; Japan Communist
Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Komeito [Akihiro OTA]; Liberal Democratic
Party or LDP [Taro ASO]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho
FUKUSHIMA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: business groups; trade unions

International organization participation:

ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF
(partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Flag description:

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Economy
Japan

Economy - overview:

Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most technologically powerful economy in the world after the US and the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. One notable characteristic of the economy has been how manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors have worked together in closely-knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have now eroded. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 55% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of overinvestment and an asset price bubble during the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. From 2000 to 2001, government efforts to revive economic growth proved short lived and were hampered by the slowing of the US, European, and Asian economies. In 2002-07, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflation in prices and economic activity lessened, leading the central bank to raise interest rates to 0.25% in July 2006, up from the near 0% rate of the six years prior, and to 0.50% in February 2007. In addition, the 10-year privatization of Japan Post, which has functioned not only as the national postal delivery system but also, through its banking and insurance facilities as Japan's largest financial institution, was completed in October 2007, marking a major milestone in the process of structural reform. Nevertheless, Japan's huge government debt, which totals 182% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. Some fear that a rise in taxes could endanger the current economic recovery. Debate also continues on the role of and effects of reform in restructuring the economy, particularly with respect to increasing income disparities.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.272 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.384 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$33,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 26.5% services: 72% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

66.69 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.8% services: 67.7% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.8% highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.1 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.462 trillion expenditures: $1.567 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

170% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

0.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

1.88% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.37 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.783 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9.653 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish

Industries:

among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Industrial production growth rate:

1.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.082 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

982.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60% hydro: 8.4% nuclear: 29.8% other: 1.8% (2001)

Oil - production:

129,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5.007 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

168,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

5.47 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

44.12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

3.729 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

95.62 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$210.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$678.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 20.4%, China 15.3%, South Korea 7.6%, Taiwan 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.4% (2007)

Imports:

$573.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials

Imports - partners:

China 20.5%, US 11.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, UAE 5.2%, Australia 5%,
South Korea 4.4%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $11.19 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$954.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.492 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$110.8 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$533.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.737 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

yen (JPY)

Currency code:

##### JPY

Exchange rates:

yen (JPY) per US dollar - 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003)

Communications
Japan

Telephones - main lines in use:

51.232 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

107.339 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters), shortwave 21 (2001)

Radios:

120.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

211 (plus 7,341 repeaters); in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)

Televisions:

86.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.jp

Internet hosts:

39.909 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

73 (2000)

Internet users:

88.11 million (2007)

Transportation
Japan

Airports:

176 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 145 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Heliports:

14 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 3,939 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 23,474 km standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified) narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,182 km 1.067-m gauge (13,334 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 1,196,999 km paved: 949,101 km (includes 7,383 km of expressways) unpaved: 247,898 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 683 by type: bulk carrier 136, cargo 30, carrier 3, chemical tanker 27, container 11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 135, petroleum tanker 156, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 51, vehicle carrier 61 registered in other countries: 3,074 (Australia 1, Bahamas 87, Belize 8, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 13, China 2, Cyprus 21, France 1, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 111, Indonesia 6, Isle of Man 6, Italy 1, South Korea 20, Liberia 116, Malaysia 4, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 17, Nigeria 1, Norway 29, Panama 2335, Philippines 81, Portugal 15, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 131, Thailand 4, UK 4, US 7, Vanuatu 29, Vietnam 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Tomakomai, Yohohama

Military
Japan

Military branches:

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force
(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,
MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, ASDF) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 27,819,804 females age 16-49: 26,863,794 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 22.963 million females age 16-49: 22,134,127 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 622,168 female: 590,153 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Japan

Disputes - international:

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Jersey

Introduction
Jersey

Background:

Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Geography
Jersey

Location:

Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

##### 49 15 N, 2 10 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

70 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain:

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

People
Jersey

Population:

91,533 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 7,851/female 7,298) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 30,744/female 30,997) 65 years and over: 16% (male 6,499/female 8,144) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.3 years male: 41.6 years female: 43.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.221% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.65 years male: 77.15 years female: 82.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Ethnic groups:

Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,
Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian

Languages:

English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

Literacy:

##### NA

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Jersey

Country name:

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Saint Helier geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December 2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995) cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005) elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch) elections: last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November 2005 for deputies (next to be held on 15 October 2008) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55

Judicial branch:

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Political parties and leaders:

two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support);
Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association);
Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La
Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress
Jersey [Darius J. PEARCE, Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human
rights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or
RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle);
Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building
preservation)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow

Economy
Jersey

Economy - overview:

Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$57,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 2% services: 97% (2005)

Labor force:

53,560 (June 2006)

Unemployment rate:

2.2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $829 million expenditures: $851 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.7% (December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries:

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - consumption:

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners:

##### UK (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

##### UK (2006)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Jersey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender

Currency code:

##### GBP

Exchange rates:

Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Communications
Jersey

Telephones - main lines in use:

73,900 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

83,900 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey and UK

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.je

Internet hosts:

190 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

27,000 (2005)

Transportation
Jersey

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 358 km (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Military
Jersey

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 587 female: 540 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Jersey

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Jordan

Introduction
Jordan

Background:

Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held in November 2007 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats. In November 2007, King Abdallah instructed his new prime minister to focus on socioeconomic reform, developing a healthcare and housing network for civilians and military personnel, and improving the educational system.

Geography
Jordan

Location:

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 31 00 N, 36 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 92,300 sq km land: 91,971 sq km water: 329 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 1,635 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Coastline:

26 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

Terrain:

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Land use:

arable land: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:

750 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.9 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%) per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank

People
Jordan

Population:

6,198,677 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.2% (male 1,017,233/female 976,284) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,110,293/female 1,840,531) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 122,975/female 131,361) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.9 years male: 24.6 years female: 23.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.338% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.71 years male: 76.19 years female: 81.39 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some
Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several
small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Languages:

Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 95.1% female: 84.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.9% of GDP (1999)

Government
Jordan

Country name:

conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Amman geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last Friday in September

Administrative divisions:

12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba

Independence:

25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Constitution:

1 January 1952; amended many times

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II, is considered to be first in line to inherit the throne head of government: Prime Minister Nader al-DAHABI (since 25 November 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (55 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - six seats are reserved for women and are allocated by a special electoral panel if no women are elected) elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - IAF 5.5 %, independents and other 94.5%; seats by party - IAF 6, independents and other 104; note - seven women will serve in the next Assembly - six of whom filled women's quota seats and one was directly elected

Judicial branch:

Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Political parties and leaders:

al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR];
Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN]; Arab Socialist Ba'th
Party [Taysir al-HIMSI]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad
DABBUR]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF
[Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FAURI];
Jordanian Arab Ansar Party; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian
Arab Party; Jordanian Citizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist
Party [Munir HAMARINAH]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party;
Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH]; Jordanian
Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA]; Jordanian
Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH]; Jordanian Green Party
[Muhammad BATAYNEH]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman
Jiryis HANNA]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People's Committees
Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd) [Ahmad YUSUF];
Jordanian Rafah Party; Jordanian Renaissance Party; Mission Party;
Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH]; National Action Party (Haqq)
[Tariq al-KAYYALI]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi
MAJALI]; National Popular Democratic Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI];
Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice
chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim
Brotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, controller general]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, Prince chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. Beecroft embassy: Abdun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000 FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Economy
Jordan

Economy - overview:

Jordan is a small Arab country with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources. Poverty, unemployment, and inflation are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH II, since assuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Since Jordan's graduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman has continued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetary policy, making substantial headway with privatization, and opening the trade regime. Jordan's exports have significantly increased under the free trade accord with the US and Jordanian Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ), which allow Jordan to export goods duty free to the US. In 2006, Jordan reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio significantly. These measures have helped improve productivity and have made Jordan more attractive for foreign investment. Before the US-led war in Iraq, Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq. Since 2003, however, Jordan has been more dependent on oil from other Gulf nations. The government ended subsidies for petroleum and other consumer goods in 2008 in an effort to control the budget. The main challenges facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducing the budget deficit, attracting investments, and creating jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$28.45 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 10.3% services: 86.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.563 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5% industry: 12.5% services: 82.5% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

14.2% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.8 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.117 billion expenditures: $6.468 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

72.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

7% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.68% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$6.765 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$15.38 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$19.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives; sheep, poultry, stone fruits, strawberries, dairy

Industries:

clothing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

7.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

10.87 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.852 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

13 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

472 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

110,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

112,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

1 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

320 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.25 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$2.767 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers, vegetables, manufactures;

Exports - partners:

US 22.4%, Iraq 12.9%, India 8.3%, UAE 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, Syria 4.9% (2007)

Imports:

$12.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 21%, China 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, US 4.7%, Egypt 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $752 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.929 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.133 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$18.18 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$29.73 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code:

##### JOD

Exchange rates:

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003)

Communications
Jordan

Telephones - main lines in use:

585,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.771 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service has improved recently with increased use of digital switching equipment; microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas is reducing use of fixed-line services; Internet penetration remains modest and slow-growing domestic: 1995 telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line services to private competition; in 2005, monopoly over fixed-line services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was opened to competition; mobile-cellular usage is increasing rapidly and teledensity reached 80 per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals); fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria; participant in Medarabtel (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

##### FM 31 (2007)

Radios:

1.66 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

22 (2007)

Televisions:

500,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.jo

Internet hosts:

21,150 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

1.127 million (2007)

Transportation
Jordan

Airports:

17 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 505 km narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 7,694 km paved: 7,694 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 21 by type: cargo 8, container 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 13 (UAE 13) registered in other countries: 24 (Algeria 7, Bahamas 2, Panama 13, Syria 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Al 'Aqabah

Military
Jordan

Military branches:

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal
Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Malakiya al-Urduniya, RJAF), Special Operations Command (Socom);
Public Security Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of
Interior, but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,812,551 females age 16-49: 1,559,155 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,546,766 females age 16-49: 1,339,366 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 68,067 female: 65,512 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

8.6% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Jordan

Disputes - international:

approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan; 2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq) IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Jordan is a destination and transit country for women and men from South and Southeast Asia trafficked for the purpose of forced labor; Jordan is also a destination for women from Eastern Europe and Morocco for prostitution; women from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines migrate willingly to work as domestic servants, but some are subjected to conditions of forced labor, including unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Jordan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of law enforcement against trafficking for forced labor; the government made minimal efforts to investigate or prosecute numerous allegations related to exploitation of foreign domestic workers; Jordan failed for a second year to criminally prosecute and punish those who committed acts of forced labor; Jordan also continues to lack victim protection services; Jordan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Kazakhstan

Introduction
Kazakhstan

Background:

Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states combined, largely due to the country's vast natural resources and a recent history of political stability. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a sustainable economic growth; diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's competitiveness; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.

Geography
Kazakhstan

Location:

Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural
River in eastern-most Europe

Geographic coordinates:

##### 48 00 N, 68 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 2,717,300 sq km land: 2,669,800 sq km water: 47,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 12,185 km border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

Terrain:

extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

Natural resources:

major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Land use:

arable land: 8.28% permanent crops: 0.05% other: 91.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

35,560 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

109.6 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 35 cu km/yr (2%/17%/82%) per capita: 2,360 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty

Environment - current issues:

radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:

landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050

People
Kazakhstan

Population:

15,340,533 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.1% (male 1,734,622/female 1,659,723) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 5,219,983/female 5,463,468) 65 years and over: 8.2% (male 443,483/female 819,254) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.3 years male: 27.8 years female: 31.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.374% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.44 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.56 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.55 years male: 62.24 years female: 73.16 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

16,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani

Ethnic groups:

Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%,
German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)

Religions:

Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Languages:

Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.8% female: 99.3% (1999 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

2.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Kazakhstan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: Qazaqstan former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital:

name: Astana geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones

Administrative divisions:

14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050

Independence:

16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Constitution:

first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and Roman law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 27 August 2007) and Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A. TUYAKBAI 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAIMENOV 1.6% note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 that extended his term of office and expanded his presidential powers: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 7 members are appointed by the president; other members are elected by local assemblies; to serve six-year terms) and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 9 out of the 107 Mazhilis members are elected from the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which represents the country's ethnic minorities; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - (indirect) last held December 2005; next to be held in 2011; Mazhilis - last held 18 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan 88.1%, NSDP 4.6%, Ak Zhol 3.3%, Auyl 1.6%, Communist People's Party 1.3%, Patriots Party .8% Ruhaniyat .4%; seats by party - Nur-Otan 98; note - parties must achieve a threshold of 7% of the electorate to qualify for seats in the Mazhilis

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)

Political parties and leaders:

Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, Zeynulla ALSHIMBAYEV, Bakhytbek
AKHMETZHAN, Yerkin ONGARBAYEV, Tolegan SYDYKOV] (formerly Democratic
Party of Kazakhstan); Agrarian and Industrial Union of Workers Block
or AIST (Agrarian Party and Civic Party); Ak Zhol Party (Bright
Path) [Alikhan BAIMENOV]; Auyl (Village) [Gani KALIYEV]; Communist
Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN]; Communist
People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]; National Social
Democratic Party (NSDP)[Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Nur-Otan [Bakhytzhan
ZHUMAGULOV] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with
Otan); Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat (Spirituality)
[Altynshash ZHAGANOVA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel FOKINA];
Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For a Just
Kazakhstan [Bolat ABILOV]; For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS,
Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]; Kazakhstan
International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive
director]; Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan
[Zharmakhan TUYAKBAI]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina
SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors
[Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]

International organization participation:

ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISOV chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND embassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00 FAX: [7] (7172) 34-08-90

Flag description:

sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold

Economy
Kazakhstan

Economy - overview:

Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves and plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources. The breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in a short-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - 8% or more per year in 2002-07 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. Inflation, however, jumped to more than 10% in 2007. In the energy sector, the opening of the Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised export capacity. In 2006 Kazakhstan completed the Atasu-Alashankou portion of an oil pipeline to China that is planned in future construction to extend from the country's Caspian coast eastward to the Chinese border. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the oil sector by developing its manufacturing potential. The policy aims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign personnel. The government has engaged in several disputes with foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements; tensions continue. Upward pressure on the local currency continued in 2007 due to massive oil-related foreign-exchange inflows. Aided by strong growth and foreign exchange earnings, Kazakhstan aspires to become a regional financial center and has created a banking system comparable to those in Central Europe.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$168.2 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$103.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.8% industry: 39.4% services: 54.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

8.229 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 32.2% industry: 18% services: 49.8% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

13.8% (2007)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.4 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $23.58 billion expenditures: $25.33 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

7.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

11% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$12.74 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$25.75 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$43.75 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock

Industries:

oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

7.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

74.93 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

61.81 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

3.528 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.665 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 84.3% hydro: 15.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.445 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

243,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.236 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

127,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

30 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

27.88 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

30.58 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

8.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$7.184 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$48.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)

Exports - partners:

China 15.5%, Germany 11.5%, Russia 11.2%, Italy 7.2%, France 6.7% (2007)

Imports:

$33.21 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Russia 35.4%, China 22.1%, Germany 8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$229.2 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.63 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$96.36 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$40.16 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$3.97 billion (September 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$10.52 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

tenge (KZT)

Currency code:

##### KZT

Exchange rates:

tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 122.55 (2007), 126.09 (2006), 132.88 (2005), 136.04 (2004), 149.58 (2003)

Communications
Kazakhstan

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.237 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12.588 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line teledensity is about 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing rapidly and subscriptions now exceed 80 per 100 persons international: country code - 7; international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)

Radios:

6.47 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

3.88 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.kz

Internet hosts:

36,417 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (with their own international channels) (2001)

Internet users:

1.901 million (2006)

Transportation
Kazakhstan

Airports:

97 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 65 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 32 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 658 km; gas 11,082 km; oil 10,376 km; refined products 1,095 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 13,700 km broad gauge: 13,700 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 91,563 km paved: 83,717 km unpaved: 7,846 km (2006)

Waterways:

4,000 km (on the Ertis ((Irtysh)) River (80%) and Syr Darya ((Syrdariya)) River) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 5 by type: petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),
Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Military
Kazakhstan

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Naval Force, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republican
Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,176,731 females age 16-49: 4,219,636 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,871,205 females age 16-49: 3,551,032 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 145,495 female: 140,149 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)

Transnational Issues
Kazakhstan

Disputes - international:

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; field demarcation of the boundaries with Turkmenistan commenced in 2005, and with Uzbekistan in 2004; demarcation is scheduled to get underway with Russia in 2007; demarcation with China was completed in 2002; creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussion; equidistant seabed treaties have been ratified with Azerbaijan and Russia in the Caspian Sea, but no resolution has been made on dividing the water column among any of the littoral states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 3,700 (Russia); 508 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; significant consumer of opiates

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Kenya

Introduction
Kenya

Background:

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement, which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular referendum in November 2005. KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from ODM candidate Raila ODINGA and unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people died. UN-sponsored talks in late February produced a powersharing accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister.

Geography
Kenya

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and
Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 582,650 sq km land: 569,250 sq km water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 3,477 km border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline:

536 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain:

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources:

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 8.01% permanent crops: 0.97% other: 91.02% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,030 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

30.2 cu km (1990)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%) per capita: 46 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

People
Kenya

Population:

37,953,840 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 8,065,789/female 7,953,077) 15-64 years: 55.2% (male 10,498,468/female 10,434,764) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 457,886/female 543,854) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.6 years male: 18.5 years female: 18.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.758% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

37.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 58.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 56.64 years male: 56.42 years female: 56.87 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.7 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

6.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.2 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

150,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan

Ethnic groups:

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions:

Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2% note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely

Languages:

English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.1% male: 90.6% female: 79.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2006)

Government
Kenya

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya local short form: Kenya former: British East Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Nairobi geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Independence:

12 December 1963 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Constitution:

12 December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2001; note - a new draft constitution was defeated by popular referendum in 2005

Legal system:

based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice President Stephene Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); head of government: Prime Minister Raila Amolo ODINGA (since 17 April 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called "nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members) elections: last held 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ODM 99, PNU 43, ODM-K 16, KANU 14 other 38; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - TBD

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High
Court

Political parties and leaders:

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Musikari
KOMBO]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People
[Simeon NYACHAE]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru
KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-Kenya [Raphael
TUJU]; Orange Democratic Movement or ODM [Raila ODINGA]; Orange
Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]; Party of
National Unity or PNU [Mwai KIBAKI]; Shirikisho Party of Kenya or
SPK [Chirau Ali MWAKWERE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Council of Islamic Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Idris
MOHAMMED]; Kenya Human Rights Commission [L. Muthoni WANYEKI];
Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]; National Convention
Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political
parties and nongovernment organizations [Ndung'u WAINANA];
Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon
Peter Karanja MWANGI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches;
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur
al-BUSAIDY]
other: labor unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Rateng Oginga OGEGO chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621 mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000 FAX: [254] (20) 363-410

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Economy
Kenya

Economy - overview:

The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the key December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. After some early progress in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support, the KIBAKI government was rocked by high-level graft scandals in 2005 and 2006. In 2006 the World Bank and IMF delayed loans pending action by the government on corruption. The international financial institutions and donors have since resumed lending, despite little action on the government's part to deal with corruption. The scandals have not weighed down growth, with estimated real GDP growth at more than 6 percent in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$61.22 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$29.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.8% industry: 16.7% services: 59.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

11.85 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75% industry and services: 25% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

40% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.5 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.924 billion expenditures: $6.878 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

48.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.7% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.34% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$5.932 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$6.273 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$10.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Industries:

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

6.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.264 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

5.124 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

58.3 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

22.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 17.7% hydro: 71% nuclear: 0% other: 11.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

65,530 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

5,137 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

72,780 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.147 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.127 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Exports - partners:

Uganda 16.9%, UK 9.3%, Tanzania 8.2%, Netherlands 8.2%, US 6.4%,
Pakistan 5.2% (2007)

Imports:

$8.54 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners:

UAE 11.4%, China 9.9%, India 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South Africa 6.9%, US 6.2%, Japan 5.9%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$768.3 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.355 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.713 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$1.249 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$47 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$11.38 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Kenyan shilling (KES)

Currency code:

##### KES

Exchange rates:

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 68.309 (2007), 72.101 (2006), 75.554 (2005), 79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003)

Communications
Kenya

Telephones - main lines in use:

264,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.44 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line telephone system is small and inefficient; trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system domestic: no recent growth in fixed-line infrastructure and the sole provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for privatization; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage international: country code - 254; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

3.07 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (2001)

Televisions:

730,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ke

Internet hosts:

27,376 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

65 (2001)

Internet users:

3 million (2007)

Transportation
Kenya

Airports:

225 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 210 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 113 under 914 m: 85 (2007)

Pipelines:

refined products 900 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,778 km narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 63,265 km (interurban roads) paved: 8,933 km unpaved: 54,332 km note: there also are 100,000 km of rural roads and 14,500 km of urban roads for a national total of 177,765 km (2004)

Waterways:

##### part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: petroleum tanker 1 registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 1, Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Mombasa

Military
Kenya

Military branches:

Kenyan Army, Kenyan Navy, Kenyan Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) for voluntary service, with a 9-year obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,044,685 females age 16-49: 8,805,736 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,688,259 females age 16-49: 5,396,166 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 411,032 female: 406,794 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Kenya

Disputes - international:

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to almost a quarter of a million refugees, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 173,702 (Somalia); 73,004 (Sudan); 16,428 (Ethiopia) IDPs: 250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Kiribati

Introduction
Kiribati

Background:

The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and a colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943. The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.

Geography
Kiribati

Location:

Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 25 N, 173 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 811 sq km land: 811 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,143 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Natural resources:

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use:

arable land: 2.74% permanent crops: 47.95% other: 49.31% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Environment - current issues:

heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru

People
Kiribati

Population:

110,356 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 21,180/female 20,604) 15-64 years: 58.7% (male 31,993/female 32,797) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,606/female 2,176) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.6 years male: 20.1 years female: 21.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.235% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

30.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 44.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.85 years male: 59.79 years female: 66.06 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati

Ethnic groups:

Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, other (includes
Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, Church of
God) 8% (1999)

Languages:

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Literacy:

##### NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

17.8% of GDP (2002)

Government
Kiribati

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati local long form: Republic of Kiribati local short form: Kiribati note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss former: Gilbert Islands

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Tarawa geographic coordinates: 1 19 N, 172 58 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)

Independence:

12 July 1979 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Constitution:

12 July 1979

Legal system:

##### NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete in a general election; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the president election results: Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders (representing Banaba Island); to serve four-year terms) elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 22 August 2007 and the second round on 30 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG] note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Flag description:

the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Economy
Kiribati

Economy - overview:

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. Private sector initiatives and a financial sector are in the early stages of development. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China equals more than 10% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust fund.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$348 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$67 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.9% industry: 24.2% services: 66.8% (2004)

Labor force:

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32% services: 65.3% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

2% official rate; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $55.52 million expenditures: $59.71 million (FY05)

Fiscal year:

##### NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.2% (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Industries:

fishing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (1991 est.)

Electricity - production:

10 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

232.4 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

259.1 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$21 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$17 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Exports - partners:

US 22.8%, Belgium 21.5%, Japan 14.3%, Samoa 7.8%, Australia 7.5%,
Malaysia 6.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Denmark 4.6% (2006)

Imports:

$62 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports - partners:

Australia 33%, Fiji 27.1%, Japan 18.1%, NZ 6.9% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$27.84 million largely from UK and Japan (2005)

Debt - external:

$10 million (1999 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Kiribati

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

700 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally good quality national and international service domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999 international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (may be inactive) (2002)

Radios:

17,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (possibly inactive) (2002)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ki

Internet hosts:

9 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

2,000 (2007)

Transportation
Kiribati

Airports:

19 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 670 km (2000)

Waterways:

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 43 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 14 foreign-owned: 31 (China 15, Hong Kong 4, South Korea 2, Singapore 4, Taiwan 5, Turkey 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Betio

Military
Kiribati

Military branches:

no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 26,377 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,577 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,247 female: 1,226 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Transnational Issues
Kiribati

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Korea, North

Introduction
Korea, North

Background:

An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist domination. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessive Soviet or Communist Chinese influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM's son, the current ruler KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army of approximately 1 million. North Korea's history of regional military provocations, proliferation of military-related items, and long-range missile development - as well as its nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs and massive conventional armed forces - are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, following revelations that the DPRK was pursuing a nuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium in violation of a 1994 agreement with the US to freeze and ultimately dismantle its existing plutonium-based program, North Korea expelled monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In January 2003, it declared its withdrawal from the international Non-Proliferation Treaty. In mid-2003 Pyongyang announced it had completed the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods (to extract weapons-grade plutonium) and was developing a "nuclear deterrent." Beginning in August 2003, North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the US have participated in the Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the stalemate over the DPRK's nuclear programs. North Korea pulled out of the talks in November 2005. It test-fired ballistic missiles in July 2006 and conducted a nuclear test in October 2006. North Korea returned to the Six-Party Talks in December 2006 and subsequently signed two agreements on denuclearization. The 13 February 2007 Initial Actions Agreement shut down the North's nuclear facilities at Yongbyon in July 2007. In the 3 October 2007 Second Phase Actions Agreement, Pyongyang pledged to disable those facilities and provide a correct and complete declaration of its nuclear programs. Under the supervision of US nuclear experts, North Korean personnel completed a number of agreed-upon disablement actions at the three core facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex by the end of 2007. North Korea also began the discharge of spent fuel rods in December 2007, but it did not provide a declaration of its nuclear programs by the end of the year.

Geography
Korea, North

Location:

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the
Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Geographic coordinates:

##### 40 00 N, 127 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Mississippi

Land boundaries:

total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km

Coastline:

2,495 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned

Climate:

temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Terrain:

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

Natural resources:

coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 22.4% permanent crops: 1.66% other: 75.94% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,600 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

77.1 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 9.02 cu km/yr (20%/25%/55%) per capita: 401 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

Environment - current issues:

water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

People
Korea, North

Population:

23,479,088 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.9% (male 2,733,352/female 2,654,186) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 7,931,484/female 8,083,626) 65 years and over: 8.8% (male 751,401/female 1,325,040) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.7 years male: 31.2 years female: 34.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.732% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.2 years male: 69.45 years female: 75.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Ethnic groups:

racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese

Religions:

traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom

Languages:

Korean

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99%

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Korea, North

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: Choson abbreviation: DPRK

Government type:

Communist state one-man dictatorship

Capital:

name: Pyongyang geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities (si, singular and plural) provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang) municipalities: Kaesong-si (Kaesong), Najin Sonbong-si (Najin-Sonbong), Namp'o-si (Namp'o), P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)

Independence:

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National holiday:

Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9
September (1948)

Constitution:

adopted 1948; completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992, and September 1998

Legal system:

based on Prussian civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 3 September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA reelected KIM Yong Nam president of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials head of government: Premier KIM Yong Il (since 11 April 2007); Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun (since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003), THAE Jong Su (since 16 October 2007) cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA elections: last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September 2008) election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees for positions and ran unopposed

Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; some seats are held by minor parties

Judicial branch:

Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control), Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

##### ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

Economy
Korea, North

Economy - overview:

North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment and shortages of spare parts. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel from pre-1990 levels. Due in part to severe summer flooding followed by dry weather conditions in the fall of 2006, the nation suffered its 13th year of food shortages because of on-going systemic problems including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. During the summer of 2007, severe flooding again occurred. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Since 2002, the government has formalized an arrangement whereby private "farmers' markets" were allowed to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming on an experimental basis in an effort to boost agricultural output. In October 2005, the government tried to reverse some of these policies by forbidding private sales of grains and reinstituting a centralized food rationing system. By December 2005, the government terminated most international humanitarian assistance operations in North Korea (calling instead for developmental assistance only) and restricted the activities of remaining international and non-governmental aid organizations such as the World Food Program. External food aid now comes primarily from China and South Korea in the form of grants and long-term concessional loans. During the October 2007 summit, South Korea also agreed to develop some of North Korea's infrastructure and natural resources and light industry. Firm political control remains the Communist government's overriding concern, which will likely inhibit the loosening of economic regulations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40 billion note: North Korea does not publish any reliable National Income Accounts data; the datum shown here is derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2007 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the result was rounded to the nearest $10 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$25.96 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.3% industry: 43.1% services: 33.6% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

20 million note: estimates vary widely (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 37% industry and services: 63% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $2.88 billion $NA expenditures: $2.98 billion $NA

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

##### NA%

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs

Industries:

military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

21.72 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

18.18 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 29% hydro: 71% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

141 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

24,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

10,520 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2007)

Exports:

$1.466 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products

Exports - partners:

South Korea 32%, China 29%, Thailand 9% (2006)

Imports:

$2.879 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain

Imports - partners:

China 27%, South Korea 16%, Thailand 9%, Russia 7% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$372 million note: approximately 65,000 metric tons in food aid through the World Food Program appeals in 2007, plus additional aid from bilateral donors and non-governmental organizations (2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.5 billion (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

North Korean won (KPW)

Currency code:

##### KPW

Exchange rates:

North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar - 140 (2007), 141 (2006), 170 (December 2004), market: North Korean won per US dollar - 2,500-3,000 (December 2006)

Communications
Korea, North

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.18 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate system; currently no mobile cellular telephone services domestic: fiber-optic links installed between cities; telephone directories unavailable; mobile cellular service, initiated in 2002, terminated in 2004; in January 2008 Orascom Telecom, an Egyptian company, announced that it had been granted a commercial license to provide mobile telephone services in North Korea international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central Broadcasting Station; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable radio station wired throughout the country that is a significant source of information for the average North Korean citizen; it is wired into most residences and workplaces and carries news and commentary), FM 14, shortwave 14 (2006)

Radios:

3.36 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (includes Korean Central Television, Mansudae Television, Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television targeting South Korea) (2003)

Televisions:

1.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.kp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Korea, North

Airports:

77 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Heliports:

23 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 154 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 5,235 km standard gauge: 5,235 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 25,554 km paved: 724 km unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)

Waterways:

2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 167 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 121, carrier 1, chemical tanker 4, container 3, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 19 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 1, Romania 4, Syria 1, UAE 8, Yemen 2) registered in other countries: 2 (Mongolia 1, Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,
Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan

Military
Korea, North

Military branches:

North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,225,747 females age 16-49: 6,188,270 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,141,240 females age 16-49: 5,139,447 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 199,628 female: 192,388 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Korea, North

Disputes - international:

risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: undetermined (flooding in mid-2007 and famine during mid-1990s) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the most common form of trafficking involves North Korean women and girls who cross the border into China voluntarily; additionally, North Korean women and girls are lured out of North Korea to escape poor social and economic conditions by the promise of food, jobs, and freedom, only to be forced into prostitution, marriage, or exploitative labor arrangements once in China tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government does not acknowledge the existence of human rights abuses in the country or recognize trafficking, either within the country or transnationally; North Korea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Korea, South

Introduction
Korea, South

Background:

An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed almost continuously for several millennia. Between its initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War, Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il. In October 2007, a second North-South summit took place between the South's President ROH Moo-hyun and the North Korean leader.

Geography
Korea, South

Location:

Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the
Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Geographic coordinates:

##### 37 00 N, 127 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km

Coastline:

2,413 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain:

mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Natural resources:

coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 16.58% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.41% (2005)

Irrigated land:

8,780 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

69.7 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%) per capita: 389 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Environment - current issues:

air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on Korea Strait

People
Korea, South

Population:

48,379,392 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 4,431,315/female 4,004,810) 15-64 years: 72% (male 17,760,975/female 17,095,436) 65 years and over: 10.5% (male 2,030,931/female 3,055,925) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.7 years male: 35.5 years female: 37.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.269% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.64 years male: 75.34 years female: 82.17 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

8,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Ethnic groups:

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Religions:

Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)

Languages:

Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 99.2% female: 96.6% (2002)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 18 years female: 15 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2004)

Government
Korea, South

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: Han'guk abbreviation: ROK

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Seoul geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural) provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo (South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong), Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang) metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inch'on), Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan), Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi (Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)

Independence:

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Constitution:

17 July 1948; note - amended or rewritten nine times; current constitution approved on 29 October 1987

Legal system:

combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

19 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008) head of government: Prime Minister HAN Seung-soo (since 29 February 2008) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held on in December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation election results: ROH Moo-hyun elected president on 19 December 2002; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; others 4.5%; LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19 December 2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG Dong-young (UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others 10.1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; 243 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 56 elected by proportional representation; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GNP 153, UDP 81, LFP 18, Pro-Park Alliance 14, DLP 5, CKP 3, independents 25

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president with consent of
National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by the
president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief
Justice of the court)

Political parties and leaders:

Creative Korea Party or CKP [MOON Kook-hyun]; Democratic Labor Party
or DLP [CHUN Young-se]; Grand National Party or GNP [PARK Hee-tae];
Liberty Forward Party or LFP [LEE Hoi-chang]; Democratic Party or DP
[CHUNG Sye-kyun] (formerly the United Democratic Party or UDP)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council of
Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association;
National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance of
Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National
Federation of Student Associations

International organization participation:

ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA,
MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF
(partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Tae-sik chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen STEPHENS embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845

Flag description:

white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Economy
Korea, South

Economy - overview:

Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is roughly the same as that of Greece and Spain. This success was achieved by a system of close government/business ties including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, then recovered by 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 7%, despite anemic global growth. Between 2003 and 2007, growth moderated to about 4-5% annually. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapid export growth. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, and an export surplus in 2007 characterize this solid economy, but inflation and unemployment are increasing in the face of rising oil prices.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.206 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$957.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3% industry: 39.4% services: 57.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

24.22 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7.5% industry: 17.3% services: 75.2% (2007)

Unemployment rate:

3.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

15% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25% (2005 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.1 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $262.2 billion expenditures: $225.8 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

28.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.55% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$92.59 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$541.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.061 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

412.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

368.6 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 36.6% other: 0.2% (2001)

Oil - production:

20,970 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.214 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:

2.41 million bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

390 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

34.83 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

33.38 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.954 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$379 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Exports - partners:

China 22.1%, US 12.4%, Japan 7.1%, Hong Kong 5% (2007)

Imports:

$349.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Imports - partners:

China 17.7%, Japan 15.8%, US 10.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.9% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $455.3 million (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$68.07 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$262.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$220.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$119.6 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$82.1 billion (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.051 trillion (2007)

Currency (code):

South Korean won (KRW)

Currency code:

##### KRW

Exchange rates:

South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003)

Communications
Korea, South

Telephones - main lines in use:

23.905 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

43.5 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 140 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean; 3 Inmarsat - 1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 61, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2005)

Radios:

47.5 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

43 (plus 59 cable operators and 190 relay cable operators) (2005)

Televisions:

15.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.kr

Internet hosts:

333,823 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:

35.59 million (2007)

Transportation
Korea, South

Airports:

105 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 68 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Heliports:

536 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,482 km; refined products 827 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,472 km standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,342 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 102,062 km paved: 90,417 km (includes 3,103 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,645 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 812 by type: bulk carrier 212, cargo 226, carrier 2, chemical tanker 133, container 80, liquefied gas 33, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 61, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 31 (China 1, Japan 20, Norway 2, UK 1, US 7) registered in other countries: 363 (Belize 1, Cambodia 22, China 1, Cyprus 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Kiribati 2, Liberia 3, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 10, Mongolia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 303, Russia 1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan

Military
Korea, South

Military branches:

Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be reduced to 18 months beginning 2016); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 13,691,809 females age 16-49: 13,029,859 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,282,699 females age 16-49: 10,683,668 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 371,108 female: 325,408 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Korea, South

Disputes - international:

Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limiting Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Kosovo

Introduction
Kosovo

Background:

Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm until the early 13th century. The Serbian defeat at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War (1912). After World War II (1945), the government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia led by Josip TITO reorganized Kosovo as an autonomous province within the constituent republic of Serbia. Over the next four decades, Kosovo Albanians lobbied for greater autonomy, and Kosovo was granted the status almost equal to that of a republic in the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution. Despite the legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s leading to nationalist riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. Serbs in Kosovo complained of mistreatment and Serb nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan MILOSEVIC, exploited those charges to win support among Serbian voters many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new constitution in 1989 that drastically curtailed Kosovo's autonomy. Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum that declared Kosovo independent from Serbia. The MILOSEVIC regime carried out repressive measures against the Albanians in the early 1990s as the unofficial government of Kosovo, led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, tried to use passive resistance to gain international assistance and recognition of its demands for independence. In 1995, Albanians dissatisfied with RUGOVA's nonviolent strategy created the Kosovo Liberation Army and launched an insurgency. In 1998, MILOSEVIC authorized a counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians by Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces. The international community tried to resolve the conflict peacefully, but MILOSEVIC rejected the proposed international settlement - the Rambouillet Accords - leading to a three-month NATO bombing of Serbia beginning in March 1999, which forced Serbia to withdraw its military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. Under the resolution, Serbia's territorial integrity was protected, but it was UNMIK that assumed responsibility for governing Kosovo. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework, which established Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). In succeeding years UNMIK increasingly devolved responsibilities to the PISG. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's future status. Negotiations held intermittently between 2006 and 2007 on issues related to decentralization, religious heritage, and minority rights failed to yield a resolution between Serbia's willingness to grant a high degree of autonomy and the Albanians' call for full independence for Kosovo. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared its independence from Serbia.

Geography
Kosovo

Location:

Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 42 35 N, 21 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 10,887 sq km land: 10,887 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 702 km border countries: Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79 km, Serbia 352 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December

Terrain:

flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the border with Albania) highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,565 m

Natural resources:

nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite

People
Kosovo

Population:

2,126,708 (2007 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian) adjective: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian) note: Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective

Ethnic groups:

Albanians 88%, Serbs 7%, other 5% (Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk,
Ashkali, Egyptian)

Religions:

Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic

Languages:

Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma

Government
Kosovo

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo conventional short form: Kosovo local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosova) local short form: Kosova (Kosovo) former: Kosovo and Metohija Autonomous Province

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Pristina (Prishtine) geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

30 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna in Albanian; opstine,
singular - opstina in Serbian); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas),
Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica),
Gllogoc/Drenas (Glogovac), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Istog (Istok),
Kacanik, Kamenice/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Leposaviq
(Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mitrovice
(Mitrovica), Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Peje (Pec),
Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec
(Orahovac), Shtime (Stimlje), Shterpce (Strpce), Skenderaj (Srbica),
Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin
Potok, Zvecan

Independence:

17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 February (2008)

Constitution:

ratified 9 April 2008; effective 15 June 2008

Legal system:

evolving legal system based on terms of UN Special Envoy Martti AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Fatmir SEJDIU (since 10 February 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January 2008) cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly elections: the president is elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo Assembly; election last held 9 January 2008 (next to be held by in 2013); the prime minister is elected by the Kosovo Assembly election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president; first round: Fatmir SEDIU 62, Naim MALOKU 37; second round: Fatmir SEDIU 61, Naim MALOKU 37; and Hashim THACI elected to be prime minister by the Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Kosovo Assembly of the Provisional Government (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected, 10 seats for Serbs, 10 seats for other minorities; to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 17 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%, AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK 37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court judges are appointed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG); district courts judges are appointed by the SRSG; municipal courts judges are appointed by the SRSG note: after the termination of UNMIK's mandate, the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) will propose to the president candidates for appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15% of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from nonmajority communities

Political parties and leaders:

Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Mark
KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush
HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Kososvo and
Metohija or SDSKIM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Autonomous Liberal Party of
SLS [Slobodan PETROVIC]; Bosniak Vakat Coalition [Dzezair MURATI];
Citizens' Initiative of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALILI]; Council of
Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo or SNSDKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC];
Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI]; Democratic
League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Party of Ashkali
of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit RAHMANI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK
[Hashim THACI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir
YAGCILAR]; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet
NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party or ND [Branislav GRBIC]; New Kosovo
Alliance or AKR [Behxhet PACOLLI]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK
[Emrush XHEMAJLI]; Reform Party Ora; Serb National Party or SNS
[Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS
[Dragisa MIRIC]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi
MERXHA]; Democratic Action Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Serbian List
for Kosovo and Metohija [Oliver IVANOVIC]; Serbian National Council
of Northern Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Bosniaks [Dzezair MURAIT]; Democratic Party Vatan [Sadik
IDRIZI]; Gorani Citizens Initiative [Mursel HALJILJI]; Serbian
People Party [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of
Kosovo and Metohija [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serb Liberal Party [Slobodan
PETROVIC]; Independent League of Social-Democrats of Kosovo and
Metohija [Ljubisa ZIVIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights);
Humanitarian Law Centre (human rights); Movement for
Self-Determination; Serb National Council (SNV)

International organization participation:

##### ITUC, WFTU

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tina KAIDANOW embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 381 38 59 59 3000 FAX: 381 38 549 890

Flag description:

centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars - each representing one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo - arrayed in a slight arc

Economy
Kosovo

Economy - overview:

Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown significant progress in transitioning to a market-based system, but it is still highly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora - located mainly in Germany and Switzerland - account for about 30% of GDP. Kosovo's citizens are the poorest in Europe with an average annual per capita income of only $1800 - about one-third the level of neighboring Albania. Unemployment - at more than 40% of the population - is a severe problem that encourages outward migration. Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common - the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and lack of technical expertise. Economic growth is largely driven by the private sector - mostly small-scale retail businesses. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize 50% of its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by number, and over 90% of SOEs by value. Minerals and metals - including lignite, lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of construction materials - once formed the backbone of industry, but output has declined because investment has been insufficient to replace ageing Eastern Bloc equipment. Technical and financial problems in the power sector also impedes industrial development. The US has worked with the World Bank to prepare a commercial tender for the development of new power generating and mining capacity. The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used in the Serb enclaves. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped keep inflation low. Kosovo has maintained a budget surplus as a result of efficient tax collection and inefficient budget execution. While maintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with the EU and with Kosovo's government to accelerate economic growth, lower unemployment, and attract foreign investment. In order to help integrate Kosovo into regional economic structures, UNMIK signed (on behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006. In February 2008, UNMIK also represented Kosovo at the newly established Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.237 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

832,000 (June 2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 21.4% industry: NA services: NA (2006 est,)

Unemployment rate:

43% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

##### 30 (FY05/06)

Investment (gross fixed):

29% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.364 billion expenditures: $1.008 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:

##### NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

##### NA

Industries:

mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances

Electricity - production:

3.996 billion kWh (2006)

Electricity - consumption:

4.281 billion kWh (2006)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - consumption:

NA bbl

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

NA cu m

Current account balance:

-$58.3 million (2007)

Exports:

$148.4 million (2007)

Exports - commodities:

mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances

Exports - partners:

Central Europe Free Trade Area (CFTA) 56% (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and electrical equipment

Imports - partners:

EU 35%, Macedonia 15%, Serbia 13%, Turkey 8% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$324 million (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

according to the national bank of Serbia, Kosovo's external debt was around $1.2 billion; Kosovo was willing to accept around $900 million (2007)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR); Serbian Dinar (RSD) is also in circulation

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007)

Communications
Kosovo

Telephones - main lines in use:

106,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

562,000 (2006)

Transportation
Kosovo

Airports:

10 (2008)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2008)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2008)

Heliports:

2 (2008)

Railways:

total: 430 km (2005)

Roadways:

total: 1,924 km paved: 1,666 km unpaved: 258 km (2006)

Transnational Issues
Kosovo

Disputes - international:

Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDP's: 21,000 (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Kuwait

Introduction
Kuwait

Background:

Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.

Geography
Kuwait

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi
Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline:

499 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain:

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.84% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 98.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:

130 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.02 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%) per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

People
Kuwait

Population:

2,596,799 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.6% (male 351,057/female 338,634) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,172,460/female 659,927) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 46,770/female 27,951) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.1 years male: 28 years female: 22.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.591% note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

16.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.53 years male: 76.38 years female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups:

Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions:

Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu,
Parsi) 15%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.3% male: 94.4% female: 91% (2005 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Government
Kuwait

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt

Government type:

constitutional emirate

Capital:

name: Kuwait geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir

Independence:

19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution:

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Legal system:

civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

Executive branch:

chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah head of government: Prime Minister NASIR MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006) and Faysal al-HAJJI (since 5 April 2007); note - the Amir accepted the resignation of the prime minister and cabinet on 1 December 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Amir elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinet ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National Assembly) elections: last held 17 May 2008 (next election to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc - Sunni 21, Islamic Salafi Alliance 10, Liberals 7, Shiites 5, Popular Action Bloc 4, Islamic Constitutional Movement 3

Judicial branch:

High Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal but is not forbidden by law

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO,
G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 259-1001 FAX: [965] 538-0282

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Economy
Kuwait

Economy - overview:

Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. High oil prices in recent years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has not earnestly pushed through new initiatives. Despite its vast oil reserves, Kuwait experienced power outages during the summer months in 2006 and 2007 because demand exceeded power generating capacity. Power outages are likely to worsen, given its high population growth rates, unless the government can increase generating capacity. In May 2007 Kuwait changed its currency peg from the US dollar to a basket of currencies in order to curb inflation and to reduce its vulnerability to external shocks.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$140 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$111.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$55,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 52.4% services: 47.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.093 million note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

2.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $85.28 billion expenditures: $37.77 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

9.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.54% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$15.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$55.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$78.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

practically no crops; fish

Industries:

petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

44.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

39.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.613 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

334,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.356 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

8,022 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

104 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.586 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$47.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$63.72 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners:

Japan 19.9%, South Korea 17%, Taiwan 11.2%, Singapore 9.9%, US 8.4%,
Netherlands 4.8%, China 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$20.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners:

US 12.7%, Japan 8.5%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.8%, South Korea 6.6%,
Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Italy 5.8%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.6 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$898 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$24.22 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$128.9 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Currency code:

##### KWD

Exchange rates:

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003)

Communications
Kuwait

Telephones - main lines in use:

517,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.774 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the quality of service is excellent domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.175 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions:

875,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kw

Internet hosts:

3,289 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

900,000 (2007)

Transportation
Kuwait

Airports:

7 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 5,749 km paved: 4,887 km unpaved: 862 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 38 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 22 registered in other countries: 34 (Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 7, UAE 10) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi

Military
Kuwait

Military branches:

Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 40 with 1 month annual training; women have served in police forces since 1999 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,032,408 females age 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 892,816 females age 16-49: 500,540 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 17,737 female: 18,519 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Kuwait

Disputes - international:

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domestic or low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, and withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement; Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asian workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude in Iraq tier rating: Tier 3 - insufficient efforts in 2007 to prosecute and punish abusive employers and those who traffic women for sexual exploitation; the government failed for the fourth year in a row to live up to promises to provide shelter and protective services for victims of involuntary domestic servitude and other forms of trafficking (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Kyrgyzstan

Introduction
Kyrgyzstan

Background:

A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. The political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to parliament and the government. In December 2006, the Kyrgyz parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change. By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the AKAYEV-era 2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed referendum initiated by BAKIEV. The president then dissolved parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in December 2007 elections. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.

Geography
Kyrgyzstan

Location:

Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates:

##### 41 00 N, 75 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 198,500 sq km land: 191,300 sq km water: 7,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:

total: 3,051 km border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Terrain:

peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Natural resources:

abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Land use:

arable land: 6.55% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 93.17% note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut forest (2005)

Irrigated land:

10,720 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

46.5 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 10.08 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%) per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

People
Kyrgyzstan

Population:

5,356,869 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.9% (male 817,369/female 784,782) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,681,440/female 1,748,222) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 127,263/female 197,793) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.2 years male: 23.3 years female: 25 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.38% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

23.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 37.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.12 years male: 65.12 years female: 73.33 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Ethnic groups:

Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%,
Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)

Religions:

Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

Languages:

Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official),
Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.3% female: 98.1% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.9% of GDP (2005)

Government
Kyrgyzstan

Country name:

conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: Kyrgyzstan former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Bishkek geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar); Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President Askar AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expanded the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature; during large-scale demonstrations in November 2006, President BAKIEV and the opposition negotiated a new constitution granting greater powers to the parliament and the government; amendments added on 30 December 2006 redistributed some power back to the president, but both November and December 2006 versions were annulled in September 2007, and a new version was approved by referendum on 21 October 2007; the BAKIEV-initiated referendum was criticized by Western observers for voting irregularities, particularly ballot stuffing

Legal system:

based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIEV (since 14 August 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Igor CHUDINOV (since 24 December 2007) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and security, appointed solely by the president elections: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 July 2005 (next scheduled for 2010); prime minister nominated by the parliamentary party holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such party exists, the president selects the party that will nominate a prime minister election results: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected president; percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kengesh (90 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party 11, KCP 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the Jorgorku Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a probationary period of five years, then 10 years)

Political parties and leaders:

Ak Jol [Avtandil ARABAYEV, Elmira IBRAIMOVA, Vladimir NIFADYEV,
co-chairs]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner
National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland)
[Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK
[Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek
TURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet
SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Ishak
MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV];
Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and
Unity [Tabaldy OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan
KARABAYEV]; Social Democratic Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV]; Union of
Democratic Forces [Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and
Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]

International organization participation:

ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822 FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tatiana C. GFOELLER embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217 FAX: [996] (312) 551-264

Flag description:

red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

Economy
Kyrgyzstan

Economy - overview:

Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and exports began to increase. The economy is heavily weighted toward gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and a 0.6% decline in 2005. GDP grew more than 6% in 2007, partly due to higher gold prices internationally. The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007. The government and international financial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. In 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and, in 2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domestic industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.55 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.748 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 33.6% industry: 18.9% services: 47.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.7 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 55% industry: 15% services: 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

18% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 24.3% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.3 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $964.6 million expenditures: $961.1 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.2% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

25.32% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$911.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$303.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$558.3 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

Industries:

small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals

Industrial production growth rate:

9.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

15.62 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

8.997 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.387 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 7.6% hydro: 92.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

964.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,330 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2,534 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

14,240 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

40 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

18 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

768 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

750 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$267.9 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.337 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Exports - partners:

Russia 20.7%, Switzerland 19.9%, Kazakhstan 18%, Afghanistan 10.4%,
Uzbekistan 7.6%, China 5.5% (2007)

Imports:

$2.636 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Russia 40.5%, China 14.7%, Kazakhstan 12.9%, Uzbekistan 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$268.5 million from the US (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.177 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.966 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$41.99 million (2005)

Currency (code):

som (KGS)

Currency code:

##### KGS

Exchange rates:

soms (KGS) per US dollar - 37.746 (2007), 40.149 (2006), 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003)

Communications
Kyrgyzstan

Telephones - main lines in use:

482,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.152 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is growing; fixed line penetration remains low and concentrated in urban areas domestic: multiple mobile cellular service providers with growing coverage; mobile cellular subscribership reached 40 per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 23, shortwave NA (2007)

Radios:

520,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (2 countrywide and 6 regional stations; state-owned); note - there are about 20 private TV stations, most of which rebroadcast other channels (2007)

Televisions:

210,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kg

Internet hosts:

56,905 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

750,000 (2007)

Transportation
Kyrgyzstan

Airports:

30 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 470 km broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 18,500 km paved: 16,909 km (includes 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,591 km (2003)

Waterways:

600 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Military
Kyrgyzstan

Military branches:

Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,398,878 females age 16-49: 1,419,374 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,061,942 females age 16-49: 1,211,249 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 60,706 female: 58,721 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Kyrgyzstan

Disputes - international:

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas

Illicit drugs:

limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Laos

Introduction
Laos

Background:

Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

Geography
Laos

Location:

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries:

total: 5,083 km border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use:

arable land: 4.01% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 95.65% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,750 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

333.6 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3 cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%) per capita: 507 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

floods, droughts

Environment - current issues:

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

People
Laos

Population:

6,677,534 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41% (male 1,374,966/female 1,362,945) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 1,846,375/female 1,885,029) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 91,028/female 117,191) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.2 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.344% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

34.46 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 79.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 88.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 69.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 56.29 years male: 54.19 years female: 58.47 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian

Ethnic groups:

Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

Languages:

Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.7% male: 77% female: 60.9% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3% of GDP (2006)

Government
Laos

Country name:

conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none

Government type:

Communist state

Capital:

name: Vientiane geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Independence:

19 July 1949 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Constitution:

promulgated 14 August 1991

Legal system:

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006) head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001) cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2

Judicial branch:

People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court
is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the
People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National
Assembly Standing Committee)

Political parties and leaders:

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber),
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] 21-26-7000 FAX: [856] 21-26-7190

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Economy
Laos

Economy - overview:

The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year in 1988-2007 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban areas and in most rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from international donors and from foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, should help streamline the government's inefficient tax system.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.028 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 40.9% industry: 33.2% services: 25.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.1 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.6 (2002)

Budget:

revenues: $473.1 million expenditures: $647.2 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12.67% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

28.5% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$327.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$717.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$285.8 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Industries:

copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

12% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.639 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.344 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

547 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

367 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,996 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

3,036 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$285 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$970 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold

Exports - partners:

Thailand 32.7%, Vietnam 14.3%, China 5.9%, South Korea 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$1.378 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Thailand 68.5%, China 9.3%, Vietnam 5.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$379 million (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$540 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.179 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

kip (LAK)

Currency code:

##### LAK

Exchange rates:

kips (LAK) per US dollar - 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003)

Communications
Laos

Telephones - main lines in use:

94,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.478 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: multiple service providers; mobile cellular usage growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)

Radios:

730,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)

Televisions:

52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.la

Internet hosts:

1,015 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2007)

Transportation
Laos

Airports:

42 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Pipelines:

refined products 540 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 29,811 km paved: 4,010 km unpaved: 25,801 km (2006)

Waterways:

4,600 km note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Military
Laos

Military branches:

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes
Riverine Force), Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,549,774 females age 16-49: 1,570,702 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 993,162 females age 16-49: 1,052,053 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 73,973 female: 72,758 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006)

Military - note:

serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)

Transnational Issues
Laos

Disputes - international:

Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels

Illicit drugs:

estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Latvia

Introduction
Latvia

Background:

The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography
Latvia

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and
Lithuania

Geographic coordinates:

##### 57 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 64,589 sq km land: 63,589 sq km water: 1,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,382 km border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 km

Coastline:

498 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Terrain:

low plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Galzina Kalns 312 m

Natural resources:

peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 28.19% permanent crops: 0.45% other: 71.36% (2005)

Irrigated land:

200 sq km note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

49.9 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.25 cu km/yr (55%/33%/12%) per capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east

People
Latvia

Population:

2,245,423 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.4% (male 154,077/female 146,825) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 760,976/female 803,106) 65 years and over: 16.9% (male 124,658/female 255,781) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.9 years male: 36.9 years female: 43 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.629% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

13.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.88 years male: 66.68 years female: 77.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,600 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Ethnic groups:

Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%,
Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)

Religions:

Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)

Languages:

Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 14 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2004)

Government
Latvia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Riga geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles
Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,
Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,
Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas
Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons,
Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu
Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*,
Ventspils Rajons

Independence:

18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since

Legal system:

based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since 20 December 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 May 2007 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6; note - seats by party as of February 2008 - TP 21, ZZS 17, SC 17, JL 14, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 5, PCTVL 6, independents 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament);
Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by
Parliament)

Political parties and leaders:

First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS, Ivars
GODMANIS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs
PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National
Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS];
Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS, Nils USAKOVS]; Latvian
Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris
BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; New
Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE,
Krisjanis KARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union
of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)
[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,
NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles LARSON Jr. embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] 670-36200 FAX: [371] 678-20047

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Economy
Latvia

Economy - overview:

Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account deficit - more than 22% of GDP in 2007 - and inflation - at nearly 10% per year - remain major concerns.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40.05 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$27.34 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$17,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.3% industry: 22% services: 74.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.167 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.1% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.7 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $10.47 billion expenditures: $10.29 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

7.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.91% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$8.196 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.113 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$27.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

buses, vans, street and railroad cars; synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials

Industrial production growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.734 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.424 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

1.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

4.671 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

35,180 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

10,070 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

45,340 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.04 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.04 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Current account balance:

-$6.231 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.143 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Lithuania 15.1%, Estonia 13.8%, Russia 13%, Germany 8.3%, Sweden 7.4%, UK 6.5% (2007)

Imports:

$14.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners:

Germany 15.1%, Lithuania 13.8%, Russia 8.7%, Estonia 8%, Poland 6.9%, Finland 5.1%, Sweden 4.9% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$162 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.758 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$33.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$8.62 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$699 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$2.705 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

lat (LVL)

Currency code:

##### LVL

Exchange rates:

lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5162 (2007), 0.5597 (2006), 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003)

Communications
Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use:

644,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.217 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephone service expands domestic: number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 125 per 100 persons international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.76 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lv

Internet hosts:

220,082 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

41 (2001)

Internet users:

1.177 million (2007)

Transportation
Latvia

Airports:

42 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 948 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,303 km broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 69,675 km paved: 69,675 km (2006)

Waterways:

300 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 22 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Estonia 2) registered in other countries: 118 (Antigua and Barbuda 13, Belize 12, Cambodia 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, Jamaica 1, Liberia 21, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 16, Panama 8, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Riga, Ventspils

Military
Latvia

Military branches:

National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Ground Forces, Navy
(Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)),
Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Border Guard, Latvian Home
Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 568,683 females age 16-49: 565,826 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 412,849 females age 16-49: 468,827 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 14,506 female: 13,982 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Latvia

Disputes - international:

Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to Latvian insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration referencing Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses; Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documentation in preparation; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs:

transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Lebanon

Introduction
Lebanon

Background:

Following the capture of Syria from the Ottoman Empire by Anglo-French forces in 1918, France received a mandate over this territory and separated out the region of Lebanon in 1920. France granted this area independence in 1943. A lengthy civil war (1975-1990) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections. Most militias have been disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, a radical Shia organization listed by the US State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, retains its weapons. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000 and the passage in October 2004 of UNSCR 1559 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. The assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI and 20 others in February 2005 led to massive demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"), and Syria withdrew the remainder of its military forces in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free of foreign interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Saad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. Lebanon continues to be plagued by violence - Hizballah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in July 2006 leading to a 34-day conflict with Israel. The LAF in May-September 2007 battled Sunni extremist group Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp; and the country has witnessed a string of politically motivated assassinations since the death of Rafiq HARIRI. Lebanese politicians in November 2007 were unable to agree on a successor to Emile LAHUD when he stepped down as president, creating a political vacuum until the election of Army Commander Michel SULAYMAN in May 2008 and the formation of a new cabinet in July 2008.

Geography
Lebanon

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and
Syria

Geographic coordinates:

##### 33 50 N, 35 50 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 10,400 sq km land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline:

225 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers;
Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m

Natural resources:

limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 16.35% permanent crops: 13.75% other: 69.9% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,040 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

4.8 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.38 cu km/yr (33%/1%/67%) per capita: 385 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

People
Lebanon

Population:

3,971,941 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26% (male 526,994/female 505,894) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,275,021/female 1,380,131) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 128,002/female 155,899) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.8 years male: 27.6 years female: 30 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.154% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.06 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.41 years male: 70.91 years female: 76.04 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese

Ethnic groups:

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians

Religions:

Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri),
Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic,
Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian
Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant),
other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognized

Languages:

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.4% male: 93.1% female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.7% of GDP (2006)

Government
Lebanon

Country name:

conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan former: Greater Lebanon

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Beirut geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa, Beyrouth, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye

Independence:

22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Constitution:

23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989

Legal system:

mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Michel SULAYMAN (as of 25 May 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Fuad SINIORA (since 30 June 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Elias MURR (since April 2005) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 25 May 2008 (next to be held in 2014); the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly election results: Michel SULAYMAN elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 for, 6 abstentions, 3 invalidated

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005 (next to be held in spring 2009) election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Free Patriotic Movement 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Qornet Shehwan 6; Lebanese Forces 5; Popular Bloc 4; Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Syrian National Socialist Party 2; Tashnaq 2; Syrian Ba'th Party 1; Democratic Left 1; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Kataeb Party 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; independent 4

Judicial branch:

four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Political parties and leaders:

14 March Coalition: Democratic Gathering Bloc [Walid JUNBLATT, leader of Progressive Socialist Party]; Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc 8 March Coalition: Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI, leader of Amal Movement]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah Party [Hassan NASRALLAH]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Ussama SAAD]; Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Syrian Ba'th Party [Sayez SHUKR]; Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO] Independent: Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]; Tashnaq

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Hizballah military wing other: Palestinian militias; Maronite Christians; Sunnis and their militias; Shi'as and their militias

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine CHEDID chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. SISON embassy: Awkar, Lebanon; (Awkar facing the Municipality) mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070 telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600 FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Flag description:

three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band

Economy
Lebanon

Economy - overview:

The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning national debt, the Rafiq HARIRI government in the 1990s began an austerity program, reining in government expenditures, increasing revenue collection, and privatizing state enterprises, but economic and financial reform initiatives stalled and public debt continued to grow despite receipt of more than $2 billion in bilateral assistance at the 2002 Paris II Donors Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah conflict in July-August 2006 caused an estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage, and prompted international donors to pledge nearly $1 billion in recovery and reconstruction assistance. Donors met again in January 2007 at the Paris III Donor Conference and pledged more than $7.5 billion to Lebanon for development projects and budget support, conditioned on progress on Beirut's fiscal reform and privatization program. An 18-month political stalemate and sporadic sectarian and political violence hampered economic activity, particularly tourism, retail sales, and investment, until a new government was formed in July 2008.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40.44 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$24.64 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.2% industry: 19.5% services: 75.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.5 million note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

20% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

22% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.178 billion expenditures: $8.35 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

186.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.26% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.374 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$57.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$45.51 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats

Industries:

banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

8.764 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

8.161 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

929 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 97.2% hydro: 2.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

106,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

97,590 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$2.046 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.077 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper

Exports - partners:

Syria 25.2%, UAE 11.8%, Switzerland 8.2%, Saudi Arabia 5.6% (2007)

Imports:

$11.93 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, electrical machinery

Imports - partners:

Syria 12.1%, Italy 8.5%, France 8.3%, US 7%, China 5.9%, Germany 5.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

of the $7.6 billion in grants and loans pledged to Lebanon at the Paris III conference in January 2007, Beirut as of mid-December 2007 had signed agreements for $3 billion, including $1 billion in project financing, $750 million in direct budget support, $750 million in private sector credit, and $285 million in in-kind aid; about $500 million of the $1.7 billion pledged for direct budget support has been disbursed to Lebanon; donors in August 2006 also pledged nearly $1.8 billion in aid to help Lebanon recover from the 2006 Israel-Hizballah war; during the conflict, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait provided $1.5 billion in concessional loans to the Lebanese central bank to maintain confidence in the Lebanese currency. (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$20.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$31.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$8.279 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Lebanese pound (LBP)

Currency code:

##### LBP

Exchange rates:

Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2007), 1,507.5 (2006), 1,507.5 (2005), 1,507.5 (2004), 1,507.5 (2003)

Communications
Lebanon

Telephones - main lines in use:

681,400 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.26 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: repair of the telecommunications system, severely damaged during the civil war, now complete domestic: two wireless networks provide good service; political instability hampers privatization and deployment of new technologies; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership 50 per 100 persons international: country code - 961; submarine cable link to Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

2.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.18 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lb

Internet hosts:

36,681 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:

950,000 (2006)

Transportation
Lebanon

Airports:

7 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 43 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 401 km standard gauge: 319 km 1.435 m narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050 m note: rail system became unusable because of damage done during fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2006)

Roadways:

total: 6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 33 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 13, carrier 11, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: 4 (Greece 2, Syria 2) registered in other countries: 55 (Barbados 1, Cambodia 8, Comoros 4, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Georgia 4, Honduras 1, Italy 1, North Korea 1, Liberia 2, Malta 11, Mongolia 2, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Syria 3, Togo 1, unknown 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Beirut, Tripoli

Military
Lebanon

Military branches:

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army (includes Navy), Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,106,879 females age 16-49: 1,122,595 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 934,828 females age 16-49: 948,327 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 32,815 female: 31,610 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Lebanon

Disputes - international:

lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place since 1978

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 405,425 (Palestinian refugees
(UNRWA)); 50,000-60,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 17,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions); 200,000
(July-August 2006 war) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug trafficking

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Lesotho

Introduction
Lesotho

Background:

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to periodically demonstrate their distrust of the results.

Geography
Lesotho

Location:

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

##### 29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources:

water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Land use:

arable land: 10.87% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 89% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

5.2 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%) per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level

People
Lesotho

Population:

2,128,180 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.3% (male 377,784/female 372,840) 15-64 years: 59.8% (male 621,687/female 649,981) 65 years and over: 5% (male 42,348/female 63,540) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.2 years male: 20.6 years female: 21.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.129% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

24.41 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

22.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 78.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 83.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 74.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 40.17 years male: 40.97 years female: 39.34 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

28.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

320,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

29,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho

Ethnic groups:

Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,

Religions:

Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Languages:

Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.8% male: 74.5% female: 94.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

13% of GDP (2006)

Government
Lesotho

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho local short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland

Government type:

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Maseru geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence:

4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution:

2 April 1993

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998) cabinet: Cabinet elections: according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession, or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4

Judicial branch:

High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Congress Parties or ACP; All Basotho Convention or ABC
[Thomas THABANE]; Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo
RALITAPOLE]; Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA];
Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justin Metsing LEKHANYA];
Kopanang Basotho Party or KPB [Pheelo MOSALA]; Lesotho Congress for
Democracy or LCD (the governing party) [Pakalitha MOSISILI]; Lesotho
Education Party or LEP [Thabo PITSO]; Lesotho Workers Party or LWP
[Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO];
National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; New Lesotho
Freedom Party or NLFP [Manapo MAJARA]; Popular Front for Democracy
or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla
NKUEBE]; Social Democratic Party of SDP [Masitise SELESO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Thabang
MATJAMA] (pushes for media freedom)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mabasia MOHOBANE chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert NOLAN embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 22 312666 FAX: [266] 22 310116

Flag description:

three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Economy
Lesotho

Economy - overview:

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government revenue. However, the government has recently strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 permitted the sale of water to South Africa and generated royalties for Lesotho. Lesotho produces about 90% of its own electrical power needs. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries, as well as a rapidly expanding apparel-assembly sector. The latter has grown significantly mainly due to Lesotho qualifying for the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. The economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF. In July 2007, Lesotho signed a Millennium Challenge Account Compact with the US worth $362.5 million.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.063 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.2% industry: 45% services: 39.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

838,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa industry and services: 14% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

45% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

49% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4% (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

63.2 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed):

51.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $779.9 million expenditures: $696.9 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12.82% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.13% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$439.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$160.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Industries:

food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

12% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

200 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

226 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

50 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$49 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$853 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)

Exports - partners:

US 71.5%, Belgium 25.6%, Canada 1.2% (2007)

Imports:

$1.536 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

China 30%, Hong Kong 29.6%, India 10%, South Korea 6.6%, Germany 6.4%, Pakistan 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$68.82 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$852 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$689 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Currency (code):

loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)

Currency code:

##### LSL; ZAR

Exchange rates:

maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Communications
Lesotho

Telephones - main lines in use:

53,100 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

456,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: rudimentary system consisting of a modest but growing number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system; mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding domestic: privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho tasked with providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service is expanding with a subscribership approaching 25 per 100 persons; rural services are scant international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

##### NA (2002)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2000)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.ls

Internet hosts:

83 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

70,000 (2007)

Transportation
Lesotho

Airports:

28 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 7,091 km paved: 1,404 km unpaved: 5,687 km (2003)

Military
Lesotho

Military branches:

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 525,203 females age 16-49: 522,485 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 262,101 females age 16-49: 238,350 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 26,084 female: 26,006 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2006)

Military - note:

Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)

Transnational Issues
Lesotho

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Liberia

Introduction
Liberia

Background:

Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country will take many years.

Geography
Liberia

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:

##### 6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 111,370 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,050 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,585 km border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline:

579 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 3.43% permanent crops: 1.98% other: 94.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

232 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.11 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%) per capita: 34 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment - current issues:

tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

People
Liberia

Population:

3,334,587 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44% (male 734,375/female 731,287) 15-64 years: 53.3% (male 879,848/female 896,319) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 45,175/female 47,583) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18 years male: 17.8 years female: 18.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.661% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

42.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

21.45 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

15.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 143.89 deaths/1,000 live births male: 159.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 127.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 41.13 years male: 39.85 years female: 42.46 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups:

indigenous African 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Religions:

Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Languages:

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.5% male: 73.3% female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Liberia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Monrovia geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Independence:

26 July 1847

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution:

6 January 1986

Legal system:

dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 November 2005 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF elected president; percent of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 59.6%, George WEAH 40.4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; note - number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in 2011); House of Representatives - last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDC 15, LP 9, COTOL 8, UP 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15 note: junior senators - those who received the second most votes in each county in the 11 October 2005 election - will only serve a six-year first term because the Liberian constitution mandates staggered Senate elections to ensure continuity of government; all senators will be eligible for nine-year terms thereafter

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL [H. Varney
SHERMAN]; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH];
Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party or
NPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: demobilized former military officers

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Milton Nathaniel BARNES chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda THOMAS-GREENFIELD embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 98, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [231] 7-705-4826 FAX: [231] 7-701-0370

Flag description:

11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Economy
Liberia

Economy - overview:

Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around the capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them, but with the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically-elected government in 2006, some have returned. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous financial and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.525 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$730 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 76.9% industry: 5.4% services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 70% industry: 8% services: 22% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

85% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

80% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: NA expenditures: NA

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.2% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.05% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$145.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$49.89 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.157 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Industries:

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

320 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

297.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,687 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

23.37 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

3,593 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$224 million (2007)

Exports:

$1.197 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners:

Malaysia 27.5%, Poland 18.5%, Germany 11.5%, US 10.5%, Spain 8.2%,
Norway 5.5% (2007)

Imports:

$7.143 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

South Korea 31.4%, Singapore 22.1%, Japan 14.9%, China 10.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$236.2 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code:

##### LRD

Exchange rates:

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 59.43 (2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)

Communications
Liberia

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

563,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators domestic: fixed line service stagnant and extremely limited; mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity approaching 20 per 100 persons international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2007)

Radios:

790,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2007)

Televisions:

70,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.lr

Internet hosts:

7 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:

1,000 (2002)

Transportation
Liberia

Airports:

53 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 38 (2007)

Railways:

total: 490 km standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge note: sections of railway are inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil war (2008)

Roadways:

total: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 2,204 by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 390, cargo 107, chemical tanker 241, combination ore/oil 7, container 750, liquefied gas 84, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 460, refrigerated cargo 103, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 36 foreign-owned: 2,109 (Argentina 3, Belgium 4, Brazil 3, Canada 7, China 11, Croatia 2, Cyprus 63, Denmark 12, Estonia 1, France 5, Germany 849, Gibraltar 5, Greece 358, Hong Kong 44, India 2, Indonesia 2, Isle of Man 5, Israel 23, Italy 41, Japan 116, South Korea 3, Latvia 21, Lebanon 2, Mexico 2, Monaco 8, Netherlands 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 40, Poland 13, Qatar 4, Romania 2, Russia 94, Saudi Arabia 27, Singapore 32, Slovenia 3, Sweden 10, Switzerland 13, Taiwan 91, Turkey 7, Ukraine 25, UAE 23, UK 20, US 98, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Buchanan, Monrovia

Military
Liberia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 729,813 females age 16-49: 741,223 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 371,287 females age 16-49: 373,265 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 30,448 female: 29,902 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Liberia

Disputes - international:

although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January 2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send their migrant workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire) IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Libya

Introduction
Libya

Background:

The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. Libya has responded in good faith to legal cases brought against it in US courts for terrorist acts that predate its renunciation of violence. Claims for compensation in the Lockerbie bombing, LaBelle disco bombing, and UTA 772 bombing cases are ongoing. The US rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In late 2007, Libya was elected by the General Assembly to a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

Geography
Libya

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 4,348 km border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline:

1,770 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use:

arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:

4,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.6 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%) per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

desertification; limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

People
Libya

Population:

6,173,579 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.2% (male 1,046,400/female 1,002,148) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,988,038/female 1,875,034) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 128,386/female 133,573) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.6 years male: 23.7 years female: 23.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.216% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

25.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.07 years male: 74.81 years female: 79.44 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.15 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups:

Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%

Languages:

Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.6% male: 92.4% female: 72% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

2.7% of GDP (1999)

Government
Libya

Country name:

conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma local short form: none

Government type:

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state

Capital:

name: Tripoli geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Independence:

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution:

none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority

Legal system:

based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006) cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held March 2006 (next to be held NA) election results: NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral General People's Congress (approximately 2,700 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: Arab nationalist movements; anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile Movement; Islamic elements

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali Suleiman AUJALI chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601 FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Christopher STEVENS embassy: Serraj Area, Tripoli mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 telephone: [218] 91-220-0125

Flag description:

plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Economy
Libya

Economy - overview:

The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan officials in the past five years have made progress on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya were removed in April 2004, helping Libya attract more foreign direct investment, mostly in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the National Oil Company set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 million bbl/day by 2015. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for more than 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$74.72 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$57.06 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2% industry: 83.1% services: 14.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.83 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

8.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $39.88 billion expenditures: $19.48 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

4.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$18.04 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.192 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle

Industries:

petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

5.6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

20.71 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.845 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

278,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.455 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

575.3 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

41.46 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

14.8 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.39 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.419 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$26.38 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$42.97 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Exports - partners:

Italy 40.5%, Germany 12.2%, US 7.4%, Spain 7.4%, France 6.3% (2007)

Imports:

$14.43 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products

Imports - partners:

Italy 18.9%, Germany 7.7%, China 7.3%, Tunisia 6.8%, France 5.7%,
Turkey 5.4%, US 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $24.44 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$79.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$6.286 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$3.333 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Libyan dinar (LYD)

Currency code:

##### LYD

Exchange rates:

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003)

Communications
Libya

Telephones - main lines in use:

852,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.5 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approached 90 telephones per 100 persons in 2007 domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:

1.35 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999)

Televisions:

730,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ly

Internet hosts:

31 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

260,000 (2006)

Transportation
Libya

Airports:

141 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 60 over 3,047 m: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 81 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 882 km; gas 3,425 km; oil 6,956 km (2007)

Railways:

0 km note: Libya has announced plans to build seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge track (2006)

Roadways:

total: 100,024 km paved: 57,214 km unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 17 by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2) registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,
Zawiyah

Military
Libya

Military branches:

Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya,
LAAF) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,682,183 females age 16-49: 1,611,001 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,439,941 females age 16-49: 1,381,914 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 61,305 female: 58,788 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Libya

Disputes - international:

Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses; Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Liechtenstein

Introduction
Liechtenstein

Background:

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.

Geography
Liechtenstein

Location:

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates:

##### 47 16 N, 9 32 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Coastline:

0 km (doubly landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources:

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People
Liechtenstein

Population:

34,498 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,892/female 2,927) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 11,905/female 12,180) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,964/female 2,630) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.5 years male: 40 years female: 41 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.713% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.95 years male: 76.38 years female: 83.52 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups:

Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)

Languages:

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 13 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Liechtenstein

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Vaduz geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence:

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

National holiday:

Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution:

5 October 1921

Legal system:

local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state head of government: Head of Government (Prime Minister) Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001); Deputy Head of Government (Deputy Prime Minister) Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders:

Patriotic Union or VU [Adolf HEEB] (was Fatherland Union);
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; The Free List or
FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO,
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy
Liechtenstein

Economy - overview:

Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.786 billion (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$36.33 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6% industry: 39% services: 55% (2001)

Labor force:

29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2% industry: 47% services: 51% (31 December 2001)

Unemployment rate:

1.3% (September 2002)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2001)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Exports:

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities:

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

Exports - partners:

EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2006)

Imports:

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities:

agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners:

EU, Switzerland (2006)

Debt - external:

$0 (2001)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:

##### CHF

Exchange rates:

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)

Communications
Liechtenstein

Telephones - main lines in use:

20,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

27,500 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

21,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions:

12,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.li

Internet hosts:

7,639 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

Internet users:

22,000 (2006)

Transportation
Liechtenstein

Pipelines:

gas 20 km (2007)

Railways:

9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2006)

Roadways:

total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2007)

Waterways:

28 km (2006)

Military
Liechtenstein

Military branches:

no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,584 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 202 female: 222 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Transnational Issues
Liechtenstein

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Lithuania

Introduction
Lithuania

Background:

Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795, when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography
Lithuania

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 65,300 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,574 km border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline:

90 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain:

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m

Natural resources:

peat, arable land, amber

Land use:

arable land: 44.81% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 54.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:

70 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

24.5 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%) per capita: 971 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits

People
Lithuania

Population:

3,565,205 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.5% (male 264,668/female 250,997) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,214,236/female 1,263,198) 65 years and over: 16% (male 197,498/female 374,608) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39 years male: 36.4 years female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.284% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.67 years male: 69.72 years female: 79.89 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups:

Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.6% female: 99.6% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Lithuania

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Vilnius geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

Independence:

11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Andrius KUBILIUS (since 27 November 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2009); prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; Andrius KUBILIUS approved by Parliament 89-27 with 16 abstentions

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members are elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; serve four-year terms) elections: last held 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held October 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - TS 19.7%, TPP 15.1%, TT 12.7%, LSDP 11.7%, KDP+J 9%, LRLS 5.7%, LCS 5.3%, LLRA 4.8%, LVLS 3.7%, NS 3.6%, other 8.7%; seats by faction - TS 44, LSDP 26, TPP 16, TT 15, LRLS 11, KDP+J 10, LCS 8, LLRA 3, LVLS 3, NS 1, independent 4

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all courts appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Viktor MUNTIANAS]; Coalition of Labor
Party and Youth or KDP+J [Viktor USPASKICH]; Electoral Action of
Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; Homeland Union -
Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS]; Lithuanian
Peasant Popular Union or LVLS [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE]; Liberal and
Center Union or LCS [Arturas ZUOKAS]; Liberal Movement or LRLS
[Eligijus MASIULIS]; National Revival or TPP [Arunas VALINSKAS]; New
Union (Social Liberal) or NS [Arturas PAULAUSKAS]; Order and Justice
Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Social Democratic Party or LSDP
[Gediminas KIRKILAS]; Young Lithuania and New Nationalists
[Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Europe House (promotes the EU); European Movement (promotes the EU);
Lithuanian Future Forum (promotes the EU)

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA chancery: temporary address: 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 302, Arlington, VA 22201 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106 telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500 FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Economy
Lithuania

Economy - overview:

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.2% in 2007 while wages continued to grow at double digit rates, contributing to rising inflation. Exports and imports also grew strongly, and the current account deficit rose to nearly 15% of GDP in 2007. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities is nearly complete. Foreign government and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$59.98 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$38.35 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.3% industry: 33.3% services: 61.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.603 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 15.8% industry: 28.2% services: 56% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

3.5% note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

4% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.7% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.28 billion expenditures: $13.75 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

17.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.85% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.86% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$11.84 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$6.917 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$25.05 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry

Industrial production growth rate:

7.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

11.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

10.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

7.217 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

5.846 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 77.7% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

8,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

57,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

148,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

206,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$5.26 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$17.18 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Exports - partners:

Russia 15%, Latvia 12.9%, Germany 10.5%, Poland 6.3%, Estonia 5.8%,
UK 4.6%, Denmark 4.1%, Belarus 4% (2007)

Imports:

$22.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Imports - partners:

Russia 18%, Germany 15%, Poland 10.6%, Latvia 5.5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$249.7 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.721 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$27.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$14.63 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.642 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$10.19 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

litas (LTL)

Currency code:

##### LTL

Exchange rates:

litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003)

Communications
Lithuania

Telephones - main lines in use:

799,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.912 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate; being modernized to provide improved international capability and better residential access domestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of main line subscriptions; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to about 135 per 100 persons while fixed-line teledensity has dropped to 22 per 100 persons international: country code - 370; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

1.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

27 (may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations) (2001)

Televisions:

1.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lt

Internet hosts:

812,083 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

32 (2001)

Internet users:

1.333 million (2007)

Transportation
Lithuania

Airports:

87 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 30 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,695 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,771 km broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 79,984 km paved: 70,997 km (includes 309 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,987 km (2006)

Waterways:

441 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 45 by type: cargo 23, container 2, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 13 foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 5, Ukraine 1) registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Cook Islands 1, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Norway 1, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, unknown 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Klaipeda

Military
Lithuania

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces, National
Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 915,187 females age 16-49: 906,097 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 678,434 females age 16-49: 749,483 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 25,907 female: 24,735 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2006; 1.23% 2007 est.)

Transnational Issues
Lithuania

Disputes - international:

Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation

Illicit drugs:

transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Luxembourg

Introduction
Luxembourg

Background:

Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

Geography
Luxembourg

Location:

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates:

##### 49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain:

mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Natural resources:

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Land use:

arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

1.6 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%) per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

People
Luxembourg

Population:

486,006 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 46,729/female 43,889) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 163,356/female 160,425) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 29,206/female 42,401) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39 years male: 38 years female: 40 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.188% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.18 years male: 75.91 years female: 82.67 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups:

Luxembourger 63.1%, Portuguese 13.3%, French 4.5%, Italian 4.3%,
German 2.3%, other EU 7.3%, other 5.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13% (2000)

Languages:

Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language),
French (administrative language)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (1999)

Government
Luxembourg

Country name:

conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Luxembourg geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence:

1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday:

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June; note - the actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the festivities were shifted by five months to allow observance during a more favorable time of year

Constitution:

17 October 1868; occasional revisions

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 20 January 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Legislative branch:

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%, DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5 note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister

Judicial branch:

judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:

Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR [Robert MENLEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Francois BILTGEN] (also known as Christian Social Party or PCS); Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left); other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL (center-left trade union)

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Paul SENNINGER chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX: [352] 46 14 01

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy
Luxembourg

Economy - overview:

This stable, high-income economy - benefiting from its proximity to France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign owned and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and cross-border workers for about 60% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like all EU members, suffered from the global economic slump in the early part of this decade, the country continues to enjoy an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP per capita ranks second in the world, after Qatar. After two years of strong economic growth in 2006-07, turmoil in the world financial markets will slow Luxembourg's economy in 2008, but growth will remain above the European average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$38.14 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$50.16 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$79,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

205,000 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 23.8% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $19.78 billion expenditures: $18.9 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

6.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$357.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy products, livestock products

Industries:

banking and financial services, iron and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.01 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.748 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.887 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

6.847 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

60,640 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

281.5 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

63,760 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.329 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.329 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$4.921 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$18.42 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass

Exports - partners:

Germany 21.1%, France 16.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Italy 7.4%, UK 7.1%,
Netherlands 5.4%, Spain 5% (2007)

Imports:

$23.13 billion c.i.f. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Belgium 27.4%, Germany 23.8%, China 17.1%, France 9.2%, Netherlands 5% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $291 million (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$205.5 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$79.4 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Luxembourg

Telephones - main lines in use:

248,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

604,200 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: fixed line teledensity over 50 per 100 persons; nationwide cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular phones virtually saturated international: country code - 352 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

285,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1999)

Televisions:

285,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code:

.lu

Internet hosts:

180,756 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

345,000 (2007)

Transportation
Luxembourg

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 155 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 275 km standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 5,227 km paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2004)

Waterways:

37 km (on Moselle River) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 45 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 3, chemical tanker 15, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 9 foreign-owned: 44 (Belgium 7, Denmark 1, France 17, Germany 5, Netherlands 2, UK 8, US 4) registered in other countries: 1 (Ukraine 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Mertert

Military
Luxembourg

Military branches:

Army (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EU citizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 116,305 females age 16-49: 114,566 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 95,152 females age 16-49: 93,792 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 3,066 female: 2,909 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Luxembourg

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Macau

Introduction
Macau

Background:

Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography
Macau

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:

##### 22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 28.2 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km

Coastline:

41 km

Maritime claims:

not specified

Climate:

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain:

generally flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geography - note:

essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges

People
Macau

Population:

545,674 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.5% (male 47,935/female 42,301) 15-64 years: 75.8% (male 193,571/female 220,108) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 19,340/female 22,419) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 35 years male: 35.6 years female: 34.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.148% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

26.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 84.33 years male: 81.36 years female: 87.45 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

0.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 94.3%, other 5.7% (includes Macanese (mixed Portuguese and
Asian ancestry)) (2006 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)

Languages:

Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 95.3% female: 87.8% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.4% of GDP (2005)

Government
Macau

Country name:

conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Macau local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status:

special administrative region of China

Government type:

limited democracy

Administrative divisions:

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:

none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:

Basic Law, approved on 31 March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage:

direct election 18 years of age for some non-executive positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999) cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary, three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, and one pro-Beijing educator elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes; three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009) election results: percent of vote - New Democratic Macau Association 18.8%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16.6%, Union for Development 13.3%, Union for Promoting Progress 9.6%, Macau Development Alliance 9.3%, others 32.4%; seats by political group - New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens' Association 2, Union for Development 2, Union for Promoting Progress 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, others 3; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief executive

Judicial branch:

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:

Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO];
Roman Catholic Church; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG
Kuok-cheong]

International organization participation:

IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),
UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WFTU, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau

Flag description:

light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller

Economy
Macau

Economy - overview:

Macau's economy has enjoyed strong growth in recent years on the back of its expanding tourism and gaming sectors. Since opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, the territory has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment that have helped transform it into the world's largest gaming center. In 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for 75% of total government revenue. The expanding casino sector, and China's decision beginning in 2002 to relax travel restrictions, have reenergized Macau's tourism industry, which saw total visitors grow to 27 million in 2007, up 62% in three years. Macau's strong economic growth has put pressure its labor market prompting businesses to look abroad to meet their staffing needs. The resulting influx of non-resident workers, who totaled one-fifth of the workforce in 2006, has fueled tensions among some segments of the population. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has been in a slow decline. In 2006, exports of textiles and garments generated only $1.8 billion compared to $6.9 billion in gross gaming receipts. Macau's textile industry will continue to move to the mainland because of the termination in 2005 of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, which provided a near guarantee of export markets, leaving the territory more dependent on gambling and trade-related services to generate growth. However, the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland. Macau's currency, the Pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also freely accepted in the territory.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.5 billion (2006)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.3 billion (2006)

GDP - real growth rate:

16.6% (2006)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$28,400 (2006)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 3.9% services: 96% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

275,000 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 11.1%, construction 11.7%, transport and communications 6.3%, wholesale and retail trade 13.7%, restaurants and hotels 11.3%, gambling 19.8%, public sector 7.7%, financial services 2.6%, other services and agriculture 15.7% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

3.1% (2006)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $4.6 billion expenditures: $3.4 billion (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.2% (2006)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.81% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.16 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$21.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is exported to Hong Kong

Industries:

tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Industrial production growth rate:

3.8% (3rd quarter, 2007)

Electricity - production:

1.454 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.984 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.683 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

16,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

13,870 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$2.557 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2006)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts

Exports - partners:

US 40.6%, China 14.8%, Hong Kong 13.1%, Germany 6.4%, UK 4% (2007)

Imports:

$4.559 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils

Imports - partners:

China 42.6%, Hong Kong 10.1%, Japan 9%, US 5.6%, Germany 4.4%,
France 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$13.7 million (2004)

Debt - external:

$0 (2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$6.5 billion (2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.1 billion (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$413.1 million (2004)

Currency (code):

pataca (MOP)

Currency code:

##### MOP

Exchange rates:

patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8.011 (2007), 8.0015 (2006), 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003)

Communications
Macau

Telephones - main lines in use:

177,851 (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

856,200 (2008)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 190 per 100 persons in 2008; fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in decline international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

160,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2006)

Televisions:

49,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mo

Internet hosts:

263 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

300,000 (2007)

Transportation
Macau

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 384 km paved: 384 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Macau

Military
Macau

Military branches:

no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of China (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 121,825 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 100,826 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,601 female: 4,171 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues
Macau

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of opiates and amphetamines

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Macedonia

Introduction
Macedonia

Background:

Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. Fully implementating the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.

Geography
Macedonia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates:

##### 41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 25,333 sq km land: 24,856 sq km water: 477 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:

total: 766 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain:

mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Natural resources:

low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)

Irrigated land:

550 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

6.4 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.27 per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

high seismic risks

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

People
Macedonia

Population:

2,061,315 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 207,954/female 193,428) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 719,708/female 708,033) 65 years and over: 11.3% (male 101,036/female 131,156) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.8 years male: 33.8 years female: 35.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.262% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.45 years male: 71.95 years female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups:

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%,
Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Religions:

Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)

Languages:

Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 98.2% female: 94.1% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.5% of GDP (2002)

Government
Macedonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: Macedonia local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Skopje geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),
Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,
Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir
Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje),
Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,
Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda
(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski
Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane,
Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti
Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,
Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality

Independence:

8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint
Elijah's Day

Constitution:

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciary

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSh/DPA, and several small parties elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - For a Better Macedonia 48.80%, Sun-Coalition for Europe 23.65%, Democratic Union for Integration 12.77%, Democratic Party of Albanians 8.48%, Party for European Future 1.47%, other 4.83%; seats by party - For a Better Macedonia 63, Sun-Coalition for Europe 27, Democratic Union for Integration 18, Democratic Party of Albanians 11, Party for European Future 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional
Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial
Council - the Assembly appoints the judges

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic League of Bosniaks
[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh
THACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia
[Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [BardYL
MAHMUTI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV];
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; For a
Better Macedonia coalition [Nikola GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE,
SP, Democratic Union, Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, Democratic
Party of Turks, Democratic Party of Serbs, SR, and smaller parties);
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna
[Gjorgji TRENDAFILOV]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party
[Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National
Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party
or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP
[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat
CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI];
Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV (until
May 2009)]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV-ZINGO]; Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila SKERINSKA]
(includes SDSM, NSDP, LDP, Liberal Party and smaller parties); Union
of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE
[Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science
and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor
PETROV]

International organization participation:

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: New York, Southfield (Michigan); note - consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 2 311-6180 FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Flag description:

a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy
Macedonia

Economy - overview:

At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. In 2001, during a civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then averaged 4% per year during 2003-07, expanding to 5.1% in 2007. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at nearly 35%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.35 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.497 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.9% industry: 28.2% services: 59.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

890,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 19.6% industry: 30.4% services: 50% (September 2007)

Unemployment rate:

34.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

29.8% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.508 billion expenditures: $2.487 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.23% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.173 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.127 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.924 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs

Industries:

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.051 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

8.651 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.6 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - consumption:

19,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

6,768 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

26,470 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

102.8 million cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$249 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$3.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners:

Serbia and Montenegro 19.2%, Germany 14.5%, Greece 10.4%, Italy 10.1%, Bulgaria 9.8%, Croatia 5.6%, Belgium 5%, Spain 5% (2007)

Imports:

$4.977 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners:

Germany 13.2%, Greece 12.9%, Bulgaria 9.6%, Serbia and Montenegro 7.7%, Turkey 6.6%, Italy 6.3%, Slovenia 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$230.3 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.265 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$3.967 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$2.405 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$646 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code:

##### MKD

Exchange rates:

Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003)

Communications
Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

463,600 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.518 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approaching 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 389 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 63, shortwave 0 (2007)

Radios:

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

52 (2007)

Televisions:

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mk

Internet hosts:

36,905 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

685,000 (2007)

Transportation
Macedonia

Airports:

17 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 13,182 km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)

Military
Macedonia

Military branches:

Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 532,856 females age 16-49: 513,684 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 444,693 females age 16-49: 428,341 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 15,141 female: 14,434 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Macedonia

Disputes - international:

Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in
September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Madagascar

Introduction
Madagascar

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA is now in his second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006.

Geography
Madagascar

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 587,040 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,828 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10,860 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

337 cu km (1984)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 14.96 cu km/yr (3%/2%/96%) per capita: 804 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

People
Madagascar

Population:

20,042,552 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.7% (male 4,408,615/female 4,349,862) 15-64 years: 53.2% (male 5,298,805/female 5,371,764) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 275,087/female 338,418) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.9 years male: 17.7 years female: 18.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.005% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

38.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 55.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 60.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.52 years male: 60.58 years female: 64.51 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups:

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages:

English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.9% male: 75.5% female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2006)

Government
Madagascar

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Antananarivo geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence:

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution:

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Charles RABEMANANJARA (25 January 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies; the remaining one-third of seats appointed by the president; to serve four-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held 23 September 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders:

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot
RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or PSDUM
[Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for
National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana
Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc
RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jocelyn Bertin RADIFERA chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador R. Niels MARQUARDT embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101 mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56 FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy
Madagascar

Economy - overview:

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18.44 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.322 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 26.8% industry: 15.8% services: 57.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7.3 million (2000)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 36.6% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.5 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.319 billion expenditures: $1.629 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.3% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

45% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.161 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$577.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$767.5 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Industries:

meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

907 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

92.18 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

18,190 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

480.3 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

17,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$890 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$986 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Exports - partners:

France 31.8%, US 26.6%, Germany 6.1%, UK 4.9%, Italy 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$1.918 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners:

France 13.6%, China 13%, Iran 8.1%, South Africa 6.4%, Hong Kong 4.9%, Mauritius 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$929.2 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$846.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.6 billion (2002)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

ariary (MGA)

Currency code:

##### MGF

Exchange rates:

Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - 1,880 (2007), 2,161.4 (2006), 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003)

Communications
Madagascar

Telephones - main lines in use:

133,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.218 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system is above average for the region; Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s, but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly developed; have added more than 50,000 new fixed lines since 2005 domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile telephone density only about 12 per 100 persons international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

3.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

325,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mg

Internet hosts:

11,016 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

110,000 (2006)

Transportation
Madagascar

Airports:

104 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 77 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Railways:

total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 65,663 km paved: 7,617 km unpaved: 58,046 km (2003)

Waterways:

600 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Military
Madagascar

Military branches:

People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (either military or equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military experience) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,443,341 females age 16-49: 4,441,124 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,034,600 females age 16-49: 3,271,732 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 230,088 female: 229,932 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Madagascar

Disputes - international:

claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Malawi

Introduction
Malawi

Background:

Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Current President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

Geography
Malawi

Location:

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Terrain:

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Natural resources:

limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)

Irrigated land:

560 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

17.3 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%) per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

People
Malawi

Population:

13,931,831 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46% (male 3,208,112/female 3,194,600) 15-64 years: 51.4% (male 3,592,073/female 3,563,840) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 159,450/female 213,756) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.8 years male: 16.7 years female: 16.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.39% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

41.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

17.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 90.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 94.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.45 years male: 43.74 years female: 43.15 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

14.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

900,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

84,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups:

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European

Religions:

Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Languages:

Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.7% male: 76.1% female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5.8% of GDP (2003)

Government
Malawi

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi local long form: Dziko la Malawi local short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

Government type:

multiparty democracy

Capital:

name: Lilongwe geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata
Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo,
Zomba

Independence:

6 July 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Constitution:

18 May 1994

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004) cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009) election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 35.9%, John TEMBO 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI 2.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCP 56, UDF 49, independents 39, RP 15, others 25, vacancies 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD; Congress for National Unity or
CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA];
Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party
or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or
MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC [Gwandaguluwe
CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP);
Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA];
National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National
Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People's Progressive Movement or
PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu
CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Malawi Law
Society (human rights); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of
Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); National
Democratic Alliance or NDA (acts to restore democracy; Public
Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and
unity)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] (1) 773 166 FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Government - note:

no party has a majority in the fractured legislature

Economy
Malawi

Economy - overview:

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces many challenges including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.59 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.538 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 37.8% industry: 18.1% services: 44.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

53% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 31.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

8.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.128 billion expenditures: $1.185 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

27.72% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$361.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$250.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$406.2 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Industries:

tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.051 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,160 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

6,788 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$318 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$604 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel

Exports - partners:

Germany 11.7%, South Africa 10%, Egypt 9.2%, Zimbabwe 8.2%, US 7.3%,
Russia 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$866 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners:

South Africa 36.1%, India 8.5%, Tanzania 6.1%, US 6.1%, China 4.9% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$575.3 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$217.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$894 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Currency code:

##### MWK

Exchange rates:

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003)

Communications
Malawi

Telephones - main lines in use:

175,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.051 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: rudimentary domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 1 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile cellular subscribership roughly 8 per 100 persons international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)

Radios:

2.6 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.mw

Internet hosts:

107 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2002)

Internet users:

139,500 (2007)

Transportation
Malawi

Airports:

39 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Railways:

total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 15,451 km paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Waterways:

700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Military
Malawi

Military branches:

Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,676,117 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 168,858 female: 168,946 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Malawi

Disputes - international:

disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Malaysia

Introduction
Malaysia

Background:

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.

Geography
Malaysia

Location:

Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

##### 2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline:

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

Climate:

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain:

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources:

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 5.46% permanent crops: 17.54% other: 77% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

580 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%) per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

flooding, landslides, forest fires

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People
Malaysia

Population:

25,274,132 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.8% (male 4,135,013/female 3,898,761) 15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,026,755/female 7,965,332) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 548,970/female 699,302) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.6 years male: 24 years female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.742% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.44 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.03 years male: 70.32 years female: 75.94 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

52,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups:

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Religions:

Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)

Languages:

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.7% male: 92% female: 85.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

6.2% of GDP (2004)

Government
Malaysia

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia local long form: none local short form: Malaysia former: Federation of Malaya

Government type:

constitutional monarchy note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of Representatives; Sarawak has 31 seats

Capital:

name: Kuala Lumpur geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions:

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Independence:

31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Constitution:

31 August 1957 (amended many times, latest in 2007)

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December 2006) head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 7 January 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held on 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler note: position of paramount ruler is primarily ceremonial; in practice, selection is based on principle of rotation among rulers of states

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by paramount ruler, 26 elected by 13 state legislatures; to serve three-year terms with limit of two terms) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%; seats - BN coalition 140, opposition parties 82

Judicial branch:

Civil Courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister); Sharia Courts include Sharia Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and inheritance, only for Muslims; decisions of Sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts

Political parties and leaders:

National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition) consists
of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOH
Tsu Koon - acting]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal
Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese
Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy
VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti
Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka
Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak
or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif
Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti
Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United
Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi];
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan
Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK];
People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or
PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP
[William MAWAN])
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition)
consists of the following parties:: Democratic Action Party (Parti
Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of
Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang];
People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH
Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Bersih (electoral reform); Sharia High Court other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ilango KARUPPANNAN chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700 FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James R. KEITH embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152 telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000 FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Flag description:

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Economy
Malaysia

Economy - overview:

Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Since coming to office in 2003, Prime Minister ABDULLAH has tried to move the economy farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in high technology industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The Government of Malaysia is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand to wean the economy off of its dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of electronics - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government subsidies. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency appreciated 6% per year against the dollar in 2006-07. Although this has helped to hold down the price of imports, inflationary pressures began to build in 2007. Healthy foreign exchange reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term similar to the one in 1997. The government presented its five-year national development agenda in April 2006 through the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the allocation of the national budget from 2006-10. With national elections expected within the year, ABDULLAH has unveiled a series of ambitious development schemes for several regions that have had trouble attracting business investment. Real GDP growth has averaged about 6% per year under ABDULLAH, but regions outside of Kuala Lumpur and the manufacturing hub Penang have not fared as well.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$361.2 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$186.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.9% industry: 45.3% services: 44.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

10.94 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13% industry: 36% services: 51% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

5.1% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46.1 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $40.69 billion expenditures: $46.7 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

41.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.41% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$49.41 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$187.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$220 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper, timber

Industries:

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate:

3.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

102.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

95.98 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.524 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 89.5% hydro: 10.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

753,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

501,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

546,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

308,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

4 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

64.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

32.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

31.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$28.93 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$176.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 15.6%, Singapore 14.6%, Japan 9.1%, China 8.8%, Thailand 5%, Hong
Kong 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$139.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Japan 13%, China 12.9%, Singapore 11.5%, US 10.8%, Taiwan 5.7%,
Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 4.9%, Germany 4.6%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$31.6 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$101.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$53.09 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$86.16 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$42.55 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$235.4 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

ringgit (MYR)

Currency code:

##### MYR

Exchange rates:

ringgits (MYR) per US dollar - 3.46 (2007), 3.6683 (2006), 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003)

Communications
Malaysia

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.35 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

23.347 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system; international service excellent domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeds 110 per 100 persons international: country code - 60; landing point for several major international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to Asia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)

Radios:

10.9 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

88 (mainland Malaysia 51, Sabah 16, and Sarawak 21) (2006)

Televisions:

10.8 million (1999)

Internet country code:

.my

Internet hosts:

377,716 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7 (2000)

Internet users:

15.868 million (2007)

Transportation
Malaysia

Airports:

116 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 36 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 72 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 282 km; gas 5,273 km; oil 1,750 km; oil/gas/water 19 km; refined products 114 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,890 km standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 98,721 km paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways) unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Waterways:

7,200 km note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 306 by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 97, carrier 1, chemical tanker 34, container 46, liquefied gas 33, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 71, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: 40 (Germany 1, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, Russia 2, Singapore 16, Sweden 3) registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 13, Marshall Islands 3, Norway 1, Panama 12, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Singapore 27, Thailand 3, Tuvalu 1, US 2, unknown 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Labuan, George Town (Penang), Port
Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military
Malaysia

Military branches:

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian
Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut
Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara
Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,440,338 females age 16-49: 6,280,826 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,374,006 females age 16-49: 5,316,865 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 260,725 female: 247,309 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Malaysia

Disputes - international:

Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings in response to the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration and renounce any territorial claims on land; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544 (Burma) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a destination country for men, women, and children who migrate willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women, primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia improved from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 Watch List for 2008 when it enacted comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in July 2007; however, it did not take action against exploitative employers or labor traffickers in 2007; the government has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Maldives

Introduction
Maldives

Background:

The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing the new president include strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse.

Geography
Maldives

Location:

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Geographic coordinates:

##### 3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

644 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain:

flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 13.33% permanent crops: 30% other: 56.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

0.03 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%) per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)

Natural hazards:

low level of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

Environment - current issues:

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People
Maldives

Population:

385,925 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.5% (male 46,174/female 44,396) 15-64 years: 72.7% (male 172,279/female 108,152) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,510/female 7,414) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.1 years male: 26 years female: 23.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

5.566% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.59 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.41 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 30.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.72 years male: 71.55 years female: 76.01 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups:

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religions:

Sunni Muslim

Languages:

Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),
English spoken by most government officials

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.3% male: 96.2% female: 96.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

8% of GDP (2006)

Government
Maldives

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Male geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;
Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa
Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), Meemu,
Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Independence:

26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution:

new constitution ratified 7 August 2008

Legal system:

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mohamed NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mohamed NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections: under the new constitution, the president is elected by direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote - NASHEED 54.25%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.75%; note - NASHEED is expected to assume office on 11 November 2008

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President
with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court;
Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial
Service Commission

Political parties and leaders:

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi
Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon Abdul
GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER]; Maldivian
Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]; note - political parties
were allowed to register in June 2005

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: various unregistered political parties

International organization participation:

ADB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Hussain MANIKU chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194 FAX: [1] (212) 599-6195

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits

Flag description:

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

Economy
Maldives

Economy - overview:

Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 7% of GDP. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunami reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped the economy recover quickly. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material. Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing and increasing employment are the major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.588 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.049 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16% industry: 7% services: 77% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

101,300 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

NEGL% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants) expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$344.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$434.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.08 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Industries:

tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

230 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

203.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,490 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,499 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

5,362 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$472 million (2007)

Exports:

$167 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

fish

Exports - partners:

Thailand 28.3%, UK 17.6%, France 8.8%, Sri Lanka 8.6%, Algeria 8.2%,
Japan 6.4%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$930 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

Imports - partners:

Canada 35.2%, Singapore 15%, UAE 10.2%, India 7.4%, Malaysia 7.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$66.83 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$482 million (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

rufiyaa (MVR)

Currency code:

##### MVR

Exchange rates:

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003)

Communications
Maldives

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

317,800 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone services have improved; each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership approaching 90 per 100 persons domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

35,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2006)

Televisions:

10,000 (1999)

Internet country code:

.mv

Internet hosts:

1,600 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

33,000 (2007)

Transportation
Maldives

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 88 km paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 29 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Tuvalu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Male

Military
Maldives

Military branches:

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Quick Reaction Force,
Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 89,505 females age 16-49: 85,745 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 72,150 females age 16-49: 69,058 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,749 female: 4,084 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military - note:

the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008)

Transnational Issues
Maldives

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Mali

Introduction
Mali

Background:

The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup - led by the current president Amadou TOURE - enabling Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the continent. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was subsequently elected to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be free and fair.

Geography
Mali

Location:

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:

##### 17 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1.24 million sq km land: 1.22 million sq km water: 20,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 7,243 km border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Natural resources:

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Land use:

arable land: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,360 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

100 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%) per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

People
Mali

Population:

12,324,029 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 48.2% (male 3,004,003/female 2,937,138) 15-64 years: 48.7% (male 2,976,314/female 3,028,433) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 150,597/female 227,544) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 15.8 years male: 15.4 years female: 16.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.725% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

49.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

16.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 103.83 deaths/1,000 live births male: 113.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 93.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.94 years male: 48 years female: 51.94 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

7.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

12,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian

Ethnic groups:

Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,
Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Religions:

Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%

Languages:

French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.4% male: 53.5% female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 5 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2006)

Government
Mali

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Independence:

22 September 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Constitution:

adopted 12 January 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADP coalition 113 (including ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (including RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE]; Convergence 2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: the army; Islamic authorities; rebels in the northern region; state-run cotton company CMDT; tuaregs

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako telephone: [223] 270-2300 FAX: [223] 270-2479

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Mali

Economy - overview:

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along with gold. The government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a 5% average in 1996-2007. Worker remittances and external trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.63 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.745 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

5.4 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.2% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.1 (2001)

Budget:

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion (2006 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$697.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.099 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

505 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

469.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 41.7% hydro: 58.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

4,860 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$446 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$294 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners:

China 19.6%, Thailand 10.5%, Brazil 4.6%, France 4.5%, Indonesia 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$2.358 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

France 12.9%, Senegal 12.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.9%, China 4.9% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$691.5 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$2.8 billion (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Mali

Telephones - main lines in use:

85,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.483 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; provides only minimal service domestic: fixed-line availability is gradually increasing, but subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to 20 per 100 persons international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 230 (27 regional and government stations, and 203 private stations), shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

570,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus repeaters) (2007)

Televisions:

45,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ml

Internet hosts:

387 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2001)

Internet users:

100,000 (2007)

Transportation
Mali

Airports:

29 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Railways:

total: 729 km narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 18,709 km paved: 3,368 km unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Waterways:

1,800 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Koulikoro

Military
Mali

Military branches:

Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force
Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,603,700 females age 16-49: 2,441,776 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,594,184 females age 16-49: 1,529,871 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 144,293 female: 136,381 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Mali

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Malta

Introduction
Malta

Background:

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began to use the euro as currency in 2008.

Geography
Malta

Location:

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily
(Italy)

Geographic coordinates:

##### 35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources:

limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (2005)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.07 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%) per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People
Malta

Population:

403,532 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 33,954/female 32,158) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 142,338/female 138,792) 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 24,240/female 32,050) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.2 years male: 37.9 years female: 40.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.407% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.3 years male: 77.08 years female: 81.64 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups:

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 98%

Languages:

Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 92.8% male: 92% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2004)

Government
Malta

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Valletta geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders

Independence:

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution:

1964 constitution; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority) elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, MLP 48.8%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 34

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders:

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry
VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [acting leader Charles MANGION];
Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra ro ALDM (against illegal immigration); Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (encourages tourism); Alternattiva Demokratika (campaign to reform rent law, and other campaigns); Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic government); Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights); Nazi Watch Malta (exposing Nazis) other: environmentalists

International organization participation:

Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01 telephone: [356] 2561 4000 FAX: [356] 21 243229

Flag description:

two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

Economy
Malta

Economy - overview:

Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals), and tourism. Economic recovery of the European economy has lifted exports, tourism, and overall growth. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.419 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$23,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 22.3% services: 74.9% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

166,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3% industry: 22% services: 75% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.485 billion expenditures: $3.554 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.24% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.603 billion note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$7.645 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$10.99 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Industries:

tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.85 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

18,680 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

18,910 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$424.5 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$3.238 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners:

Singapore 14.4%, Germany 13.7%, France 12.6%, US 11.3%, UK 10%, Hong
Kong 6.1%, Japan 4.9%, Italy 4% (2007)

Imports:

$4.541 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco

Imports - partners:

Italy 26%, UK 15%, France 9.5%, Germany 8.8%, Singapore 5.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$6.19 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.798 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$188.8 million (2005)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.097 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR) as of 1 January 2008; Maltese lira (MTL) before then

Currency code:

##### MTL

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6795 (January 2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)

Communications
Malta

Telephones - main lines in use:

198,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

371,500 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements; fixed-line teledensity 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 per 100 persons domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios:

255,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2006)

Televisions:

280,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mt

Internet hosts:

26,494 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2002)

Internet users:

158,000 (2007)

Transportation
Malta

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,438 by type: bulk carrier 459, cargo 411, carrier 2, chemical tanker 171, container 80, liquefied gas 25, passenger 29, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 159, refrigerated cargo 32, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 17 foreign-owned: 1,343 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 15, Bulgaria 5, Canada 1, China 12, Croatia 9, Cyprus 31, Denmark 30, Egypt 1, Estonia 11, France 5, Germany 91, Greece 452, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 5, India 2, Iran 79, Israel 18, Italy 50, Japan 8, South Korea 2, Latvia 19, Lebanon 11, Libya 3, Lithuania 1, Norway 93, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 58, Slovenia 4, Spain 3, Sweden 2, Switzerland 20, Syria 6, Turkey 176, Ukraine 30, UAE 5, UK 19, US 23) registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Military
Malta

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 96,309 females age 16-49: 92,242 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 80,227 females age 16-49: 76,623 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,815 female: 2,657 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Malta

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Marshall Islands

Introduction
Marshall Islands

Background:

After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.

Geography
Marshall Islands

Location:

Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

Area - comparative:

about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

370.4 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain:

low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources:

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land: 11.11% permanent crops: 44.44% other: 44.45% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

infrequent typhoons

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Marshall Islands Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific

People
Marshall Islands

Population:

63,174 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.5% (male 12,404/female 11,946) 15-64 years: 58.6% (male 18,937/female 18,095) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 869/female 923) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21 years male: 21 years female: 20.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.142% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

31.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.57 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.9 years male: 68.88 years female: 73.03 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups:

Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)

Religions:

Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

Languages:

Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census) note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.7% male: 93.6% female: 93.7% (1999)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

11.8% of GDP (2004)

Government
Marshall Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands local short form: Marshall Islands abbreviation: RMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Capital:

name: Majuro geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur,
Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo,
Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili,
Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik,
Wotho, Wotje

Independence:

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution:

1 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Litokwa TOMEING (since 7 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Litokwa TOMEING (since 7 January 2008) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature elections: president elected by Parliament from among its members for a four-year term; election last held 7 January 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Litokwa TOMEING elected president; TOMEING received 18 votes to 15 for incumbent Kessai Hesa NOTE

Legislative branch:

unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 4 note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court

Political parties and leaders:

traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles A. PAUL chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clyde BISHOP embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379 telephone: [692] 247-4011 FAX: [692] 247-4012

Flag description:

blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

Economy
Marshall Islands

Economy - overview:

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. The Marshall Islands received more than $1 billion in aid from the US from 1986-2002. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$115 million (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$144 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 31.7% industry: 14.9% services: 53.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

14,680 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 21.4% industry: 20.9% services: 57.7% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

30.9% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $42 million expenditures: $40 million (1999)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Industries:

copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)

Exports:

$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities:

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Exports - partners:

US, Japan, Australia, China (2006)

Imports:

$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Imports - partners:

US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$56.56 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Marshall Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

700 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and
Television Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one
AM station on Kwajalein) (2005)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (both are US military stations; Marshalls Broadcasting Service, a cable company, operates on Majuro) (2005)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.mh

Internet hosts:

3 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

2,200 (2006)

Transportation
Marshall Islands

Airports:

15 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,049 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 284, cargo 71, carrier 1, chemical tanker 191, combination ore/oil 4, container 188, liquefied gas 47, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 221, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 14, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 6 foreign-owned: 990 (Australia 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6, Chile 4, China 7, Croatia 6, Cyprus 37, Denmark 10, Germany 235, Greece 269, Hong Kong 4, Iceland 3, India 1, Ireland 1, Isle of Man 1, Italy 3, Japan 17, South Korea 10, Latvia 16, Malaysia 3, Mexico 4, Monaco 13, Netherlands 8, Norway 66, Pakistan 1, Panama 1, Romania 1, Russia 9, Saudi Arabia 5, Singapore 18, Slovenia 4, Spain 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 12, Taiwan 1, Turkey 50, UAE 15, UK 9, UK 9, US 123) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Majuro

Military
Marshall Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; under the 1983 Compact of Free Association, the US has full authority and responsibility for security and defense of the Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands Police (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,708 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,864 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 512 female: 494 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Marshall Islands

Disputes - international:

claims US territory of Wake Island

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Mauritania

Introduction
Mauritania

Background:

Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for over two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a coup deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Meanwhile, the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Geography
Mauritania

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 5,074 km border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Coastline:

754 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)

Irrigated land:

490 sq km (2002)

Total renewable water resources:

11.4 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%) per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People
Mauritania

Population:

3,364,940 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.3% (male 763,845/female 759,957) 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 872,924/female 894,980) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 29,147/female 44,087) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.2 years male: 16.9 years female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.852% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

40.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 66.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 69.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.91 years male: 51.61 years female: 56.28 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups:

mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

Religions:

Muslim 100%

Languages:

Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.2% male: 59.5% female: 43.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006)

Government
Mauritania

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah

Government type:

Democratic Republic

Capital:

name: Nouakchott geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;
Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh
Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris
Zemmour, Trarza

Independence:

28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution:

12 July 1991

Legal system:

a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ who led a coup that deposed the democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI on 6 August 2008 head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF (since 14 August 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11 March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next to be held 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists); Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD, RFD, UFP); Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS; Democratic Renewal or RD; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA] (formerly ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS); Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould
MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers
Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663 FAX: [222] 525-1592

Flag description:

green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy
Mauritania

Economy - overview:

Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt, which now stands at more than three times the level of annual exports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have failed to materialize. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.974 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.756 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

786,000 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2000)

Budget:

revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep

Industries:

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

412.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

383.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 85.9% hydro: 14.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

14,990 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

19,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

23,630 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$184 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.395 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Exports - partners:

China 30.5%, France 9.5%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 8.5%, Japan 5.5%,
Netherlands 5.3%, Belgium 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7% (2007)

Imports:

$1.475 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 16.5%, China 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 6.1%, Belgium 5.8%, Brazil 5.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$190.4 million (2005)

Debt - external:

##### NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code:

##### MRO

Exchange rates:

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)

Communications
Mauritania

Telephones - main lines in use:

34,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.3 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity approaching 40 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

410,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

98,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.mr

Internet hosts:

34 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

30,000 (2006)

Transportation
Mauritania

Airports:

25 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Railways:

717 km standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 11,066 km paved: 2,966 km unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Military
Mauritania

Military branches:

Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of
Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 740,675 females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 463,305 females age 16-49: 484,777 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 38,191 female: 38,638 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Mauritania

Disputes - international:

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Mauritius

Introduction
Mauritius

Background:

Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather, declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.

Geography
Mauritius

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 2,040 sq km land: 2,030 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

Area - comparative:

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

177 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain:

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources:

arable land, fish

Land use:

arable land: 49.02% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 48.04% (2005)

Irrigated land:

220 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

2.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%) per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:

water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species

People
Mauritius

Population:

1,274,189 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23% (male 148,573/female 143,859) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 443,968/female 449,670) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 35,269/female 52,850) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.5 years male: 30.6 years female: 32.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.8% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.56 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.75 years male: 70.28 years female: 77.4 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.83 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

700 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Ethnic groups:

Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions:

Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.4% male: 88.4% female: 80.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2006)

Government
Mauritius

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius local long form: Republic of Mauritius local short form: Mauritius

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Port Louis geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne

Independence:

12 March 1968 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Constitution:

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS 38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance Sociale or AS [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing coalition
- includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor Party or MLP
[Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul
BERENGER]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or MMSM [Madan
DOLLOO]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Nando BODHA]; Mouvement
Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien Xavier Duval
or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph
(Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge
CLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: various labor unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Keerteecoomar RUHEE chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cesar CABRERA embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Economy
Mauritius

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.27 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.959 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 25% services: 70.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

574,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 9%, construction and industry 30%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 22%, finance 6%, other services 25% (2007)

Unemployment rate:

8.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.344 billion expenditures: $1.773 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

63.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.8% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

21.87% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.673 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$6.759 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$8.582 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.058 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 9.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

22,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

23,650 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$408.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.231 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish

Exports - partners:

UK 35.1%, France 14.4%, US 7.7%, Madagascar 6.3%, Italy 5.8% (2007)

Imports:

$3.656 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

India 21.2%, China 11.4%, France 10.7%, South Africa 7.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$31.93 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.822 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.149 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.7 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code:

##### MUR

Exchange rates:

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 31.798 (2007), 31.656 (2006), 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003)

Communications
Mauritius

Telephones - main lines in use:

357,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

936,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system with good service domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005; fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2007 reaching 75 per 100 persons international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

420,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

258,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mu

Internet hosts:

9,609 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

340,000 (2007)

Transportation
Mauritius

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,028 km paved: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Port Louis

Military
Mauritius

Military branches:

no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 341,018 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 11,089 female: 10,843 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Mauritius

Disputes - international:

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Illicit drugs:

consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Mayotte

Introduction
Mayotte

Background:

Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence.

Geography
Mayotte

Location:

Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

##### 12 50 S, 45 10 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 374 sq km land: 374 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

185.2 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Terrain:

generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% other: NA%

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

cyclones during rainy season

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

##### part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)

People
Mayotte

Population:

216,306 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.5% (male 49,521/female 48,996) 15-64 years: 52.7% (male 61,267/female 52,641) 65 years and over: 1.8% (male 1,971/female 1,910) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.2 years male: 18.1 years female: 16.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.465% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

39.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 57.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 63.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.54 years male: 60.3 years female: 64.85 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran

Ethnic groups:

##### NA

Religions:

Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%

Languages:

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population

Literacy:

##### NA

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Mayotte

Country name:

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte

Dependency status:

departmental collectivity of France

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Mamoudzou geographic coordinates: 12 46 S, 45 13 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Independence:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Denis ROBIN (since 28 July 2008) head of government: President of the General Council Said Omar OILI (since 8 April 2004) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term; next election to be held in 2010

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 21 and 28 March 2004 (next to be held in 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - MDM 23.3%, UMP 22.8%, PS 10.2%, MRC 8.9%, FRAP 6.5%, MPM 1.2%, other 27.1%; seats by party - MDM 6, UMP 9, MRC 2, MPM 1, diverse left 1 note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held in September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.1%, UDF 44.9%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement
or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR [Mansour
KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or
FRAP; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar
SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA];
Socialist Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of French
Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri
JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

InOC, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:

unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag is the national flag of France

Economy
Mayotte

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$953.6 million (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

44,560 (2002)

Unemployment rate:

25.4% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $420 million expenditures: $394 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra, fish, livestock

Industries:

newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

139.2 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%

Exports:

$6.5 million f.o.b. (2005)

Exports - commodities:

ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

Exports - partners:

France 43%, Comoros 36%, Reunion 15% (2006)

Imports:

$341 million f.o.b.; note - excludes petroleum imports (2005)

Imports - commodities:

food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners:

France 49%, Seychelles 8.8%, China 4.1% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$201.3 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (2005)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Mayotte

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

48,100 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2001)

Televisions:

3,500 (1994)

Internet country code:

.yt

Internet hosts:

1 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Mayotte

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Dzaoudzi

Military
Mayotte

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,407 female: 2,401 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of French forces is stationed on the island

Transnational Issues
Mayotte

Disputes - international:

claimed by Comoros

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Mexico

Introduction
Mexico

Background:

The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate - Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) - defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON.

Geography
Mexico

Location:

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Geographic coordinates:

##### 23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 1,972,550 sq km land: 1,923,040 sq km water: 49,510 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,353 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km

Coastline:

9,330 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

varies from tropical to desert

Terrain:

high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

Land use:

arable land: 12.66% permanent crops: 1.28% other: 86.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:

63,200 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

457.2 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 78.22 cu km/yr (17%/5%/77%) per capita: 731 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts

Environment - current issues:

scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion note: the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation national security issues

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize), one of the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated in Mexico

People
Mexico

Population:

109,955,400 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 16,619,995/female 15,936,154) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 34,179,440/female 36,530,154) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 3,023,185/female 3,666,472) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26 years male: 24.9 years female: 27 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.142% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.84 years male: 73.05 years female: 78.78 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.37 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

160,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 92.4% female: 89.6% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 14 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Mexico

Country name:

conventional long form: United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Mexico (Distrito Federal) geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October note: Mexico is divided into three time zones

Administrative divisions:

31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*
(distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California
Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima,
Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco,
Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca,
Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi,
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave,
Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence:

16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Constitution:

5 February 1917

Legal system:

mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1 December 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1 December 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of attorney general requires consent of the Senate elections: president elected by popular vote for a single six-year term; election last held on 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012) election results: Felipe CALDERON elected president; percent of vote - Felipe CALDERON 35.89%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR 35.31%, Roberto MADRAZO 22.26%, other 6.54%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 seats are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Federal Chamber of Deputies or Camara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are elected by popular vote; remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote; to serve three-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2006 for all of the seats (next to be held 1 July 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 2 July 2006 (next to be held 5 July 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 26, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 5, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAN 207, PRD 127, PRI 106, PVEM 17, CD 17, PT 11, other 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion (justices or ministros are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders:

Convergence for Democracy or CD [Luis MALDONADO Venegas];
Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Beatriz PAREDES]; Labor
Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]; Mexican Green Ecological
Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action
Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [German MARTINEZ Cazares];
New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA [Jorge Antonio
KAHWAGI Macari]; Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la
Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Leonel COTA Montano]; Social
Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (Partido Alternativa
Socialdemocrata y Campesina) or Alternativa [Alberto BEGNE Guerra]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Broad Progressive Front or FAP; Businessmen's Coordinating Council
or CCE; Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or
COPARMEX; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN;
Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National
Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade
Business Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing
Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation
Industries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC;
National Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE; National Syndicate of
Education Workers or SNTE; National Union of Workers or UNT; Popular
Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation:

APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CDB, CE
(observer), CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo SARUKHAN Casamitjana chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Omaha, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas City (Missouri), Laredo (Texas), Las Vegas, Little Rock (Arkansas), McAllen (Texas), New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Saint Paul (Minnesota), Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma (Arizona)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA, Jr. embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000 telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000 FAX: [52] (55) 5511-9980 consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band

Economy
Mexico

Economy - overview:

Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-fourth that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. In 2007, during his first year in office, the Felipe CALDERON administration was able to garner support from the opposition to successfully pass a pension and a fiscal reform. The administration continues to face many economic challenges including the need to upgrade infrastructure, modernize labor laws, and allow private investment in the energy sector. CALDERON has stated that his top economic priorities remain reducing poverty and creating jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.353 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$893.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4% industry: 26.6% services: 69.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

44.71 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

3.7% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

13.8% using food-based definition of poverty; asset based poverty amounted to more than 40% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 37% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.9 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $227.5 billion expenditures: $227.2 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

22.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.56% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$103.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$168.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$349.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Industries:

food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

1.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

243.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

202 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

1.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

484.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 78.7% hydro: 14.2% nuclear: 4.2% other: 2.9% (2001)

Oil - production:

3.501 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.119 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.204 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

385,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

11.65 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

55.98 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

68.29 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

2.973 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

11.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

392.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$5.525 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$271.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:

US 82.2%, Canada 2.4%, Germany 1.5% (2007)

Imports:

$281.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

Imports - partners:

US 49.6%, China 10.5%, Japan 5.8%, South Korea 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$189.4 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$87.19 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$179.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$260.9 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$39.01 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$348.3 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Mexican peso (MXN)

Currency code:

##### MXN

Exchange rates:

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004), 10.789 (2003)

Communications
Mexico

Telephones - main lines in use:

19.754 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

68.254 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers far outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable domestic: low telephone density with about 18 fixed lines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmex remains dominant; legal challenges to Telmex's alleged anti-competitive behavior in the mobile and fixed-line markets culminated in a World Trade Organization ruling in 2004 against Mexico prompting some strengthening of the powers granted Mexico's telecom regulator; mobile cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)

Radios:

31 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

236 (plus repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

25.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.mx

Internet hosts:

10.653 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

51 (2000)

Internet users:

22.812 million (2007)

Transportation
Mexico

Airports:

1,834 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 231 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84 914 to 1,523 m: 77 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,603 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 408 under 914 m: 1,131 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km; oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)

Railways:

total: 17,665 km standard gauge: 17,665 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 356,945 km paved: 178,473 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways) unpaved: 178,472 km (2006)

Waterways:

2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 55 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 23, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 20 (Brazil 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Spain 3, Venezuela 5, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz,
Tampico, Veracruz

Military
Mexico

Military branches:

Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional,
Sedena): Army (Ejercito, includes Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Mexicana, FAM)); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina,
Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air
Force (FAN) and naval infantry) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy and Air Force service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 27,774,688 females age 16-49: 29,376,791 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 22,188,284 females age 16-49: 24,884,614 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,110,544 female: 1,073,223 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Mexico

Disputes - international:

abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 5,500-10,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2007 rose to 6,900 hectares yielding a potential production of 18 metric tons of pure heroin, or 50 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation increased to 8,900 hectares in 2007 and yielded a potential production of 15,800 metric tons; government conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in the world; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction
Micronesia, Federated States of

Background:

In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Geography
Micronesia, Federated States of

Location:

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

6,112 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Terrain:

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Natural resources:

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use:

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

overfishing, climate change, pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People
Micronesia, Federated States of

Population:

107,665 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.3% (male 19,344/female 18,687) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 33,142/female 33,389) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,320/female 1,783) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.6 years male: 21.1 years female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.191% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-21.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: 27.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.65 years male: 68.79 years female: 72.61 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Ethnic groups:

Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%

Languages:

English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Education expenditures:

7.3% of GDP (2000)

Government
Micronesia, Federated States of

Country name:

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none local long form: Federated States of Micronesia local short form: none former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts abbreviation: FSM

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Capital:

name: Palikir geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Independence:

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution:

10 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the eight executive departments elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2007 (next to be held May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote) elections: last held 6 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

no formal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam K. HUGHES embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description:

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy
Micronesia, Federated States of

Economy - overview:

Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$232 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

37,410 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)

Unemployment rate:

22% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

26.7% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2005)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.03% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$22.45 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$72.49 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish

Industries:

tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

192 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - consumption:

178.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

##### NA

Current account balance:

-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)

Exports:

$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut

Exports - partners:

Japan, US, Guam (2006)

Imports:

$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners:

US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$106.4 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$60.8 million (FY05 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,700 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

27,400 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

9,400 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (cable TV also available) (2004)

Televisions:

2,800 (1999)

Internet country code:

.fm

Internet hosts:

866 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

15,000 (2007)

Transportation
Micronesia, Federated States of

Airports:

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Tomil Harbor

Military
Micronesia, Federated States of

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,310 female: 1,262 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Micronesia, Federated States of

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Moldova

Introduction
Moldova

Background:

Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

Geography
Moldova

Location:

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates:

##### 47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 1,390 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain:

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Natural resources:

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 54.52% permanent crops: 8.81% other: 36.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

11.7 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%) per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

landslides

Environment - current issues:

heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

People
Moldova

Population:

4,324,450 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 361,000/female 341,785) 15-64 years: 72.9% (male 1,528,080/female 1,622,620) 65 years and over: 10.9% (male 174,448/female 296,517) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.3 years male: 32.4 years female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.092% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.5 years male: 66.81 years female: 74.41 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.26 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 300 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups:

Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

Languages:

Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.7% female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7.6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Moldova

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Chisinau (Kishinev) note: pronounced kee-shee-now geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala) raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

Independence:

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system:

based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Zinaida GRECEANII (since 31 March 2008); First Deputy Prime Minister Igor DODON (since 31 March 2008) cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 21 March 2008; cabinet received a vote of confidence 31 March 2008 election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Zinaida GRECEANII designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 56 of 101

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc (AMN, PD, PSL) 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc (AMN, PD, PSL) 34, PPCD 11

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Asif CHAUDHRY embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; same color scheme as Romania

Economy
Moldova

Economy - overview:

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over pricing. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006. However, in 2007 growth returned to the 6% level Moldova had achieved in 2000-05, boosted by Russia's partial removal of the bans, solid fixed capital investment, and strong domestic demand driven by remittances from abroad. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls. Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates in 2008, but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.756 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.227 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.8% industry: 21.7% services: 60.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.333 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40.7% industry: 12.1% services: 47.2% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

29.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.2 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

33.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.83 billion expenditures: $1.841 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.3% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18.83% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$965 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.449 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.896 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Industries:

sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.824 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

5.806 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

229 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.741 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

15,770 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

50.03 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

14,450 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$694.7 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.361 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:

Russia 25.3%, Romania 13%, Italy 10%, Ukraine 8.7%, Germany 8.5%,
Poland 6.2%, Belarus 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$3.677 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners:

Russia 20.5%, Ukraine 15.8%, Romania 15%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 5.7%,
Poland 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$191.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.334 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$573.9 million (2004)

Currency (code):

Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code:

##### MDL

Exchange rates:

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003)

Communications
Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.08 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.883 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100 persons international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Radios:

3.22 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

40 (2006)

Televisions:

1.26 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.md

Internet hosts:

223,869 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (1999)

Internet users:

700,000 (2007)

Transportation
Moldova

Airports:

10 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,980 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,138 km broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 12,666 km paved: 12,117 km unpaved: 549 km (2007)

Waterways:

424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 39 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 17 (Egypt 1, Romania 3, Russia 3, Syria 1, Turkey 3, Ukraine 5, Yemen 1) (2008)

Military
Moldova

Military branches:

National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,161,924 females age 16-49: 1,187,771 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 877,070 females age 16-49: 994,091 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 33,053 female: 31,712 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Moldova

Disputes - international:

Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe; girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring countries for forced labor and begging; labor trafficking of men to work in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Russia is increasingly a problem tier rating: Tier 3 - Moldova does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government failed to follow-up on allegations of officials complicit in trafficking cited in the 2007 Report, and it did not demonstrate proactive efforts to identify trafficking victims (2008)

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Monaco

Introduction
Monaco

Background:

The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

Geography
Monaco

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Geographic coordinates:

##### 43 44 N, 7 24 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km

Coastline:

4.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain:

hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

People
Monaco

Population:

32,796 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,488/female 2,369) 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,110/female 10,353) 65 years and over: 22.8% (male 3,048/female 4,428) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 45.5 years male: 43.5 years female: 47.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.375% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

7.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.96 years male: 76.14 years female: 83.97 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups:

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Languages:

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2004)

Government
Monaco

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Monaco geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence:

1419 (beginning of rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday:

National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)

Constitution:

17 December 1962

Legal system:

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June 2005) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of
Monaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Monaco Together

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHES chancery: 2314 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-1530 FAX: (202) 552-5778

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Economy
Monaco

Economy - overview:

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a major banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$976.3 million note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0% industry: 4.9% services: 95.1% (2005)

Labor force:

44,000 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

0% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $863 million expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2000)

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Exports:

$716.3 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)

Imports:

$916.1 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

$18 billion (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Monaco

Telephones - main lines in use:

34,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17,200 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Radios:

34,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1998)

Televisions:

25,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mc

Internet hosts:

21,058 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

20,000 (2006)

Transportation
Monaco

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 50 km paved: 50 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Monaco

Military
Monaco

Military branches:

no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,687 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,376 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 191 female: 182 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
Monaco

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Mongolia

Introduction
Mongolia

Background:

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000, but 2004 elections reduced MPRP representation and, therefore, its authority.

Geography
Mongolia

Location:

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 1,564,116 sq km land: 1,554,731 sq km water: 9,385 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain:

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Natural resources:

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Land use:

arable land: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:

840 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

34.8 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%) per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People
Mongolia

Population:

2,996,081 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.4% (male 433,835/female 416,549) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 1,013,215/female 1,015,221) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 51,093/female 66,168) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.9 years male: 24.6 years female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.493% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 44.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.32 years male: 64.92 years female: 69.84 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2003 est)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups:

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Religions:

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)

Languages:

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 98% female: 97.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2004)

Government
Mongolia

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia

Government type:

mixed parliamentary/presidential

Capital:

name: Ulaanbaatar geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence:

11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution:

12 February 1992

Legal system:

blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since 22 November 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 27 September 2008); Vice Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6 December 2007) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament) elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT 12.59%; Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10

Legislative branch:

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms elections: last held 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPRP 47, DP 26, others 3; note - results are disputed

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DP [Norovyn ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanji BAYAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: human rights groups; women's groups

International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazaryn BEKHBAT chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar-13 telephone: [976] (11) 329-095 FAX: [976] (11) 320-776

Flag description:

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Economy
Mongolia

Economy - overview:

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten account for a large part of industrial production and foreign direct investment. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, 7.5% in 2006, and 9.9% in 2007 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. Mongolia is experiencing its highest inflation rate in over a decade as consumer prices in 2007 rose 15%, largely because of increased fuel and food costs. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives about 70% of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are sizable, and money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.542 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.905 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18.8% industry: 40.4% services: 40.8% (2006)

Labor force:

1.042 million (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 39.9% industry: 11.7% services: 49.4% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

3% (2007)

Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 24.6% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.8 (2002)

Budget:

revenues: $1.58 billion expenditures: $1.497 billion (2007)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% (2007)

Central bank discount rate:

9.87% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.54% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$504.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.539 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.191 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Industries:

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.078 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.638 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

10 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

195 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,860 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

12,630 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$23 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.889 billion f.o.b. (2007)

Exports - commodities:

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports - partners:

China 71.9%, Canada 10.7%, US 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$2.117 billion c.i.f. (2007)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners:

China 32%, Russia 29.4%, South Korea 7.9%, Japan 7.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$159.5 million (2006)

Debt - external:

$1.438 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$613.3 million (2007)

Currency (code):

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code:

##### MNT

Exchange rates:

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,170 (2007), 1,179.6 (2006), 1,205 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003)

Communications
Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:

158,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

775,300 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas domestic: very low fixed-line density; there are multiple mobile cellular service providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly; a fiber-optic network is also being installed that will improve broadband and communication services between major urban centers international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 115 (includes 20 National radio broadcaster repeaters), shortwave 4 (2006)

Radios:

155,900 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

456 (including provincial and low-power repeaters) (2006)

Televisions:

168,800 (1999)

Internet country code:

.mn

Internet hosts:

356 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

320,000 (2007)

Transportation
Mongolia

Airports:

44 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)

Waterways:

580 km note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 77 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 44, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 53 (China 1, Germany 4, Indonesia 1, North Korea 1, South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Russia 9, Singapore 9, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 23) (2008)

Military
Mongolia

Military branches:

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 865,425 females age 16-49: 860,669 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 696,652 females age 16-49: 731,480 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 29,990 female: 29,256 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Mongolia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Montenegro

Introduction
Montenegro

Background:

The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June 2006.

Geography
Montenegro

Location:

Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 42 30 N, 19 18 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 14,026 sq km land: 13,812 sq km water: 214 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 625 km border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km, Croatia 25 km, Kosovo 79 km, Serbia 124 km

Coastline:

293.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: defined by treaty

Climate:

Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland

Terrain:

highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, hydroelectricity

Land use:

arable land: 13.7% permanent crops: 1% other: 85.3%

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution

Geography - note:

strategic location along the Adriatic coast

People
Montenegro

Population:

678,177 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.925% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Montenegrin(s) adjective: Montenegrin

Ethnic groups:

Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other
(Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)

Religions:

Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)

Languages:

Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian 5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Montenegro

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Podgorica geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar,
Berana, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,
Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine,
Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Independence:

3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

National holiday:

National Day, 13 July (1878)

Constitution:

19 October 2007 (approved by the Assembly)

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 29 February 2008) cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 April 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted by Assembly election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip VUJANOVIC 51.89%, Andrija MANDIC 19.55%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.64%, Srdan MILIC 11.92%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote for four-year terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006) elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 47.7%, Serbian List 14.4%, Coalition SNP-NS-DSS 13.8%, PZP 12.9%, Liberals and Bosniaks 3.7%, other (including Albanian minority parties) 7.5%; seats by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 41, Serbian List 12, Coalition SNP/NS/DSS 11, PZP 11, Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Albanian minority parties 3

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme
Court (judges have life tenure)

Political parties and leaders:

Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for European
Montenegro or DPS-SDP (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic
Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC] and Social Democratic
Party of SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]); Coalition SNP-NS-DSS (bloc)
(includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan MILIC], People's
Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], and Democratic Serbian
Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); Democratic League-Party
of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [Mehmet BARHDI]; Democratic Union of
Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA]; Liberals and the Bosniak Party
(bloc) [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] (includes Liberal Party of Montenegro or
LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] and Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]);
Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; Serbian List (bloc)
[Andrija MANDIC] (includes Party of Serb Radicals or SSR [Dusko
SEKULIC], People's Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC], and
Serbian People's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC])

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sandzak People's Movement [Cemal SULFEJIC]

International organization participation:

CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roderick W. MOORE embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [382] 81 225 417 FAX: [382] 81 241 358

Flag description:

a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Economy
Montenegro

Economy - overview:

Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, used the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. On 18 January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization as well as negotiating a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in anticipation of eventual membership. Severe unemployment remains a key political and economic problem for this entire region. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.918 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.974 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

259,100 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2% industry: 30% services: 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA expenditures: NA

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

38% of GDP (2006)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.09% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible

Industries:

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Electricity - production:

2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

18.6 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

450 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

NA cu m

Current account balance:

##### $NA

Exports:

$171.3 million (2003)

Exports - partners:

Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.3% (2006)

Imports:

$601.7 million (2003)

Imports - partners:

Greece 10.2%, Italy 10.2%, Germany 9.6%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.2% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

$650 million (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Montenegro

Telephones - main lines in use:

353,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

643,700 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 2 providers with national coverage, is growing rapidly international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system

Radio broadcast stations:

31 (station types NA) (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (2004)

Internet country code:

.me

Internet users:

280,000 (2007)

Transportation
Montenegro

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 250 km standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 7,368 km paved: 4,742 km unpaved: 2,626 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 6 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1 registered in other countries: 3 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bar

Military
Montenegro

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy (serves as
Coast Guard), Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

compulsory national military service abolished August 2006

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,426 female: 4,201 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional armed forces

Transnational Issues
Montenegro

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999 IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Montenegro is primarily a transit country for the trafficking of women and girls to Western Europe for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls from the Balkans and Eastern Europe are trafficked across Montenegro to Western European countries tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Montenegro is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; public attention to the issue of trafficking has diminished considerably in Montenegro in recent years (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Montserrat

Introduction
Montserrat

Background:

English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

Geography
Montserrat

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 102 sq km land: 102 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

40 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Environment - current issues:

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geography - note:

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

People
Montserrat

Population:

5,079 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 738/female 675) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,575/female 1,716) 65 years and over: 7.4% (male 245/female 130) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.1 years male: 28 years female: 28.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.315% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.6 years male: 74.66 years female: 70.44 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups:

black, white

Religions:

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Christian denominations

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2004)

Government
Montserrat

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Plymouth geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat

Administrative divisions:

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

effective 19 December 1989

Legal system:

English common law and statutory law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007) head of government: Chief Minister Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members elections: last held 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%, MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP 1, independents 1 note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)

Political parties and leaders:

Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Economy
Montserrat

Economy - overview:

Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.2% industry: 23.1% services: 75.7% (1999 est.)

Labor force:

4,521 note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.6% (2002 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.4% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$17.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$43.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.537 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Industries:

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

22 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

20.46 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

505.5 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

482.6 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$700,000 (2001)

Exports - commodities:

electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle

Exports - partners:

US, Antigua and Barbuda (2006)

Imports:

$17 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Imports - partners:

US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.9 million (1997)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976

Communications
Montserrat

Telephones - main lines in use:

##### NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:

##### NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern and fully digitalized domestic: NA international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

7,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

3,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ms

Internet hosts:

409 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Montserrat

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the north end of the island (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Little Bay, Plymouth

Military
Montserrat

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,097 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31 female: 39 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Montserrat

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Morocco

Introduction
Morocco

Background:

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Improvements in human rights have occurred and there is a largely free press. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

Geography
Morocco

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:

##### 32 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline:

1,835 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain:

northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Land use:

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% other: 79% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,450 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

29 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People
Morocco

Population:

34,343,220 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.5% (male 5,337,322/female 5,136,156) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 11,015,409/female 11,069,038) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 765,882/female 1,019,412) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.7 years male: 24.1 years female: 25.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.505% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 38.22 deaths/1,000 live births male: 41.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.52 years male: 69.16 years female: 74 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

15,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan

Ethnic groups:

Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions:

Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Languages:

Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.3% male: 65.7% female: 39.6% (2004 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 9 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Morocco

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Rabat geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely within Western Sahara

Independence:

2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Constitution:

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Executive branch:

chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 8 September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the
Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or
ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];
Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];
Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives
for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC
[Mohamed ABIED]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI
[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud
ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD; Democratic Socialist Party
or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor
CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and
Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic
Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI
[Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah
BENKIRANE]; Labor Party [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal Party
or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah
KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid
BOUZOUBAA]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL
MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah
IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Party of
Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and
Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Left
or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed
LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL
KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union
of Popular Forces or USFP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General
Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan
Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union
of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or
UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,
MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description:

red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Economy
Morocco

Economy - overview:

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rate slowed to 2.1% in 2007 as a result of a draught that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Continued dependence on foreign energy and Morocco's inability to develop small and medium size enterprises also contributed to the slowdown. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$125 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$73.43 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.8% industry: 38.4% services: 47.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

11.39 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40% industry: 15% services: 45% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

15% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $20.49 billion expenditures: $21.85 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

67.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$67.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$16.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$71.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Industries:

phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

21.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

19.58 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.998 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

3,746 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

179,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

24,360 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

192,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

836,000 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

60 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

60 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.557 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.834 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$12.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Exports - partners:

Spain 21.2%, France 19%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.6%, India 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$28.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners:

France 16.1%, Spain 13.6%, China 7.3%, Italy 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, Germany 5.9%, US 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $651.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$24.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$32.9 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$882 million (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$49.6 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:

##### MAD

Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003)

Communications
Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.394 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

20.029 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 7 fixed lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is approaching 60 per 100 persons domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios:

6.64 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ma

Internet hosts:

275,889 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

7.3 million (2007)

Transportation
Morocco

Airports:

60 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 720 km; oil 439 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 57,625 km paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 35 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 16 (France 14, Germany 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi

Military
Morocco

Military branches:

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army
(includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air
Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne
Royale Marocaine) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,152,580 females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,627,988 females age 16-49: 7,754,873 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 355,479 female: 343,016 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5% of GDP (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues
Morocco

Disputes - international:

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa

Illicit drugs:

one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Mozambique

Introduction
Mozambique

Background:

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990's. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. Mozambique has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the civil war largely due to post-conflict reconstruction.

Geography
Mozambique

Location:

Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South
Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 801,590 sq km land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Coastline:

2,470 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical to subtropical

Terrain:

mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Natural resources:

coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Land use:

arable land: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,180 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

216 cu km (1992)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%) per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces

Environment - current issues:

a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

People
Mozambique

Population:

21,284,700 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.5% (male 4,762,335/female 4,711,422) 15-64 years: 52.7% (male 5,472,184/female 5,736,154) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 251,026/female 351,580) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.4 years male: 17 years female: 17.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.792% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

38.21 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

20.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 107.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 110.67 deaths/1,000 live births female: 104.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 41.04 years male: 41.62 years female: 40.44 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

12.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.3 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

110,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups:

African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions:

Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

Languages:

Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47.8% male: 63.5% female: 32.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Mozambique

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Independence:

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution:

30 November 1990

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO 29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional judges are appointed by the president and some are elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts note: although the constitution provides for a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases

Political parties and leaders:

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de
Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National
Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao
Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa, chairman]; Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]; Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Armando Alexandre PANGUENE chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Todd C. CHAPMAN embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (21) 492797 FAX: [258] (21) 490114

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

Economy
Mozambique

Economy - overview:

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation was reduced to single digits during the late 1990s, and although it returned to double digits in 2000-06, in 2007 inflation had slowed to 8%, while GDP growth reached 7.5%. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of the population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date, has increased export earnings. At the end of 2007, and after years of negotiations, the government took over Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More power is needed for additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing that could further close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a Compact with Mozambique; the Mozambican government moved rapidly to ratify the Compact and propose a plan for funding.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.64 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.559 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23% industry: 30.1% services: 46.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

9.6 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 81% industry: 6% services: 13% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

21% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 39.4% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.3 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.302 billion expenditures: $2.63 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

22.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9.95% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.52% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.261 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.467 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$877.2 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry

Industries:

food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

10% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

14.62 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.555 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

12.83 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

9.839 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

14,390 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

13,240 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.65 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.45 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$795.1 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.412 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Exports - partners:

Italy 19.4%, Belgium 18.4%, Spain 12.5%, South Africa 12.3%, UK 7.3%, China 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$2.811 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

South Africa 36.7%, Australia 8.5%, China 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.286 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.445 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.189 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

metical (MZM)

Currency code:

##### MZM

Exchange rates:

meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782 (2003) note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old meticais equal to 1 new meticais

Communications
Mozambique

Telephones - main lines in use:

67,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.3 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system with an extremely low density of less than 1 fixed line per 100 persons domestic: the telecommunications sector is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges; stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor, and from Nampula to Nacala international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:

730,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2000)

Televisions:

67,600 (2000)

Internet country code:

.mz

Internet hosts:

22,532 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2002)

Internet users:

200,000 (2007)

Transportation
Mozambique

Airports:

147 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 125 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 79 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 964 km; refined products 278 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)

Waterways:

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 by type: cargo 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military
Mozambique

Military branches:

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique
Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de
Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,545,975 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,287,526 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 257,261 female: 259,114 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Mozambique

Disputes - international:

none

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Mozambique is a source and, to a much lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the use of forced and bonded child laborers is a common practice in Mozambique's rural areas; women and girls are trafficked from rural to urban areas of Mozambique, as well as to South Africa, for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; young men and boys are trafficked to South Africa for farm work and mining tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second consecutive year, Mozambique is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; while the government conducted investigations into cases of human trafficking, there were no prosecutions or convictions of traffickers; government efforts to protect victims of trafficking continued to suffer from limited resources and a lack of political commitment (2008)

Illicit drugs:

southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Namibia

Introduction
Namibia

Background:

South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule.

Geography
Namibia

Location:

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

##### 22 00 S, 17 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 3,936 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline:

1,572 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain:

mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.99% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99% (2005)

Irrigated land:

80 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

45.5 cu km (1991)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%) per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

prolonged periods of drought

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

People
Namibia

Population:

2,088,669 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.7% (male 386,252/female 379,426) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 627,752/female 615,241) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 35,960/female 44,038) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.7 years male: 20.6 years female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.947% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

23.19 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

14.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 45.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 41.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.89 years male: 50.39 years female: 49.38 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

21.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

210,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

16,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups:

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

Religions:

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

Languages:

English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 86.8% female: 83.5% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2003)

Government
Namibia

Country name:

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

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Windhoek geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Constitution:

ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1 note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle
Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group
or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or
NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima
RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo
HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa
National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; South West Africa
People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist group);
National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World Information
Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador G. Dennise MATHIEU embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500 FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603

Flag description:

a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green

Economy
Namibia

Economy - overview:

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides one of the world's most unequal income distributions. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Increased payments from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence, but SACU payments will decline after 2008 as part of a new revenue sharing formula. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-07, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches and high costs for metal inputs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.69 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.6% industry: 35.4% services: 53.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

660,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 47% industry: 20% services: 33% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 64.5% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

70.7 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.765 billion expenditures: $2.515 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.88% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.149 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.493 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.606 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.194 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.948 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

##### NA

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

19,840 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

17,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$805.2 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.919 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Exports - partners:

South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2006)

Imports:

$3.091 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

South Africa 85.2%, US (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $123.4 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$896 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$541.8 million (2006)

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### NAD; ZAR

Exchange rates:

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Communications
Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use:

138,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

800,300 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 45 per 100 persons domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

232,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2007)

Televisions:

60,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.na

Internet hosts:

6,296 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

101,000 (2007)

Transportation
Namibia

Airports:

137 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 116 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 42,237 km paved: 5,406 km unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Military
Namibia

Military branches:

Namibian Defense Force: Army, Navy, Air Wing (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 527,948 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 313,497 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 25,525 female: 25,182 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Namibia

Disputes - international:

concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Nauru

Introduction
Nauru

Background:

The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed by Germany in 1888 and its phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was occupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.

Geography
Nauru

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 0 32 S, 166 55 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

30 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

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

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

phosphates, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

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

People
Nauru

Population:

13,770 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.5% (male 2,492/female 2,393) 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 4,237/female 4,363) 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 148/female 137) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.3 years male: 20.7 years female: 21.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.772% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

24.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.81 years male: 60.2 years female: 67.6 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups:

Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%

Religions:

Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru Independent
Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)

Languages:

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

Literacy:

##### NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 9 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Nauru

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru local long form: Republic of Nauru local short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island

Government type:

republic

Capital:

no official capital; government offices in Yaren District time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

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

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution:

29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968 (Constitution Day)

Legal system:

acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007); note - President Ludwig SCOTTY defeated in a no confidence vote in parliament on 19 December 2007 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held in 2010) election results: NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 26 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18; note - President Marcus STEPHEN called a snap election to break a parliamentary stalemate blocking legislative action

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal); Nauru
First (Naoero Amo) Party; note - loose multiparty system

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074 FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079 consulate(s): Agana (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag description:

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

Economy
Nauru

Economy - overview:

Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exports of phosphates, now significantly depleted. An Australian company in 2005 entered into an agreement intended to exploit remaining supplies. Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments. In 2005, the deterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital plant continued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government and economy afloat continued to climb. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60 million (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force - by occupation:

note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)

Unemployment rate:

90% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $13.5 million expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-3.6% (1993)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts

Industries:

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

31 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

28.83 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,070 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,049 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$64,000 f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:

phosphates

Exports - partners:

South Africa 63.7%, South Korea 7.6%, Canada 6.6% (2006)

Imports:

$20 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports - partners:

South Korea 43.8%, Australia 36.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.3% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$20 million mostly from Australia (2005)

Debt - external:

$33.3 million (2002)

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Nauru

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

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

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

7,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

500 (1997)

Internet country code:

.nr

Internet hosts:

42 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

300 (2002)

Transportation
Nauru

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 24 km paved: 24 km (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Nauru

Military
Nauru

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,470 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 173 female: 159 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

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

Transnational Issues
Nauru

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Navassa Island

Introduction
Navassa Island

Background:

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

Geography
Navassa Island

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

8 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

marine, tropical

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

guano

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

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

People
Navassa Island

Population:

uninhabited note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

Government
Navassa Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Dependency status:

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

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy
Navassa Island

Economy - overview:

Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters.

Transportation
Navassa Island

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Navassa Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Navassa Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Nepal

Introduction
Nepal

Background:

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing nine-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. The newly formed interim parliament declared Nepal a democratic federal republic at its first meeting in May 2008, the king vacated the throne in mid-June 2008, and parliament elected the country's first president the following month.

Geography
Nepal

Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:

##### 28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 147,181 sq km land: 143,181 sq km water: 4,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries:

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

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

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

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 16.07% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 83.08% (2005)

Irrigated land:

11,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

210.2 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%) per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

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

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively

People
Nepal

Population:

29,519,114 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38% (male 5,792,042/female 5,427,370) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 8,832,488/female 8,345,724) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 542,192/female 579,298) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.7 years male: 20.5 years female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.095% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

29.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 60.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 60.94 years male: 61.12 years female: 60.75 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.91 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

61,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,100 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis and malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese

Ethnic groups:

Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) note: only official Hindu state in the world

Languages:

Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.6% male: 62.7% female: 34.9% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2003)

Government
Nepal

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal local short form: Nepal

Government type:

democratic republic

Capital:

name: Kathmandu geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

National holiday:

NA; note - in 2006, Parliament abolished the birthday of King GYANENDRA (7 July) and Constitution Day (9 November) as national holidays

Constitution:

9 November 1990; note - a new interim constitution was promulgated in January 2007; the November 2006 peace agreement calls for the election of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new permanent constitution

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (as of 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (as of 23 July 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (as of 18 August 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev GAUTAM cabinet: selected by the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament; term NA; election last held 21 July 2008 election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282

Legislative branch:

unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 seats decided by direct popular vote; 335 seats by proportional representation; 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers)) note: KOIRALA called the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly on 28 May 2008 elections: last held 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPN-M 220, NC 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum 52, Terai Madhesi Democratic Party/Nepal Sadbhawana Party 29, other smaller parties 61; note - 26 seats to be filled by the new Cabinet

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist
Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as
PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI]; Communist Party of
Nepal (ML) [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal (Unified) [Raj
Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Ganesh SHAH];
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Amrit
Kumar BOHARA]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN];
Janamorcha Nepal [Amik SHERCHAN]; Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum
[Upendra YADAV]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Pashupati
Shumsher RANA] (also called Rastriya Prajatantra Party or RPP);
Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar
Dal [Vinod DANGI]; Nepal Rastriya Party [Khushilal YADAV]; Nepal
Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi) [Shyam Sundar GUPTA]; Nepal Workers
and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress
Party or NCP [Girija Prasad KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Bharat
Prasad MAHATO]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra BAHADUR K.C.]; Rastriya
Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or
RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA] (split from RPP in March 2005); Rastriya
Prajatantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party (Mahato)
[Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem
Bahadur SINGH]; Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch [Kamal
CHHARAHANG]; Terai Madhesi Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups

International organization participation:

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC,
SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Suresh Chandra CHALISE chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534 consulate(s) general: New York:

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200 FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272

Flag description:

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

Economy
Nepal

Economy - overview:

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for 38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29.29 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.627 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 38% industry: 20% services: 42% (FY05/06 est.)

Labor force:

11.11 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 76% industry: 6% services: 18% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

42% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.9% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 40.6% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.2 (2004)

Budget:

revenues: $1.153 billion expenditures: $1.927 billion (FY06/07)

Fiscal year:

16 July - 15 July

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.184 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.745 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.636 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries:

tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate:

##### 2.2% (FY05/06)

Electricity - production:

2.703 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.276 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

165 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

380 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 8.5% hydro: 91.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

16,960 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

11,530 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$58 million (2007)

Exports:

$830 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border trade with India (2006)

Exports - commodities:

carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Exports - partners:

India 69.3%, US 8.8%, Germany 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$2.398 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Imports - partners:

India 58.9%, China 13.6%, Japan 1.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$427.9 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$3.07 billion (March 2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$963.5 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Currency code:

##### NPR

Exchange rates:

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003)

Communications
Nepal

Telephones - main lines in use:

766,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.157 million (2006)

Telephone system:

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

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2000)

Radios:

840,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

130,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.np

Internet hosts:

42,219 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

337,100 (2007)

Transportation
Nepal

Airports:

47 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 30 (2007)

Railways:

total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 17,280 km paved: 9,829 km unpaved: 7,451 km (2004)

Military
Nepal

Military branches:

Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,322,965 females age 16-49: 6,859,064 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,146,958 females age 16-49: 4,724,495 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 335,747 female: 312,297 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Nepal

Disputes - international:

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China) IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

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

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Netherlands

Introduction
Netherlands

Background:

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography
Netherlands

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:

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

Coastline:

451 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 21.96% permanent crops: 0.77% other: 77.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

5,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

89.7 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%) per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling

Geography - note:

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

People
Netherlands

Population:

16,645,313 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 1,496,348/female 1,427,297) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,705,003/female 5,583,787) 65 years and over: 14.6% (male 1,040,932/female 1,391,946) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40 years male: 39.2 years female: 40.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.436% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.53 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.25 years male: 76.66 years female: 81.98 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

19,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

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

Ethnic groups:

Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands Antilles & Aruba 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other
Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Languages:

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Netherlands

Country name:

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

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Amsterdam geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components

Administrative divisions:

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

Dependent areas:

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence:

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002); Deputy Prime Ministers Wouter BOS (since 22 February 2007) and Andre ROUVOET (since 22 February 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch:

bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be held by early 2011) election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11, Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%, other 6.6%; seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter BALKENENDE]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Rene PAAS]; Confederation
of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES];
Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek
HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes
JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY Kan];
Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Ad
VERHOEVEN]

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer),
CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris
Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CULBERTSON embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag description:

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

Economy
Netherlands

Economy - overview:

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 3% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest investors in the US. The economy experienced a slowdown in 2005 but in 2006 recovered to the fastest pace in six years on the back of increased exports and strong investment. The pace of job growth reached 10-year highs in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$645.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$768.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$39,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2% industry: 24.4% services: 73.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7.604 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.9 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $359.5 billion expenditures: $356.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

45.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.72% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.876 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

97.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

109.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

5.565 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

23.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.3% other: 5.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

88,950 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

984,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.639 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2.648 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

76.33 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

46.42 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

55.66 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

25.73 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$47.31 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$456.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 24.4%, Belgium 13.6%, UK 9.1%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.1%, US 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$406.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

Germany 17.7%, China 10.5%, Belgium 9.3%, US 7.3%, UK 5.8%, Russia 5.1%, France 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $5.452 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$26.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.277 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$673.4 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$851.3 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$924.4 billion (November 2007)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Netherlands

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.334 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17.3 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed and well maintained domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:

15.3 million (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

8.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.nl

Internet hosts:

10.983 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

52 (2000)

Internet users:

15 million (2007)

Transportation
Netherlands

Airports:

27 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 81 km; gas 7,394 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,797 km standard gauge: 2,797 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 134,981 km (includes 2,604 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

6,211 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 622 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical tanker 44, container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14, France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12, Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14) registered in other countries: 178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2, Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1, Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Military
Netherlands

Military branches:

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air
Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke
Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,950,825 females age 16-49: 3,850,800 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,233,773 females age 16-49: 3,150,790 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 105,735 female: 100,747 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Netherlands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Netherlands Antilles

Introduction
Netherlands Antilles

Background:

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

Geography
Netherlands Antilles

Location:

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five
islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and
Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin
Islands

Geographic coordinates:

Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 W
Curacao: 12 10 N, 69 00 W
Saba: 17 38 N, 63 14 W
Sint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 W
Sint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 15 km border countries: Saint Martin 15 km

Coastline:

364 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use:

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

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

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

People
Netherlands Antilles

Population:

225,369 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 26,749/female 25,467) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 73,319/female 78,842) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 8,541/female 12,451) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.4 years male: 31.6 years female: 35.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.754% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.45 years male: 74.15 years female: 78.87 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean

Ethnic groups:

mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other
Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%
(2001 census)

Languages:

Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),
English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,
Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Literacy:

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2002)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Netherlands Antilles

Country name:

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

Dependency status:

an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type:

parliamentary

Capital:

name: Willemstad (on Curacao) geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

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

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held by 2010) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP-St. M, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E

Legislative branch:

unicameral States or Staten (22 seats, Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB 2, DP-St. E 1, DP-St. M 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1 note: the government is a coalition of several parties

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic
Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];
Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson
PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles
Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I
Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or
PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily
de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE
LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS];
Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands
People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.
Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party
[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.
Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party
[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)

International organization participation:

Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate),
UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066 FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489

Flag description:

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

Economy
Netherlands Antilles

Economy - overview:

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Most of the oil Netherlands Antilles imports for its refineries come from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides financial aid to support the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.8 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

83,600 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

17% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $757.9 million expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2003 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.21% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.133 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.927 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

1.195 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

992 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

67,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

206,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

277,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$3.71 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US 18.9%, Mexico 13.3%, Panama 11.4%, Singapore 6.9%, Haiti 6.6%,
Bahamas, The 5.3% (2007)

Imports:

$15.74 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Venezuela 59.1%, US 17.7%, Brazil 7.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$21.32 million (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.68 billion (2004)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$488.6 billion (2003)

Currency (code):

Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Currency code:

##### ANG

Exchange rates:

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)

Communications
Netherlands Antilles

Telephones - main lines in use:

81,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

200,000 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2003)

Radios:

217,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (there is also a cable service that supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and 4 Venezuelan channels) (2003)

Televisions:

69,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.an

Internet hosts:

47,597 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6

Internet users:

2,000 (2000)

Transportation
Netherlands Antilles

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 845

Merchant marine:

total: 147 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 72, carrier 19, chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 123 (Belgium 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 21, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Hong Kong 2, Netherlands 38, Norway 3, Sweden 1, Turkey 10, US 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bopec Terminal, Willemstad

Military
Netherlands Antilles

Military branches:

no regular military forces; National Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 55,365 females age 16-49: 57,060 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 46,102 females age 16-49: 47,219 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,855 female: 1,760 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues
Netherlands Antilles

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

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

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@New Caledonia

Introduction
New Caledonia

Background:

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

Geography
New Caledonia

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

2,254 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain:

coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:

arable land: 0.32% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:

100 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

cyclones, most frequent from November to March

Environment - current issues:

erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geography - note:

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

People
New Caledonia

Population:

224,824 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 31,376/female 30,064) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 74,064/female 73,369) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 7,377/female 8,574) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.4 years male: 28 years female: 28.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.175% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.75 years male: 71.76 years female: 77.88 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups:

Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2% (1996 census)

Religions:

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

Languages:

French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.8% female: 95.5% (1996 census)

Government
New Caledonia

Country name:

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

Dependency status:

territorial collectivity of France since 1998

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Noumea geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

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

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Commissioner Yves DASSONVILLE (since 9 November 2007) head of government: President of the Government Harold MARTIN (since 7 August 2007) cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 7 August 2007 when Harold MARTIN was elected following the resignation of Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU as president on 24 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3 note: New Caledonia currently holds one seat in the French Senate; by 2010, New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held on June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

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

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy
New Caledonia

Economy - overview:

New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.158 billion (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.3 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15% industry: 8.8% services: 76.2% (2003)

Labor force:

78,990 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

17.1% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $996 million expenditures: $1.072 billion (2001 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

Industries:

nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.6% (1996)

Electricity - production:

1.602 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.49 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

356.2 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

11,780 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$1.341 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Exports - partners:

Japan 20.1%, China 14.5%, Taiwan 14.2%, France 11.6%, Belgium 10.4%,
Spain 8.6%, South Africa 6.9% (2007)

Imports:

$1.998 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 36.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Australia 12.1%, NZ 5.2%, Germany 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$524.3 million annual subsidy from France (2004)

Debt - external:

$79 million (1998 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:

##### XPF

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007), 95.025 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)

Communications
New Caledonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

60,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

176,400 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (plus 25 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.nc

Internet hosts:

15,487 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

80,000 (2006)

Transportation
New Caledonia

Airports:

25 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Heliports:

6 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 5,622 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Noumea

Military
New Caledonia

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 57,738 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 47,342 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,202 female: 2,121 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
New Caledonia

Disputes - international:

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@New Zealand

Introduction
New Zealand

Background:

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

Geography
New Zealand

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,021 sq km water: NA note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area - comparative:

about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

15,134 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain:

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 5.54% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 87.54% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

397 cu km (1995)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%) per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

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

People
New Zealand

Population:

4,173,460 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 446,883/female 424,240) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,390,669/female 1,385,686) 65 years and over: 12.6% (male 238,560/female 287,422) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.3 years male: 35.6 years female: 37.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.971% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.24 years male: 78.33 years female: 82.25 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.11 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups:

European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 19 years male: 19 years female: 20 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.2% of GDP (2006)

Government
New Zealand

Country name:

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

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Wellington geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in March note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham Island

Administrative divisions:

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,
Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Dependent areas:

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence:

26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday:

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Constitution:

consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006) head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NP 45.5%, NZLP 33.8%, Green Party 6.4%, ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.2%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats by party - NP 59, NZLP 43, Green Party 8, ACT New Zealand 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1 note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats increase to 122

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the Governor-General

Political parties and leaders:

##### ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034 telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000 FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490 consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description:

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

Government - note:

while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand

Economy
New Zealand

Economy - overview:

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for eight consecutive years and reached $27,300 in 2007 in purchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending have driven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 after struggling for several years. Exports were equal to about 22% of GDP in 2007, down from 33% of GDP in 2001. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output. Inflationary pressures have built in recent years and the central bank raised its key rate 13 times since January 2004 to finish 2007 at 8.25%. A large balance of payments deficit poses another challenge in managing the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$112.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$128.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.5% industry: 26.2% services: 69.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.236 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7% industry: 19% services: 74% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: %NA highest 10%: %NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.2 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $58.31 billion expenditures: $53.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

Public debt:

20.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

8.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.83% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$24.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$117.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$200.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

1.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

42.41 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

38.93 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 31.6% hydro: 57.8% nuclear: 0% other: 10.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

47,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

158,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

14,570 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

137,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

55 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

4.573 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.572 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

29.67 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$10.23 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$27.35 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners:

Australia 22%, US 11.5%, Japan 9.2%, China 5.3%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$29.06 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners:

Australia 20.7%, China 13.4%, US 9.7%, Japan 9.5%, Singapore 4.9%,
Germany 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $259 million (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.25 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$71.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$40.62 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

##### NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Communications
New Zealand

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.706 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.245 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems domestic: NA international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

3.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

1.926 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.nz

Internet hosts:

1.72 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

36 (2000)

Internet users:

3.36 million (2007)

Transportation
New Zealand

Airports:

121 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 41 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 46 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 331 km; gas 1,896 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 260 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 4,128 km narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 93,576 km paved: 61,564 km (includes 172 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,012 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 13 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1) registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei

Military
New Zealand

Military branches:

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New
Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,009,298 females age 16-49: 997,134 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 833,073 females age 16-49: 822,807 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31,834 female: 30,243 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
New Zealand

Disputes - international:

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Illicit drugs:

significant consumer of amphetamines

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Nicaragua

Introduction
Nicaragua

Background:

The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, saw the Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return of former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaragua's infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt.

Geography
Nicaragua

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the state of New York

Land boundaries:

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

Coastline:

910 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation

Climate:

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Land use:

arable land: 14.81% permanent crops: 1.82% other: 83.37% (2005)

Irrigated land:

610 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

196.7 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%) per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People
Nicaragua

Population:

5,785,846 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 1,019,281/female 981,903) 15-64 years: 62.1% (male 1,792,398/female 1,803,133) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 82,840/female 106,291) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.7 years male: 21.3 years female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.825% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

23.7 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.21 years male: 69.08 years female: 73.44 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.63 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups:

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

Religions:

Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah's
Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)

Languages:

Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census) note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Literacy:

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2003)

Government
Nicaragua

Country name:

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

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Managua geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

9 January 1987; reforms in 1995, 2000, and 2005

Legal system:

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term so long as it is not consecutive); election last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011) election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra elected president - 38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE 29%, Jose RIZO 26.21%, Edmundo JARQUIN 6.44%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 90 members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat for the runner-up in previous presidential election) elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election), MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative Party or PC [Azalia AVILES Salmeron]; Liberal
Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Nicaraguan
Liberal Alliance or ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Sandinista National
Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista
Renovation Movement or MRS [Enrique SAENZ Navarrete]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

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

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo CRUZ Sequeira, Jr. chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours) FAX: [505] 252-7304

Flag description:

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

Economy
Nicaragua

Economy - overview:

Nicaragua has widespread underemployment, one of the highest degrees of income inequality in the world, and the third lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. While the country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability in the past few years, annual GDP growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the country to rely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in October 2007, the IMF approved a new poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF) program that should create fiscal space for social spending and investment. The continuity of a relationship with the IMF reinforces donor confidence, despite private sector concerns surrounding ORTEGA, which has dampened investment. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Energy shortages fueled by high oil prices, however, are a serious bottleneck to growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.17 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.723 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.9% industry: 25.8% services: 57.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.262 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 29% industry: 19% services: 52% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.9% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

48% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 33.8% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43.1 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.115 billion expenditures: $1.291 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

62.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.04% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$465.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.802 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.133 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.012 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.413 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

63.95 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0% other: 8.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

28,880 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

808.5 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

29,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.001 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.313 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts

Exports - partners:

US 31.7%, El Salvador 14%, Honduras 9.3%, Costa Rica 7.2%, Canada 5.8%, Guatemala 5.5%, Mexico 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$4.078 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US 22.5%, Mexico 13.5%, Costa Rica 8.4%, Venezuela 6.4%, Guatemala 6.2%, El Salvador 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$471 million (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.103 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

gold cordoba (NIO)

Currency code:

##### NIO

Exchange rates:

gold cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 18.457 (2007), 17.582 (2006), 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003)

Communications
Nicaragua

Telephones - main lines in use:

247,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.123 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags behind other Central American countries; connected to Central American Microwave System international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.24 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 7 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

320,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ni

Internet hosts:

58,157 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

155,000 (2006)

Transportation
Nicaragua

Airports:

163 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 152 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 135 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 54 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 19,036 km paved: 2,299 km unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)

Waterways:

2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff

Military
Nicaragua

Military branches:

National Army of Nicaragua (ENN; includes Navy, Air Force) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of duty 18-36 months (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,513,312 females age 16-49: 1,507,999 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,235,400 females age 16-49: 1,302,318 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 72,689 female: 70,452 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Nicaragua

Disputes - international:

memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica

Illicit drugs:

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

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Niger

Introduction
Niger

Background:

Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007. Events have since evolved into a budding insurrection.

Geography
Niger

Location:

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:

##### 16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

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

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

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

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 11.43% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 88.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:

730 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

33.7 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%) per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

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

People
Niger

Population:

13,272,679 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47% (male 3,174,834/female 3,057,003) 15-64 years: 50.6% (male 3,450,393/female 3,267,496) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 159,945/female 163,008) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.4 years male: 16.5 years female: 16.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.878% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

49.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

20.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 115.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 119.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 111.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 44.28 years male: 44.3 years female: 44.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

7.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

70,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups:

Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri
Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

Religions:

Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%

Languages:

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 28.7% male: 42.9% female: 15.1% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 4 years male: 5 years female: 3 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2006)

Government
Niger

Country name:

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

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Niamey geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Independence:

3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 18 July 1999

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Seyni OUMAROU (since 3 June 2007); appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); second round of election last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009) election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNSD 47, PNDS 25, CDS 22, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1

Judicial branch:

State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane
OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or
MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN;
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or
ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy
or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and
Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive
Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress
or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or
RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg rebel group

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227 FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64 FAX: [227] 20-73-31-67

Flag description:

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

Economy
Niger

Economy - overview:

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a 2.9% population growth rate, have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Uranium prices have increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.859 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.174 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 39% industry: 17% services: 44% (2001)

Labor force:

70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public sector (1995)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90% industry: 6% services: 4% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

63% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.5 (1995)

Budget:

revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources) expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$604.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$193.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$318.9 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Industrial production growth rate:

5.1% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

240 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

443.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

225 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,550 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

5,425 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$321 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$428 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners:

France 57%, Nigeria 26.4%, Ghana 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$800 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners:

France 15.9%, French Polynesia 8.8%, Nigeria 8.6%, Belgium 8.6%, US 6.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$515.4 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Niger

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

900,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity only about 7 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2007)

Televisions:

125,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ne

Internet hosts:

216 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

40,000 (2006)

Transportation
Niger

Airports:

28 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 18,550 km paved: 3,803 km unpaved: 14,747 km (2006)

Waterways:

300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2005)

Military
Niger

Military branches:

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Niger
Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,871,868 females age 16-49: 2,696,966 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,665,108 females age 16-49: 1,548,965 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 150,728 female: 143,379 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Niger

Disputes - international:

Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Niger is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; caste-based slavery practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue in isolated areas of the country - an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 Nigeriens live under conditions of traditional slavery; children are trafficked within Niger for forced begging, forced labor in gold mines, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and possibly for forced labor in agriculture and stone quarries; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked to and through Niger for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labor in mines and on farms, and as mechanics and welders tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Niger is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking in 2007; in particular, measures to combat and eliminate traditional slavery practices were weak; the government's overall law enforcement efforts have stalled from 2006; while efforts to protect child trafficking victims were steady, the government failed to provide services to or rescue adult victims subjected to traditional slavery practices, and made poor efforts to educate the public about traditional slavery practices in general (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Nigeria

Introduction
Nigeria

Background:

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.

Geography
Nigeria

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

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

Coastline:

853 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

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

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.02% permanent crops: 3.14% other: 63.84% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,820 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

286.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%) per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; flooding

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

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

People
Nigeria

Population:

146,255,312 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.7% (male 31,171,949/female 29,806,204) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 41,243,003/female 39,611,565) 65 years and over: 3% (male 2,152,318/female 2,270,267) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.9 years male: 18.8 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.025% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

37.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

16.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live births male: 101.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 89.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 46.53 years male: 45.78 years female: 47.32 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3.6 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

310,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever water contact disease: leptospirosis and shistosomiasis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups:

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

Religions:

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

Languages:

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

Literacy:

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (1991)

Government
Nigeria

Country name:

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

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Abuja geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999

Legal system:

based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007) cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011) election results: Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011); House of Representatives - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%, ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%, other 8.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, UNPP 2.8%, NPD 1.9%, APGA 1.6%, PRP 0.8%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6, UNPP 2, APGA 2, NPD 1, PRP 1, vacant 1

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Accord Party [Ikra Aliyu BILBIS]; Action Congress or AC [Hassan
ZUMI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; All
Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE]; All Progressives
Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]; Democratic People's Party
or DPP [Jeremiah USENI]; Fresh Democratic Party [Chris OKOTIE];
Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU]; Movement for the Restoration and
Defense of Democracy or MRDD [Mohammed Gambo JIMETA]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party
or PDP [vacant]; Peoples Progressive Alliance [Clement EBRI];
Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Peoples
Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria Peoples
Party or UNPP [Mallam Selah JAMBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU; Campaign for
Democracy or CD; Civil Liberties Organization or CLO; Committee for
the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR; Constitutional Right Project or
CRP; Human Right Africa; National Association of Democratic Lawyers
or NADL; National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS; Nigerian
Bar Association or NBA; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC; Nigerian
Medical Association or NMA; the Press; Universal Defenders of
Democracy or UDD

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Oluwole ROTIMI chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robin SANDERS embassy: 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja mailing address: P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000 FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036

Flag description:

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

Economy
Nigeria

Economy - overview:

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, is undertaking some reforms under a new reform-minded administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and the country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. In the last year the government has begun showing the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to modernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. In 2003, the government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a domestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management. In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in payments - a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37 billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be subject to stringent IMF reviews. GDP rose strongly in 2007, based largely on increased oil exports and high global crude prices. Newly-elected President YAR'ADUA has pledged to continue the economic reforms of his predecessor and the proposed budget for 2008 reflects the administrations emphasis on infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth. The government is working toward developing stronger public-private partnerships for electricity and roads.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$296.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$166.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.7% industry: 52.6% services: 29.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

50.13 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 70% industry: 10% services: 20% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 33.2% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43.7 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $19.43 billion expenditures: $20.36 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

14.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16.94% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$21.72 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$19.07 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$16.15 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

22.11 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

15.85 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.352 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

312,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.473 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

154,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

36.22 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

34.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

12.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

21.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.21 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$2.514 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$61.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners:

US 51.6%, Brazil 8.9%, Spain 7.7% (2007)

Imports:

$38.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Imports - partners:

China 10.6%, Netherlands 7.9%, US 7.8%, South Korea 6.6%, UK 5.7%,
France 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$6.437 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$51.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.007 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$33.64 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$12.63 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$32.82 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

naira (NGN)

Currency code:

##### NGN

Exchange rates:

nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004), 129.22 (2003)

Communications
Nigeria

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.58 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

40.395 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed domestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002 resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1 per 100 persons; wireless telephony has grown rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple service providers operate nationally; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 30 per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:

23.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2001)

Televisions:

6.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ng

Internet hosts:

1,048 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:

10 million (2007)

Transportation
Nigeria

Airports:

70 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 36 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 124 km; gas 3,071 km; liquid petroleum gas 156 km; oil 4,347 km; refined products 3,949 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,505 km narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 193,200 km paved: 28,980 km unpaved: 164,220 km (2004)

Waterways:

8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 68 by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 12, combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 46, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 3 (Japan 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1) registered in other countries: 34 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Cook Islands 1, Georgia 1, Italy 1, Liberia 2, Panama 10, Poland 1, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 1, unknown 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military
Nigeria

Military branches:

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 31,929,204 females age 16-49: 30,638,979 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,556,755 females age 16-49: 17,288,225 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,663,025 female: 1,585,224 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Nigeria

Disputes - international:

Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 5,778 (Liberia) IDPs: undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims since President OBASANJO's election in 1999; displacement is mostly short-term) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets; consumer of amphetamines; safe haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity; Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Niue

Introduction
Niue

Background:

Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,444 in 2008), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography
Niue

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates:

##### 19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

64 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain:

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources:

fish, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 11.54% permanent crops: 15.38% other: 73.08% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

one of world's largest coral islands

People
Niue

Population:

1,444 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

-0.032% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups:

Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%,
Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)

Religions:

Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan;
English

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA female: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Niue

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee former: Savage Island

Dependency status:

self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue

Government type:

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order

Independence:

on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system:

English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000) head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP
[Young VIVIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:

yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross

Economy
Niue

Economy - overview:

The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was US$2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.6 million (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.01 million (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.5% industry: 26.9% services: 49.5% (2003)

Labor force:

663 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate:

12% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $15.07 million expenditures: $16.33 million (FY0405)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Industries:

tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.72 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

26.57 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$201,400 (2004)

Exports - commodities:

canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2006)

Imports:

$9.038 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:

food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:

New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Debt - external:

$418,000 (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

##### NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Communications
Niue

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,100 (2002 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

400 (2002)

Telephone system:

domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: country code - 683 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.nu

Internet hosts:

382,599 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

900 (2002)

Transportation
Niue

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 120 km paved: 120 km (2008)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Niue

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues
Niue

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Norfolk Island

Introduction
Norfolk Island

Background:

Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Geography
Norfolk Island

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

32 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People
Norfolk Island

Population:

2,128 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over: 15.9% (2007 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.006% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups:

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian

Religions:

Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)

Languages:

English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Literacy:

##### NA

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Norfolk Island

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status:

self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Constitution:

Norfolk Island Act of 1979, as amended in 2005

Legal system:

based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Acting Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010) election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

##### UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

Economy
Norfolk Island

Economy - overview:

Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

Labor force:

##### NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10% industry and services: 90%

Budget:

revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Agriculture - products:

Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Industries:

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2002)

Exports:

$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Exports - commodities:

postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006)

Imports:

$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Imports - commodities:

##### NA

Imports - partners:

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Norfolk Island

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0; note - proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Televisions:

1,200 (1996)

Internet country code:

.nf

Internet hosts:

51 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

700 (2002 est.)

Transportation
Norfolk Island

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2008)

Ports and terminals:

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Military
Norfolk Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues
Norfolk Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction
Northern Mariana Islands

Background:

Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Geography
Northern Mariana Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,482 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Terrain:

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources:

arable land, fish

Land use:

arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Environment - current issues:

contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People
Northern Mariana Islands

Population:

86,616 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 8,342/female 7,594) 15-64 years: 79.9% (male 27,996/female 41,245) 65 years and over: 1.7% (male 740/female 699) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.9 years male: 32 years female: 28.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.377% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

19.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.68 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 0.75 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.5 years male: 73.89 years female: 79.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages:

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Northern Mariana Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands abbreviation: CNMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District

Dependency status:

commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type:

commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital:

name: Saipan geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:

Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986

Legal system:

based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006) cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads appointed by and reporting directly to the governor elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 17.99%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independents 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4, Democratic Party 1, independents 3 note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)

Judicial branch:

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders:

Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S.
CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

##### SPC, UPU

Flag description:

blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy
Northern Mariana Islands

Economy - overview:

The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with the employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$900 million note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$633.4 million (2000)

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

3.9% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.8% (2000)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Industries:

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

garments

Exports - partners:

##### US (2006)

Imports:

$214.4 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US, Japan (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

extensive funding from US

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Northern Mariana Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

20,500 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (on Saipan; in addition, 2 cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.mp

Internet hosts:

6 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

10,000 (2003)

Transportation
Northern Mariana Islands

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 536 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Saipan, Tinian

Military
Northern Mariana Islands

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 572 female: 594 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Northern Mariana Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Norway

Introduction
Norway

Background:

Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Geography
Norway

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates:

##### 62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 323,802 sq km land: 307,442 sq km water: 16,360 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,542 km border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Coastline:

25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of island coastlines 58,133 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Terrain:

glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.7% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.3% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,270 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

381.4 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%) per capita: 519 cu m/yr (1996)

Natural hazards:

rockslides, avalanches

Environment - current issues:

water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

People
Norway

Population:

4,644,457 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.8% (male 446,146/female 426,166) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,559,750/female 1,516,217) 65 years and over: 15% (male 297,175/female 399,003) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39 years male: 38.2 years female: 39.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.35% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.81 years male: 77.16 years female: 82.6 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic groups:

Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 estimate)

Religions:

Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other
Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

Languages:

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7.2% of GDP (2005)

Government
Norway

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Oslo geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder,
Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland,
Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas:

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence:

7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution:

17 May 1814; amended many times

Legal system:

mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005) cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament

Legislative branch:

modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms); note - in 2009 the number of seats will change to 165 elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held in September 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 32.7%, Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party 14.1%, Socialist Left Party 8.8%, Christian People's Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal Party 5.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - Labor Party 61, Progress Party 38, Conservative Party 23, Socialist Left Party 15, Christian People's Party 11, Center Party 11, Liberal Party 10 note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership in the Lagting and three-fourths of its membership in the Odelsting

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn
HOYBRATEN]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens
STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Siv
JENSEN]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Norwegian Aid Committee or NORWAC; Norwegian Association of the
Disabled; Pure Salmon Campaign; The Consumer Council (consumer
advocacy group)
other: environmental groups; media; reform movements

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,
ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Wegger C. STROMMEN chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will move to Huseby in the near future mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50 FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51

Flag description:

red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy
Norway

Economy - overview:

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through large-scale state enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with privatization. Although Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000, natural gas production is still rising. Norwegians realize that once their gas production peaks they will eventually face declining oil and gas revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $250 billion. After lackluster growth of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 3-5% in 2004-07, partly due to higher oil prices. Norway's economy remains buoyant. Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the main driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and strong investment spending in the offshore oil and gas sector. Norway's record high budget surplus and upswing in the labor market in 2007 highlight the strength of its economic position going into 2008.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$246.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$391.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$53,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.4% industry: 41.9% services: 55.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.507 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4% industry: 22% services: 74% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

2.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 23.4% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $226.3 billion expenditures: $158.7 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

83.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.65% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Industries:

petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

0.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

135 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

111.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

15.32 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

5.284 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.4% hydro: 99.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.565 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

224,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.714 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

92,650 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

6.865 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

92.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

86.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.241 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$64.07 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$140.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners:

UK 26.3%, Germany 12.3%, Netherlands 10.2%, France 8%, Sweden 6.5%,
US 6.2% (2007)

Imports:

$77.24 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Sweden 14.7%, Germany 13.6%, UK 6.9%, Denmark 6.4%, China 6.1%, US 4.8%, Canada 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $2.954 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$60.84 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$469.1 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$62.63 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$126.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$191 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:

##### NOK

Exchange rates:

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.8396 (2007), 6.4117 (2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003)

Communications
Norway

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.988 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.192 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular-mobile systems instead of fixed-wire systems international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

4.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

2.03 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.no

Internet hosts:

2.995 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2000)

Internet users:

3.8 million (2007)

Transportation
Norway

Airports:

98 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 25 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 508 km; gas 6,529 km; oil 2,444 km; oil/gas/water 457 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 4,114 km standard gauge: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 92,946 km paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)

Waterways:

1,577 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 688 by type: bulk carrier 46, cargo 141, carrier 3, chemical tanker 137, combination ore/oil 12, container 4, liquefied gas 65, passenger/cargo 117, petroleum tanker 85, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 50 foreign-owned: 199 (Canada 3, Canada 7, Chile 2, China 36, Denmark 25, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 3, Germany 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 20, Iceland 3, Italy 4, Japan 29, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Monaco 5, Poland 3, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 34, UK 5, US 8) registered in other countries: 923 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia 1, Bahamas 189, Barbados 38, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 5, Canada 3, Cayman Islands 1, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 5, Cyprus 18, Denmark 1, Denmark 2, Dominica 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 4, Finland 3, France 5, Gibraltar 33, Hong Kong 40, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 20, Italy 2, South Korea 2, Liberia 40, Libya 1, Malta 93, Marshall Islands 66, Netherlands 12, Netherlands Antilles 3, Panama 89, Philippines 10, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Singapore 143, Spain 5, Sweden 7, Tuvalu 1, UK 31, US 9, unknown 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bergen, Borg Havn, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Military
Norway

Military branches:

Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske
Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice shortened to 8 to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18 and 44 are liable for service, in practice they are seldom called to duty after age 30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,078,181 females age 16-49: 1,046,550 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 888,101 females age 16-49: 862,159 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 32,185 female: 30,683 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Norway

Disputes - international:

Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, Russia and Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Oman

Introduction
Oman

Background:

The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Geography
Oman

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian
Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic coordinates:

##### 21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:

total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline:

2,092 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain:

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.12% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 99.74% (2005)

Irrigated land:

720 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%) per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People
Oman

Population:

3,311,640 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 721,796/female 692,699) 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,053,040/female 752,962) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 51,290/female 39,853) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.9 years male: 21.3 years female: 16.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.19% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.91 years male: 71.64 years female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups:

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African

Religions:

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim,
Hindu) 25%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 81.4% male: 86.8% female: 73.5% (2003 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2006)

Government
Oman

Country name:

conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman former: Muscat and Oman

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

name: Muscat geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*

Independence:

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday:

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution:

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (70 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers) elections: last held 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates were elected

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Sharia law

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat telephone: [968] 24-643-400 FAX: [968] 24-699771

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Economy
Oman

Economy - overview:

Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources, but sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped build Oman's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Oman joined the World Trade Organization in November 2000 and continues to liberalize its markets. It ratified a free trade agreement with the US in September 2006, and, through the Gulf Cooperation Council, seeks similar agreements with the EU, China and Japan. As a result of its dwindling oil resources, Oman is actively pursuing a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9 percent by 2020. Muscat is attempting to "Omanize" the labor force by replacing foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman actively seeks private foreign investors, especially in the industrial, information technology, tourism, and higher education fields. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60.89 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$40.06 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 38.2% services: 59.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

15% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $14.02 billion expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

3.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

1.98% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.29% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

10.53 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

714,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

69,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

722,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

15,440 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

24.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

11 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

13.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$4.866 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$23.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners:

China 26.8%, South Korea 15.2%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 10.4%, UAE 7.6%, US 4.3%, Iran 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners:

UAE 19.3%, Japan 17.6%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, India 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$30.68 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$9.524 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$16.16 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code:

##### OMR

Exchange rates:

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003)

Communications
Oman

Telephones - main lines in use:

268,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.5 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable domestic: fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing; open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

1.4 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:

1.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.om

Internet hosts:

4,785 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

340,000 (2007)

Transportation
Oman

Airports:

137 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 130 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 42,300 km paved: 16,500 km (includes 550 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,800 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1 registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Military
Oman

Military branches:

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman,
Royal Air Force of Oman (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 802,455 females age 16-49: 626,841 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 663,881 females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 34,238 female: 33,139 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Oman

Disputes - international:

boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and women primarily from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who migrate willingly, but some of whom become victims of trafficking when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers; mistreatment includes non-payment of wages, restrictions on movement and withholding of passports, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; Oman may also be a destination country for women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Oman was rated as Tier 3 for the second consecutive year because it did not report any law enforcement efforts to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses in 2007 and continues to lack victim protection services or a systematic procedure to identify victims of trafficking (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Pacific Ocean

Introduction
Pacific Ocean

Background:

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.

Geography
Pacific Ocean

Location:

body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:

##### 0 00 N, 160 00 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 155.557 million sq km note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world

Coastline:

135,663 km

Climate:

planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and east Asia from May to December

Terrain:

surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Natural hazards:

surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea

Geography - note:

the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean

Economy
Pacific Ocean

Economy - overview:

The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1996, over 60% of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of the US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has led to fluctuations in new drillings.

Transportation
Pacific Ocean

Ports and terminals:

Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong (China), Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los
Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San
Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney
(Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Transportation - note:

Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to Puget Sound (Washington state); the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crew and passengers are often held for ransom, murdered, or cast adrift

Transnational Issues
Pacific Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Pakistan

Introduction
Pakistan

Background:

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but discussions and confidence-building measures have led to decreased tensions since 2002. Mounting public dissatisfaction with President MUSHARRAF, coupled with the assassination of the prominent and popular political leader, Benazir BHUTTO, in late 2007, and MUSHARRAF?s resignation in August 2008, led to the September presidential election of Asif ZARDARI, BHUTTO?s widower. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control Islamist militants, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. The Pakistani government is also faced with a deteriorating economy as foreign exchange reserves decline, the currency depreciates, and the current account deficit widens.

Geography
Pakistan

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Geographic coordinates:

##### 30 00 N, 70 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 803,940 sq km land: 778,720 sq km water: 25,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 6,774 km border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Coastline:

1,046 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Terrain:

flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Natural resources:

land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 24.44% permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005)

Irrigated land:

182,300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

233.8 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 169.39 cu km/yr (2%/2%/96%) per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People
Pakistan

Population:

172,800,048 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.8% (male 33,617,953/female 31,741,258) 15-64 years: 58% (male 51,292,535/female 48,921,023) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,408,749/female 3,818,533) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.5 years male: 20.3 years female: 20.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.999% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.35 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 66.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 67.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.13 years male: 63.07 years female: 65.25 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

74,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,900 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic groups:

Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhagirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%

Religions:

Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and
Hindu) 5%

Languages:

Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 49.9% male: 63% female: 36% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 6 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Pakistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan local short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Islamabad geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas

Independence:

14 August 1947 (from British India)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 23 March (1956)

Constitution:

12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored in stages in 2002; amended 31 December 2003; suspended 3 November 2007; restored on 15 December 2007

Legal system:

based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 6 September 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI (since 25 March 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister elections: the president is elected by secret ballot through an Electoral College comprising the members of the Senate, National Assembly, and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term; election last held on 6 September 2008 (next to be held not later than 2013); note - any person who is a Muslim and not less than 45 years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly can contest the presidential election; the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly; election last held on 24 March 2008 election results: ZARDARI elected; ZARDARI 481 votes, SIDDIQUI 153 votes, HUSSAIN 44 votes; GILANI elected prime minister; GILANI 264 votes, Pervaiz ELAHI 42 votes; several abstentions

Legislative branch:

bicameral parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and the territories' representatives in the National Assembly to serve six-year terms; one half are elected every three years) and the National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members elected by popular vote; 60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims; to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in March 2006 (next to be held in March 2009); National Assembly - last held 18 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML 38, MMA 18, PPPP 10, MQM 6, PML-N 4, PKMAP 3, ANP 2, PPP-S 2, BNP-A 1, BNP-M 1, JWP 1, NA 1, PML-F 1, independents 12; National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party - PPPP 121, PML-N 91, PML 54, MQM 25, ANP 13, MMA 6, PML-F 5, BNP-A 1, NPP 1, PPP-S 1, independents 18; note - as a result of the 27 June 2008 by-election, PML-N gained 3 seats and PPPP gained 2 seats)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Sharia Court

Political parties and leaders:

Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]; Balochistan
National Party-Hayee Group or BNP-H [Dr. Hayee BALOCH]; Balochistan
National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Balochistan
National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamhoori
Watan Party or JWP; Jamiat Ahle Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamaat-i
Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Fazlur
Rehman or JUI-F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Sami-ul HAQ or
JUI-S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul
HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e Amal or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida
Qaumi Movement or MQM [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National Alliance or NA
[Ghulam Mustapha JATOI] (merged with PML); National Peoples Party or
NPP; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan
ACHAKZAI]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan
Muslim League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz Sharif or PML-N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League
or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; Pakistan Peoples Party-SHERPAO or
PPP-S [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan Peoples Party
Parliamentarians or PPPP [Bilawal Bhutto ZARDARI, chairman; Asif Ali
ZARDARI, co-chairman]; Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN];
Tehrik-i Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: military (most important political force); ulema (clergy); landowners; industrialists; small merchants

International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP,
SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Husain HAQQANI chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale (California)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone: [92] (51) 208-0000 FAX: [92] (51) 2276427 consulate(s) general: Karachi consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar

Flag description:

green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy
Pakistan

Economy - overview:

Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. However, since 2001, IMF-approved reforms - most notably, privatization of the banking sector - bolstered by generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets, have generated macroeconomic recovery. Pakistan has experienced GDP growth in the 6-8% range in 2004-07, spurred by gains in the industrial and service sectors. Poverty levels have decreased by 10% since 2001, and Islamabad has steadily raised development spending in recent years, including a 52% real increase in the budget allocation for development in FY07. In 2007 the fiscal deficit - a result of chronically low tax collection and increased spending - exceeded Islamabad's target of 4% of GDP. Inflation remains the top concern among the public, jumping from 7.7% in 2007 to more than 11% during the first few months of 2008, primarily because of rising world commodity prices. The Pakistani rupee has depreciated since the proclamation of emergency rule in November 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$411.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$143.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20.6% industry: 26.6% services: 52.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

48.23 million note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 42% industry: 20% services: 38% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.6% plus substantial underemployment (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

24% (FY05/06 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 26.3% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.6 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $18.25 billion expenditures: $24.69 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$52.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$18.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$65.05 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Industries:

textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

93.26 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

68.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 68.8% hydro: 28.2% nuclear: 3% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

68,670 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

345,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

28,060 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

290,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

289.2 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

30.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

30.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

792.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$8.255 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$18.12 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs

Exports - partners:

US 18%, UAE 10.4%, Afghanistan 8.4%, China 5.2%, UK 4.7% (2007)

Imports:

$28.76 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea

Imports - partners:

China 16.2%, Saudi Arabia 10.9%, UAE 10.1%, US 5.7%, Kuwait 4.9%,
Japan 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.666 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$15.69 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$38.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$20.01 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$982 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$45.52 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Currency code:

##### PKR

Exchange rates:

Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar - 60.6295 (2007), 60.35 (2006), 59.515 (2005), 58.258 (2004), 57.752 (2003)

Communications
Pakistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.546 million (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

88.02 million (2008)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments into fixed-line and mobile networks; mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, reaching some 88 million in 2008, up from only about 300,000 in 2000; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the country to aid in network growth; main line availability has risen only marginally over the same period and there are still difficulties getting main line service to rural areas domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks international: country code - 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 31, FM 68, shortwave NA (2006)

Radios:

13.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

20 (5 state-run channels and 15 privately-owned satellite channels) (2006)

Televisions:

3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pk

Internet hosts:

197,264 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

30 (2000)

Internet users:

17.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Pakistan

Airports:

146 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 92 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 29 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 24 (2007)

Heliports:

18 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 10,398 km; oil 2,076 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 8,163 km broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified) narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 259,758 km paved: 162,879 km (includes 711 km of expressways) unpaved: 96,879 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 15 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 registered in other countries: 19 (Comoros 4, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim

Military
Pakistan

Military branches:

Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines and Maritime
Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 42,633,765 females age 16-49: 40,114,017 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 32,453,913 females age 16-49: 31,369,057 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,062,065 female: 1,936,916 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues
Pakistan

Disputes - international:

various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees leaving slightly more than a million, many of whom remain at their own choosing; Pakistan has proposed and Afghanistan protests construction of a fence and laying of mines along portions of their porous border; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal areas to monitor and control the border with Afghanistan and to stem terrorist or other illegal activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,043,984 (Afghanistan) IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South Waziristan); 34,000 (October 2005 earthquake; most of those displaced returned to their home villages in the spring of 2006) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

significant transit area for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Iran, Western markets, the Gulf States, Africa, and Asia; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems; opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 2,300 hectares in 2007 with 600 of those hectares eradicated; federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that utilizes forced eradication, fines, and arrests

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Palau

Introduction
Palau

Background:

After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

Geography
Palau

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

##### 7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 458 sq km land: 458 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,519 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Terrain:

varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources:

forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land: 8.7% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 86.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

People
Palau

Population:

21,093 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.8% (male 2,797/female 2,637) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 7,864/female 6,779) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 482/female 534) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.3 years male: 33.3 years female: 31.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.157% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71 years male: 67.82 years female: 74.36 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups:

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%,
Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%,
Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%
(2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese
and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and
Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%,
English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other
Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% (1980 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

10.3% of GDP (2002)

Government
Palau

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local long form: Beluu er a Belau local short form: Belau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital:

name: Melekeok geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Independence:

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution:

1 January 1981

Legal system:

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001); Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001); Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005) cabinet: NA elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defeats Elias Camsek CHIN (49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice president

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008) election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 16

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Common Pleas; Land Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA chancery: 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814 FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 consulate(s) general: Honolulu consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Mark BEZNER embassy: Koror (no street address) mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990 FAX: [680] 488-2911

Flag description:

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy
Palau

Economy - overview:

The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US aid for the following 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 63,000 in 2003. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly 50% higher than that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$124.5 million note: GDP estimates includes US subsidy (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$145 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.2% industry: 12% services: 81.8% (2003)

Labor force:

9,777 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 20% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

4.2% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $72.07 million expenditures: $72.43 million (FY04/05 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

Industries:

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production by source:

##### NA

Current account balance:

$15.09 million (FY03/04)

Exports:

$5.882 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners:

US, Japan, Singapore (2006)

Imports:

$107.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

US, Singapore, Japan, South Korea (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$23.46 million (2005)

Debt - external:

##### $0 (FY99/00)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Palau

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (cable) (2005)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pw

Internet hosts:

0 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Transportation
Palau

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

note: estimated to have 60 km of roads as of 1996

Ports and terminals:

Koror

Military
Palau

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,973 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,397 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 179 female: 165 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)

Transnational Issues
Palau

Disputes - international:

maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Panama

Introduction
Panama

Background:

Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.

Geography
Panama

Location:

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates:

##### 9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline:

2,490 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Climate:

tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain:

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m

Natural resources:

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 7.26% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 90.79% (2005)

Irrigated land:

430 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

148 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.82 cu km/yr (67%/5%/28%) per capita: 254 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

People
Panama

Population:

3,309,679 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 499,254/female 479,242) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 1,066,915/female 1,043,499) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 102,937/female 117,832) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.7 years male: 26.3 years female: 27.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.544% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.88 years male: 74.08 years female: 79.81 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages:

Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.9% male: 92.5% female: 91.2% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2004)

Government
Panama

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

name: Panama geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas

Independence:

3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution:

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate reelection; president and vice presidents must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held on 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9% note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71 elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1 note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Nationalist Republican
Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA
[Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic
Union Party or PU (combination of the Liberal National Party or PLN
and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal
GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian
Democratic Party or PDC)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation:

BCIE, CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William A. EATON embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: [507] 207-7000 FAX: [507] 317-5568

Flag description:

divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy
Panama

Economy - overview:

Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for two-thirds of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and should be completed by 2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion (about 30% of current GDP). The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway and should help to reduce the high unemployment rate. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$34.81 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$19.74 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.6% industry: 16.4% services: 77% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.362 million note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 15% industry: 18% services: 67% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 43% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.1 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.505 billion expenditures: $4.822 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

53% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.25% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$3.054 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$14.26 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$17.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp

Industries:

construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Industrial production growth rate:

10.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.805 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

4.768 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

124.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.74 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 37% hydro: 61.3% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

92,790 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

4,447 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

88,790 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.577 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$9.312 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Exports - partners:

US 35.6%, Netherlands 10.2%, China 6%, Sweden 5.5%, UK 5.4%, Costa
Rica 5.1%, Spain 5% (2007)

Imports:

$12.62 billion f.o.b. note: includes the Colon Free Zone (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners:

US 32.8%, Netherlands Antilles 7.6%, China 5.6%, Japan 5.1%, Costa
Rica 5.1%, South Korea 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$19.54 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.935 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.074 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### PAB; USD

Exchange rates:

balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003)

Communications
Panama

Telephones - main lines in use:

491,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.392 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is approaching 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

815,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pa

Internet hosts:

7,858 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

525,200 (2007)

Transportation
Panama

Airports:

116 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 54 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 62 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 50 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Railways:

total: 355 km standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 11,978 km paved: 4,300 km unpaved: 7,343 km (2002)

Waterways:

800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 6,323 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2,143, cargo 1,208, carrier 13, chemical tanker 565, combination ore/oil 6, container 790, liquefied gas 189, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 71, petroleum tanker 557, refrigerated cargo 265, roll on/roll off 128, specialized tanker 29, vehicle carrier 313 foreign-owned: 5,394 (Albania 2, Argentina 8, Australia 4, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 9, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 2, British Virgin Islands 1, Bulgaria 3, Burma 1, Canada 18, Chile 12, China 532, Colombia 4, Croatia 3, Cuba 10, Cyprus 19, Denmark 40, Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 4, Egypt 17, Estonia 5, Finland 2, France 5, Gabon 1, Germany 44, Gibraltar 1, Greece 510, Hong Kong 130, India 27, Indonesia 31, Iran 7, Israel 3, Italy 28, Japan 2,335, Jordan 13, North Korea 1, South Korea 303, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Lebanon 5, Lithuania 7, Malaysia 12, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 2, Monaco 16, Netherlands 14, Nigeria 10, Norway 89, Oman 2, Pakistan 9, Peru 16, Philippines 7, Poland 11, Portugal 9, Qatar 1, Romania 7, Russia 18, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 100, Spain 50, Sri Lanka 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 25, Syria 32, Taiwan 320, Thailand 10, Tunisia 1, Turkey 94, Turks and Caicos Islands 1, Ukraine 10, UAE 109, UK 59, US 126, Venezuela 10, Vietnam 30, Yemen 6) registered in other countries: 3 (Marshall Islands 1, Sierra Leone 1, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Military
Panama

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Maritime Service (NMS), and National Air Service (NAS) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 851,044 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 673,103 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31,042 female: 29,969 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2006)

Military - note:

on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"

Transnational Issues
Panama

Disputes - international:

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are Panamanian women and children trafficked within the country into the sex trade; rural children in Panama may be trafficked internally to urban areas for labor exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Panama is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly with respect to prosecuting, convicting, and sentencing human traffickers for their crimes, and for failing to provide adequate victim assistance (2008)

Illicit drugs:

major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Papua New Guinea

Introduction
Papua New Guinea

Background:

The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Geography
Papua New Guinea

Location:

Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline:

5,152 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources:

gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Land use:

arable land: 0.49% permanent crops: 1.4% other: 98.11% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

801 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.1 cu km/yr (56%/43%/1%) per capita: 17 cu m/yr (1987)

Natural hazards:

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

People
Papua New Guinea

Population:

5,931,769 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.3% (male 1,124,174/female 1,086,478) 15-64 years: 58.7% (male 1,791,342/female 1,690,089) 65 years and over: 4% (male 111,023/female 128,663) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.5 years male: 21.6 years female: 21.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.118% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 46.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66 years male: 63.76 years female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

60,000 (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean

Ethnic groups:

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)

Languages:

Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 63.4% female: 50.9% (2000 census)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Papua New Guinea

Country name:

conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea local short form: Papuaniugini former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea abbreviation: PNG

Government type:

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Port Moresby geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East
New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,
Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence:

16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:

16 September 1975

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Puka TEMU (since 29 August 2007) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister elections: monarch is hereditary; governor general nominated by parliament and appointed by chief of state; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital district; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats elections: last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held in June 2012 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Alliance 27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU 5, PDM 5, independents 19, others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; Papua and Niugini
Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua New Guinea Party
or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM
[Michael OGIO]; People's Action Party or PAP [Gabriel KAPRIS];
United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] (2007)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ahora [Andrew MAMOKO] (represents local tribes); Centre for
Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE];
Community Coalition Against Corruption

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D. mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423

Flag description:

divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered

Economy
Papua New Guinea

Economy - overview:

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power. He was the first prime minister ever to serve a full five-year term. The government also brought stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure control; however, it relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007 as elections approached. Numerous challenges still face the government including regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australia will supply more than $300 million in aid in FY07/08, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.05 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.001 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 34% industry: 37.3% services: 28.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.557 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 85% industry: NA% services: NA% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.9% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Population below poverty line:

37% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.9 (1996)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.363 billion expenditures: $2.21 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

40.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

7.38% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.78% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.685 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.482 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.486 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork

Industries:

copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.875 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.674 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 54.1% hydro: 45.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

42,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

29,050 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

39,310 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

24,150 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

88 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

140 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

140 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

226.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$125.8 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Exports - partners:

Australia 27.3%, Japan 9.5%, China 5.7% (2007)

Imports:

$2.629 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Australia 51.3%, Singapore 11.6%, China 7.9%, Japan 5.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$266.1 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.087 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.646 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.863 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

kina (PGK)

Currency code:

##### PGK

Exchange rates:

kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.03 (2007), 3.0643 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003)

Communications
Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

60,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

300,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 6 per 100 persons international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios:

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (all in the Port Moresby area; stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned) (2004)

Televisions:

59,841 (1999)

Internet country code:

.pg

Internet hosts:

3,422 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

110,000 (2006)

Transportation
Papua New Guinea

Airports:

578 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 557 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 489 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 264 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (2000)

Waterways:

11,000 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 21 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 6 (UAE 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak

Military
Papua New Guinea

Military branches:

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations
Element, Air Operations Element) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,481,417 females age 16-49: 1,385,040 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,080,466 females age 16-49: 1,092,040 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 62,865 female: 61,102 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Papua New Guinea

Disputes - international:

relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 10,177 (Indonesia) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Papua New Guinea is a country of destination for women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and China trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude occurs as well tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the current legal framework does not contain elements of crimes that characterize trafficking; the government lacks victim protection services or a systematic procedure to identify victims of trafficking; the government did not prosecute anyone in 2007 for trafficking; Papua New Guinea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

major consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Paracel Islands

Introduction
Paracel Islands

Background:

The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Geography
Paracel Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

##### 16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

##### NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

518 km

Maritime claims:

##### NA

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

mostly low and flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

People
Paracel Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Government
Paracel Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Economy
Paracel Islands

Economy - overview:

China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Transportation
Paracel Islands

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded

Military
Paracel Islands

Military - note:

occupied by China

Transnational Issues
Paracel Islands

Disputes - international:

occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Paraguay

Introduction
Paraguay

Background:

In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since then.

Geography
Paraguay

Location:

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates:

##### 23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:

total: 3,995 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain:

grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:

670 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

336 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%) per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country

People
Paraguay

Population:

6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.9% (male 1,283,311/female 1,240,769) 15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,988,256/female 1,968,869) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 161,811/female 188,290) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.7 years male: 21.5 years female: 22 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.39% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.47 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.56 years male: 72.99 years female: 78.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.8 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

15,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)

Languages:

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2004)

Government
Paraguay

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

name: Asuncion geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence:

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)

Constitution:

promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system:

based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held April 2013) election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders:

Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or
APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado
Party or ANR [Jose Alberto ALDERETE]; Movimiento Union Nacional de
Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana]; Patria
Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL
Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS; Partido
Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal
Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais Solidario or
PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino
Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of
Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT
[Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation
or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge
Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]

International organization participation:

CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962 FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

Ambassador Liliana AYALDE embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001 telephone: [595] (21) 213-715 FAX: [595] (21) 228-603

Flag description:

three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Economy
Paraguay

Economy - overview:

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure. The economy rebounded between 2003 and 2007, posting modest growth each year, as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.87 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.7% industry: 17.6% services: 59.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.787 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 31% industry: 17% services: 52% (2007)

Unemployment rate:

5.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

32% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 46.1% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.8 (2008)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.159 billion expenditures: $2.042 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

27% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

20% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

25.03% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.943 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.368 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.457 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Industries:

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

Industrial production growth rate:

-1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

70 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

6 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

64 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0.1% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

27,410 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - imports:

25,940 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2007 est.)

Current account balance:

$119 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.463 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather

Exports - partners:

Argentina 28.1%, Uruguay 15.2%, Brazil 12.7%, Chile 5.9%, Germany 4.9%, Russia 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$6.094 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts

Imports - partners:

Brazil 30.4%, US 22.8%, Argentina 14.4%, China 8.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$51.09 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.463 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$3.492 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$2.057 million (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$233.8 million (2005)

Currency (code):

guarani (PYG)

Currency code:

##### PYG

Exchange rates:

guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003)

Communications
Paraguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

453,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.33 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (2006)

Radios:

925,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2007)

Televisions:

990,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.py

Internet hosts:

19,691 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:

280,000 (2007)

Transportation
Paraguay

Airports:

838 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 825 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 267 under 914 m: 532 (2007)

Railways:

total: 36 km standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)

Waterways:

3,100 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 23 by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Military
Paraguay

Military branches:

Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,
Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Paraguay, FAP) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,589,873 females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,327,730 females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 72,109 female: 70,509 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Paraguay

Disputes - international:

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Illicit drugs:

major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Peru

Introduction
Peru

Background:

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve social conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.

Geography
Peru

Location:

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 00 S, 76 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 1,285,220 sq km land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 7,461 km border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km, Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,414 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

Terrain:

western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Natural resources:

copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 2.88% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.65% (2005)

Irrigated land:

12,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,913 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%) per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

People
Peru

Population:

29,180,900 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.7% (male 4,409,227/female 4,253,836) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 9,501,597/female 9,381,139) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 770,389/female 864,711) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.8 years male: 25.5 years female: 26.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.264% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

19.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 32.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.44 years male: 68.61 years female: 72.37 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

82,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, Oroya fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian

Ethnic groups:

Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.7% male: 93.5% female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2006)

Government
Peru

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: Republica del Peru local short form: Peru

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

name: Lima geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province* (provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

Independence:

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Constitution:

29 December 1993

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - for the first time in recent elections, members of the military and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006 elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006) note: Prime Minister Yehude SIMON Munaro (since 14 October 2008) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and congressional elections held 9 April 2006 with runoff election held 4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011 election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%, UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%, other 14.6%; seats by party - UPP 45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple); Central Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC (a
coalition of Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional
de Independientes) [Victor Andres GARCIA Belaunde]; National
Renovation Party (Partido Renovacion Nacional) [Rafael REY];
National Restoration Party (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto
LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN (a coalition of
Partido Popular Cristiano and Partido Solidaridad Nacional) [Lourdes
FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP [Alejandro TOLEDO
Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP
[Alan GARCIA] (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular
Revolucionaria Americana or APRA); Peruvian Nationalist Party
(Partido Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; Union
for Peru (Union por el Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO
(top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group); Tupac Amaru
Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned), Hugo
AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group)

International organization participation:

APEC, CAN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador P. Michael MCKINLEY embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33 mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000 telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000 FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397

Flag description:

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Economy
Peru

Economy - overview:

Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. Growth jumped to 7.5% in 2007, driven by higher world prices for minerals and metals. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high. Growth prospects depend on exports of minerals, textiles, and agricultural products, and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking office, President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora, a program aimed at promoting economic growth in Peru's southern and central highlands.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$219.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$109.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.4% industry: 25.6% services: 66% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

9.839 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 9% industry: 18% services: 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

6.9% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

44.5% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 40.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

52 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

23% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $32.54 billion expenditures: $29.15 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

29.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

22.86% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$14.66 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$19.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$17.88 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish, guinea pigs

Industries:

mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

9.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

24.92 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

22.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.8% (2001)

Oil - production:

125,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

167,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

69,090 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

115,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

382.9 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.78 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.78 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

337.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.516 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$27.96 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs

Exports - partners:

US 19.5%, China 12.7%, Canada 7.6%, Japan 7.5%, Chile 5.9%,
Switzerland 4.2%, Spain 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$19.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners:

US 20.5%, China 10.8%, Brazil 9%, Ecuador 6.1%, Argentina 5.6%,
Chile 5%, Colombia 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$397.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$27.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$32.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$24.72 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.476 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$59.66 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code:

##### PEN

Exchange rates:

nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 3.1731 (2007), 3.2742 (2006), 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003)

Communications
Peru

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.673 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

15.417 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate for most requirements domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 9 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, has increased to roughly 55 telephones per 100 persons; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: country code - 51; the South America-1 (SAM-1) and Pan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios:

6.65 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

3.06 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pe

Internet hosts:

271,745 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:

7.636 million (2007)

Transportation
Peru

Airports:

237 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 54 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 183 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 117 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,181 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 61 km; liquid natural gas 106 km; liquid petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,749 km; refined products 13 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,989 km standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 78,829 km paved: 11,351 km (includes 276 km of expressways) unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)

Waterways:

8,808 km note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 4 foreign-owned: 1 (Bahamas 1) registered in other countries: 17 (Belize 1, Panama 16) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note -
Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the
Amazon and its tributaries

Military
Peru

Military branches:

Army of Peru (Ejercito Peruano), Navy of Peru (Marina de Guerra del
Peru, MGP (includes naval air, naval infantry, and Coast Guard)),
Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,653,898 females age 16-49: 7,531,329 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,796,449 females age 16-49: 6,217,524 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 306,260 female: 296,819 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Peru

Disputes - international:

Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 60,000-150,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru is now the world's second largest producer of coca leaf, though it lags far behind Colombia; cultivation of coca in Peru declined to 36,000 hectares in 2007; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 210 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007; finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipment to Europe and Africa; increasing domestic drug consumption

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Philippines

Introduction
Philippines

Background:

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. The 20-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats from three terrorist groups on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list, but in 2006 and 2007 scored some major successes in capturing or killing key wanted terrorists. Decades of Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines have led to a peace accord with one group and an ongoing cease-fire and peace talks with another.

Geography
Philippines

Location:

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the
South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

36,289 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources:

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use:

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 64.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

15,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

479 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 28.52 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%) per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait

People
Philippines

Population:

96,061,680 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.5% (male 17,392,780/female 16,708,255) 15-64 years: 60.4% (male 28,986,232/female 29,076,329) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,682,485/female 2,215,602) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.3 years male: 21.8 years female: 22.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.991% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

26.42 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.8 years male: 67.89 years female: 73.85 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups:

Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 92.5% female: 92.7% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Philippines

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Manila geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

81 provinces and 136 chartered cities
provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay,
Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu,
Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat
Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur,
Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La
Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain
Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,
Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga,
Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani,
Shariff Kabunsuan, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern
Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur,
Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur,
Zamboanga Sibugay
chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago,
Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan, Baybay, Bayugan,
Bislig, Bogo, Borongan, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan, Cadiz,
Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Carcar,
Catbalogan, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao,
Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, El Salvador,
Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Guihulngan, Himamaylan, Iligan,
Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal,
La Carlota, Lamitan, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao,
Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos,
Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Marikina, Masbate, Mati,
Meycauayan, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga (Camarines Sur), Naga (Cebu),
Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan,
Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon,
Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos
(in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in
Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa
Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tabuk,
Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in
Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Occidental), Tanauan, Tandag, Tangub,
Tanjay, Tarlac, Tayabas, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,
Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga (2007)

Independence:

12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US

Constitution:

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system:

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments elections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO) elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; election last held on 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (as a result of May 2007 election it has 239 seats including 218 members representing districts and 21 sectoral party-list members representing special minorities elected on the basis of 1 seat for every 2% of the total vote but limited to 3 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250 members) elections: Senate - last held on 14 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2010); House of Representatives - elections last held on 14 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas-Kampi 4, LP 4, NPC 3, Nacionalista 2, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas 86, Kampi 46, NPC 29, LP 21, Party-list 21, others 36

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)

Political parties and leaders:

Genuine Opposition or GO (coalition of oppositon parties formed to
contest the 2007 elections); Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi
[Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of
Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National
Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA]; Liberal
Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR]; National
People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino
PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI
[Emilio OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine
Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

AKBAYAN [Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL];
ALAGAD [Rodante MARROLITA]; ALIF [Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Horencio
NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Crispin BELTRAN and
Rafael MARIANO]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives
(APEC) [Sunny Rose MADAMBA, Ernesto PABLO, and Edgar VALDEZ]; AVE
[Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; Bayan Muna [Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and
Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian
SENERES]; BUTIL [Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA];
COOP-NATCO [Guillermo CUA]; GABRIELA [Liza MAZA]; Partido Ng
Manggagawa [Renato MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the Philippines
[Ernesto GIDAYA]

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PIF (partner), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300 FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000 telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000 FAX: [63] (2) 301-2399

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and justice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

Economy
Philippines

Economy - overview:

The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades with real GDP growth exceeding 7% in 2007. Higher government spending contributed to the growth, but a resilient service sector and large remittances from the millions of Filipinos who work abroad have played an increasingly important role. Economic growth has averaged 5% since President MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office in 2001. Nevertheless, the Philippines will need still higher, sustained growth to make progress in alleviating poverty, given its high population growth and unequal distribution of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO averted a fiscal crisis by pushing for new revenue measures and, until recently, tightening expenditures. Declining fiscal deficits, tapering debt and debt service ratios, as well as recent efforts to increase spending on infrastructure and social services have heightened optimism over Philippine economic prospects. Although the general macroeconomic outlook has improved significantly, the Philippines continues to face important challenges and must maintain the reform momentum in order to catch up with regional competitors, improve employment opportunities, and alleviate poverty. Longer-term fiscal stability will require more sustainable revenue sources, rather than non-recurring revenues from privatization.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$300.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$144.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.8% industry: 31.7% services: 54.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

36.22 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 35% industry: 15% services: 50% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45.8 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $24.63 billion expenditures: $24.9 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

55.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.28% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.69% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$21.27 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$65.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$65.66 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Industries:

electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

7.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

56.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

47.04 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 55.6% hydro: 17.5% nuclear: 0% other: 26.9% (2001)

Oil - production:

23,930 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

340,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

41,160 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

355,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

138.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.2 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.2 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$6.351 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$49.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits

Exports - partners:

US 17%, Japan 14.5%, Hong Kong 11.5%, China 11.4%, Netherlands 8.2%,
Singapore 6.2%, Malaysia 5%, Germany 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$57.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic

Imports - partners:

US 14.1%, Japan 12.3%, Singapore 11.2%, Taiwan 7.3%, China 7.2%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, South Korea 5.9%, Malaysia 4.1%, Thailand 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $451.4 million in commitments (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$33.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$61.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$19.88 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$5.584 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$103.4 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

Philippine peso (PHP)

Currency code:

##### PHP

Exchange rates:

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003)

Communications
Philippines

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.633 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

51.795 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations; cellular communications now dominate the industry; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density about 60 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple international gateways (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 381, FM 628, shortwave 4 (each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience) (2007)

Radios:

11.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

250 (plus 1,501 CATV networks) (2007)

Televisions:

3.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ph

Internet hosts:

283,579 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

33 (2000)

Internet users:

5.3 million (2007)

Transportation
Philippines

Airports:

255 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 84 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 99 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 897 km narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 200,037 km paved: 19,804 km unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)

Waterways:

3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 391 by type: bulk carrier 75, cargo 125, carrier 16, chemical tanker 17, container 6, liquefied gas 5, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum tanker 36, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 11 foreign-owned: 161 (Bermuda 34, China 4, Greece 4, Hong Kong 1, Japan 81, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 23, Norway 10, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 11 (Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Indonesia 1, Panama 7) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila, Nasipit Harbor

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military
Philippines

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine
Corps), Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory and voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 23,547,252 females age 16-49: 23,177,487 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,232,050 females age 16-49: 19,827,538 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,012,779 female: 977,030 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Philippines

Disputes - international:

Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 300,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu
Sayyaf groups) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Pitcairn Islands

Introduction
Pitcairn Islands

Background:

Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.

Geography
Pitcairn Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between
Peru and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 25 04 S, 130 06 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 47 sq km land: 47 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

51 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain:

rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Natural resources:

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore

Land use:

arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (especially November to March)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Geography - note:

Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed offshore

People
Pitcairn Islands

Population:

48 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic groups:

descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives

Religions:

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Languages:

English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)

Literacy:

##### NA

Government
Pitcairn Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Adamstown geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal system:

local island by-laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands George FERGUSSON (since April 2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006); Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1 January 2008) cabinet: NA elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election last held December 2004 (next to be held in December 2007) election results: Jay WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council

Legislative branch:

unicameral Island Council (10 seats; 5 members elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising between the governor and council; elected members serve one-year terms) elections: last held 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2007) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:

Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Judicial
Officers are appointed by the Governor

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

##### SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Economy
Pitcairn Islands

Economy - overview:

The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of Pitcairn's small labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter crew to load or unload passing ships.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

Labor force:

15 able-bodied men (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Budget:

revenues: $746,000 expenditures: $1.028 million (FY04/05)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Agriculture - products:

honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens, fish

Industries:

postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered generator

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs

Economic aid - recipient:

$3.465 million (2004)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

##### NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Communications
Pitcairn Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: satellite phone services domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB) international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 (Inmarsat)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (15 Ham radio operators (VP6)) (2004)

Radios:

##### NA

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.pn

Internet hosts:

12 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Pitcairn Islands

Ports and terminals:

Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)

Military
Pitcairn Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Pitcairn Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Poland

Introduction
Poland

Background:

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Geography
Poland

Location:

Central Europe, east of Germany

Geographic coordinates:

##### 52 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 312,679 sq km land: 304,459 sq km water: 8,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 3,047 km border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 km

Coastline:

440 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Climate:

temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Terrain:

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Natural resources:

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 40.25% permanent crops: 1% other: 58.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

63.1 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%) per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

People
Poland

Population:

38,500,696 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,013,109/female 2,849,977) 15-64 years: 71.4% (male 13,681,481/female 13,808,412) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,964,477/female 3,183,240) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.6 years male: 35.8 years female: 39.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.045% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.41 years male: 71.42 years female: 79.65 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish

Ethnic groups:

Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%,
Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)

Languages:

Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Poland

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Warsaw geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie
(Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie,
Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland),
Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie, Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia),
Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie,
Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater
Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)

Independence:

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Constitution:

adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997

Legal system:

based on a mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lech KACZYNSKI (since 23 December 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007) and Grzegorz SCHETYNA (since 16 November 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 9 and 23 October 2005 (next to be held in the fall 2010); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: Lech KACZYNSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Lech KACZYNSKI 54%, Donald Tusk 46%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly elections: Senate - last held 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011); Sejm elections last held 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 60, PiS 39, independents 1; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 41.5%, PiS 32.1%, LiD 13.2%, PSL 8.9%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 209, PiS 166, LiD 53, PSL 31, German minorities 1; note - seats by party as of February 2008 - PO 209, PiS 159, LiD 53, PSL 31, German minorities 1, nonaffiliated 7 note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD
[Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI]; Democratic Party or PD [Janusz
ONYSZKIEWICZ]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Henryk
KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; League of
Polish Families or LPR [Sylwester CHRUSZCZ]; Left and Democrats or
LiD [Wojciech OLEJNICZAK] (a coalition formed by the SLD, PD, SDPL,
and UP); Polish People's Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]; Samoobrona
or SO [Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL
[Bartosz DOMINIK, acting]; Union of Labor or UP [Andrzej SPYCHALSKI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ];
Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop Jozef
MICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]

International organization participation:

Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),
CBSS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688 consulate(s) general: Krakow

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Economy
Poland

Economy - overview:

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. In 2007, GDP grew an estimated 6.5%, based on rising private consumption, a jump in corporate investment, and EU funds inflows. GDP per capita is still much below the EU average, but is similar to that of the three Baltic states. Since 2004, EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy. Unemployment is falling rapidly, though at roughly 12.8% in 2007, it remains well above the EU average. Tightening labor markets, and rising global energy and food prices, pose a risk to consumer price stability. In December 2007 inflation reached 4.1% on a year-over-year basis, or higher than the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target range. Poland's economic performance could improve further if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system, a rigid labor code, bureaucratic red tape, and persistent low-level corruption keep the private sector from performing up to its full potential. Rising demands to fund health care, education, and the state pension system present a challenge to the Polish government's effort to hold the consolidated public sector budget deficit under 3.0% of GDP, a target which was achieved in 2007. The PO/PSL coalition government which came to power in November 2007 plans to further reduce the budget deficit with the aim of eventually adopting the euro. The new government has also announced its intention to enact business-friendly reforms, reduce public sector spending growth, lower taxes, and accelerate privatization. However, the government does not have the necessary three-fifths majority needed to override a presidential veto, and thus may have to water down initiatives in order to garner enough support to pass its pro-business policies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$623.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$420.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.1% industry: 31.6% services: 64.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

16.86 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 16.1% industry: 29% services: 54.9% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

12.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 27% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $85.39 billion expenditures: $91.16 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

43.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.48% (31 December 2006)

Stock of money:

$137.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$93.99 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$223.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy

Industries:

machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

8.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

149.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

126.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

13.11 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

7.761 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 98.1% hydro: 1.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

37,670 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

524,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

57,920 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

499,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

96.38 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

6.025 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

16.38 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

45 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10.12 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$15.91 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$144.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Germany 25.9%, Italy 6.6%, France 6.1%, UK 5.9%, Czech Republic 5.5%, Russia 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$160.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 29%, Russia 8.7%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 5.7%, France 5.1%,
China 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.524 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$65.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$169.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$143 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$19.69 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$149.1 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

zloty (PLN)

Currency code:

##### PLN

Exchange rates:

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006), 3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004), 3.8891 (2003) note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty

Communications
Poland

Telephones - main lines in use:

10.336 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41.389 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; cellular coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service is growing slowly and still lags in rural areas international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

20.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

40 (2006)

Televisions:

13.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pl

Internet hosts:

7.808 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

16 million (2007)

Transportation
Poland

Airports:

123 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Heliports:

7 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 13,552 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 23,072 km broad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 22,443 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational; 11,910 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 423,997 km paved: 295,356 km (includes 662 km of expressways) unpaved: 128,641 km (2006)

Waterways:

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 15 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1) registered in other countries: 98 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 17, Cyprus 18, Liberia 13, Malta 24, Norway 3, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Military
Poland

Military branches:

Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (includes Navy (Marynarka Wojenna,
MW)), Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej,
SPRP) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for male compulsory military service after January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscript service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,741,508 females age 16-49: 9,514,843 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,937,840 females age 16-49: 7,949,677 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 257,605 female: 245,832 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Poland

Disputes - international:

as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine

Illicit drugs:

despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Portugal

Introduction
Portugal

Background:

Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

Geography
Portugal

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of
Spain

Geographic coordinates:

##### 39 30 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km

Coastline:

1,793 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain:

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources:

fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 17.29% permanent crops: 7.84% other: 74.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:

6,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

73.6 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%) per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998)

Natural hazards:

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental
Modification

Geography - note:

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People
Portugal

Population:

10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 912,995/female 835,715) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 3,514,905/female 3,555,097) 65 years and over: 17.4% (male 764,443/female 1,093,755) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.1 years male: 37 years female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.305% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.45 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.04 years male: 74.78 years female: 81.53 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

22,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese

Ethnic groups:

homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal

Religions:

Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.3% male: 95.5% female: 91.3% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Portugal

Country name:

conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal

Government type:

republic; parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Lisbon geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Independence:

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

Portugal Day (Day of Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died

Constitution:

adopted 2 April 1976; note - subsequent revisions of the Constitution placed the military under strict civilian control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; as well, they allowed for the privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned communications media

Legal system:

based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 2005 (next to be held in Fall 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 45.1%, PSD 28.7%, CDU 7.6%, CDS/PP 7.3%, BE 6.4%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PS 121, PSD 75, CDU 14, CDS/PP 12, BE 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS];
Green Ecologist Party (The Greens) or PEV [leadership commission
elected by members]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo DE
SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES Carvalho
Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Manuela FERREIRA
Leite]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian
Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP and
PEV)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

the media

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia
Group, BIS, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,
UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726 consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas F. STEPHENSON embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726 telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300 FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag description:

two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

Economy
Portugal

Economy - overview:

Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-07. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment. The budget deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% of GDP in 2005, but the government reduced the deficit to 2.6% in 2007 - a year ahead of Portugal's targeted schedule. Nonetheless, the government faces tough choices in its attempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keeping the budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$232.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$223.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.2% industry: 25.4% services: 66.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

5.618 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10% industry: 30% services: 60% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.5 (2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $96.01 billion expenditures: $101.9 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

63.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.92% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$451.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, swine, poultry, dairy products; fish

Industries:

textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

2.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

44.83 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

48.02 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.153 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

9.641 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 64.5% hydro: 31.3% nuclear: 0% other: 4.1% (2001)

Oil - production:

6,281 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

301,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

50,490 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

390,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.112 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.095 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$21.75 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$51.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision

Exports - partners:

Spain 27.1%, Germany 12.9%, France 12.3%, UK 5.9%, US 4.8%, Angola 4.5%, Italy 4% (2007)

Imports:

$75.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices, household goods, passenger cars new and used, and wine products

Imports - partners:

Spain 29.5%, Germany 12.9%, France 8.4%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $396 million (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$461.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$91.19 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$54.85 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$66.98 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Portugal

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.139 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.413 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

62 (plus 166 repeaters; includes Azores and Madeira Islands) (1995)

Televisions:

3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pt

Internet hosts:

1.858 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

3.549 million (2007)

Transportation
Portugal

Airports:

66 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 44 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,786 km broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified) narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 82,900 km paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,300 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,606 km (2005)

Waterways:

210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 117 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 15 foreign-owned: 84 (Bahamas 1, Belgium 7, Belgium 1, Denmark 3, Germany 20, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Italy 12, Japan 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Spain 11, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, US 1) registered in other countries: 15 (Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Malta 3, Panama 9) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines

Military
Portugal

Military branches:

Portuguese Army (Exercito Portugues), Portuguese Navy (Marinha
Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca
Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,573,913 females age 16-49: 2,498,262 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,099,647 females age 16-49: 2,060,559 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 64,910 female: 58,599 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Portugal

Disputes - international:

Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Illicit drugs:

seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Puerto Rico

Introduction
Puerto Rico

Background:

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.

Geography
Puerto Rico

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 13,790 sq km land: 8,870 sq km water: 4,921 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

501 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m

Natural resources:

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Land use:

arable land: 3.69% permanent crops: 5.59% other: 90.72% (2005)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Geography - note:

important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

People
Puerto Rico

Population:

3,958,128 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.5% (male 415,141/female 396,782) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,254,416/female 1,358,229) 65 years and over: 13.5% (male 229,727/female 303,833) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.6 years male: 33.8 years female: 37.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.369% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.58 years male: 74.64 years female: 82.73 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,397 (1997)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups:

white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed 4.2%, other 6.7% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Languages:

Spanish, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.1% male: 93.9% female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Puerto Rico

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Dependency status:

unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Government type:

commonwealth

Capital:

name: San Juan geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -
municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas
Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,
Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,
Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,
Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,
Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,
Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las
Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,
Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,
Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San
German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa
Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,
Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Independence:

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

National holiday:

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25
July (1952)

Constitution:

ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote, he will take office on 2 January 2009

Legislative branch:

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders:

National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party
of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP
[Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD
[Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence
Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

International organization participation:

Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Flag description:

five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Economy
Puerto Rico

Economy - overview:

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$72.61 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$18,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

1.3 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $6.7 billion expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.5% (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens

Industries:

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

23.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

22.17 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1,354 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

215,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

10,610 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

230,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:

chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Exports - partners:

US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2006)

Imports:

$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities:

chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Puerto Rico

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.038 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.354 million (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

2.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

32 (2006)

Televisions:

1.021 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pr

Internet hosts:

404 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

76 (2000)

Internet users:

1 million (2007)

Transportation
Puerto Rico

Airports:

29 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Railways:

total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 26,186 km paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,309 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 by type: roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 3 (US 3) registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan

Military
Puerto Rico

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 30,760 female: 29,469 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Puerto Rico

Disputes - international:

increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Qatar

Introduction
Qatar

Background:

Ruled by the Al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world.

Geography
Qatar

Location:

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline:

563 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use:

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land:

130 sq km (2002)

Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%) per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People
Qatar

Population:

824,789 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.8% (male 92,896/female 87,201) 15-64 years: 76.8% (male 451,127/female 182,330) 65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,545/female 4,690) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.7 years male: 32.8 years female: 25.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.093% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.47 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.47 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.4 male(s)/female total population: 2.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.19 years male: 73.5 years female: 76.98 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups:

Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Religions:

Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

Languages:

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 89.1% female: 88.6% (2004 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Qatar

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Government type:

emirate

Capital:

name: Doha geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Independence:

3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December

Constitution:

ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Legal system:

based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir Al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Legislative branch:

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed) note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the remaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura

Judicial branch:

Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note - all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 consulate(s) general: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4161 FAX: [974] 488 4150

Flag description:

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Economy
Qatar

Economy - overview:

Qatar is in the midst of an economic boom supported by its expanding production of natural gas and oil. Economic policy is focused on development of Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors. Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the highest per-capita income country and one of the world's fastest growing. Sustained high oil prices and increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build Qatar's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 22 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas are roughly 25 trillion cubic meters, about 15% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields during the last decade and became the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$71.42 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$67.76 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$87,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 77.8% services: 22.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

881,000 (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

0.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

43.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $27.12 billion expenditures: $22.55 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

11% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.43% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$9.718 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$22.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$30.52 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

14.41 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

13.19 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.125 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

108,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.026 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

15.21 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

59.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

39.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

25.63 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$10.41 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$42.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners:

Japan 39.9%, South Korea 19.9%, Singapore 9.9%, India 5.1%, Thailand 4.9%, UAE 4% (2007)

Imports:

$19.86 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

US 13.3%, Italy 10.8%, Japan 8.9%, France 7.9%, Germany 7.3%, UK 5.7%, South Korea 5.6%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.18 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$9.752 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$33.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$11.18 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$5.625 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$61.56 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code:

##### QAR

Exchange rates:

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003)

Communications
Qatar

Telephones - main lines in use:

237,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.264 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system centered in Doha domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is roughly 165 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

256,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

230,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.qa

Internet hosts:

563 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

351,000 (2007)

Transportation
Qatar

Airports:

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 322 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,970 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 741 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 7,790 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 22 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 4 foreign-owned: 7 (Kuwait 7) registered in other countries: 5 (Liberia 4, Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Doha, Ra's Laffan

Military
Qatar

Military branches:

Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari
Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 320,383 females age 16-49: 167,475 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 258,159 females age 16-49: 143,999 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,224 female: 4,845 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

10% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Qatar

Disputes - international:

none

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation; the most common offense was forcing workers to accept worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited; other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay, restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 3 - Qatar failed, for the second consecutive year, to enforce criminal laws against traffickers, or to provide an effective mechanism to identify and protect victims; it continues to detain and deport victims rather than providing them protection; the government made little progress to increase prosecutions for trafficking in a meaningful way in 2007; workers complaining of working conditions or non-payment of wages were sometimes penalized (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Romania

Introduction
Romania

Background:

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

Geography
Romania

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and
Ukraine

Geographic coordinates:

##### 46 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 237,500 sq km land: 230,340 sq km water: 7,160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,508 km border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Coastline:

225 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Terrain:

central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Natural resources:

petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 39.49% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30,770 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

42.3 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%) per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

People
Romania

Population:

22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 1,778,864/female 1,687,659) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,718,125/female 7,791,102) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,337,915/female 1,933,197) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.3 years male: 35.9 years female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.136% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.18 years male: 68.69 years female: 75.89 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

350 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian

Ethnic groups:

Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)

Languages:

Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 98.4% female: 96.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.5% of GDP (2005)

Government
Romania

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Bucharest geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Independence:

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

Constitution:

8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004); note - President Traian BASESCU was suspended by vote of parliament on 19 April 2007, but resumed his duties on 23 May 2007 after a popular referendum confirmed that his impeachment should not stand head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004 with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held in November-December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be held November 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 34.2%, PDL 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 49, PDL 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 33.1%, PDL 32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%; seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 114, PDL 115, PNL 65, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities 18

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative Party or PC [Daniela POPA] (formerly Humanist Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romania Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: various human rights and professional associations

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA
(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer),
MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Economy
Romania

Economy - overview:

Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to handicap its business environment. Inflation rose in 2007 for the first time in eight years, driven in part by the depreciation of the currency, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline. Romania hopes to adopt the euro by 2014.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$247.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$166 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.9% industry: 35.6% services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

9.3 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 29.7% industry: 23.2% services: 47.1% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

4.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

28% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $52.13 billion expenditures: $56.01 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

13% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.35% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$25.17 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$34.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$58.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep

Industries:

electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate:

10.6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

58.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

48.43 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

3.362 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% nuclear: 9.9% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

112,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

238,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

125,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

219,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

17.09 billion cu m (2007)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$23.02 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$40.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports - partners:

Italy 17.2%, Germany 16.9%, France 7.7%, Turkey 7%, Hungary 5.6%, UK 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$64.54 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products

Imports - partners:

Germany 17.2%, Italy 12.8%, Hungary 6.9%, Russia 6.3%, France 6.2%,
Turkey 5.4%, Austria 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$914.3 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$39.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$74.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$60.82 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$915 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$45.42 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

"new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000 ROL = 1 RON

Currency code:

##### ROL

Exchange rates:

lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003)

Communications
Romania

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.3 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

22.875 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially in wireless telephony domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now slightly exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

698 (frequency type NA) (2006)

Radios:

7.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

623 (plus 200 repeaters) (2006)

Televisions:

5.25 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ro

Internet hosts:

2.195 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

38 (2000)

Internet users:

12 million (2007)

Transportation
Romania

Airports:

61 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 11,385 km broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified) narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 198,817 km paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways) unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Waterways:

1,731 km note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 17 by type: cargo 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 49 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 16, North Korea 4, Liberia 2, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 3, Panama 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 3, Syria 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Military
Romania

Military branches:

Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene
Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until the age of 36 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,682,299 females age 16-49: 5,557,098 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,572,017 females age 16-49: 4,644,474 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 127,706 female: 121,852 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues
Romania

Disputes - international:

the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Russia

Introduction
Russia

Background:

Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent republics. Since then, Russia has shifted its post-Soviet democratic ambitions in favor of a centralized semi-authoritarian state whose legitimacy is buttressed, in part, by carefully managed national elections, former President PUTIN's genuine popularity, and the prudent management of Russia's windfall energy wealth. Russia has severely disabled a Chechen rebel movement, although violence still occurs throughout the North Caucasus.

Geography
Russia

Location:

Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of
Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North
Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

##### 60 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 17,075,200 sq km land: 16,995,800 sq km water: 79,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

approximately 1.8 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 20,241.5 km border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 17.5 km, Latvia 292 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 km

Coastline:

37,653 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast

Terrain:

broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m

Natural resources:

wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources

Land use:

arable land: 7.17% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 92.72% (2005)

Irrigated land:

46,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

4,498 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 76.68 cu km/yr (19%/63%/18%) per capita: 535 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:

largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak

People
Russia

Population:

140,702,096 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 10,577,858/female 10,033,254) 15-64 years: 71.2% (male 48,187,807/female 52,045,102) 65 years and over: 14.1% (male 6,162,400/female 13,695,673) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.3 years male: 35.1 years female: 41.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.474% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.03 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

16.06 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.94 years male: 59.19 years female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

860,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and tickborne encephalitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Russian(s) adjective: Russian

Ethnic groups:

Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%, other or unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)

Religions:

Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.) note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule

Languages:

Russian, many minority languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4% male: 99.7% female: 99.2% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2005)

Government
Russia

Country name:

conventional long form: Russian Federation conventional short form: Russia local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya local short form: Rossiya former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Government type:

federation

Capital:

name: Moscow geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 35 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Russia is divided into 11 time zones

Administrative divisions:

46 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respublik, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh okrugov, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (krayev, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast (avtonomnaya oblast') oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl' republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk) autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard) krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm', Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol', Zabaykal'skiy (Chita) federal cities: Moscow (Moskva), Saint Petersburg (Sankt-Peterburg) autonomous oblast: Yevrey [Jewish] (Birobidzhan) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Russia Day, 12 June (1990)

Constitution:

adopted 12 December 1993

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV (since 7 May 2008) head of government: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 8 May 2008); First Deputy Premiers Igor Ivanovich SHUVALOV and Viktor Alekseyevich ZUBKOV (since 12 May 2008); Deputy Premiers Sergey Borisovich IVANOV (since 12 May 2008), Dmitriy Nikolayevich KOZAK (since 14 October 2008), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 24 September 2007), Igor Ivanovich SECHIN (since 12 May 2008), Sergey Semenovich SOBYANIN (since 12 May 2008), Aleksandr Dmitriyevich ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004), and Dmitry Nikolayevich KOZAK (since 14 October 2008) cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other individuals; all are appointed by the president note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); note - no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma election results: Dmitriy MEDVEDEV elected president; percent of vote - Dmitry MEDVEDEV 70.2%, Gennady ZYUGANOV 17.7%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKY 9.4%, Andrey BOGDONOV 1.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of an upper house, the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (168 seats; as of July 2000, members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 84 federal administrative units - oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg; to serve four-year terms) and a lower house, the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats; as of 2007, all members elected by proportional representation from party lists winning at least 7% of the vote; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: State Duma - last held 2 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: State Duma - United Russia 64.3%, CPRF 11.5%, LDPR 8.1%, Just Russia 7.7%, other 8.4%; total seats by party - United Russia 315, CPRF 57, LDPR 40, Just Russia 38

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration Court; judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy
Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Just Russia [Sergey MIRONOV]; Liberal
Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich
ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Patriots of Russia [Gennadiy SEMIGIN]; People's Union
[Sergey BABURIN]; Right Cause [Leonid Yakovlevich GOZMAN, Boris
Yuriyevich TITOV, and Georgiy Georgiyevich BOVT] (registration
pending; formed from merger of Union of Right Forces, Democratic
Party of Russia, and Civic Force); United Russia [Vladimir
Vladimirovich PUTIN]; Yabloko Party [Sergey Sergeyevich MITROKHIN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Levada Center (conducts polls); Memorial (human rights group; Movement Against Illegal Migration; Pamjat (preservation of historical monuments and recording of history); Russian Orthodox Church; Russian-Chechen Friendship Society other: ecology groups; human rights groups; nationalist pragmatists (no foreign influence over Central Eurasia); neo-Eurasianists (against Western influence for the area); religious groups; westernizers (lean towards the West)

International organization participation:

APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC,
CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, G-8, GCTU,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG,
OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,
SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Viktorovich USHAKOV chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708 FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John R. BEYRLE embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000 FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090 consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

Economy
Russia

Economy - overview:

Russia ended 2007 with its ninth straight year of growth, averaging 7% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble initially drove this growth, since 2003 consumer demand and, more recently, investment have played a significant role. Over the last six years, fixed capital investments have averaged real gains greater than 10% per year and personal incomes have achieved real gains more than 12% per year. During this time, poverty has declined steadily and the middle class has continued to expand. Russia has also improved its international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis. The federal budget has run surpluses since 2001 and ended 2007 with a surplus of about 3% of GDP. Over the past several years, Russia has used its stabilization fund based on oil taxes to prepay all Soviet-era sovereign debt to Paris Club creditors and the IMF. Foreign debt is approximately one-third of GDP. The state component of foreign debt has declined, but commercial debt to foreigners has risen strongly. Oil export earnings have allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to some $470 billion at yearend 2007, the third largest reserves in the world. During President PUTIN's first administration, a number of important reforms were implemented in the areas of tax, banking, labor, and land codes. These achievements have raised business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects, with foreign direct investment rising from $14.6 billion in 2005 to approximately $45 billion in 2007. In 2007, Russia's GDP grew 8.1%, led by non-tradable services and goods for the domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports. Rising inflation returned in the second half of 2007, driven largely by unsterilized capital inflows and by rising food costs, and approached 12% by year-end. In 2006, Russia signed a bilateral market access agreement with the US as a prelude to possible WTO entry, and its companies are involved in global merger and acquisition activity in the oil and gas, metals, and telecom sectors. Despite Russia's recent success, serious problems persist. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of exports and 30% of government revenues, leaving the country vulnerable to swings in world commodity prices. Russia's manufacturing base is dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized if the country is to achieve broad-based economic growth. The banking system, while increasing consumer lending and growing at a high rate, is still small relative to the banking sectors of Russia's emerging market peers. Political uncertainties associated with this year's power transition, corruption, and lack of trust in institutions continue to dampen domestic and foreign investor sentiment. PUTIN has granted more influence to forces within his government that desire to reassert state control over the economy. Russia has made little progress in building the rule of law, the bedrock of a modern market economy. The government has promised additional legislative amendments to make its intellectual property protection WTO-consistent, but enforcement remains problematic.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.097 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.29 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.7% industry: 39.1% services: 56.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

75.1 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10.8% industry: 28.8% services: 60.5% (November 2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

15.8% (November 2007)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 30.4% (September 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41.3 (September 2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

21% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $299 billion expenditures: $262 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

5.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% annual average note: 12% at year-end (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.03% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$303.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$292.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$339.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk

Industries:

complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced electronic components, shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

7.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

964.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

819.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

15.81 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

5.67 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 66.3% hydro: 17.2% nuclear: 16.4% other: 0.1% (2003)

Oil - production:

9.876 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.858 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

5.08 million bbl/day (2007)

Oil - imports:

73,140 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

60 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

656.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

610 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

237.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

58.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

47.57 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$78.31 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$355.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 12.2%, Italy 7.8%, Germany 7.5%, Turkey 5.2%, Belarus 5%, Ukraine 4.7%, China 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$223.4 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar, semifinished metal products

Imports - partners:

Germany 13.3%, China 12.2%, Ukraine 6.7%, Japan 6.4%, US 4.8%,
Belarus 4.4%, South Korea 4.4%, Italy 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$982.7 million in FY06 from US, including $847 million in non-proliferation subsidies

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$476.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$356.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$271.6 billion (2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$209.6 billion (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.322 trillion (2006)

Currency (code):

Russian ruble (RUB)

Currency code:

##### RUR

Exchange rates:

Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar - 25.659 (2007), 27.19 (2006), 28.284 (2005), 28.814 (2004), 30.692 (2003)

Communications
Russia

Telephones - main lines in use:

43.9 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

170 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telephone system is experiencing significant changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer communication services; access to digital lines has improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy; the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1 million in 1998 to 170 million in 2007; a large demand for main line service remains unsatisfied, but fixed-line operators continue to grow their services domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally by undersea fiber optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita systems

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 323, FM 1,500 est., shortwave 62 (2004)

Radios:

61.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7,306 (1998)

Televisions:

60.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ru; note - Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that was allocated to the Soviet Union and is being phased out

Internet hosts:

4.822 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

300 (June 2000)

Internet users:

30 million (2007)

Transportation
Russia

Airports:

1,260 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 601 over 3,047 m: 51 2,438 to 3,047 m: 197 1,524 to 2,437 m: 129 914 to 1,523 m: 102 under 914 m: 122 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 659 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 89 under 914 m: 484 (2007)

Heliports:

47 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 122 km; gas 158,699 km; oil 72,347 km; refined products 13,658 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 87,157 km broad gauge: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified) narrow gauge: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island) note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve industries (2006)

Roadways:

total: 933,000 km paved: 754,984 km (includes 30,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 178,016 km note: includes public, local, and departmental roads (2006)

Waterways:

102,000 km (including 33,000 km with guaranteed depth) note: 72,000 km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,074 by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 663, carrier 2, chemical tanker 27, combination ore/oil 34, container 11, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 217, refrigerated cargo 59, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 5 foreign-owned: 112 (Belgium 4, Cyprus 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Italy 4, South Korea 1, Latvia 2, Norway 2, Switzerland 3, Turkey 80, Ukraine 11, US 1) registered in other countries: 486 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 4, Belize 31, Bulgaria 1, Cambodia 83, Comoros 12, Cyprus 50, Dominica 3, Georgia 12, Hong Kong 2, Jamaica 3, Liberia 94, Malaysia 2, Malta 58, Marshall Islands 9, Moldova 3, Mongolia 9, Panama 18, Saint Kitts and Nevis 19, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 21, Sierra Leone 11, Slovakia 1, Tuvalu 2, Ukraine 1, Vanuatu 2, unknown 31) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Azov, Kaliningrad, Kavkaz, Nakhodka, Novorossiysk, Primorsk, Saint
Petersburg, Vostochnyy

Military
Russia

Military branches:

Ground Forces (SV), Navy (VMF), Air Forces (Voyenno-Vozdushniye Sily, VVS); Airborne Troops (VDV), Strategic Rocket Troops (Raketnyye Voyska Strategicheskogo Naznacheniya, RVSN), and Space Troops (KV) are independent "combat arms," not subordinate to any of the three branches; Russian Ground Forces include the following combat arms: motorized-rifle troops, tank troops, missile and artillery troops, air defense of ground troops (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; service obligation - 1 year; reserve obligation to age 50; as of July 2008, a draft military strategy called for the draft to continue up to the year 2030 (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 36,219,908 females age 16-49: 37,019,853 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 21,488,878 females age 16-49: 28,760,976 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 821,103 female: 781,570 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2005)

Transnational Issues
Russia

Disputes - international:

China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with the 2004 Agreement, ending their centuries-long border disputes; the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kurils," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting all but small, strategic segments of the land boundary and the maritime boundary; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia signed equidistance boundaries in the Caspian seabed but the littoral states have no consensus on dividing the water column; Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone; various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia (Kareliya) and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union following the Second World War but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands; in May 2005, Russia recalled its signatures to the 1996 border agreements with Estonia (1996) and Latvia (1997), when the two Baltic states announced issuance of unilateral declarations referencing Soviet occupation and ensuing territorial losses; Russia demands better treatment of ethnic Russians in Estonia and Latvia; Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as an EU member state with an EU external border, where strict Schengen border rules apply; preparations for the demarcation delimitation of land boundary with Ukraine have commenced; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going expert-level discussions; Kazakhstan and Russia boundary delimitation was ratified on November 2005 and field demarcation should commence in 2007; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990 Bering Sea Maritime Boundary Agreement with the US

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 18,000-160,000 (displacement from Chechnya and North Ossetia) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Russia is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for various purposes; it remains a significant source of women trafficked to over 50 countries for commercial sexual exploitation; Russia is also a transit and destination country for men and women trafficked from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Korea to Central and Western Europe and the Middle East for purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; internal trafficking remains a problem in Russia with women trafficked from rural areas to urban centers for commercial sexual exploitation, and men trafficked internally and from Central Asia for forced labor in the construction and agricultural industries; debt bondage is common among trafficking victims, and child sex tourism remains a concern tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Russia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for a fifth consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking over the previous year, particularly in providing assistance to victims of trafficking; comprehensive trafficking victim assistance legislation, which would address key deficiencies, has been pending before the Duma since 2003 and was neither passed nor enacted in 2007 (2008)

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and producer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption; government has active illicit crop eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source of heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime are key concerns; major consumer of opiates

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Rwanda

Introduction
Rwanda

Background:

In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remained in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; the former Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in 1990. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in August and September 2003 - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliation is complicated by the real and perceived Tutsi political dominance. Kigali's increasing centralization and intolerance of dissent, the nagging Hutu extremist insurgency across the border, and Rwandan involvement in two wars in recent years in the neighboring DRC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts to escape its bloody legacy.

Geography
Rwanda

Location:

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

##### 2 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 26,338 sq km land: 24,948 sq km water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 893 km border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Terrain:

mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Natural resources:

gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 45.56% permanent crops: 10.25% other: 44.19% (2005)

Irrigated land:

90 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

5.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.15 cu km/yr (24%/8%/68%) per capita: 17 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Environment - current issues:

deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural

People
Rwanda

Population:

10,186,063 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 2,143,479/female 2,124,588) 15-64 years: 55.7% (male 2,826,557/female 2,842,020) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 99,721/female 149,698) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.7 years male: 18.5 years female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.779% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

39.97 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

14.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 83.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 88.53 deaths/1,000 live births female: 78.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.76 years male: 48.56 years female: 51 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

250,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

22,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan

Ethnic groups:

Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Languages:

Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.4% male: 76.3% female: 64.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 8 years female: 9 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2005)

People - note:

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Government
Rwanda

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Ruanda, German East Africa

Government type:

republic; presidential, multiparty system

Capital:

name: Kigali geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)

Independence:

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution:

new constitution passed by referendum 26 May 2003

Legal system:

based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held in 2010) election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 members elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 by the Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher learning; to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80 seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - members appointed as part of the transitional government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held 15 September 2008 (next to be held September 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%, PL 7.5%; seats by party - RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members indirectly elected

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts;
District Courts; mediation committees

Political parties and leaders:

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic
Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic
Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned);
Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL
[Protais MITALI]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned);
Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

IBUKA (association of genocide survivors)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James KOMONYO chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 596-400 FAX: [250] 596-591

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band

Economy
Rwanda

Economy - overview:

Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005-06. Rwanda also received Millennium Challenge Account Threshold status in 2006. The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment and pursuing market-oriented reforms, although energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.057 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.32 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 36.9% industry: 21.7% services: 41.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.6 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

60% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 38.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46.8 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed):

22% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $801.8 million expenditures: $878.3 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

12.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.84% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$233.6 million (31 December 2005)

Stock of quasi money:

$227.4 million (31 December 2005)

Stock of domestic credit:

$209.2 million (31 December 2005)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Industries:

cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate:

13.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

134 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

234.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

10 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

130 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.3% hydro: 97.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

5,597 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$147 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$184 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners:

China 8.9%, Germany 6.8%, US 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$637 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material

Imports - partners:

Kenya 19.6%, Uganda 6.9%, Germany 6.2%, Belgium 5.9%, China 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$576 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$552.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Rwandan franc (RWF)

Currency code:

##### RWF

Exchange rates:

Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 585 (2007), 560 (2006), 610 (2005), 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003)

Communications
Rwanda

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

635,100 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small, inadequate telephone system primarily serves business and government domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is only about 7 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters, three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:

601,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2004)

Televisions:

NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.rw

Internet hosts:

2,363 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

100,000 (2007)

Transportation
Rwanda

Airports:

9 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 14,008 km paved: 2,662 km unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

Waterways:

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Military
Rwanda

Military branches:

Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,430,469 females age 16-49: 2,392,933 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,404,066 females age 16-49: 1,403,700 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 111,791 female: 112,131 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Rwanda

Disputes - international:

fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 46,272 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,400 (Burundi) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Barthelemy

Introduction
Saint Barthelemy

Background:

Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, St. Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the administration of Guadeloupe. St. Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appelations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity.

Geography
Saint Barthelemy

Location:

located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe

Geographic coordinates:

##### 17 90 N, 62 85 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

21 sq km

Area - comparative:

less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Climate:

tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

Terrain:

hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with 20 beaches

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

Natural resources:

has few natural resouces, its beaches being the most important

Environment - current issues:

with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker

People
Saint Barthelemy

Population:

7,492 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnic groups:

white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness

Languages:

French (primary), English

Government
Saint Barthelemy

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy local short form: Saint-Barthelemy

Dependency status:

overseas collectivity of France

Capital:

name: Gustavia geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Independence:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy
Day, 24 August

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007) head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007) cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by party - SBA 16, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 1, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 1, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1

Political parties and leaders:

Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES]; Ensemble pour
Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN]; Saint-Barth d'Abord! or SBA
[Bruno MAGRAS]; Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy [Karine MIOT-RICHARD]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Marine Reserve (protection of fish); Rotary Club

International organization participation:

##### UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy
Saint Barthelemy

Economy - overview:

The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods. Employment is strong and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal.

Currency (code):

euro (EUR); note - US dollar (USD) widely used

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Saint Barthelemy

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully integrated access domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Internet country code:

.bl; note - .gp, the ccTLD for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the ccTLD for France, might also be encountered

Transportation
Saint Barthelemy

Airports:

1

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1

Transportation - note:

nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles)

Military
Saint Barthelemy

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 21 female: 20 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Helena

Introduction
Saint Helena

Background:

Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903. Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena and it served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War, and it remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic. Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan da Cunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.

Geography
Saint Helena

Location:

islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2300 nm southwest of Saint Helena

Geographic coordinates:

Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W
Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W
Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 413 sq km land: Saint Helena Island 122 sq km; Ascension Island 90 sq km; Tristan da Cunha island group 201 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

Saint Helena: 60 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha: 40 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)

Terrain:

the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena Island 818 m

Natural resources:

fish, lobster

Land use:

arable land: 12.9% permanent crops: 0% other: 87.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in 1961

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa

People
Saint Helena

Population:

7,601 note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.5% (male 716/female 690) 15-64 years: 70.7% (male 2,754/female 2,618) 65 years and over: 10.8% (male 381/female 442) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.1 years male: 37.2 years female: 37 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.487% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

11.45 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.27 years male: 75.36 years female: 81.33 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.56 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian note: referred to locally as "Saints"

Ethnic groups:

African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%

Religions:

Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 20 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% (1987 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Saint Helena

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Jamestown geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

1 January 1989

Legal system:

English common law and statutes, supplemented by local statutes

Suffrage:

NA years of age

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, three ex-officio officers, and five elected members of the Legislative Council elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, three ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 31 August 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12

Judicial branch:

Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: private sector; unions

International organization participation:

##### UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

Economy
Saint Helena

Economy - overview:

The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which will amount to about $27 million in FY06/07 or almost 70% of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18 million (1998 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

2,486 note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 6% industry: 48% services: 46% (1987 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $13.09 million expenditures: $32.16 million note: revenue data reflect locally raised revenues only; the budget deficit is resolved by grant aid from the United Kingdom (FY06/07 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (1997 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster (on Tristan da Cunha); livestock

Industries:

construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, philatelic sales

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

7.44 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

60 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

85.42 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$19 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

Tanzania 37.7%, US 17.4%, Japan 15.2%, UK 8.4%, Nigeria 4.8%, Spain 4.5% (2006)

Imports:

$45 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Imports - partners:

UK 53.5%, South Africa 14.3%, Spain 10.3%, Tanzania 8.5%, US 4.6% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$29.56 million obtained in a grant from the United Kingdom (FY06/07)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Saint Helenian pound (SHP)

Currency code:

##### SHP

Exchange rates:

Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound

Communications
Saint Helena

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,200 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: can communicate worldwide domestic: automatic digital network international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island) - 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1)

Radio broadcast stations:

Saint Helena: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Ascension: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:

3,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (3 television channels are received via satellite and distributed by UHF) (2005)

Televisions:

2,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac

Internet hosts:

306 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1,000; note - includes Ascension Island (2003)

Communications - note:

South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island

Transportation
Saint Helena

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor

Transportation - note:

there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; an international airport for Saint Helena is in development for 2010

Military
Saint Helena

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 47 female: 43 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Saint Helena

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Kitts and Nevis

Introduction
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Background:

First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to try and separate from Saint Kitts.

Geography
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Location:

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

##### 17 20 N, 62 45 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

135 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain:

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 19.44% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 77.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

0.02 cu km (2000)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (July to October)

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island

People
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Population:

39,817 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 5,439/female 5,186) 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 13,018/female 12,968) 65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,334/female 1,872) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.4 years male: 27.7 years female: 29.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.723% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.94 years male: 70.08 years female: 75.98 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian

Ethnic groups:

predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese

Religions:

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97.8% male: NA% female: NA% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

9.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Country name:

conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Basseterre geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point,
Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James
Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary
Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter
Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,
Trinity Palmetto Point

Independence:

19 September 1983 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Constitution:

19 September 1983

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)

Political parties and leaders:

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation
Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM
[Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

Economy
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Economy - overview:

Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4% of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy. Activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy and have contributed to the recent robust growth. Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign exchange; about 341,800 tourists visited Nevis in 2005. The current government is constrained by a high debt burden, public debt reached 190% of GDP by the end of 2005, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$721 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$527 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.8% services: 70.7% (2001)

Labor force:

18,170 (June 1995)

Unemployment rate:

4.5% (1997)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $89.7 million expenditures: $128.2 million (2003 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.28% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$97.31 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$688.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$782.4 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Industries:

tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

130 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

120.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

950 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

917.8 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$163 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$84 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:

US 66.3%, Canada 4.9%, Turkey 3.3% (2007)

Imports:

$383 million (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners:

US 47.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.3%, UK 5.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$3.52 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$314 million (2004)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Communications
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Telephones - main lines in use:

25,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10,000 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good interisland and international connections domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004 international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2003)

Radios:

28,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003)

Televisions:

10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kn

Internet hosts:

45 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

10,000 (2002)

Transportation
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 50 km narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2006)

Roadways:

total: 320 km paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 159 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 109, chemical tanker 7, container 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 121 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 5, Malaysia 1, Pakistan 3, Romania 1, Russia 19, Singapore 1, Spain 1, Syria 7, Turkey 35, Ukraine 9, UAE 18, UK 3, Yemen 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Basseterre

Military
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Military branches:

Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal
Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,095 females age 16-49: 10,081 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,064 females age 16-49: 8,464 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 367 female: 352 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Lucia

Introduction
Saint Lucia

Background:

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Geography
Saint Lucia

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 53 N, 60 58 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 616 sq km land: 606 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

158 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August

Terrain:

volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Natural resources:

forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

Land use:

arable land: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.01 per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

People
Saint Lucia

Population:

159,585 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 20,614/female 19,559) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 50,897/female 54,140) 65 years and over: 9% (male 6,481/female 7,894) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.2 years male: 28.2 years female: 30.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.436% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.25 years male: 73.59 years female: 79.05 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian

Ethnic groups:

black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 90.1% male: 89.5% female: 90.6% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.6% of GDP (2006)

Government
Saint Lucia

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Castries geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Independence:

22 February 1979 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Constitution:

22 February 1979

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9 September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office Friday, 7 September 2007 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP 50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada,
Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines)

Political parties and leaders:

National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or
SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth
ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];
United Workers Party or UWP [Stephenson KING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Flag description:

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Economy
Saint Lucia

Economy - overview:

The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, with almost 900,000 arrivals in 2007. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks including declines in European Union banana preferences, volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. High debt servicing obligations constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be reduced.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.794 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$958 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5% industry: 15% services: 80% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

43,800 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 21.7% industry: 24.7% services: 53.6% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $141.2 million expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.12% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$264.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$720.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.217 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Industries:

clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing

Industrial production growth rate:

-8.9% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

325 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

289.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,780 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2,631 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$199 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$288 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil

Exports - partners:

US 24.5%, France 23.2%, UK 19.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 5%, Dominica 4.9%, Barbados 4.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$791 million (2006)

Imports - commodities:

food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners:

Brazil 63.6%, US 10.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$11.06 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$257 million (2004)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Communications
Saint Lucia

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

105,700 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system domestic: system is automatically switched international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Radios:

111,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)

Televisions:

32,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.lc

Internet hosts:

17 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

110,000 (2007)

Transportation
Saint Lucia

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,210 km (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Military
Saint Lucia

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 48,358 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 38,660 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,591 female: 1,504 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Saint Lucia

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Martin

Introduction
Saint Martin

Background:

Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished St. Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of St. Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity.

Geography
Saint Martin

Location:

island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 05 N, 63 57 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 54.4 sq km land: 54.4 sq km water: NEGL

Area - comparative:

more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 15 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 15 km

Coastline:

58.9 km (for entire island)

Climate:

temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-Novemeber is the hurricane season

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m

Natural resources:

salt

Environment - current issues:

fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water

Geography - note:

the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

People
Saint Martin

Population:

29,376 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnic groups:

creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Languages:

French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish,
Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)

Government
Saint Martin

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin conventional short form: Saint Martin local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin local short form: Saint-Martin

Dependency status:

overseas collectivity of France

Capital:

name: Marigot geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight savings: +1 hour

Independence:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day
(Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007) head of government: President of the Territorial Council Frantz GUMBS (since 7 August 2008) cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term election results: Frantz GUMBS elected president by the Territorial Council on 7 August 2008

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012) election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%, Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir Saint-Martin 1

Political parties and leaders:

Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement
Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir
Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

##### UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy
Saint Martin

Economy - overview:

The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

Industries:

tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, food, manufactured items

Imports - partners:

US, Mexico (2006)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR); note - US dollar (USD) widely used

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Saint Martin

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully integrated access domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Radio broadcast stations:

##### FM 3 (2007)

Internet country code:

.mf; note - .gp, the ccTLD for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the ccTLD for France, might also be encountered

Transportation
Saint Martin

Airports:

1

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Transportation - note:

nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten

Military
Saint Martin

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 186 female: 162 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Introduction
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Background:

First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions.

Geography
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Location:

Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Geographic coordinates:

##### 46 50 N, 56 20 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 242 sq km land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

120 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy

Terrain:

mostly barren rock

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Natural resources:

fish, deepwater ports

Land use:

arable land: 12.5% permanent crops: 0% other: 87.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment

Geography - note:

vegetation scanty

People
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Population:

7,044 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.4% (male 806/female 772) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,370/female 2,301) 65 years and over: 11.3% (male 366/female 429) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.9 years male: 34.3 years female: 35.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.114% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.91 years male: 76.55 years female: 81.4 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French

Ethnic groups:

Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Languages:

French (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1982 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Country name:

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Dependency status:

self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Saint-Pierre geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Administrative divisions:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order

Independence:

none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Jean-Pierre BERCOT (since 28 July 2008) head of government: President of the Territorial Council Stephane ARTANO (since 21 February 2007) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the council

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and four from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: elections last held 19 and 26 in March 2006 (next to be held in March 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD 16, Cap sur l'Avenir 2, SPM 2000/AM 1 note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect one seat to the French Senate; elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2013); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects one seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 10 June 2007, second round - 17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Left Radical Party 1

Judicial branch:

Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Archipelago Tomorrow or AD affiliated with UDF/RPR list; Cap sur
l'Avenir affiliated with PRG; Left Radical Party or PRG;
Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP); Saint Pierre and
Miquelon 2000/Avenir Miquelon or SPM 2000/AM; Socialist Party or PS;
Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

##### UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:

a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Economy - overview:

The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. France heavily subsidizes the islands to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$48.3 million note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

3,450 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 18% industry: 41% services: 41% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.3% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $70 million expenditures: $60 million (1996 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.1% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Industries:

fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

53 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

49.29 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

556.8 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$5.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts

Exports - partners:

Spain 33.6%, Belgium 21.8%, India 18.3%, France 9.4%, US 7.5% (2006)

Imports:

$68.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:

meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials

Imports - partners:

France 51.3%, Canada 31.8%, Belgium 4.1% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

approximately $60 million in annual grants from France

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic: NA international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

4,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (2 repeaters rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pm

Internet hosts:

0 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 117 km paved: 80 km unpaved: 37 km (2000)

Ports and terminals:

Saint-Pierre

Military
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 61 female: 58 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Introduction
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Background:

Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

Geography
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

84 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain:

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, cropland

Land use:

arable land: 17.95% permanent crops: 17.95% other: 64.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.01 per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

People
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Population:

118,432 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.1% (male 15,161/female 14,600) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 41,855/female 39,105) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 3,402/female 4,309) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28 years male: 27.8 years female: 28.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.231% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.34 years male: 72.42 years female: 76.31 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic groups:

black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%

Religions:

Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes
Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%

Languages:

English, French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

8.1% of GDP (2005)

Government
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Kingstown geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Independence:

27 October 1979 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution:

27 October 1979

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and six appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.3%, NDP 44.7%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Political parties and leaders:

New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or
ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent
Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Flag description:

three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Economy
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Economy - overview:

Economic growth slowed slightly in 2007 after reaching a 10 year high of nearly 7% in 2006, but is expected to remain robust, hinging upon seasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors and a recent increase in construction activity. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2007, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high debt burden - 25 percent of current revenues are directed towards debt servicing.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.042 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$559 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10% industry: 26% services: 64% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

41,680 (1991 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 26% industry: 17% services: 57% (1980 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $94.6 million expenditures: $85.8 million (2000 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.61% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$155.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$280.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$387.8 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.9% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

129 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

120 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 69.3% hydro: 30.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,460 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$149 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$193 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets

Exports - partners:

Greece 28.4%, Italy 14.6%, France 12%, UK 7.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, Spain 4.6%, Germany 4.3%, Saint Lucia 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$578 million (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Imports - partners:

Singapore 15.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.9%, Italy 13.3%, US 13%,
China 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.89 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (2005)

Debt - external:

$223 million (2004)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

##### XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Communications
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

104,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

77,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)

Televisions:

18,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.vc

Internet hosts:

124 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

57,000 (2007)

Transportation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Airports:

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 829 km paved: 580 km unpaved: 249 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 525 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 315, carrier 20, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 2, container 21 foreign-owned: 476 (Austria 2, Barbados 1, Belgium 8, Bulgaria 15, Canada 1, China 94, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 16, Egypt 3, Estonia 16, France 6, Germany 3, Gibraltar 1, Greece 71, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 6, Iceland 7, India 7, Iran 1, Israel 2, Italy 17, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 17, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 9, Monaco 5, Montenegro 1, Namibia 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 13, Poland 1, Puerto Rico 1, Romania 1, Russia 21, Singapore 4, Slovenia 5, South Africa 1, Sweden 2, Switzerland 6, Syria 13, Turkey 20, Ukraine 11, UAE 9, UK 13, UK 1, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Kingstown

Military
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 34,373 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 28,518 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,224 female: 1,169 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Samoa

Introduction
Samoa

Background:

New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.

Geography
Samoa

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 2,944 sq km land: 2,934 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

403 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

Terrain:

two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m

Natural resources:

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 21.13% permanent crops: 24.3% other: 54.57% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

People
Samoa

Population:

217,083 note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993 number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 41,834/female 40,343) 15-64 years: 56.5% (male 64,402/female 58,257) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 5,481/female 6,766) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.6 years male: 20.8 years female: 20.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.322% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.2 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.58 years male: 68.76 years female: 74.55 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan

Ethnic groups:

Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)

Religions:

Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

Samoan (Polynesian), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.6% female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

4.3% of GDP (2002)

Government
Samoa

Country name:

conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa local short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Apia geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 44 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

Independence:

1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; it is observed in June

Constitution:

1 January 1962

Legal system:

based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001) cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice elections: chief of state is elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve five-year terms) elections: election last held 31 March 2006 (next election to be held not later than March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court

Political parties and leaders:

Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi
TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];
Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party
or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or
SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197 FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: none; US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696 FAX: [685] 22030

Flag description:

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

Economy
Samoa

Economy - overview:

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The fish catch declined during the El Nino of 2002-03 but returned to normal by mid-2005. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; 116,000 tourists visited the islands in 2006. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.029 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$397 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.4% industry: 58.4% services: 30.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

90,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $171.3 million expenditures: $78.1 million (FY04/05 est.)

Fiscal year:

June 1 - May 31

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.65% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$69.97 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$168.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$215.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Industries:

food processing, building materials, auto parts

Industrial production growth rate:

2.8% (2000)

Electricity - production:

109 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

101.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,130 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,128 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$24 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$131 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer

Exports - partners:

Australia 48.1%, American Samoa 30%, Taiwan 8% (2007)

Imports:

$324 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

NZ 22.1%, Fiji 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Australia 7.9%, Japan 6.8%,
Indonesia 5.4%, US 5.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$43.95 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.15 million (FY03/04)

Debt - external:

$177 million (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

tala (SAT)

Currency code:

SAT (former WST code is still in wide use)

Exchange rates:

tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005), 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)

Communications
Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:

19,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

86,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 50 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

174,849 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2002)

Televisions:

8,634 (1999)

Internet country code:

.ws

Internet hosts:

11,307 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

8,000 (2006)

Transportation
Samoa

Airports:

4 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,337 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Cyprus 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Apia

Military
Samoa

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 53,417 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 42,359 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,571 female: 2,454 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

Transnational Issues
Samoa

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@San Marino

Introduction
San Marino

Background:

The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Geography
San Marino

Location:

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Geographic coordinates:

##### 43 46 N, 12 25 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 61.2 sq km land: 61.2 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about one third times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 39 km border countries: Italy 39 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Terrain:

rugged mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 755 m

Natural resources:

building stone

Land use:

arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 0% other: 83.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Geography - note:

landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

People
San Marino

Population:

29,973 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,608/female 2,430) 15-64 years: 66% (male 9,464/female 10,304) 65 years and over: 17.2% (male 2,229/female 2,938) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.2 years male: 40.9 years female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.181% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.74 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

10.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.88 years male: 78.43 years female: 85.64 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese

Ethnic groups:

Sammarinese, Italian

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

Italian

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97% female: 95%

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
San Marino

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: San Marino geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Independence:

3 September AD 301

National holiday:

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)

Constitution:

8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Ernesto BENEDETTINI and Captain Regent Assunta MELONI (for the period 1 October-31 March 2009) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Fiorenzo STOLFI (since 27 July 2006) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in September 2007 (next to be held in March 2008); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held 27 July 2006 (next to be held by 2011) election results: Ernesto BENEDETTINI and Assunta MELONI elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Fiorenzo STOLFI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some prime ministerial roles

Legislative branch:

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%; Party of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35; PDCS 22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2; Reforms and Freedm coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats 18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2

Judicial branch:

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center;
Freedom List; Ideas in Movement or IM [Alessandro ROSSI]; National
Alliance or AN [Glauco SANSOVINI]; New Socialist Party [Augusto
CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats [Claudio FELICI]; San
Marino Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Pier Marino MENICUCCI];
San Marino Popular Alliance of Democrats or AP [Roberto GIORGETTI];
San Marino Socialist Party or PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI]; Socialists
for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]; Union of Moderates; United Left

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: 202-337-2260

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Economy
San Marino

Economy - overview:

The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2006 more than 2.1 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, clothing and apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$850 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.048 billion (2004)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$34,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

20,470 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.2% industry: 40.1% services: 59.7% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.8% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $709.6 million expenditures: $672.3 million (2004)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-1.5% (2006)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.58% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$7.513 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

Industries:

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Industrial production growth rate:

5.6% (2005 est.)

Exports:

$1.291 billion (2004)

Exports - commodities:

building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics

Imports:

$2.035 billion (2004)

Imports - commodities:

wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
San Marino

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17,390 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate connections domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

16,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)

Televisions:

9,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sm

Internet hosts:

6,665 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

15,400 (2006)

Transportation
San Marino

Roadways:

total: 292 km paved: 292 km (2006)

Military
San Marino

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,613 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,345 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 156 female: 154 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Italy

Transnational Issues
San Marino

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Sao Tome and Principe

Introduction
Sao Tome and Principe

Background:

Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.

Geography
Sao Tome and Principe

Location:

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the
Equator, west of Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 00 N, 7 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,001 sq km land: 1,001 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

209 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Terrain:

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Natural resources:

fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 8.33% permanent crops: 48.96% other: 42.71% (2005)

Irrigated land:

100 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous

People
Sao Tome and Principe

Population:

206,178 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.1% (male 49,196/female 47,941) 15-64 years: 49.3% (male 49,326/female 52,324) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 3,350/female 4,041) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.3 years male: 15.8 years female: 16.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.116% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

39.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 38.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 40.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68 years male: 66.35 years female: 69.69 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Ethnic groups:

mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Religions:

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Languages:

Portuguese (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.9% male: 92.2% female: 77.9% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Sao Tome and Principe

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Sao Tome geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995

Independence:

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution:

approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990

Legal system:

based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA
CRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [[Patrice TROVOADA];
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social
Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement or
NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES];
Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG other: the media

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA chancery: 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (212) 317-0580 FAX: [1] (212) 935-7348 consulate(s): Atlanta

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Sao Tome and Principe

Economy - overview:

This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005, Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Sao Tome is optimistic about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Real GDP growth exceeded 6% in 2007, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$256 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$144 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.9% industry: 14% services: 71% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

35,050 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

54% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

36.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $63.21 million expenditures: $54.94 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

18% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

28% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

32.4% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$19.99 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$33.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$31.84 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Industries:

light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

18 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

16.74 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 41.2% hydro: 58.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

660 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

659.5 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$55 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$9 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 23.7%, Belgium 23.7%, France 12.9%, US 5.9%, Portugal 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$66 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Portugal 62.2%, US 11.6%, Gabon 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$31.9 million in December 2000 under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) program (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$34.6 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$318 million (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

dobra (STD)

Currency code:

##### STD

Exchange rates:

dobras (STD) per US dollar - 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003)

Communications
Sao Tome and Principe

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,700 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

30,100 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 20 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

38,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2001)

Televisions:

23,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.st

Internet hosts:

1,355 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

23,000 (2007)

Transportation
Sao Tome and Principe

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 6 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 5 foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Sao Tome

Military
Sao Tome and Principe

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of
Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP),
Presidential Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 42,340 females age 16-49: 43,781 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 33,735 females age 16-49: 36,779 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,437 female: 2,394 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Military - note:

Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)

Transnational Issues
Sao Tome and Principe

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Saudi Arabia

Introduction
Saudi Arabia

Background:

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Geography
Saudi Arabia

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of
Yemen

Geographic coordinates:

##### 25 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 2,149,690 sq km land: 2,149,690 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 4,431 km border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Coastline:

2,640 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain:

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use:

arable land: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:

16,200 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

2.4 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%) per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:

desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

People
Saudi Arabia

Population:

28,146,656 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38% (male 5,458,023/female 5,245,911) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,470,353/female 7,284,696) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 356,910/female 330,764) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.5 years male: 22.9 years female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.954% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.85 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.09 years male: 74.04 years female: 78.25 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Religions:

Muslim 100%

Languages:

Arabic

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.8% male: 84.7% female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

6.8% of GDP (2004)

Government
Saudi Arabia

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

name: Riyadh geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence:

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

National holiday:

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution:

governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992

Legal system:

based on Sharia law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; male

Executive branch:

chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king

Legislative branch:

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced

Judicial branch:

Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights) other: gas companies; religious groups

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ford M. FRAKER embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description:

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

Economy
Saudi Arabia

Economy - overview:

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. High oil prices have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly 40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high, and the large youth population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$546 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$376 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3% industry: 63.7% services: 33.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

6.563 million note: about one-third of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $163 billion expenditures: $118.3 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

24.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$102.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$109.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$66.94 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Industries:

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

2.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

156.8 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

10.25 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.311 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

8.9 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

41,680 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

266.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

7.167 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$86.62 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$226.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners:

US 17.1%, Japan 16.3%, South Korea 9.7%, China 8.1%, Taiwan 4.7%,
Singapore 4% (2007)

Imports:

$82.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

Imports - partners:

US 12.6%, China 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, Japan 8.1%, Italy 5%, South
Korea 4.9%, UK 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480 million in budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, supported Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab League funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007; pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and $153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief; pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an additional $1.1 billion in early 2007

Economic aid - recipient:

$26.29 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$34.01 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$326.9 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Saudi riyal (SAR)

Currency code:

##### SAR

Exchange rates:

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003)

Communications
Saudi Arabia

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.996 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

28.381 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

6.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

117 (1997)

Televisions:

5.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sa

Internet hosts:

141,232 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2003)

Internet users:

6.2 million (2007)

Transportation
Saudi Arabia

Airports:

213 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 77 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 136 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Heliports:

8 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,392 km standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 221,372 km paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 62 by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 5, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 7, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 71 (Bahamas 16, Comoros 1, Dominica 2, France 1, Liberia 27, Marshall Islands 5, Norway 3, Panama 16) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Military
Saudi Arabia

Military branches:

Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National
Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,547,441 females age 16-49: 6,381,098 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,398,417 females age 16-49: 5,525,357 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 271,905 female: 261,795 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

10% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Saudi Arabia

Disputes - international:

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking crimes committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)

Illicit drugs:

death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Senegal

Introduction
Senegal

Background:

The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February 2007, but complaints of fraud led opposition parties to boycott June 2007 legislative polls. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.

Geography
Senegal

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Geographic coordinates:

##### 14 00 N, 14 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:

total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

Coastline:

531 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Terrain:

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

Natural resources:

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 12.51% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 87.25% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,200 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

39.4 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%) per capita: 190 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note:

westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

People
Senegal

Population:

12,853,259 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 2,717,257/female 2,668,602) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,524,683/female 3,552,643) 65 years and over: 3% (male 183,188/female 206,886) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.8 years male: 18.6 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.58% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

36.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 58.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 62.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 57.08 years male: 55.7 years female: 58.5 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

44,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese

Ethnic groups:

Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,
Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Religions:

Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%

Languages:

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.3% male: 51.1% female: 29.2% (2002 est.)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2006)

Government
Senegal

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Dakar geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence:

4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Constitution:

adopted 7 January 2001

Legal system:

based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou SOUMARE (since 19 June 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdoulaye WADE reelected president in the first round of voting; percent of vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote with the remaining members elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and the Senate reinstituted in 2007 (100 seats; 35 indirectly elected with the remaining 65 members to be appointed by the president) elections: National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held 2012); note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006; legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25 February 2007 presidential elections and later rescheduled for 3 June 2007; the June election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party, that resulted in a record-low, 35-percent voter turnout; Senate - last held 19 August 2007 (next to be held - NA) election results: National Assembly results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 131, other 19; Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDS 34, AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or
Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders:

African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; And-Jef/African
Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE];
Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic
League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front
for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye
Bamba DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS];
Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Jef-Jel [Talla
SYLLA]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF]; People's
Labor Party or PTP [Elhadji DIOUF]; Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim
AGNE]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition
[Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for Democratic
Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: labor; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315 consulate(s) general: Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marcia S. BERNICAT embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 33-829-2100 FAX: [221] 33-822-2991

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Senegal

Economy - overview:

In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during 1995-2007. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in 2006 and 2007. The phosphate industry has struggled for two years to secure capital, and reduced output has directly impacted GDP. In 2007, Senegal signed agreements for major new mining concessions for iron, zircon, and gold with foreign companies. Firms from Dubai have agreed to manage and modernize Dakar's maritime port, and create a new special economic zone. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal has benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$21.02 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.12 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16% industry: 19.4% services: 64.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.85 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 77.5% industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

48% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

54% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.4% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41.3 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.614 billion expenditures: $3.036 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.842 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.579 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.97 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Industries:

agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.28 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.657 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

36,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

4,298 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

40,450 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

50 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

NA cu m

Natural gas - imports:

NA cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:

NA cu m

Current account balance:

-$1.458 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.65 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Exports - partners:

Mali 18.9%, France 9.1%, Italy 5.9%, India 5.7%, Gambia, The 5.2% (2007)

Imports:

$3.731 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners:

France 22.2%, Netherlands 10%, China 7.4%, UK 6.2%, Thailand 5.2%,
Belgium 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$477 million (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Senegal

Telephones - main lines in use:

269,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.123 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system domestic: above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network; nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a call-center industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line services in rural areas needed; mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system international: country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

1.24 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2007)

Televisions:

361,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sn

Internet hosts:

217 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

820,000 (2007)

Transportation
Senegal

Airports:

20 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 43 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 13,576 km paved: 3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)

Waterways:

1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Dakar

Military
Senegal

Military branches:

Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force
(Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

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

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,943,619 females age 16-49: 2,955,179 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,866,602 females age 16-49: 1,947,076 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 141,832 female: 139,541 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Senegal

Disputes - international:

The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict; 2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 19,630 (Mauritania) IDPs: 22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in 2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Serbia

Introduction
Serbia

Background:

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip TITO (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although Communist, TITO's new government and his successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Serbian Republic and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992, but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccessful - campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC kept tight control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UNSC Resolution 1244 in June 1999 authorized the stationing of a NATO-led force (KFOR) in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region's ethnic communities, created a UN interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to foster self-governing institutions, and reserved the issue of Kosovo's final status for an unspecified date in the future. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a constitutional framework that allowed Kosovo to establish institutions of self-government and led to Kosovo's first parliamentary election. FRY elections in September 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president. A broad coalition of democratic reformist parties known as DOS (the Democratic Opposition of Serbia) was subsequently elected to parliament in December 2000 and took control of the government. DOS arrested MILOSEVIC in 2001 and allowed for him to be tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity. (MILOSEVIC died in March 2006 before the completion of his trial.) In 2001, the country's suspension from the UN was lifted. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics with a federal level parliament. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused the international community to open negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 2006. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right to secede from the federation and - following a successful referendum - it declared itself an independent nation on 3 June 2006. Two days later, Serbia declared that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. A new Serbian constitution was approved in October 2006 and adopted the following month. After 15 months of inconclusive negotiations mediated by the UN and four months of further inconclusive negotiations mediated by the US, EU, and Russia, on 17 February 2008, the UNMIK-administered province of Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia.

Geography
Serbia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Geographic coordinates:

##### 44 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 2,026 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km,
Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km,
Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)

Terrain:

extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: NA highest point: Midzor 2,169 m

Natural resources:

oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land

Land use:

arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

208.5 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2003)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East

People
Serbia

Population:

10,159,046 note: all population data includes Kosovo (July 2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.5 years male: 36.1 years female: 39 years (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.29 years male: 72.7 years female: 78.09 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian

Ethnic groups:

Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs 1.1%,
Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)

Religions:

Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)

Languages:

Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census) note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all official in Vojvodina

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.4% male: 98.9% female: 94.1% (2003 census) note: includes Montenegro

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Serbia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

161 municipalities (opcstine, singular - opcstina)
Serbia Proper: Beograd: Barajevo, Cukavica, Grocka, Lazarevac,
Mladnovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski
Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zrezdara;
Borski Okrug: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevski Okrug:
Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste,
Zabari, Zagubica; Jablanicki Okrug: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane,
Leskovac, Medvedja, Vlasotince; Kolubarski Okrug: Lajkovac, Ljig,
Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo; Macvanski Okrug: Bogatic, Koceljeva,
Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Mali Zvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci;
Moravicki Okrug: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani;
Nisavski Okrug: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis,
Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinjski Okrug: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo,
Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladicin Han, Vranje; Pirotski Okrug:
Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavski Okrug:
Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravski Okrug:
Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rckovac, Svilajnac; Rasinski
Okrug: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin;
Raski Okrug: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja;
Sumadijski Okrug: Arandjelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo,
Raca, Topola; Toplicki Okrug: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje,
Zitoradja; Zajecarski Okrug: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja,
Zalecar; Zlatiborski Okrug: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cajetina,
Kosjeric, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice
Vojvodina Autonomous Province: Juzno-Backi Okrug: Backi Petrovac,
Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Temerin, Titel, Zabalj; Juzno
Banatski Okrug: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo,
Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; Severno-Backi Okrug: Backa Topola, Mali
Idjos, Subotica; Severno-Banatski Okrug: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza,
Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta; Srednje-Banatski Okrug: Nova Crnja,
Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Sremski Okrug: Indjija,
Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova;
Zapadno-Backi Okrug: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor

Independence:

5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

National holiday:

National Day, 15 February

Constitution:

adopted 8 November 2006; effective 10 November 2006

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Mirko CVETKOVIC (since 7 July 2008) cabinet: Federal Ministries act as cabinet elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister elected by the Assembly election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second round of voting; Boris TADIC received 51.2% of the vote and Tomislav NIKOLIC 48.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (250 seats; deputies elected by direct vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 11 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - For a European Serbia coalition 38.4%, SRS 29.5%, DSS-NS 11.6%, coalition led by the SPS 7.6%, LPD 5.2%, other 7.7%; seats by party - For a European Serbia 102, SRS 78, DSS-NS 30, coalition led by the SPS 20, LDP 13, other 7; note - the seat allocation for the SNS is uncertain because of an ongoing dispute with the SRS

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (to become court of cassation under new constitution), appellate courts, district courts, municipal courts

Political parties and leaders:

Coalition of Albanians of the Presevo Valley or KAPD [Riza HALIMI];
Coalition for Sandzak or KZS [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Democratic Party
of Albanians or PDSh [Ragmi MUSTAFA]; Democratic Party of Serbia or
DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party or DS [Boris TADIC];
Democratic Union of the Valley or BDL [Skender DESTANI]; For a
European Serbia [Boris TADIC]; Force of Serbia Movement or PSS
[Bogoljub KARIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC]; League of Vojvodina
Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASTOR]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
[Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Movement for Democratic Progress or LPD [Jonuz
MUSLIU]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Party of Democratic Action
or PVD [Riza HALIMI]; Roma Party or RP [Srdjan SAJN]; Serbian
Progressive Party or SNS [Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Radical Party
or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ (currently on trial at The Hague), but
Tomislav NIKOLIC is acting leader]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS
[Ivica DACIC]; Union of Roma of Serbia or URS [Rajko DJURIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD (suspended), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron MUNTER embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344 FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230

Flag description:

three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy
Serbia

Economy - overview:

MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000, a down-sized Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World Bank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. In November 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reschedule the country's $4.5 billion public debt and wrote off 66% of the debt. In July 2004, the London Club of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt just over half the total owed. Belgrade has made only minimal progress in restructuring and privatizing its holdings in major sectors of the economy, including energy and telecommunications. It has made halting progress towards EU membership and is currently pursuing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels. Serbia is also pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization. Unemployment remains an ongoing political and economic problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$77.28 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$41.68 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.3% industry: 24.2% services: 63.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.961 million (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 30% industry: 46% services: 24% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

18.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

6.5% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.6 billion expenditures: $9.8 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:

37% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.8% (2007)

Central bank discount rate:

9.57% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.13% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.632 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$12.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$13.44 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, raspberries, beef, pork, milk

Industries:

sugar, agricultural machinery, electrical and communication equipment, paper and pulp, lead, transportation equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

1.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

33.87 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

12.05 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports:

11.23 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:

11,410 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:

NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

77.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

650 million cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.55 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$6.889 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.824 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment

Imports:

$18.35 billion (2007 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro (disbursements to follow over several years; some aid pledged by EU and US has been placed on hold because of lack of cooperation by Serbia in handing over General Ratko MLADIC to the criminal court in The Hague)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.22 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$26.24 billion (includes debt for Montenegro and Kosovo) (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$11.95 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.409 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Serbian dinar (RSD)

Exchange rates:

Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 54.5 (2007), 59.98 (2006)

Communications
Serbia

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.993 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.453 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war and transition to a competitive market-based system; network was only 65% digitalized in 2005 domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboring states; GSM wireless service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications service limited to urban centers international: country code - 381

Radio broadcast stations:

153 (station types NA) (2001)

Internet country code:

.rs

Internet hosts:

##### NA

Internet users:

1.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Serbia

Airports:

39 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,921 km; oil 393 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,379 km standard gauge: 3,379 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 1,254 km) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 36,875 km paved: 31,392 km unpaved: 5,483 km note: roadways in Kosovo listed separately (2006)

Waterways:

587 km (primarily on Danube and Sava rivers) (2005)

Military
Serbia

Military branches:

Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces Command
(includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the
Danube), Joint Operations Command, Air and Air Defense Forces
Command (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

19-35 years of age for compulsory military service; under a state of war or impending war, conscription can begin at age 16; conscription is to be abolished in 2010; 9-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 60 for men and 50 for women (2007)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 66,263 female: 62,165 (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues
Serbia

Disputes - international:

Serbia with several other states protest the U.S. and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 71,111 (Croatia); 27,414 (Bosnia and Herzegovina); 206,000 (Kosovo), note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999 (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Seychelles

Introduction
Seychelles

Background:

A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.

Geography
Seychelles

Location:

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

##### 4 35 S, 55 40 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

491 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

Terrain:

Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Natural resources:

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Land use:

arable land: 2.17% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 84.79% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible

Environment - current issues:

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

People
Seychelles

Population:

82,247 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.9% (male 10,337/female 10,108) 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 27,752/female 29,048) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,575/female 3,427) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.7 years male: 27.6 years female: 29.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.428% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.6 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.6 years male: 67.27 years female: 78.1 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

Ethnic groups:

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Religions:

Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)

Languages:

Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.8% male: 91.4% female: 92.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

6.5% of GDP (2006)

Government
Seychelles

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse
Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau
Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe),
Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont
Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint
Louis, Takamaka

Independence:

29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Constitution:

18 June 1993

Legal system:

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%, Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in which President James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; Seychelles
National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United
Opposition or UO); Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF
[France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Roman Catholic Church other: trade unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Flag description:

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Economy
Seychelles

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Economic growth slowed in 1998-2002 and fell in 2003-04, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2005-07. Real GDP grew by 5.8% in 2007, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.378 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$710 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 28.3% services: 69.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

39,560 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

8.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $372.3 million expenditures: $362.2 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

92.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.13% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.89% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$330.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$249 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$660.2 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna

Industries:

fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

208 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

193.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

5,722 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$272 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$395 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners:

UK 23.7%, France 19.8%, Mauritius 10%, Japan 8.3%, Italy 5.7%, Spain 5.1% (2007)

Imports:

$823 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 17.6%, Germany 10.8%, France 8.1%, Spain 7.6%, South
Africa 6.4%, Singapore 5.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$18.81 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$40.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code:

##### SCR

Exchange rates:

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003)

Communications
Seychelles

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,700 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

77,300 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: effective system domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 125 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

42,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sc

Internet hosts:

284 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

32,000 (2007)

Transportation
Seychelles

Airports:

15 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 458 km paved: 440 km unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6 foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Victoria

Military
Seychelles

Military branches:

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing,
Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 23,598 females age 16-49: 24,424 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,942 females age 16-49: 20,436 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 770 female: 750 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Seychelles

Disputes - international:

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Sierra Leone

Introduction
Sierra Leone

Background:

Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007 presidential election, but still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.

Geography
Sierra Leone

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use:

arable land: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005)

Irrigated land:

300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

160 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%) per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment - current issues:

rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa

People
Sierra Leone

Population:

6,294,774 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.6% (male 1,377,981/female 1,429,993) 15-64 years: 52.2% (male 1,573,990/female 1,708,840) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 94,359/female 109,611) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.5 years male: 17.2 years female: 17.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.282% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

45.08 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

22.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 156.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 173.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 138.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 40.93 years male: 38.64 years female: 43.28 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

170,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

11,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups:

20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Religions:

Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%

Languages:

English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 35.1% male: 46.9% female: 24.4% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 6 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2005)

Government
Sierra Leone

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone local short form: Sierra Leone

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

name: Freetown geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*

Independence:

27 April 1961 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Constitution:

1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Legal system:

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 August 2007 and 8 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: second round results; percent of vote - Ernest Bai KOROMA 54.6%, Solomon BEREWA 45.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 11 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 59, SLPP 43, PMDC 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace and
Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON]; People's Movement for
Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI]; Sierra Leone People's
Party or SLPP [Solomon BEREWA]; numerous others

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: student unions; trade unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIT,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263 FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or [232] (76) 515 000 FAX: [232] (22) 515 355

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

Economy
Sierra Leone

Economy - overview:

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its physical and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. Nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a revival of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of bauxite and rutile mining.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.991 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.664 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 49% industry: 31% services: 21% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

1.369 million (1981 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

70.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

62.9 (1989)

Budget:

revenues: $96 million expenditures: $351 million (2000 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

25% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$184.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$177.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$162.9 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Industries:

diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

250 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

232.5 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0.7008 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,430 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

432.3 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

8,271 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$63 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$216 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners:

Belgium 49.3%, US 20.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, Canada 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$560 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Cote d'Ivoire 10%, China 10%, US 9.5%, UK 6.2%, Netherlands 5.1%,
India 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$343.4 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.61 billion (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

leone (SLL)

Currency code:

##### SLL

Exchange rates:

leones (SLL) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2,961.7 (2006), 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003)

Communications
Sierra Leone

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

776,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: marginal telephone service domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

1.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1999)

Televisions:

53,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sl

Internet hosts:

8 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

13,000 (2007)

Transportation
Sierra Leone

Airports:

10 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways:

800 km (600 km year round) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 182 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 143, carrier 2, chemical tanker 3, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 95 (Belgium 1, China 15, Egypt 3, Greece 1, Hong Kong 1, Lebanon 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 11, Syria 18, Taiwan 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 10, UAE 8, UK 2, US 1, Yemen 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Military
Sierra Leone

Military branches:

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Navy
(Maritime Wing), Air Wing) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,315,561 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 671,418 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 70,068 female: 73,930 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Sierra Leone

Disputes - international:

as domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups, rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone gradually abate, the number of refugees in border areas has begun to slowly dwindle; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone considers excessive Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 27,311 (Liberia) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Singapore

Introduction
Singapore

Background:

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

Geography
Singapore

Location:

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 22 N, 103 48 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 692.7 sq km land: 682.7 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

193 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms

Terrain:

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Natural resources:

fish, deepwater ports

Land use:

arable land: 1.47% permanent crops: 1.47% other: 97.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

0.6 cu km (1975)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%) per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

People
Singapore

Population:

4,608,167 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 353,333/female 329,005) 15-64 years: 76.5% (male 1,717,357/female 1,809,462) 65 years and over: 8.7% (male 177,378/female 221,632) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.4 years male: 38 years female: 38.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.135% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.89 years male: 79.29 years female: 84.68 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

4,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)

Languages:

Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 96.6% female: 88.6% (2000 census)

Education expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2001)

Government
Singapore

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore local long form: Republic of Singapore local short form: Singapore

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Singapore geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National holiday:

National Day, 9 August (1965)

Constitution:

3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999) note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004) and WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005) cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August 2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN appointed president in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members elections: last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%, SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders:

People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Singapore Democratic
Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP
[CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore
National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

UNFEM [Saleeman ISMAIL] other: investment companies; news organizations

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNMIT, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876 consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001 telephone: [65] 6476-9100 FAX: [65] 6476-9340

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

Economy
Singapore

Economy - overview:

Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest West European countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics and information technology products. It was hard hit from 2001-03 by the global recession, by the slump in the technology sector, and by an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which curbed tourism and consumer spending. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004-07 with real GDP growth averaging 7% annually. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the global demand cycle for information technology products - it has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production - and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$227.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$161.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$49,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0% industry: 31.2% services: 68.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.751 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 21%, construction 5%, transportation and communication 7%, financial, business, and other services 42%, other 25% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

2.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

52.2 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $27 billion expenditures: $21.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

96.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.33% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$44.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$162.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$129.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish

Industries:

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade

Industrial production growth rate:

7.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

38.68 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

35.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

9,836 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

834,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.203 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

2.003 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.5 billion cu m note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$46.39 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$302.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels

Exports - partners:

Malaysia 12.9%, Hong Kong 10.5%, Indonesia 9.8%, China 9.7%, US 8.9%, Japan 4.8%, Thailand 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$252 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Malaysia 13.1%, US 12.5%, China 12.1%, Japan 8.2%, Taiwan 5.9%,
Indonesia 5.6%, South Korea 4.9% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$0 (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$163 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$25.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$214.5 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$111.2 billion (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$382.4 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

Singapore dollar (SGD)

Currency code:

##### SGD

Exchange rates:

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)

Communications
Singapore

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.859 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.619 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent service domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 165 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations -4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 17, shortwave 2 (2003)

Radios:

2.6 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (broadcasting on six channels); additional reception of numerous UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia (2006)

Televisions:

1.33 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sg

Internet hosts:

837,559 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

3.105 million (2007)

Transportation
Singapore

Airports:

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 139 km; refined products 8 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 3,262 km paved: 3,262 km (includes 150 km of expressways) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,292 by type: bulk carrier 167, cargo 87, carrier 5, chemical tanker 209, container 273, liquefied gas 96, petroleum tanker 386, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 53 foreign-owned: 774 (Australia 12, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 8, Chile 6, China 14, Cyprus 1, Denmark 87, France 1, Germany 24, Greece 15, Hong Kong 47, India 13, Indonesia 66, Italy 5, Japan 131, South Korea 3, Malaysia 27, Norway 143, Slovenia 1, Sweden 20, Switzerland 2, Taiwan 72, Thailand 23, UAE 12, UK 17, US 22) registered in other countries: 331 (Australia 1, Bahamas 17, Belize 2, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 10, Comoros 1, Cyprus 3, Dominica 7, France 2, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 18, Indonesia 27, Isle of Man 1, Kiribati 4, Liberia 32, Malaysia 16, Marshall Islands 18, Mongolia 9, Norway 1, Panama 100, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Thailand 2, Tuvalu 23, US 12, unknown 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Singapore

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military
Singapore

Military branches:

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,277,862 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,038,603 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 27,742 female: 26,325 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Singapore

Disputes - international:

disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings as a consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Illicit drugs:

drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Slovakia

Introduction
Slovakia

Background:

The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography
Slovakia

Location:

Central Europe, south of Poland

Geographic coordinates:

##### 48 40 N, 19 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 48,845 sq km land: 48,800 sq km water: 45 sq km

Area - comparative:

about twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:

total: 1,474 km border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:

rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Natural resources:

brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

Land use:

arable land: 29.23% permanent crops: 2.67% other: 68.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,830 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

50.1 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.04 per capita: 193 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

People
Slovakia

Population:

5,455,407 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.1% (male 448,083/female 427,643) 15-64 years: 71.7% (male 1,947,112/female 1,961,788) 65 years and over: 12.3% (male 250,787/female 419,994) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.5 years male: 34.8 years female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.143% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.17 years male: 71.23 years female: 79.32 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak

Ethnic groups:

Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

Languages:

Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2005)

Government
Slovakia

Country name:

conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Bratislava geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

Independence:

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

Constitution:

ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership

Legal system:

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 July 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Dusan CAPLOVIC, Robert KALINAK, Stefan HARABIN, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 April and 17 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 59.9%, Vladimir MECIAR 40.1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 17 June 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 29.1%, SDKU 18.4%, SMK 11.7%, SNS 11.7%, LS-HZDS 8.8%, KDH 8.3%, other 12%; seats by party - Smer 50, SDKU 31, SMK 20, SNS 19, LS-HZDS 16, KDH 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council); Special Court (judges elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)

Political parties and leaders:

Parties in the Parliament: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH
[Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert
FICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Pal CSAKY]; People's
Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir
MECIAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU-DS [Mikulas
DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]; Parties outside
the Parliament: Agrarian Party of the Provinces or ASV [Jozef
VASKEBA]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter TATAR]; Free Forum
[Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Hope or NADEJ [Alexandra NOVOTNA]; Left-wing
Bloc or LB [Jozef KALMAN]; Mission 21 - New Christian Democracy or
MISIA 21 [Ivan SIMKO]; Movement for Democracy or HZD [Jozef GRAPA];
New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party of the Democratic
Left or SDL [Ladislav KOZMON]; Prosperita Slovenska or PS [Frantisek
A. ZVRSKOVEC]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Vladimir DADO]; Slovak
National Coalition or SLNKO [Vitazoslav MORIC]; Slovak People's
Party or SLS [Jozef SASIK]; Union of the Workers of Slovakia or ZRS
[Jan LUPTAK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade
Unions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS;
Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic;
National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and
Industry or SOPK; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter BURIAN chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent OBSITNIK embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Economy
Slovakia

Economy - overview:

Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA government made excellent progress during 2001-04 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies such as labor market liberalization and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive sector has been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-07 despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 8.6% in 2007 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and will be the second of the new EU member states to adopt the euro in 2009 if it continues to meet euro adoption criteria in 2008. Despite its 2006 pre-election promises to loosen fiscal policy and reverse the previous DZURINDA government's pro-market reforms, FICO's cabinet has thus far been careful to keep a lid on spending in order to meet euro adoption criteria. The FICO government is pursuing a state-interventionist economic policy, however, and has pushed to regulate energy and food prices.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$110.2 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$74.99 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$20,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 33.5% services: 63.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.654 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5.8%, industry 29.3%, construction 9%, services 55.9% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

8.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $34.34 billion expenditures: $35.99 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

35.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.99% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$26.17 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$21.11 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$41.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Industries:

metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Industrial production growth rate:

17.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

26.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

26 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

11.85 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

12.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 30.3% hydro: 16% nuclear: 53.6% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

12,770 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

82,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

72,240 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

134,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

9 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

128 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.216 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

180 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.268 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$3.998 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$57.53 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)

Exports - partners:

Germany 21.4%, Czech Republic 12.6%, France 6.7%, Italy 6.4%, Poland 6.2%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5.8%, UK 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$58.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 41.1%, intermediate manufactured goods 19.3%, fuels 12.3%, chemicals 9.8%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 10.2% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 22.1%, Czech Republic 17.3%, Russia 9.2%, Hungary 6.7%,
Austria 5.1%, Poland 4.9%, South Korea 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$235 million in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$18.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$36.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$45.25 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.509 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.574 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Slovak koruna (SKK)

Currency code:

##### SKK

Exchange rates:

Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006), 31.018 (2005), 32.257 (2004), 36.773 (2003)

Communications
Slovakia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.151 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.068 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

80 (national broadcasting 6, regional 7, local 67) (2004)

Televisions:

2.62 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sk

Internet hosts:

717,744 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

2.35 million (2007)

Transportation
Slovakia

Airports:

35 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,662 km broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified) narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 43,761 km paved: 38,085 km (includes 316 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2006)

Waterways:

172 km (on Danube River) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 51 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 42, refrigerated cargo 4 foreign-owned: 47 (Bulgaria 6, Germany 3, Greece 2, Ireland 1, Israel 4, Italy 2, Poland 2, Russia 1, Slovenia 1, Syria 2, Turkey 10, Ukraine 12, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bratislava, Komarno

Military
Slovakia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,420,966 females age 16-49: 1,386,259 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,166,833 females age 16-49: 1,156,874 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 38,183 female: 36,388 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Slovakia

Disputes - international:

bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Slovenia

Introduction
Slovenia

Background:

The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography
Slovenia

Location:

Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 46 07 N, 14 49 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 20,273 sq km land: 20,151 sq km water: 122 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,086 km border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 199 km

Coastline:

46.6 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east

Terrain:

a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources:

lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests

Land use:

arable land: 8.53% permanent crops: 1.43% other: 90.04% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

32.1 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.9 per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

flooding and earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes

People
Slovenia

Population:

2,007,711 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.6% (male 140,686/female 132,778) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 709,689/female 697,862) 65 years and over: 16.3% (male 127,313/female 199,383) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.4 years male: 39.8 years female: 42.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.088% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.73 years male: 73.04 years female: 80.66 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

280 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian

Ethnic groups:

Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)

Religions:

Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)

Languages:

Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: NA total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.6%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6% of GDP (2005)

Government
Slovenia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenija local short form: Slovenija former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Ljubljana geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )
Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke,
Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica,
Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno,
Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca,
Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec,
Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale,
Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja
Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina,
Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina,
Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice,
Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*,
Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart,
Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska
Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk,
Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na
Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce,
Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje,
Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica,
Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka,
Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci,
Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na
Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska
Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic,
Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju,
Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*,
Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob
Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse,
Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij,
Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic,
Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej,
Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica,
Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica,
Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: the Government of Slovenia has reported 210 municipalities

Independence:

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 23 December 1991

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 October and 11 November 2007 (next to be held in the fall of 2012); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 November 2004 (next National Assembly elections to be held in October 2008) election results: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote - Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Janez JANSA elected prime minister by National Assembly vote - 57 to 27 in 2004

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of a National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 members are directly elected and 50 are elected on a proportional basis; note - the number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; the constitution mandates 1 seat each for Slovenia's Hungarian and Italian minorities; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve five-year terms; note - this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decision, and call national referenda) elections: National Assembly - last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held 8 October 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - SD 30.5%, SDS 29.3%, ZARES 9.4%, DeSUS 7.5%, SNS 5.5%, SLS+SMS 5.2%, LDS 5.2%, other 7.4%; seats by party - SD 29, SDS 28, ZARES 9, DeSUS 7, SNS 5, SLS+SMS 5, LDS 5, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court (judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Katarina KRESAL]; New Slovenia
or NSi [Andrej BAJUK]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez
JANSA]; Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl
ERJAVEC]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene
People's Party or SLS [Bojan SROT]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS
[Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR] (formerly
ZLSD); ZARES [Gregor Golobic]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners or DeSUS (protecting the rights of the older generation); Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC] other: Catholic Church

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO,
NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mariam MOZGAN chancery: 2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601 FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633 consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif B. GHAFARI embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140 telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500 FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Economy
Slovenia

Economy - overview:

Slovenia, which on 1 January 2007 became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro, is a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In December 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$56.19 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$46.08 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$28,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 34.4% services: 63.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

925,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 36% services: 61.5% (2007)

Unemployment rate:

7.7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

12.9% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

24 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $19.17 billion expenditures: $19.04 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.82% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$9.347 billion note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$12.69 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Industrial production growth rate:

9.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

14.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

13.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

5.894 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

6.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 35.2% hydro: 27.3% nuclear: 36.8% other: 0.7% (2001)

Oil - production:

5 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

54,310 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

4,535 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

59,110 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

4 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.105 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.073 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$2.181 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$27.06 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Exports - partners:

Germany 18.7%, Italy 12.5%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7.5%, France 5.9%,
Russia 4.4% (2007)

Imports:

$29.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food

Imports - partners:

Germany 18.1%, Italy 17.1%, Austria 11.7%, France 5%, Croatia 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $484 million (2004-06)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.682 billion (30 September 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$40.42 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$10.41 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$6.127 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$15.18 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 2007, the euro became Slovenia's currency; both the tolar and the euro were in circulation from 1 January until 15 January 2007

Currency code:

##### SIT

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), tolars per US dollar - 190.85 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003) note: Slovenia adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2007

Communications
Slovenia

Telephones - main lines in use:

857,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.928 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: well-developed telecommunications infrastructure domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 386

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 10, FM 230, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:

805,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

31 (2006)

Televisions:

710,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.si

Internet hosts:

75,984 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:

1.3 million (2007)

Transportation
Slovenia

Airports:

14 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 840 km; oil 11 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,229 km standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 38,562 km paved: 38,562 km (includes 579 km of expressways) (2006)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas 1, Cyprus 4, Liberia 3, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Koper

Military
Slovenia

Military branches:

Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 494,496 females age 16-49: 481,180 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 406,951 females age 16-49: 395,444 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 10,516 female: 9,934 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Slovenia

Disputes - international:

the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

Illicit drugs:

minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Solomon Islands

Introduction
Solomon Islands

Background:

The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Geography
Solomon Islands

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua
New Guinea

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 S, 159 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 28,450 sq km land: 27,540 sq km water: 910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

5,313 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Natural resources:

fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel

Land use:

arable land: 0.62% permanent crops: 2.04% other: 97.34% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

44.7 cu km (1987)

Natural hazards:

typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of the capital Honiara, the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially hard hit

People
Solomon Islands

Population:

581,318 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.1% (male 118,856/female 114,173) 15-64 years: 56.5% (male 166,004/female 162,317) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 9,487/female 10,481) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.4 years male: 19.3 years female: 19.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.467% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

28.48 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.44 years male: 70.9 years female: 76.1 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander

Ethnic groups:

Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

Religions:

Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas
Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%,
Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%,
unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

Languages:

Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English (official; but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population); 120 indigenous languages

Literacy:

##### NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 8 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (1999)

Government
Solomon Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands local long form: none local short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Honiara geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Independence:

7 July 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution:

7 July 1978

Legal system:

English common law, which is widely disregarded; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Derek SIKUA (since 20 December 2007); note - Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE defeated in a no confidence vote in parliament on 13 December 2007; SIKUA elected on 20 December 2007 cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 5 April 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 6.9%, PAP 6.3%, SIPRA 6.3%, Liberal 5%, Democratic 4.9%, SOCRED 4.3%, LAFARI 2.8%, independents 60.3%; seats by party - National Party 4, SIPRA 4, Democratic 3, PAP 3, LAFARI 2, Liberal 2, SOCRED 2, independents 30

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA] note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note - these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193 FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands

Flag description:

divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

Government - note:

by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the region

Economy
Solomon Islands

Economy - overview:

The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$948 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$358 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 42% industry: 11% services: 47% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

249,200 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75% industry: 5% services: 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $49.7 million expenditures: $75.1 million (2003)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.3% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.12% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$118.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$57.89 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$126.9 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

Industries:

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

70 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

70 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,426 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$143 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$237 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners:

China 50.8%, South Korea 7%, Thailand 6.5%, Japan 5.7%, Philippines 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$256 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Singapore 28.2%, Australia 25.4%, Japan 4.6%, NZ 4.5%, Fiji 4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$198.2 million annually, mainly from Australia (2005 est.)

Debt - external:

$166 million (2004)

Currency (code):

Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)

Currency code:

##### SBD

Exchange rates:

Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 7.3447 (2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003)

Communications
Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,600 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10,900 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

57,000 (1997)

Televisions:

3,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sb

Internet hosts:

3,804 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

8,000 (2006)

Transportation
Solomon Islands

Airports:

35 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,360 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 1,327 km note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor

Military
Solomon Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 141,051 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 116,891 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,924 female: 6,679 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Solomon Islands

Disputes - international:

since 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Somalia

Introduction
Somalia

Background:

Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a degree of stability in the country for a couple of decades. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. A two-year peace process, led by the Government of Kenya under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and the formation of an interim government, known as the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs). The Somalia TFIs include a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA), a transitional Prime Minister, Nur "Adde" Hassan HUSSEIN, and a 90-member cabinet. The TFIs are based on the Transitional Federal Charter, which outlines a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. While its institutions remain weak, the TFG continues to reach out to Somali stakeholders and work with international donors to help build the governance capacity of the TFIs and work towards national elections in 2009. In June 2006, a loose coalition of clerics, business leaders, and Islamic court militias known as the Council of Islamic Courts (CIC) defeated powerful Mogadishu warlords and took control of the capital. The Courts continued to expand militarily throughout much of southern Somalia and threatened to overthrow the TFG in Baidoa. Ethiopian and TFG forces, concerned over links between some CIC factions and the al-Qaida East Africa network and the al-Qaida operatives responsible for the bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998, intervened in late December 2006, resulting in the collapse of the CIC as an organization. However, the TFG continues to face violent resistance from extremist elements, such as the al-Shabaab militia previously affiliated with the now-defunct CIC.

Geography
Somalia

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,340 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline:

3,025 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

Natural resources:

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Land use:

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 98.32% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

15.7 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.29 cu km/yr (0%/0%/100%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season

Environment - current issues:

famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography - note:

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

People
Somalia

Population:

9,558,666 note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 2,143,758/female 2,132,869) 15-64 years: 52.8% (male 2,525,562/female 2,516,879) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 100,655/female 138,943) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.5 years male: 17.4 years female: 17.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.824% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

44.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

15.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 110.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 120.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 101.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.25 years male: 47.43 years female: 51.12 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

43,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

Ethnic groups:

Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

Religions:

Sunni Muslim

Languages:

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.8% male: 49.7% female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Somalia

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed local short form: Soomaaliya former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

Government type:

no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

Capital:

name: Mogadishu geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,
Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe,
Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha
Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence:

1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

National holiday:

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

Constitution:

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

Legal system:

no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian law, Islamic Sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Transitional Federal President Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a transitional governing entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs relocated to Somalia in June 2004 head of government: Prime Minister Nur "Adde" HASSAN Hussein (since 24 November 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Transitional Federal Assembly election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the former leader of the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly note: unicameral Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA) (275 seats; 244 members appointed by the four major clans (61 for each clan), 31 seats allocated to smaller clans and subclans)

Judicial branch:

following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional Somali customary law, or Sharia (Islamic) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in support and in opposition to the transitional government

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the TFG is represented in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

Flag description:

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

Government - note:

although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia and the semi-autonomous State of Puntland in northeastern Somalia

Economy
Somalia

Economy - overview:

Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia has maintained a healthy informal economy, largely based on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Somalia's service sector also has grown. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate and are supported with private-security militias. Somalia's arrears to the IMF continued to grow in 2006-07. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami caused an estimated 150 deaths and resulted in destruction of property in coastal areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.387 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.509 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 65% industry: 10% services: 25% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

3.7 million (few skilled laborers) (1975)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 71% industry and services: 29% (1975)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Fiscal year:

##### NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%; note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be easily determined

Agriculture - products:

bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Industries:

a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

280 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

260.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,040 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

4,772 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Exports:

$300 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners:

UAE 50.7%, Yemen 21%, Oman 6.1% (2007)

Imports:

$798 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat

Imports - partners:

Djibouti 34.4%, India 9.1%, Kenya 9%, Oman 6%, UAE 5.6%, Yemen 5.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$236.4 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:

$3 billion (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

Somali shilling (SOS)

Currency code:

##### SOS

Exchange rates:

Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1,438.3 (2006) official rate; the unofficial black market rate was about 23,000 shillings per dollar as of February 2007 note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling

Communications
Somalia

Telephones - main lines in use:

100,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

600,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and charge the lowest international rates on the continent domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: country code - 252; international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 11 (also 1 station each in Puntland and Somaliland), shortwave 1 (in Mogadishu) (2001)

Radios:

470,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2 in Mogadishu and 2 in Hargeisa) (2001)

Televisions:

135,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.so

Internet hosts:

1 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)

Internet users:

98,000 (2007)

Transportation
Somalia

Airports:

67 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 60 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Berbera, Kismaayo

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom

Military
Somalia

Military branches:

no national-level armed forces (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,181,050 females age 16-49: 2,125,558 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,274,783 females age 16-49: 1,317,991 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 95,446 female: 95,339 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Somalia

Disputes - international:

Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1.1 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@South Africa

Introduction
South Africa

Background:

Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together under the Union of South Africa. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in black majority rule.

Geography
South Africa

Location:

Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Geographic coordinates:

##### 29 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,219,912 sq km land: 1,219,912 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,862 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Coastline:

2,798 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Terrain:

vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources:

gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 12.1% permanent crops: 0.79% other: 87.11% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,980 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

50 cu km (1990)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.5 cu km/yr (31%/6%/63%) per capita: 264 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

prolonged droughts

Environment - current issues:

lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

People
South Africa

Population:

48,782,756 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.2% (male 7,147,151/female 7,120,183) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 16,057,340/female 15,889,750) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 1,050,287/female 1,518,044) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.2 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.828% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

16.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 45.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.89 years male: 49.63 years female: 48.15 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

21.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5.3 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

370,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: South African(s) adjective: South African

Ethnic groups:

black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census)

Religions:

Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 87% female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5.4% of GDP (2006)

Government
South Africa

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Pretoria (administrative capital) geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West, Western Cape

Independence:

31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared) 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

National holiday:

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

Constitution:

10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the
Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then
President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 4
February 1997

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 25 September 2008); Executive Deputy President Baleka MBETE (since 25 September 2008); note - Thabo MBEKI resigned as president effective 25 September 2008; the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 25 September 2008); Executive Deputy President Baleka MBETE (since 25 September 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 September 2008 (next to be held in April 2009); note - Kgalema MOTLANTHE is serving out the term of Thabo MBEKI election results: Kgalema MOTLANTHE elected president; National Assembly vote - Kgalema MOTLANTHE 269, Joe SEREMANE 50, other 41; note - Thabo MBEKI resigned as president effective 25 September 2008, Kgalema MOTLANTHE is serving the remainder of his term

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note - following the implementation of the new constitution on 4 February 1997, the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new constitution elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held on 14 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 69.7%, DA 12.4%, IFP 7%, UDM 2.3%, NNP 1.7%, ACDP 1.6%, other 5.3%; seats by party - ANC 279, DA 50, IFP 28, UDM 9, NNP 7, ACDP 6, other 21; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts;
Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE]; African
National Congress or ANC [Jacob ZUMA]; Democratic Alliance or DA
[Helen ZILLE]; Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter MULDER]; Inkatha
Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI]; New National Party or
NNP; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Motsoko PHEKO]; United
Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president] note: note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, NSG, OPCW,
PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Welile Augustine NHLAPO chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric BOST embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Flag description:

two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes

Economy
South Africa

Economy - overview:

South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock exchange that is 17th largest in the world; and modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region. Growth has been robust since 2004, as South Africa has reaped the benefits of macroeconomic stability and a global commodities boom. However, unemployment remains high and outdated infrastructure has constrained growth. At the end of 2007, South Africa began to experience an electricity crisis because state power supplier Eskom suffered supply problems with aged plants, necessitating "load-shedding" cuts to residents and businesses in the major cities. Daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era - especially poverty, lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups, and a shortage of public transportation. South African economic policy is fiscally conservative but pragmatic, focusing on controlling inflation, maintaining a budget surplus, and using state-owned enterprises to deliver basic services to low-income areas as a means to increase job growth and household income.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$467.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$282.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.2% industry: 31.3% services: 65.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

20.49 million economically active (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 9% industry: 26% services: 65% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

24.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

65 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $83.47 billion expenditures: $82.02 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

31.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.5% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

11% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$58.49 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$141.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$254.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Industries:

mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

264 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

241.4 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

13.77 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

11.32 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 93.5% hydro: 1.1% nuclear: 5.5% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

199,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

504,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

267,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

319,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.9 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.1 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

27.16 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$20.63 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$76.19 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment

Exports - partners:

US 11.9%, Japan 11.1%, Germany 8%, UK 7.7%, China 6.6%, Netherlands 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$81.89 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Germany 10.9%, China 10%, Spain 8.2%, US 7.2%, Japan 6.1%, UK 4.5%,
Saudi Arabia 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$700 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$32.94 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$39.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$93.51 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$53.98 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$842 billion (January 2008)

Currency (code):

rand (ZAR)

Currency code:

##### ZAR

Exchange rates:

rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Communications
South Africa

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.642 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

42.3 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 110 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber optic cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

17 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

6 million (2000)

Internet country code:

.za

Internet hosts:

1.297 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

150 (2001)

Internet users:

5.1 million (2005)

Transportation
South Africa

Airports:

728 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 146 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 67 under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 582 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 300 under 914 m: 248 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 100 km; gas 1,177 km; oil 992 km; refined products 1,379 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 20,872 km narrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (8,931 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 362,099 km paved: 73,506 km (includes 239 km of expressways) unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1) registered in other countries: 8 (Bahamas 1, Nigeria 1, NZ 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Seychelles 1, UK 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay

Military
South Africa

Military branches:

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army,
South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint
Operations Command, Military Intelligence, Military Health Services
(2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a long history of military service in noncombat roles dating back to World War I (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,622,507 females age 16-49: 11,501,537 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,042,498 females age 16-49: 5,471,103 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 529,201 female: 522,678 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.7% of GDP (2006)

Military - note:

with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

Transnational Issues
South Africa

Disputes - international:

South Africa has placed military along the border to apprehend the thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing economic dysfunction and political persecution; as of January 2007, South Africa also supports large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (33,000), Somalia (20,000), Burundi (6,500), and other states in Africa (26,000); managed dispute with Namibia over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 10,772 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 7,818 (Somalia); 5,759 (Angola) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for sexual exploitation; women from other African countries are trafficked to South Africa and, less frequently, onward to Europe for sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked from neighboring countries for forced agricultural labor; Asian and Eastern European women are trafficked to South Africa for debt-bonded sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - South Africa is on the Tier 2 Watch List for a fourth consecutive year for its failure to show increasing efforts to address trafficking; the government provided inadequate data in 2007 on trafficking crimes investigated or prosecuted, or on resulting convictions or sentences; it also did not provide information on its efforts to protect victims of trafficking; the country continues to deport and/or prosecute suspected foreign victims without providing appropriate protective services (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine, as well as a major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine and heroin consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries, but increasingly producing its own synthetic drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African economy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Southern Ocean

Introduction
Southern Ocean

Background:

A large body of recent oceanographic research has shown that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current that flows from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role in global ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the ACC meet and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a distinct border - the Antarctic Convergence - which fluctuates with the seasons, but which encompasses a discrete body of water and a unique ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients, which promotes marine plant life, and which in turn allows for a greater abundance of animal life. In the spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization decided to delimit the waters within the Convergence as a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean - by combining the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit and which approximates the extent of the Antarctic Convergence. As such, the Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean). It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does not imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary oceans by the US Government.

Geography
Southern Ocean

Location:

body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica

Geographic coordinates:

60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 20.327 million sq km note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of the US

Coastline:

17,968 km

Climate:

sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter

Terrain:

the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 m over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on the continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fish

Natural hazards:

huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 m thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue

Environment - current issues:

increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries

Environment - international agreements:

the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing) note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north

Geography - note:

the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the cold polar surface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds

Economy
Southern Ocean

Economy - overview:

Fisheries in 2005-06 landed 128,081 metric tons, of which 83% (106,591 tons) was krill (Euphausia superba) and 9.7% (12,364 tons) Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), compared to 147,506 tons in 2004-05 of which 86% (127,035 tons) was krill and 8% (11,821 tons) Patagonian toothfish (estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which extends slightly beyond the Southern Ocean area). International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. In the 2006-07 Antarctic summer, 35,552 tourists visited the Southern Ocean, compared to 29,799 in 2005-2006 (estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and does not include passengers on overflights and those flying directly in and out of Antarctica).

Transportation
Southern Ocean

Ports and terminals:

McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica note: few ports or harbors exist on southern side of Southern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most to short periods in midsummer; even then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most Antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and, except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private vessels; vessels in any port south of 60 degrees south are subject to inspection by observers under Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty; The Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica (HCA), a special hydrographic commission of International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area; members of HCA are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, UK, and US (2007)

Transportation - note:

Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal

Transnational Issues
Southern Ocean

Disputes - international:

Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal claims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@South Georgia and the South Sandwich

Introduction
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Background:

The islands, which have large bird and seal populations, lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908 - except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

Geography
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Location:

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Geographic coordinates:

##### 54 30 S, 37 00 W

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 3,903 sq km land: 3,903 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of 11 islands

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

NA km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

Terrain:

most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in the 20th century, live on South Georgia

People
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001 replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

Government
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none abbreviation: SGSSI

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)

Economy
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Economy - overview:

Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting finfish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK, sale of fishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels. Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.

Communications
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Radio broadcast stations:

0 (2003)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (2003)

Internet country code:

.gs

Internet hosts:

196 (2008)

Transportation
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Ports and terminals:

Grytviken

Military
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Disputes - international:

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Spain

Introduction
Spain

Background:

Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) have given Spain one of the most dynamic economies in Europe and made it a global champion of freedom. Continuing challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism, illegal immigration, and slowing economic growth.

Geography
Spain

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea,
North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

##### 40 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 504,782 sq km land: 499,542 sq km water: 5,240 sq km note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 1,917.8 km border countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline:

4,964 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)

Climate:

temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast

Terrain:

large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Natural resources:

coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 27.18% permanent crops: 9.85% other: 62.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:

37,800 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

111.1 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 37.22 cu km/yr (13%/19%/68%) per capita: 864 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People
Spain

Population:

40,491,052 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 3,011,815/female 2,832,788) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 13,741,493/female 13,641,914) 65 years and over: 17.9% (male 3,031,597/female 4,231,444) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.7 years male: 39.3 years female: 42.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.096% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.92 years male: 76.6 years female: 83.45 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish

Ethnic groups:

composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Religions:

Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%

Languages:

Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, are official regionally

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 98.7% female: 97.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (2005)

Government
Spain

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana

Government type:

parliamentary monarchy

Capital:

name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Spain is divided into two time zones including the Canary Islands

Administrative divisions:

17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna (Catalonia), Comunidad Valenciana (Valencian Community), Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country) note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)

Independence:

the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

National holiday:

National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas

Constitution:

approved by legislature 31 October 1978; passed by referendum 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Legal system:

civil law system, with regional applications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968 head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister equivalent) Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004); First Vice President (and Minister of the Presidency) Maria Teresa FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA (since 18 April 2004) and Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Pedro SOLBES Mira (since 18 April 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually proposed president by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 and 11 April 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president election results: Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO reelected President of the Government; percent of National Assembly vote - 46.94%

Legislative branch:

bicameral; General Courts or National Assembly or Las Cortes Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (264 seats as of 2008; 208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 56 - as of 2008 - appointed by the regional legislatures; to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a minimum of two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla fill one seat each with members serving a four-year term; the other 248 members are determined by proportional representation based on popular vote on block lists who serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); Congress of Deputies - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 101, PSOE 88, Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, CiU 4, PNV 2, CC 1, members appointed by regional legislatures 56; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.6%, PP 40.1%, CiU 3.1%, PNV 1.2%, ERC 1.2%, other 10.8%; seats by party - PSOE 169, PP 154, CiU 10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo

Political parties and leaders:

Aragonese Party or CHA [Bizen FUSTER]; Basque Nationalist Party or
PNV [Inigo URKULLU]; Basque Solidarity or EA [Begona ERRAZTI];
Canarian Coalition or CC [Jose Torres STINGA] (a coalition of five
parties); Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro] (a
coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC [Artur
MAS i Gavarro] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep
Antoni DURAN i LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a Senate
coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA);
Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA Gonzalez];
Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan SAURA i Laporta];
Navarra yes or Na Bai [Uxue BARKOS Berruezo] (a coalition of four
Navarran parties); Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey];
Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Josep-Lluis CAROD-ROVIRA];
Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis Rodriguez
ZAPATERO]; United Left or IU [Gaspar LLAMAZARES Trigo] (a coalition
of parties including the PCE and other small parties)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting its victims); Basta Ya (Spanish for "Enough is Enough"; grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting its victims); Nunca Mais (Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil Tanker Prestige oil spill); Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO. other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer),
MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge DEZCALLAR de Mazarredo chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo AGUIRRE, Jr. embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe

Economy
Spain

Economy - overview:

The Spanish economy boomed from 1986 to 1990 averaging 5% annual growth. After a European-wide recession in the early 1990s, the Spanish economy resumed moderate growth starting in 1994. Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is equal to that of the leading West European economies. The center-right government of former President Jose Maria AZNAR successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999. The AZNAR administration continued to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell steadily under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 7.6%. Growth averaging more than 3% annually during 2003-07 was satisfactory given the background of a faltering European economy. The Socialist president, Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO, has made mixed progress in carrying out key structural reforms, which need to be accelerated and deepened to sustain Spain's economic growth. Despite the economy's relative solid footing significant downside risks remain including Spain's continued loss of competitiveness, the potential for a housing market collapse, the country's changing demographic profile, and a decline in EU structural funds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.361 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.439 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$33,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.2% services: 66.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

22.19 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5.3% industry: 30.1% services: 64.6% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19.8% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $588.5 billion expenditures: $556.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

36.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.89% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.177 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Industries:

textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

287.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

254.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

14.52 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.773 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 50.4% hydro: 18.2% nuclear: 27.2% other: 4.1% (2001)

Oil - production:

29,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.611 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

181,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1.777 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

150 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

88 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

34.43 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

34.47 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$145.3 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$256.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods

Exports - partners:

France 18.8%, Germany 10.8%, Portugal 8.6%, Italy 8.5%, UK 7.6%, US 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$380.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments

Imports - partners:

Germany 15.7%, France 12.7%, Italy 8.4%, China 5.8%, UK 4.8%,
Netherlands 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $3.814 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$19.05 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.084 trillion (30 June 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$568.8 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$681.7 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$960 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

##### EUR

Exchange rates:

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

Communications
Spain

Telephones - main lines in use:

18.583 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

48.813 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: well developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity is about 45 per 100 persons domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 170 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

13.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

224 (plus 2,105 repeaters; includes 11 television broadcast stations and 88 repeaters in the Canary Islands) (1995)

Televisions:

16.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.es

Internet hosts:

3.264 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

56 (2000)

Internet users:

19.69 million (2007)

Transportation
Spain

Airports:

154 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 96 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 24 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 58 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 42 (2007)

Heliports:

8 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 7,858 km; oil 622 km; refined products 3,445 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 14,974 km broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified) standard gauge: 1,099 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,928 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 681,224 km paved: 681,224 km (includes 13,872 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

1,000 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 158 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 14, chemical tanker 11, container 22, liquefied gas 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 47, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 3, Canada 1, Denmark 2, Germany 5, Italy 2, Mexico 3, Norway 5, UK 3, UK 2) registered in other countries: 110 (Angola 1, Argentina 2, Bahamas 14, Belize 1, Brazil 9, Cape Verde 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 6, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 50, Portugal 11, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, UK 1, Uruguay 6, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia

Military
Spain

Military branches:

Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy
(Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force
(Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,033,069 females age 16-49: 9,764,937 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,228,426 females age 16-49: 7,990,678 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 203,650 female: 191,352 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Spain

Disputes - international:

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Illicit drugs:

despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized crime

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Spratly Islands

Introduction
Spratly Islands

Background:

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim.

Geography
Spratly Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: less than 5 sq km land: less than 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea

Area - comparative:

##### NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

926 km

Maritime claims:

##### NA

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources:

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

People
Spratly Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states

Government
Spratly Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Economy
Spratly Islands

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Transportation
Spratly Islands

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Spratly Islands

Military - note:

Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Transnational Issues
Spratly Islands

Disputes - international:

all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Sri Lanka

Introduction
Sri Lanka

Background:

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in the ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006 and the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. In January 2008, the government officially withdrew from the ceasefire, and has begun engaging the LTTE in the northern portion of the country.

Geography
Sri Lanka

Location:

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Geographic coordinates:

##### 7 00 N, 81 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 65,610 sq km land: 64,740 sq km water: 870 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,340 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources:

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.96% permanent crops: 15.24% other: 70.8% (2005)

Irrigated land:

7,430 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

50 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%) per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

People
Sri Lanka

Population:

21,128,772 note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,596,463/female 2,495,136) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,019,446/female 7,340,809) 65 years and over: 7.9% (male 783,823/female 893,096) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.4 years male: 29.5 years female: 31.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.943% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.63 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.97 years male: 72.95 years female: 77.08 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups:

Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Religions:

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages:

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.7% male: 92.3% female: 89.1% (2001 census)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Sri Lanka

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai former: Serendib, Ceylon

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Colombo geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Administrative divisions:

8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western note: in October 2006, a Sri Lankan Supreme Court ruling voided a presidential directive merging the North and Eastern Provinces; many have defended the merger as a prerequisite for a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict; a parliamentary decision on the issue is pending

Independence:

4 February 1948 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Constitution:

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

Legal system:

a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Kandyan, and Jaffna Tamil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November 2005) holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister head of government: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 November 2005 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA elected president; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 50.3%, Ranil WICKREMESINGHE 48.4%, other 1.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms) elections: last held on 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010) election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance - SLFP and JVP (no longer in formal UPFA alliance) 45.6%, UNP 37.8%, TNA 6.8%, JHU 6%, SLMC 2%, UPF 0.5%, EPDP 0.3%, other 1%; seats by party - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, SLMC 6, SLMC dissidents 4, Communist Party 2, JHU dissidents 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2, NUA 2, UPF 2, EPDP 1, UNP dissident 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [G.PONNAMBALAM]; Ceylon Workers
Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D.
GUNASEKERA]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas
DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF
[Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa
AMARASINGHE]; Lanka Sama Samaja Party or LSSP [Tissa VITHARANA];
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) or MEP [D.
GUNAWARDENE]; National Heritage Party or JHU [Ellawala METHANANDA];
National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation
Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [D. SIDHARTHAN]; Sri Lanka
Freedom Party or SLFP [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO
[Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R.
SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V.
ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil
WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a separate state); Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) or Karuna Faction [Vinayagamurthi MURALITHARAN] (paramilitary breakaway from LTTE and fighting LTTE) other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

International organization participation:

ADB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya WICKRAMASURIYA chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 (through 4028) FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr. embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500 FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Flag description:

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

Economy
Sri Lanka

Economy - overview:

In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for more market-oriented policies, export-oriented trade, and encouragement of foreign investment. Recent changes in government, however, have brought some policy reversals. Currently, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party has a more statist economic approach, which seeks to reduce poverty by steering investment to disadvantaged areas, developing small and medium enterprises, promoting agriculture, and expanding the already enormous civil service. The government has halted privatizations. Although suffering a brutal civil war that began in 1983, Sri Lanka saw GDP growth average 4.5% in the last 10 years with the exception of a recession in 2001. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about 31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property. Government spending and reconstruction drove growth to more than 7% in 2006 but reduced agriculture output probably slowed growth to about 6 percent in 2007. Government spending and loose monetary policy drove inflation to nearly 16% in 2007. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, port construction, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2006, plantation crops made up only about 15% of exports (compared with more than 90% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for more than 60%. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% of them in the Middle East. They send home more than $1 billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north and east for an independent homeland continues to cast a shadow over the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$82.02 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$30.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.7% industry: 29.9% services: 58.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7.489 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 34.3% industry: 25.3% services: 40.4% (30 June 2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

22% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 39.7% (FY03/04)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

##### 50 (FY03/04)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.384 billion expenditures: $7.608 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

85.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.08% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.465 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$10.46 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$14.82 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Industries:

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate:

7.6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.317 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

6.884 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 51.7% hydro: 48.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

86,030 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

291.9 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

87,090 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.019 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.135 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish

Exports - partners:

US 25.5%, UK 13.2%, India 6.7%, Germany 5.7%, Italy 5.1% (2007)

Imports:

$10.36 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment

Imports - partners:

India 23.1%, Singapore 9.9%, China 8.2%, Iran 7.5%, Hong Kong 6.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.189 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.644 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$7.769 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Currency code:

##### LKR

Exchange rates:

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004), 96.521 (2003)

Communications
Sri Lanka

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.742 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.983 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 50 per 100 persons international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 52, shortwave 4 (2007)

Radios:

3.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (2006)

Televisions:

1.53 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lk

Internet hosts:

4,940 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

771,700 (2007)

Transportation
Sri Lanka

Airports:

18 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,449 km broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 97,286 km paved: 78,802 km unpaved: 18,484 km (2003)

Waterways:

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 26 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 5 (Germany 5) registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Colombo

Military
Sri Lanka

Military branches:

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,458,720 females age 16-49: 5,594,006 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,477,437 females age 16-49: 4,683,716 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 174,065 female: 168,593 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Sri Lanka

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 460,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to long-term civil war between the government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Sri Lanka is a source and destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; Sri Lankan men and women migrate willingly to the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and East Asia to work as construction workers, domestic servants, or garment factory workers, where some find themselves in situations of involuntary servitude when faced with restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and debt bondage; children are trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation and, less frequently, for forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, Sri Lanka is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement; the government failed to arrest, prosecute, or convict any person for trafficking offenses and continued to punish some victims of trafficking for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked; Sri Lanka has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Sudan

Introduction
Sudan

Background:

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than four million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than two million deaths over a period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years. After which, a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation from the African Union on 31 December 2007. As of early 2008, peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation, which has become increasingly regional in scope, and has brought instability to eastern Chad, and Sudanese incursions into the Central African Republic. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Geography
Sudan

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,505,810 sq km land: 2.376 million sq km water: 129,810 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 7,687 km border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km

Coastline:

853 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Terrain:

generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources:

petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 6.78% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 93.05% (2005)

Irrigated land:

18,630 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

154 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 37.32 cu km/yr (3%/1%/97%) per capita: 1,030 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

People
Sudan

Population:

40,218,456 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.1% (male 8,451,576/female 8,093,609) 15-64 years: 56.4% (male 11,407,233/female 11,275,685) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 518,822/female 471,530) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.9 years male: 18.7 years female: 19.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.134% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

34.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

13.64 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 86.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 87.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 50.28 years male: 49.38 years female: 51.23 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

400,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese

Ethnic groups:

black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and
Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.1% male: 71.8% female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

6% of GDP (1991)

Government
Sudan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Government type:

Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections in 2009

Capital:

name: Khartoum geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile),
Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazirah (El
Gezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahdah
(Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile),
Ash Shamaliyah (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb al
Istiwa'iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr
al Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern
Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei),
Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal
(Northern Bahr al Ghazal), Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shamal
Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyah (Eastern
Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)

Independence:

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Constitution:

constitution implemented on 30 June 1998, partially suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR; under the CPA, Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution of Southern Sudan signed December 2005

Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; however, the CPA establishes some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under the CPA following the civil war; Islamic law will not apply to the southern states

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet elections: election last held 13-23 December 2000; next to be held no later than July 2009 under terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of guarantees for a free and fair election note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for the first time in March 1996

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States (50 seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; members presently appointed, but in the future 75% of members to be directly elected and 25% elected in special or indirect elections; to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held 2009) election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointments under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court;
National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National Judicial
Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National
Judiciary

Political parties and leaders:

National Congress Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva Mayardit KIIR]; and elements of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA including factions of the Democratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] and Umma Party [SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]; note - all political parties listed above in the Government of National Unity

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]; Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS,
MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akec KHOC Aciew Khoc chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. FERNANDEZ embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829 telephone: [249] (183) 774701/2/3 FAX: [249] (183) 774137

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economy
Sudan

Economy - overview:

Sudan's economy is booming on the back of increases in oil production, high oil prices, and large inflows of foreign direct investment. GDP growth registered more than 10% per year in 2006 and 2007. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been working with the IMF to implement macroeconomic reforms, including a managed float of the exchange rate. Sudan began exporting crude oil in the last quarter of 1999. Agricultural production remains important, because it employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP. The Darfur conflict, the aftermath of two decades of civil war in the south, the lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and a reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture ensure much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years despite rapid rises in average per capita income. In January 2007, the government introduced a new currency, the Sudanese Pound, at an initial exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$80.98 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$46.16 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 32% industry: 32.8% services: 35.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

7.415 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry: 7% services: 13% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

18.7% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

19% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.201 billion expenditures: $10.62 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

105.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2007 est.)

Stock of money:

$5.549 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.068 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$8.659 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock

Industries:

oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

22% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.037 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.398 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 52.1% hydro: 47.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

466,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

79,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

282,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

7,558 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$3.447 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.879 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Exports - partners:

China 82.1%, Japan 8.4%, UAE 2.5% (2007)

Imports:

$7.722 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Imports - partners:

China 27.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, India 6.3%, Egypt 5.6%, UAE 5.5%,
Japan 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.829 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.378 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$29.42 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Sudanese pounds (SDG)

Currency code:

##### SDD

Exchange rates:

Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 2.06 (2007), 2.172 (2006), 2.4361 (2005), 2.5791 (2004), 2.6098 (2003) note: in October 2007 Sudan redenominated its currency by transforming 100 units of Sudanese dinar into one unit of Sudanese pound

Communications
Sudan

Telephones - main lines in use:

345,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.464 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: country code - 249; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

7.55 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (1997)

Televisions:

2.38 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sd

Internet hosts:

33 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

1.5 million (2007)

Transportation
Sudan

Airports:

101 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 85 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Heliports:

4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 156 km; oil 4,070 km; refined products 1,613 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 5,978 km narrow gauge: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2006)

Roadways:

total: 11,900 km paved: 4,320 km unpaved: 7,580 km (2000)

Waterways:

4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 by type: cargo 2, carrier 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Port Sudan

Military
Sudan

Military branches:

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Forces; Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA): Land Forces (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,639,923 females age 16-49: 9,321,106 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,586,468 females age 16-49: 5,678,427 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 488,679 female: 469,547 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Sudan

Disputes - international:

the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, in turn, hosted about 116,000 Eritreans, 20,000 Chadians, and smaller numbers of Ethiopians, Ugandans, Central Africans, and Congolese as refugees; in February 2006, Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and 6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan; the boundary that separates Kenya and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times; while Sudan claims to administer the Hala'ib Triangle north of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel; both states withdrew their military presence in the 1990s, and Egypt has invested in and effectively administers the area; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 157,220 (Eritrea); 25,023 (Chad); 11,009 (Ethiopia); 7,895 (Uganda); 5,023 (Central African Republic) IDPs: 5.3 - 6.2 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit and destination country for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic servitude; Sudanese women and girls are trafficked within the country, as well as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for domestic servitude; the terrorist rebel organization, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in the southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and combatants; some of these children are also trafficked across borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo; militia groups in Darfur, some of which are linked to the government, abduct women for short periods of forced labor and to perpetrate sexual violence; during the two decades-long north-south civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and subsequently enslaved by members of the Missiriya and Rezeigat tribes; while there have been no known new abductions of Dinka by members of Baggara tribes in the last few years, inter-tribal abductions continue in southern Sudan tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; combating human trafficking through law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the government in 2007 (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Suriname

Introduction
Suriname

Background:

First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition - returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since; the coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005.

Geography
Suriname

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
French Guiana and Guyana

Geographic coordinates:

##### 4 00 N, 56 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,703 km border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline:

386 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.36% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:

510 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

122 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%) per capita: 1,489 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast

People
Suriname

Population:

475,996 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 66,695/female 64,356) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 156,961/female 158,234) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,868/female 16,882) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.5 years male: 27.1 years female: 27.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.099% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.02 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.48 years male: 70.76 years female: 76.39 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever, Mayaro virus, and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese

Ethnic groups:

Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%

Religions:

Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman
Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%

Languages:

Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.6% male: 92% female: 87.2% (2004 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 13 years (2002)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Suriname

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

name: Paramaribo geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Independence:

25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution:

ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987

Legal system:

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Ramdien SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN reelected president; percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR 35.4%, other 1.7%; note - after two votes in the parliament failed to secure a two-thirds majority for a candidate, the vote then went to a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.7%, NDP 22.2%, VVV 13.8%, A-Com 7.2%, A-1 5.9%, other 11.2%; seats by party - NF 23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3

Judicial branch:

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of Suriname or
APS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21
[Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY],
Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 or
T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); General Interior Development Party or ABOP
[Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire
BOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a
coalition that includes A-Combination or A-Com, Democratic
Alternative 1991 or DA-91, an independent, business-oriented party
[Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [Ronald
VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien SARDJOE], Pertjaja
Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA
[Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or
DOE [Marten SCHALKWIJK]; People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (a
coalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules
WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD
[Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the
Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression,
Justice, and Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL
[Raymond SAPOEN]); Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU
[Jim HOK]; Progressive Political Party or PPP [Surinder MUNGRA];
Seeka [Paul ABENA]; Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj
PANDAY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]

International organization participation:

ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,
IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo telephone: [597] 472-900 FAX: [597] 410-025

Flag description:

five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band

Economy
Suriname

Economy - overview:

The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of alumina, gold, and oil accounting for about 85% of exports and 25% of government revenues, making the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors. Suriname has received aid for these projects from Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. In 2000, the government of Ronald VENETIAAN, returned to office and inherited an economy with inflation of over 100% and a growing fiscal deficit. He quickly implemented an austerity program, raised taxes, attempted to control spending, and tamed inflation. These economic policies are likely to remain in effect during VENETIAAN's third term. Prospects for local onshore oil production are good as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Maersk, and Occidental. Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.846 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.404 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.8% industry: 24.4% services: 64.8% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

156,700 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 8% industry: 14% services: 78% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

9.5% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $392.6 million expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.4% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.77% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$416.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$824.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$651 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products

Industries:

bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.595 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

1.457 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 25.2% hydro: 74.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

13,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

12,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2,899 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

6,369 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

88 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$24 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:

alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Exports - partners:

Canada 26.8%, Norway 20.2%, Belgium 9.2%, US 8.9%, UAE 7.9%, France 7.2% (2007)

Imports:

$1.297 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 27%, Netherlands 17.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.3%, China 5.9%,
Japan 5.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$43.97 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$263.3 million (2006)

Debt - external:

$504.3 million (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Surinam dollar (SRD)

Currency code:

##### SRG

Exchange rates:

Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 2.745 (2007), 2.745 (2006), 2.7317 (2005), 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003) note: in January 2004, the government replaced the guilder with the Surinamese dollar, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket

Communications
Suriname

Telephones - main lines in use:

81,500 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

320,000 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: international facilities are good domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

300,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 7 repeaters) (2000)

Televisions:

63,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sr

Internet hosts:

33 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

44,000 (2007)

Transportation
Suriname

Airports:

50 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 40 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 50 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 4,304 km paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Waterways:

1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Paramaribo, Wageningen

Military
Suriname

Military branches:

National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Naval Wing, Air Wing) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 130,534 females age 16-49: 130,243 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 105,770 females age 16-49: 109,666 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,329 female: 4,350 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Suriname

Disputes - international:

area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Illicit drugs:

growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Svalbard

Introduction
Svalbard

Background:

First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.

Geography
Svalbard

Location:

Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,
Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Geographic coordinates:

##### 78 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 61,020 sq km land: 61,020 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,587 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 4 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia

Climate:

arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year

Terrain:

wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (no trees; the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Norwegian Government

People
Svalbard

Population:

2,165 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

-0.023% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0% (2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

0 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

0 (2001)

Ethnic groups:

Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)

Languages:

Norwegian, Russian

Literacy:

##### NA

Government
Svalbard

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Longyearbyen geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Independence:

none (territory of Norway)

Legal system:

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991) head of government: Governor Per SEFLAND (since 1 October 2005); Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since 2003) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

none

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy
Svalbard

Economy - overview:

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

Labor force:

##### NA

Budget:

revenues: $25.07 million expenditures: $NA (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 57.9984% hydro: 42.0016% nuclear: 0% other: 0%

Exports:

$197.6 million (2004)

Imports:

##### $NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$8.2 million from Norway (1998)

Currency (code):

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:

##### NOK

Exchange rates:

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.8396 (2007), 6.4117 (2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003)

Communications
Svalbard

Telephones - main lines in use:

##### NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: probably adequate domestic: local telephone service international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

##### NA

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.sj

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Svalbard

Airports:

4 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden

Military
Svalbard

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Military - note:

Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9
February 1920

Transnational Issues
Svalbard

Disputes - international:

despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Swaziland

Introduction
Swaziland

Background:

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Geography
Swaziland

Location:

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

##### 26 30 S, 31 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain:

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Natural resources:

asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use:

arable land: 10.25% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 88.94% (2005)

Irrigated land:

500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

4.5 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.04 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%) per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

drought

Environment - current issues:

limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

People
Swaziland

Population:

1,128,814 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39.9% (male 226,947/female 222,922) 15-64 years: 56.5% (male 306,560/female 331,406) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 15,594/female 25,385) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.7 years male: 18 years female: 19.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.41% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

26.6 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

30.7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 72.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 31.99 years male: 31.69 years female: 32.3 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

38.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

220,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

17,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi

Ethnic groups:

African 97%, European 3%

Religions:

Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%

Languages:

English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.6% male: 82.6% female: 80.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

7% of GDP (2005)

Government
Swaziland

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland local long form: Umbuso weSwatini local short form: eSwatini

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

name: Mbabane geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

Administrative divisions:

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Independence:

6 September 1968 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

Constitution:

signed by the King in July 2005 went into effect on 8 February 2006

Legal system:

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age

Executive branch:

chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since 16 October 2008) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats; 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round

Judicial branch:

High Court; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:

the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under the new (2006) Constitution and currently being debated - the following are considered political associations; African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA, president]; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions; Swaziland and Solidarity
Network or SSN

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ephraim Mandla HLOPHE chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Maurice S. PARKER embassy: 2350 Mbabane Place, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-2445 FAX: [268] 404-2059

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Economy
Swaziland

Economy - overview:

In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union, which may equal as much as 70% of government revenue this year, and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. Swaziland is not poor enough to merit an IMF program; however, the country is struggling to reduce the size of the civil service and control costs at public enterprises. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.364 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.936 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.8% industry: 45.7% services: 42.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

300,000 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

40% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

69% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 40.7% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.4 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.13 billion expenditures: $1.143 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

11% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$244.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$529.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$204.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Industries:

coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel

Industrial production growth rate:

1.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

460 million kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

1.2 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

872 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2007)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,490 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

3,530 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$24 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.926 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

Exports - partners:

South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2006)

Imports:

$1.914 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$46.03 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$762.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$524 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$196.8 million (2005)

Currency (code):

lilangeni (SZL)

Currency code:

##### SZL

Exchange rates:

emalangeni per US dollar - 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Communications
Swaziland

Telephones - main lines in use:

44,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

380,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity approaching 40 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 2 (plus 4 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:

170,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)

Televisions:

23,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.sz

Internet hosts:

2,582 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2002)

Internet users:

42,000 (2006)

Transportation
Swaziland

Airports:

18 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Railways:

total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 3,594 km paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

Military
Swaziland

Military branches:

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes air wing) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 266,311 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 122,260 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 15,951 female: 15,728 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Swaziland

Disputes - international:

in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Sweden

Introduction
Sweden

Background:

A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.

Geography
Sweden

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Geographic coordinates:

##### 62 00 N, 15 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 449,964 sq km land: 410,934 sq km water: 39,030 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 2,233 km border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km

Coastline:

3,218 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas) exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain:

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.93% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 94.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,150 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

179 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.68 cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%) per capita: 296 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Environment - current issues:

acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

People
Sweden

Population:

9,045,389 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16% (male 745,110/female 703,857) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,008,148/female 2,928,930) 65 years and over: 18.3% (male 729,500/female 929,844) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.3 years male: 40.2 years female: 42.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.157% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.24 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.74 years male: 78.49 years female: 83.13 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,600 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish

Ethnic groups:

indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

Religions:

Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist,
Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%

Languages:

Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7.1% of GDP (2005)

Government
Sweden

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Stockholm geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas,
Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar,
Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane,
Sodermanlands, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,
Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands

Independence:

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

National holiday:

Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)

Constitution:

1 January 1975

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5 October 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by the parliament; election last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010) election results: Fredrik REINFELDT elected prime minister with 175 out of 349 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%, Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, Liberal People's Party 8.0%, Christian Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by party - Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, Liberal People's Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Jan BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Children's Rights in Society; Central Association of Salarited Emplyees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO other: media

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC,
NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael M. WOOD embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64

Flag description:

blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy
Sweden

Economy - overview:

Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP and 2% of employment. Sweden is in the midst of a sustained economic upswing, boosted by increased domestic demand and strong exports. This and robust finances have offered the center-right government considerable scope to implement its reform program aimed at increasing employment, reducing welfare dependence, and streamlining the state's role in the economy. The government plans to sell $31 billion in state assets during the next three years to further stimulate growth and raise revenue to pay down the federal debt. In September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$338.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$455.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$37,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.5% industry: 28.8% services: 69.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.839 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2% industry: 24% services: 74% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

23 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

19% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $249.1 billion expenditures: $233.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

41.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

4% (31 December 2004)

Stock of money:

$217.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$48.49 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$630.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk

Industries:

iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

143.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

133.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

14.74 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

16.61 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 4% hydro: 50.8% nuclear: 43% other: 2.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

2,350 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

353,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

219,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

581,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.006 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.006 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$37.97 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$170.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals

Exports - partners:

Germany 10.4%, Norway 9.4%, US 7.6%, Denmark 7.4%, UK 7.1%, Finland 6.4%, Netherlands 5.1%, France 5%, Belgium 4.6% (2007)

Imports:

$151.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

Germany 18.4%, Denmark 9.2%, Norway 8.3%, UK 6.8%, Finland 6.1%,
Netherlands 5.8%, France 5%, China 4.3%, Belgium 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $3.955 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$31.04 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$598.2 billion (30 June 2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$216.6 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$261.5 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$403.9 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Swedish krona (SEK)

Currency code:

##### SEK

Exchange rates:

Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003)

Communications
Sweden

Telephones - main lines in use:

5.506 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.371 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetration domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels international: country code - 46; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

8.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

4.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.se

Internet hosts:

3.579 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

29 (2000)

Internet users:

7 million (2007)

Transportation
Sweden

Airports:

250 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 152 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 75 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 38 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 98 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 92 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 798 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 11,528 km standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 425,300 km paved: 139,300 km (includes 1,740 km of expressways) unpaved: 286,000 km (2008)

Waterways:

2,052 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 195 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 23, carrier 1, chemical tanker 45, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 25 foreign-owned: 41 (Denmark 4, Estonia 2, Finland 12, Germany 5, Italy 9, Norway 7, UK 2) registered in other countries: 207 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 4, Barbados 7, Bermuda 20, Cook Islands 8, Cyprus 2, Denmark 6, Finland 2, France 9, Germany 1, Gibraltar 13, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Liberia 10, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 28, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 31, Norway 3, Panama 6, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 20, UK 17, US 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund,
Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby

Military
Sweden

Military branches:

Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish
Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation: 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,052,890 females age 16-49: 1,980,550 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,699,115 females age 16-49: 1,637,868 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 64,605 female: 61,110 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Sweden

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Switzerland

Introduction
Switzerland

Background:

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.

Geography
Switzerland

Location:

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Geographic coordinates:

##### 47 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 41,290 sq km land: 39,770 sq km water: 1,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,852 km border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Terrain:

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Natural resources:

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use:

arable land: 9.91% permanent crops: 0.58% other: 89.51% (2005)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

53.3 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%) per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

People
Switzerland

Population:

7,581,520 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 623,213/female 577,430) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 2,605,044/female 2,562,354) 65 years and over: 16% (male 501,699/female 711,780) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.7 years male: 39.6 years female: 41.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.329% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.74 years male: 77.91 years female: 83.71 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss

Ethnic groups:

German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census) note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.8% of GDP (2005)

Government
Switzerland

Country name:

conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh)

Government type:

formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic

Capital:

name: Bern geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Independence:

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

National holiday:

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Constitution:

revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal Council; the Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head of government whose council members, rotating in one-year terms as federal president, represent the Council head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2008) cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 12 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2008) election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 80.0%; Hans-Rudolf MERZ elected vice president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 86.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; membership consists of 2 representatives from each canton and 1 from each half canton; to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 19 October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2011) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%, CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS 43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other small parties 13; note - seating for the Council of States as of December 2007 is CVP 16, FDP 12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 2

Judicial branch:

Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the
Federal Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste
Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida
Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian Democratic
People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or
CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito
Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida
Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY];
Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der
Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio
Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social Democratic
Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti
Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida
Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR]; Swiss
People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union
Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,
Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER]; and other minor
parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia
Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

Flag description:

red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economy
Switzerland

Economy - overview:

Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safehaven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth stagnated during the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05, and jumped to 2.9% in 2006, and 2.6% in 2007. Unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$303.2 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$423.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$40,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

3.954 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.6% industry: 26.3% services: 69.1% (1998)

Unemployment rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.7 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $150.6 billion expenditures: $141.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

44.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

2.05% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

3.15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$213.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$450.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$855.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Industries:

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:

64.56 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

58.77 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

36.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

34.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 59.5% nuclear: 37.1% other: 2% (2001)

Oil - production:

3,202 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

244,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

9,370 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

274,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

##### NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.232 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.232 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$72.35 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$200.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners:

Germany 20.3%, US 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.4%, UK 5.1% (2007)

Imports:

$187.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles

Imports - partners:

Germany 32.6%, Italy 10.8%, France 9.5%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.6%,
Austria 4.2%, UK 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.646 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$75.37 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.34 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$306.4 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$605.6 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$938.6 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:

##### CHF

Exchange rates:

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)

Communications
Switzerland

Telephones - main lines in use:

5 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.096 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 100 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

7.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ch

Internet hosts:

3.437 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)

Internet users:

4.61 million (2007)

Transportation
Switzerland

Airports:

65 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 1,781 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 4,839 km standard gauge: 3,561 km 1.435-m gauge (3,195 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,268 km 1.000-m gauge (1,274 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 71,298 km paved: 71,298 km (includes 1,758 of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 35 by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 6, specialized tanker 1 registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 1, France 3, Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 25, Portugal 2, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Basel

Military
Switzerland

Military branches:

Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer
Luftwaffe) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; the Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,852,580 females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,513,984 females age 16-49: 1,478,761 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 49,205 female: 45,220 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Switzerland

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy production

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Syria

Introduction
Syria

Background:

Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. The country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.

Geography
Syria

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and
Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

##### 35 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 185,180 sq km land: 184,050 sq km water: 1,130 sq km note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than North Dakota

Land boundaries:

total: 2,253 km border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km

Coastline:

193 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate:

mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus

Terrain:

primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 24.8% permanent crops: 4.47% other: 70.73% (2005)

Irrigated land:

13,330 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

46.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 19.95 cu km/yr (3%/2%/95%) per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)

People
Syria

Population:

19,747,586 note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.2% (male 3,679,473/female 3,467,096) 15-64 years: 60.5% (male 6,119,459/female 5,822,376) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 310,838/female 348,344) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.4 years male: 21.3 years female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.189% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

26.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.9 years male: 69.53 years female: 72.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%,
Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Languages:

Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.6% male: 86% female: 73.6% (2004 census)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (1999)

Government
Syria

Country name:

conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

Government type:

republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime

Capital:

name: Damascus geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September

Administrative divisions:

14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence:

17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 April (1946)

Constitution:

13 March 1973

Legal system:

based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; Islamic law is used in the family court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees foreign policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) oversees cultural policy head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10 September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 22-23 April 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPF 172, independents 78

Judicial branch:

Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the president); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes); Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)

Political parties and leaders:

legal parties: National Progressive Front or NPF [President Bashar
al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH] (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance
(Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD]; Socialist Unionist
Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Arab Socialist
Union or ASU [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party (two branches)
[Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social
Nationalist Party [Ali QANSU]; Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez
ISMAIL])
opposition parties not legally recognized:: Arab Democratic
Socialist Union Party [Hasan Abdul AZIM]; Arab Socialist Movement;
Democratic Ba'th Party [Ibrahim MAHKOS]; People's Democratic Party
[Riad al TURK]; Revolutionary Workers' Party [Abdul Hafeez al HAFEZ]
Kurdish parties (considered illegal): Kurdish Democratic Front
[Abdul Hamid DARWISH] (includes four parties); Kurdish Coordination
[Abdul Hakim BASHAR] (includes Azadi Party [Kheirudin MURAD], Future
Party [Masha'l TAMMO], Yekity Party [Hasam SALE])
other parties: Nahda Party [Abdul Aziz al MISLET]; Syrian Democratic
Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Damascus Declaration National Council [Riyad SEIF, secretary
general] (a broad alliance of opposition groups and individuals
including: Committee for Revival of Civil Society [Michel KILO,
Riyad SEIF], Communist Action Party [Fateh JAMOUS], Kurdish
Democratic Alliance, Kurdish Democratic Front, Liberal Nationalists'
Movement, National Democratic Front, National Democratic Rally, and
Syrian Human Rights Society or HRAS [Fawed FAWUZ]); National
Salvation Front (alliance between former Vice President Abd al-Halim
KHADDAM, the SMB, and other small opposition groups); Syrian Muslim
Brotherhood or SMB [Sadr al-Din al-BAYANUNI] (operates in exile in
London; endorsed the Damascus Declaration, but is not an official
member)

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFA chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313 FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maura CONNELLY embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 3391-4444 FAX: [963] (11) 3391-3999

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates to 1980

Economy
Syria

Economy - overview:

The Syrian economy grew by an estimated 3.3% in real terms in 2007 led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors, which together account for about one-half of GDP. Higher crude oil prices countered declining oil production and led to higher budgetary and export receipts. Damascus has implemented modest economic reforms in the past few years, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating all of the multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, most notably gasoline and cement, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange - which is set to begin operations in 2009. In October 2007, for example, Damascus raised the price of subsidized gasoline by 20%, and may institute a rationing system in 2008. In addition, President ASAD signed legislative decrees to encourage corporate ownership reform, and to allow the Central Bank to issue Treasury bills and bonds for government debt. Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled by the government. Long-run economic constraints include declining oil production, high unemployment and inflation, rising budget deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$90.37 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$37.76 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 24% industry: 27.9% services: 48.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

5.462 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 19.2% industry: 14.5% services: 66.3% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

11.9% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $8.393 billion expenditures: $11.21 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

37.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.2% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8% (31 December 2005)

Stock of money:

$58.84 billion note: This number reflects the greatly overvalued official exchange rate of 11.23 Syrian pounds per dollar. At the unofficial rate of 50 Syrian pounds per dollar, the stock of Syrian pounds would equal US$13.22 billion and Syria's velocity of money (the number of times money turns over in the course of a year) would be three, in line with the velocity of money for other countries in the region. (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$45.93 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of domestic credit:

$50.92 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk

Industries:

petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, car assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

2.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

34.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

34 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

986 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 57.6% hydro: 42.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

433,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

261,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

254,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

160,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

7.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

NA cu m

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$908 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$11.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

Exports - partners:

Iraq 30%, Lebanon 10%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 8%, Egypt 5.5%, Saudi
Arabia 5.2%, France 4.9% (2007)

Imports:

$10.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 12%, China 8.7%, Egypt 6.2%, Italy 6%, UAE 5.9%,
Ukraine 4.8%, Russia 4.8%, Germany 4.7%, Iran 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$213 million (2008 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.046 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.633 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Syrian pound (SYP)

Currency code:

##### SYP

Exchange rates:

Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 50.0085 (2007), 51.689 (2006), 50 (2005), 48.5 (2004), 52.8 (2003) note: data for 2004-06 are the public sector rate; data for 2002-03 are the parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut; the official rate for repaying loans was 11.25 Syrian pounds per US dollars during 2004-06,

Communications
Syria

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.452 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.7 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology domestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing rapidly and teledensity about 35 wireless telephones per 100 persons; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: country code - 963; submarine cable connection to Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

4.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sy

Internet hosts:

7,857 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

3.47 million (2007)

Transportation
Syria

Airports:

90 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 26 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 52 (2007)

Heliports:

7 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,794 km; oil 2,000 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,711 km standard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 97,401 km paved: 19,490 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways) unpaved: 77,911 km (2006)

Waterways:

900 km (not economically significant) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 77 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 65, carrier 4, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 7 (Jordan 2, Lebanon 3, Romania 2) registered in other countries: 196 (Barbados 1, Bolivia 2, Cambodia 48, Comoros 4, Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Georgia 49, Hong Kong 1, North Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Libya 2, Malta 6, Moldova 1, Panama 32, Saint Kitts and Nevis 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Sierra Leone 18, Slovakia 2, Togo 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Latakia, Tartus

Military
Syria

Military branches:

Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab
Air and Air Defense Forces (includes Air Defense Command) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy); women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,251,875 females age 16-49: 4,966,367 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,242,401 females age 16-49: 4,218,648 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 215,734 female: 203,106 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Syria

Disputes - international:

Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since 1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shaba'a farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan; approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1-1.4 million (Iraq); 522,100
(Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 305,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967
Arab-Israeli War) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Syria is a destination and transit country for women and children trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of women and children in the large and expanding Iraqi refugee community in Syria are reportedly forced into commercial sexual exploitation by Iraqi gangs or, in some cases, their families; women from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone are recruited for work in Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions of involuntary servitude, including long hours, non-payment of wages, withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, threats, and physical or sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 3 - Syria again failed to report any law enforcement efforts to punish trafficking offenses in 2007; in addition, the government did not offer protection services to victims of trafficking and may have arrested, prosecuted, or deported some victims for prostitution or immigration violations; Syria has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Taiwan

Introduction
Taiwan

Background:

In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the local population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

Geography
Taiwan

Location:

Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates:

##### 23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 35,980 sq km land: 32,260 sq km water: 3,720 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,566.3 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain:

eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

Natural resources:

small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use:

arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Total renewable water resources:

67 cu km (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes and typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Geography - note:

strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

People
Taiwan

Population:

22,920,946 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.3% (male 2,057,458/female 1,900,449) 15-64 years: 72.3% (male 8,362,038/female 8,204,834) 65 years and over: 10.5% (male 1,167,476/female 1,228,691) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36 years male: 35.5 years female: 36.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.238% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.76 years male: 74.89 years female: 80.89 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Taiwan (singular and plural) note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan adjective: Taiwan

Ethnic groups:

Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%

Religions:

mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages:

Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: NA female: NA (2003)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Taiwan

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan former: Formosa

Government type:

multiparty democracy

Capital:

name: Taipei geographic coordinates: 25 03 N, 121 30 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 18 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities (chuan-shih, singular and plural) note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while a modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Taipei has adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization systems; names for administrative divisions that follow are taken from the Taiwan Yearbook 2007 published by the Government Information Office in Taipei. counties: Changhua, Chiayi [county], Hsinchu, Hualien, Kaohsiung [county], Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei [county], Taitung, Taoyuan, Yilan, and Yunlin municipalities: Chiayi [city], Hsinchu, Keelung, Taichung, Tainan special municipalities: Kaohsiung [city], Taipei [city]

National holiday:

Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)

Constitution:

25 December 1947; amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2005 note: constitution adopted on 25 December 1946; went into effect on 25 December 1947

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008); Vice President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008) head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIO Chao-shiuan (since 20 May 2008); Vice Premier (Vice President of Executive Yuan) Paul CHIU (CHANG-hsiung) (since 20 May 2008) cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president on 22 March 2008; percent of vote - MA Ying-jeou 58.45%, Frank HSIEH 41.55%; MA Ying-jeou takes office on 20 May 2008

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats - 73 district members elected by popular vote, 34 at-large members elected on basis of proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, 6 elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; to serve four-year terms); parties must receive 5% of vote to qualify for at-large seats elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 12 January 2008 (next to be held in January 2012) election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT 53.5%, DPP 38.2%, NPSU 2.4%, PFP 0.3%, others 1.6%, independents 4%; seats by party - KMT 81, DPP 27, NPSU 3, PFP 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen]; Kuomintang or
KMT (Nationalist Party) [WU Po-hsiung]; Non-Partisan Solidarity
Union or NPSU [CHANG Po-ya]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Organization for Taiwan Nation Building; World United Formosans for Independence other: environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that the island currently enjoys sovereign independence and - whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; public opinion polls consistently show a substantial majority of Taiwan people supports maintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN

International organization participation:

##### ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC, IOC, ITUC, WCL, WFTU, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), which has its headquarters in Taipei and in the US in Washington, DC; there are also branch offices called Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in 12 other US cities

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2162-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2162-2251; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 238-7744, FAX: [886] (7) 238-5237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162

Flag description:

red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economy
Taiwan

Economy - overview:

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by the authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large, state-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. The island runs a large trade surplus, and its foreign reserves are among the world's largest. Despite restrictions on cross-strait links, China has overtaken the US to become Taiwan's largest export market and its second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the island's number one destination for foreign direct investment. Strong trade performance in 2007 pushed Taiwan's GDP growth rate above 5%, and unemployment is below 4%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$698.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$383.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 27.5% services: 71.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

10.71 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5.3% industry: 36.8% services: 57.9% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

0.95% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 6.7% highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $76.2 billion expenditures: $75.65 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

##### NA

Stock of quasi money:

##### NA

Stock of domestic credit:

##### NA

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish

Industries:

electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

9.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

216.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

208.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 6% nuclear: 22.6% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

10,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

950,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

289,200 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

1.208 million bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

2.38 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

400 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

11.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$32.88 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$246.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electronic and electrical products, metals, textiles, plastics, chemicals, auto parts (2002)

Exports - partners:

China 32.6%, US 12.9%, Hong Kong 8.6%, Japan 6.4%, Singapore 5% (2007)

Imports:

$215.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electronic and electrical products, machinery, petroleum, precision instruments, organic chemicals, metals (2002)

Imports - partners:

Japan 22.7%, US 13.3%, China 11.2%, South Korea 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.8%, Singapore 4.6% (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$275 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$97.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$92.83 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$108.9 billion (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$654 billion (28 December 2007)

Currency (code):

New Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Currency code:

##### TWD

Exchange rates:

New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar - 32.84 (2007), 32.534 (2006), 31.71 (2005), 34.418 (2004), 34.575 (2003)

Communications
Taiwan

Telephones - main lines in use:

14.313 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

24.302 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized international: country code - 886; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 140, FM 229, shortwave 49

Radios:

16 million (1994)

Television broadcast stations:

76 (46 digital and 30 analog) (2007)

Televisions:

8.8 million (1998)

Internet country code:

.tw

Internet hosts:

5.225 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

14.76 million (2007)

Transportation
Taiwan

Airports:

41 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 38 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

4 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 25 km; gas 661 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,588 km standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,093 km 1.067-m gauge note: 150 km .762-m gauge (belonging primarily to Taiwan Sugar Corporation and Taiwan Forestry Bureau; some to other entities) (2007)

Roadways:

total: 40,262 km paved: 38,171 km (includes 976 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,091 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 102 by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 19, chemical tanker 1, container 24, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 3 (Canada 2, France 1) registered in other countries: 536 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 1, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Italy 13, Kiribati 5, Liberia 91, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 320, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 72, Thailand 1, UK 11, unknown 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Taichung

Military
Taiwan

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command

Military service age and obligation:

19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009) year; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defense has announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary enlistment system beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts each year thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service or go through 3-4 months of military training (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,283,134 females age 16-49: 6,098,599 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,112,737 females age 16-49: 5,036,346 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 164,883 female: 152,085 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.2% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Taiwan

Disputes - international:

involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting

Illicit drugs:

regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising problems with use of ketamine and club drugs

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Tajikistan

Introduction
Tajikistan

Background:

The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Much of present-day Sughd province was transferred from the Uzbekistan SSR to newly formed Tajikistan SSR in 1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Sughd province. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and it is now in the process of strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a free market economy after its 1992-97 civil war. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by the international community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development and security assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.

Geography
Tajikistan

Location:

Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates:

##### 39 00 N, 71 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 143,100 sq km land: 142,700 sq km water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:

total: 3,651 km border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Terrain:

Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold

Land use:

arable land: 6.52% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:

7,220 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

99.7 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%) per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes and floods

Environment - current issues:

inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR

People
Tajikistan

Population:

7,211,884 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 1,270,289/female 1,226,954) 15-64 years: 61.7% (male 2,203,720/female 2,244,660) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 113,156/female 153,105) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.6 years male: 21.2 years female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.893% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

27.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 42.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.97 years male: 61.95 years female: 68.15 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani

Ethnic groups:

Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6% (2000 census)

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.7% female: 99.2% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 10 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2006)

Government
Tajikistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston local short form: Tojikiston former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Dushanbe geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Independence:

9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)

Constitution:

6 November 1994

Legal system:

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 6.2%, other 14.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25 members selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for the former president; to serve five-year terms) and the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held 25 March 2005 (next to be held in February 2010); Assembly of Representatives 27 February and 13 March 2005 (next to be held in February 2010) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3; Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%, Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51, CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV]; Democratic
Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005);
Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin
KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimzon BOBOYEV]; People's
Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social
Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or
SPT [Mirhuseyn NARZIYEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi
SHABDOLOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo NASREDDINOV] (unregistered political party); Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV] (splintered from Iskanderov's DPT); Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV] (splintered from Narziyev's SPT); Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV] other: splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the base of the party; unregistered political parties

International organization participation:

ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090 FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019 mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189 telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00 FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50

Flag description:

three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe

Economy
Tajikistan

Economy - overview:

Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Only 7% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the most important crop, but this sector is burdened with debt and an obsolete infrastructure. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds of the population continues to live in abject poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped to 8% in 2005, 7% in 2006, and 7.8% in 2007. Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance, widespread unemployment, seasonal power shortages, and the external debt burden. Continued privatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises could increase productivity. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002 including a $250 million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million debt. Tajikistan ranks third in the world in terms of water resources per head, but suffers winter power shortages due to poor management of water levels in rivers and reservoirs. Completion of the Sangtuda I hydropower dam - built with Russian investment - and the Sangtuda II and Rogun dams will add substantially to electricity output. If finished according to Tajik plans, Rogun will be the world's tallest dam. Tajikistan has also received substantial infrastructure development loans from the Chinese government to improve roads and an electricity transmission network. To help increase north-south trade, the US funded a $36 million bridge which opened in August 2007 and links Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.96 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.712 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.8% industry: 30.4% services: 45.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.1 million (2007)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 67.2% industry: 7.5% services: 25.3% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.4% official rate; actual unemployment is higher (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

60% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 25.6% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.6 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

12.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $712.1 million expenditures: $674.5 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

15% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

22.87% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$91.59 million (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money:

$161 million (31 December 2006)

Stock of domestic credit:

$417.4 million (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

17.4 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

17.9 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

4.259 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

4.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.9% hydro: 98.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

281.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

31,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

247.7 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

7,600 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - proved reserves:

12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

32 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

842 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

810 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$351 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.606 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 38.9%, Turkey 32.5%, Russia 6.6%, Uzbekistan 5.9%, Iran 5.1% (2007)

Imports:

$2.762 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Russia 32.1%, Kazakhstan 13.1%, China 10.8%, Uzbekistan 8.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$241.4 million from US (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$242 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

somoni (TJS)

Currency code:

##### TJS

Exchange rates:

Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 3.4418 (2007), 3.3 (2006), 3.1166 (2005), 2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003)

Communications
Tajikistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

280,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

265,000 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not linked to the national network domestic: the domestic telecommunications network has historically been under funded and poorly maintained; main line availability has not changed significantly since 1998; cellular telephone use is growing but geographic coverage remains limited international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)

Radios:

1.291 million (1991)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2006)

Televisions:

820,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tj

Internet hosts:

1,158 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2002)

Internet users:

19,500 (2005)

Transportation
Tajikistan

Airports:

26 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 482 km broad gauge: 482 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 27,767 km (2000)

Waterways:

200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2006)

Military
Tajikistan

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,897,356 females age 16-49: 1,911,594 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,391,287 females age 16-49: 1,561,826 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 84,137 female: 81,777 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Tajikistan

Disputes - international:

in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields; disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Tajikistan is a source country for women trafficked through Kyrgyzstan and Russia to the UAE, Turkey, and Russia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to Russia and Kazakhstan for the purpose of forced labor, primarily in the construction and agricultural industries; boys and girls are trafficked internally for various purposes, including forced labor and forced begging tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Tajikistan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, especially efforts to investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers; despite evidence of low- and mid-level officials' complicity in trafficking, the government did not punish any public officials for trafficking complicity during 2007; lack of capacity and poor coordination between government institutions remained key obstacles to effective anti-trafficking efforts (2008)

Illicit drugs:

major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan seizes roughly 80% of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium); significant consumer of opiates

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Tanzania

Introduction
Tanzania

Background:

Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Geography
Tanzania

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and
Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

##### 6 00 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 945,087 sq km land: 886,037 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 3,861 km border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Coastline:

1,424 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain:

plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use:

arable land: 4.23% permanent crops: 1.16% other: 94.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,840 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

91 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%) per capita: 135 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest

People
Tanzania

Population:

40,213,160 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.5% (male 8,763,471/female 8,719,198) 15-64 years: 53.7% (male 10,638,666/female 10,947,190) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 502,368/female 642,269) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.8 years male: 17.6 years female: 18.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.072% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.92 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 70.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 77.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.45 years male: 50.06 years female: 52.88 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

8.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.6 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

160,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic groups:

mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African

Religions:

mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Languages:

Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources including Arabic and English; it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population: 69.4% male: 77.5% female: 62.2% (2002 census)

Education expenditures:

2.2% of GDP (1999)

Government
Tanzania

Country name:

conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania local short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Dar es Salaam geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there on a regular basis

Administrative divisions:

26 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma,
Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza,
Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida,
Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar
Urban/West

Independence:

26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

National holiday:

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Constitution:

25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001) note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid KARUME was reelected to that office on 30 October 2005 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2010); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 80.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 11.7%, Freeman MBOWE 5.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats; 232 members elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; to serve five-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2010) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take place soon

Judicial branch:

Permanent Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman); Court of Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges); High Court (consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges appointed by the president; holds regular sessions in all regions); District Courts; Primary Courts (limited jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the higher courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and
Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
(Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or
CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA]
(unregistered); Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga
MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF; Free Zanzibar;
Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ombeni Yohana SEFUE chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125 FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GREEN embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: [255] (22) 266-8001 FAX: [255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373

Flag description:

divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

Economy
Tanzania

Economy - overview:

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than 40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 7% in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$51.07 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.18 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 42.5% industry: 18.9% services: 38.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

20.04 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

36% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.6 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.561 billion expenditures: $3.594 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

19.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

16.4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16.03% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.263 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.885 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Industrial production growth rate:

9.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.682 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.225 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

123 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 18.9% hydro: 81.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

27,270 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

26,760 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

146 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

146 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$1.856 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.227 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners:

China 10.3%, India 9.7%, Netherlands 6.5%, Germany 6.3%, UAE 4.9% (2007)

Imports:

$4.861 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil

Imports - partners:

China 12%, Kenya 8%, South Africa 7.7%, India 6.9%, UAE 5.9% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.505 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$587.9 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Currency code:

##### TZS

Exchange rates:

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,255 (2007), 1,251.9 (2006), 1,128.93 (2005), 1,089.33 (2004), 1,038.42 (2003)

Communications
Tanzania

Telephones - main lines in use:

165,013 (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9.358 million (2008)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications services are inadequate; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

8.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (1999)

Televisions:

103,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tz

Internet hosts:

24,271 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

400,000 (2007)

Transportation
Tanzania

Airports:

124 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 114 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 287 km; oil 891 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,690 km narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 78,891 km paved: 6,808 km unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)

Waterways:

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 9 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4 registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Dar es Salaam

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military
Tanzania

Military branches:

Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,108,177 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,278,833 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 478,812 female: 479,557 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Tanzania

Disputes - international:

Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for South African, European, and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for southern Africa; money laundering remains a problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Thailand

Introduction
Thailand

Background:

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing separatist violence in its southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces.

Geography
Thailand

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries:

total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline:

3,219 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain:

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Natural resources:

tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 27.54% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 65.53% (2005)

Irrigated land:

49,860 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

409.9 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%) per capita: 1,288 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

People
Thailand

Population:

65,493,296 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.2% (male 7,104,776/female 6,781,453) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 22,763,274/female 23,304,793) 65 years and over: 8.5% (male 2,516,721/female 3,022,281) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.8 years male: 32 years female: 33.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.64% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

13.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.83 years male: 70.51 years female: 75.27 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.64 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

570,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

58,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria animal contact disease: rabies water contact disease: leptospirosis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Ethnic groups:

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions:

Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 94.9% female: 90.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (2005)

Government
Thailand

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai local short form: Prathet Thai former: Siam

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Bangkok geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang
Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi,
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng
Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon
(Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha
Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan,
Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani,
Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,
Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi
Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut
Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,
Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon
Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Independence:

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

National holiday:

Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)

Constitution:

constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL) on 24 August 2007

Legal system:

based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet or (BHUMIBOL Adulyadej) (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister OLARN Cahipravat (since 24 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SOMPONG Amornwiwat (since 24 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council elections: monarch is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution, prime minister is designated from among members of House of Representatives; following national elections for House of Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king; prime minister is limited to two 4-year terms

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent government bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of provinces; all serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5 note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are disqualified from being senators

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also
spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Matchima Thippatai (Middle Way Party)
[ANONGWAN Therpsuthin] - disbanded; Motherland Party (Peua Pandin
Party); People's Power Party (Palang Prachachon Party) or PPP
[SOMCHAI Wongsawat, acting] - disbanded; Royalist People's Party
(Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai Thai Party (Thai Unity
Party) [CHETTA Thanacharo, also spelled CHETTHA Thanajaro]; Thai
Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA] -
disbanded

Political pressure groups and leaders:

People's Alliance for Democracy; Campaign for Democracy [Pibob
THONGCHAI]

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires DAMRONG Kraikruan chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Flag description:

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

Economy
Thailand

Economy - overview:

With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand appears to have fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis. The country was one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04. Boosted by strong export growth, the Thai economy grew 4.5% in 2007. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. By 2007, the tourism sector had largely recovered from the major 2004 tsunami. Following the military coup in September 2006, investment and consumer confidence stagnated due to the uncertain political climate that lasted through the December 2007 elections. Foreign investor sentiment was further tempered by a 30% reserve requirement on capital inflows instituted in December 2006, and discussion of amending Thailand's rules governing foreign-owned businesses. Economic growth in 2007 was due almost entirely to robust export performance - despite the pressure of an appreciating currency. Exports have performed at record levels, rising nearly 17% in 2006 and 12% in 2007. Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular automobile production - and farm output are driving these gains.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$521.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$245.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.4% industry: 43.8% services: 44.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

36.9 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 49% industry: 14% services: 37% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.4% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

42 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $44.14 billion expenditures: $49.83 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Public debt:

37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.05% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$28.62 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$216.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$241.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Industries:

tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Industrial production growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

130.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

123.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

731 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

4.488 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 91.3% hydro: 6.4% nuclear: 0% other: 2.4% (2001)

Oil - production:

348,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

928,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

207,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

832,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

460 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

25.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

35.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

9.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

331.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$14.92 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$151.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Exports - partners:

US 12.6%, Japan 11.9%, China 9.7%, Singapore 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.7%,
Malaysia 5.1% (2007)

Imports:

$125.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

Imports - partners:

Japan 20.3%, China 11.6%, US 6.8%, Malaysia 6.2%, UAE 4.9%,
Singapore 4.5%, Taiwan 4.1% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$171.1 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$87.46 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$59.52 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$80.83 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$7.013 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$139.6 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

baht (THB)

Currency code:

##### THB

Exchange rates:

baht per US dollar - 33.599 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003)

Communications
Thailand

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.024 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

51.377 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007)

Radios:

13.96 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

111 (2006)

Televisions:

15.19 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.th

Internet hosts:

1.116 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

13.416 million (2007)

Transportation
Thailand

Airports:

106 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 65 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 28 (2007)

Heliports:

3 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 4,381 km; refined products 320 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 4,071 km narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

4,000 km note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 398 by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container 22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UK 5) registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Military
Thailand

Military branches:

Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,553,410 females age 16-49: 17,751,268 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,968,674 females age 16-49: 14,058,779 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 531,315 female: 511,288 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Thailand

Disputes - international:

separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006, over 116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum seekers from Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic boundary with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 132,241 (Burma) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government crackdowns

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Timor-Leste

Introduction
Timor-Leste

Background:

The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown of law and order in Dili. At the request of the Government of Timor-Leste, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. In August, the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. In subsequent months, many of the ISF soldiers were replaced by UN police officers; approximately 80 ISF officers remained as of January 2008. From April to June 2007, the Government of Timor-Leste held presidential and parliamentary elections in a largely peaceful atmosphere with the support and assistance of UNMIT and international donors.

Geography
Timor-Leste

Location:

Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -
Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the
Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of
Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 15,007 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Coastline:

706 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain:

mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Natural resources:

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use:

arable land: 8.2% permanent crops: 4.57% other: 87.23% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,065 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:

widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Climate Change, Desertification

Geography - note:

Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands

People
Timor-Leste

Population:

1,108,777 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.1% (male 197,975/female 191,716) 15-64 years: 61.6% (male 347,573/female 334,908) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 17,578/female 19,027) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.5 years male: 21.5 years female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.05% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

26.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 48.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 35.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.94 years male: 64.6 years female: 69.39 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Timorese adjective: Timorese

Ethnic groups:

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority

Religions:

Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

Languages:

Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.6% male: NA female: NA (2002)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Timor-Leste

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste conventional short form: Timor-Leste local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese] local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese] former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Dili geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque

Independence:

28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Constitution:

22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Legal system:

UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in place but is to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007 with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority coalition as prime minister election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT 24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic Alliance) 3.2%, UNTERDIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party - FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be
appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior
Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established,
Court of Appeals is highest court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for
Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic
Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao
GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party
of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent
Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic
Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Sons of the Mountain
Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association of
Timorese Heroes)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, ARF, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jorge CAMEO chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 telephone: (670) 332-4684 FAX: (670) 331-3206

Flag description:

red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle

Economy
Timor-Leste

Economy - overview:

In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of Timor-Leste was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias. Three hundred thousand people fled westward. Over the next three years a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By the end of 2005, refugees had returned or had settled in Indonesia. The country continues to face great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of oil and gas resources in offshore waters has begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule and above expectations - the result of high petroleum prices. The technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs for the unemployed because there are no production facilities in Timor. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005 the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of US$1.8 billion as of September 2007. The mid-2006 outbreak of violence and civil unrest disrupted both private and public sector economic activity and created 100,000 internally displaced persons - about 10 percent of the population. While real non-oil GDP growth in 2006 was negative, the economy probably rebounded in 2007. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and reduce poverty. In late 2007, the new government announced plans aimed at increasing spending, reducing poverty, and improving the country's infrastructure, but it continues to face capacity constraints. In the short term, the government must also address continuing problems related to the crisis of 2006, especially the displaced Timorese.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.608 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$459 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

19.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 32.2% industry: 12.8% services: 55% (2005)

Labor force:

##### NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38 (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $733 million expenditures: $309 million note: the government passed a transitional budget to cover the latter half of 2007 and has moved the fiscal cycle to a calendar year, starting with the budget they passed for 2008 (FY06/07 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.8% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.05% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$74.94 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$68.78 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Industries:

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

78,480 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

##### NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.161 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and vanilla exports

Exports - partners:

US, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Indonesia (2006)

Imports:

$202 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Economic aid - recipient:

$184.7 million (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Timor-Leste

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,400 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

69,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: rudimentary service limited to urban areas domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urban areas international: country code - 670; international service is available in major urban centers

Radio broadcast stations:

at least 21 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster and 20 community and church radio stations - frequency type NA)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.tl

Internet hosts:

285 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

##### NA

Internet users:

1,200 (2006)

Transportation
Timor-Leste

Airports:

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports:

9 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 6,040 km paved: 2,600 km unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Dili

Military
Timor-Leste

Military branches:

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este,
Falintil (FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 284,903 females age 16-49: 272,212 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 224,096 females age 16-49: 231,901 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 13,045 female: 12,670 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Timor-Leste

Disputes - international:

Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees who left Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Australia and Timor-Leste agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for 50 years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 100,000 (2007)

Illicit drugs:

##### NA

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Togo

Introduction
Togo

Background:

French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. After years of political unrest and fire from international organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being re-welcomed into the international community.

Geography
Togo

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Coastline:

56 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain:

gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 44.2% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 53.69% (2005)

Irrigated land:

70 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

14.7 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%) per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

People
Togo

Population:

5,858,673 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.7% (male 1,226,320/female 1,218,182) 15-64 years: 55.6% (male 1,588,354/female 1,666,274) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 63,508/female 96,035) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.6 years male: 18.2 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.717% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

36.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.48 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 57.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 65.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.28 years male: 56.2 years female: 60.43 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

10,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese

Ethnic groups:

African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and
Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

Religions:

Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%

Languages:

French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.9% male: 75.4% female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 11 years female: 7 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2002)

Government
Togo

Country name:

conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland

Government type:

republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Capital:

name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes

Independence:

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Constitution:

multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Legal system:

French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal (adult)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005); note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, with the support of the military following international condemnation for the unconstitutional move he then stepped aside pending elections, and Abass BONFOH served as interim president; Faure GNASSINGBE later won popular elections in April 2005 head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held by 2010); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas LAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%, CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50, UFC 27, CAR 4

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; Democratic
Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewal
or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace
and Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP;
Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry
OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE];
Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for a Change or UFC
[Gilchrist OLYMPIO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lorempo LANDJERGUE chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300 telephone: [228] 261-5470 FAX: [228] 261-5501

Flag description:

five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
Togo

Economy - overview:

This small, sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo is working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) that could eventually lead to a debt reduction plan. Economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production, underinvestment in phosphate mining, and strained relations with donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.042 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.497 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 40% industry: 25% services: 35% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

1.302 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

32% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $466.8 million expenditures: $514.7 million (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$624.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$383.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$590.7 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Industries:

phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

203 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

607 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

505 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 98.7% hydro: 1.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

17,770 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,547 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

16,650 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$159 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$702 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners:

Ghana 16.8%, Burkina Faso 14.5%, Germany 9.2%, Benin 9.1%,
Netherlands 5.9%, Mali 5.8%, India 4.7% (2007)

Imports:

$1.201 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

China 36.3%, Estonia 9.6%, US 7.6%, Netherlands 7.3%, France 7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $86.71 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$438 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2 billion (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

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

Currency code:

##### XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Communications
Togo

Telephones - main lines in use:

82,100 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.19 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 15 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

940,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 2 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

73,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tg

Internet hosts:

769 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2001)

Internet users:

320,000 (2006)

Transportation
Togo

Airports:

9 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Railways:

total: 568 km narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)

Waterways:

50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 10 by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Bangladesh 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 1, Lebanon 1, Syria 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Kpeme, Lome

Military
Togo

Military branches:

Togolese Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du
Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, FAT), National
Gendarmerie (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,365,505 females age 16-49: 1,374,993 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 897,195 females age 16-49: 913,327 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 69,156 female: 69,200 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Togo

Disputes - international:

in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006 14,000 Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana) IDPs: 1,500 (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Tokelau

Introduction
Tokelau

Background:

Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925. Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the islands from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free association with New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for approval.

Geography
Tokelau

Location:

Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 9 00 S, 172 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

101 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain:

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Environment - current issues:

limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Geography - note:

consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level

People
Tokelau

Population:

1,433 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5%

Population growth rate:

-0.011% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian

Religions:

Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2% note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Languages:

Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Literacy:

##### NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 10 years female: 11 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Tokelau

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau

Dependency status:

self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

none; each atoll has its own administrative center time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence:

none (territory of New Zealand)

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970

Legal system:

New Zealand and local statutes

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006) head of government: Pio TUIA (since 23 February 2008); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has seven seats, Nukunonu has six seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono elections: last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: independents 20

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of New Zealand)

Flag description:

the flag of New Zealand is used

Economy
Tokelau

Economy - overview:

Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public services with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.5 million (1993 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (1993 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

440 (2001)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Budget:

revenues: $430,800 expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

##### NA%

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish

Industries:

small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exports:

$0 (2002)

Exports - commodities:

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

New Zealand (2006)

Imports:

$969,200 c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Imports - partners:

New Zealand (2006)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

##### NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Communications
Tokelau

Telephones - main lines in use:

300 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to all islands) (2002)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tk

Internet hosts:

273 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Tokelau

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military
Tokelau

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues
Tokelau

Disputes - international:

Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Tonga

Introduction
Tonga

Background:

Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Geography
Tonga

Location:

Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 00 S, 175 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 748 sq km land: 718 sq km water: 30 sq km

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

419 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain:

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Natural resources:

fish, fertile soil

Land use:

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 14.67% other: 65.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

Environment - current issues:

deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

People
Tonga

Population:

119,009 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.7% (male 20,484/female 19,633) 15-64 years: 62% (male 36,699/female 37,108) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,135/female 2,950) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.8 years male: 21.3 years female: 22.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.669% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.81 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.44 years male: 67.9 years female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian, Europeans

Religions:

Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Languages:

Tongan, English

Literacy:

definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 98.9% male: 98.8% female: 99% (1999 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2004)

Government
Tonga

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga local long form: Pule'anga Tonga local short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: Nuku'alofa geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independence:

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

National holiday:

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution:

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006) cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; four appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including two each from the nobles' and peoples' representatives serving three-year terms note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and two governors elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents 3, PDP 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and approved by Privy Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA];
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag description:

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy
Tonga

Economy - overview:

Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops, and agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$526 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$219 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-3.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25% industry: 17% services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)

Labor force:

33,910 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 65% industry and services: 35% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13% (FY03/04 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### 24% (FY03/04)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $80.48 million expenditures: $109.8 million (FY07/08)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.16% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$46.38 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$106.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$163.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Industries:

tourism, construction, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

43 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

39.99 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

870 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

1,035 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2007 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2007 est.)

Current account balance:

-$23 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$22 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners:

US 36.7%, Japan 21.6%, NZ 10.1%, Fiji 5.8%, Samoa 4.9% (2007)

Imports:

$139 million f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Fiji 32.5%, NZ 27.5%, US 9%, Australia 7.4%, China 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$31.75 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$40.83 million (yearend, FY04/05)

Debt - external:

$80.7 million (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

pa'anga (TOP)

Currency code:

##### TOP

Exchange rates:

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)

Communications
Tonga

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

46,500 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

61,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2004)

Televisions:

2,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.to

Internet hosts:

19,231 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

8,400 (2007)

Transportation
Tonga

Airports:

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 13 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 8, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Cyprus 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Nuku'alofa

Military
Tonga

Military branches:

Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 32,053 females age 16-49: 30,981 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 25,520 females age 16-49: 26,893 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,464 female: 1,412 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Tonga

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Trinidad and Tobago

Introduction
Trinidad and Tobago

Background:

First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

Geography
Trinidad and Tobago

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

##### 11 00 N, 61 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 5,128 sq km land: 5,128 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

362 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain:

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use:

arable land: 14.62% permanent crops: 9.16% other: 76.22% (2005)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

3.8 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.31 cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%) per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt

People
Trinidad and Tobago

Population:

1,047,366 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19% (male 102,352/female 96,487) 15-64 years: 71.8% (male 396,352/female 356,080) 65 years and over: 9.2% (male 42,998/female 53,097) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.3 years male: 31.9 years female: 32.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.891% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

13.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.93 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67 years male: 66.07 years female: 67.98 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

29,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,900 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic groups:

Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%,
Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other
Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000
census)

Languages:

English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi),
French, Spanish, Chinese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99.1% female: 98% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (200)

People - note:

in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago estimated the population to be 1.3 million

Government
Trinidad and Tobago

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Port-of-Spain geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough corporations, 1 ward regional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco city corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernando borough corporations: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin ward: Tobago

Independence:

31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution:

1 August 1976

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24 December 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 February 2008 (next to be held by February 2013); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS reelected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, nine by the President, six by the opposition party to serve a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held on 5 November 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 46%, UNC 29.7%; seats by party - PNM 26, UNC 15 note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members serving four-year terms; last election held in January 2005; seats by party - PNM 11, DAC 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of Justice; Caribbean Court of Appeals member; Court of Appeals; the highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London

Political parties and leaders:

Congress of the People [Winston DOOKERAN]; Democratic Action
Congress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES] (only active in Tobago); Democratic
National Alliance or DNA [Gerald YETMING] (coalition of NAR, DDPT,
MND); Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS];
National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES];
People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National
Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Glenda MOREAN-PHILLIP chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376 FAX: [1] (868) 822-5905

Flag description:

red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side

Economy
Trinidad and Tobago

Economy - overview:

Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses and has one of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin America. Recent growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and steel. Additional petrochemical, aluminum, and plastics projects are in various stages of planning. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon these resources but it also supplies manufactured goods, notably food and beverages, as well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gas account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% of employment. The country is also a regional financial center, and tourism is a growing sector, although it is not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. Economic growth reached 12.6% in 2006 and 5.5% in 2007 as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and LNG remained high, and as foreign direct investment continued to grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.79 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$20.7 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.6% industry: 62% services: 37.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

622,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 12.9%, construction and utilities 17.5%, services 65.6% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

16.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.332 billion expenditures: $5.969 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Public debt:

27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.75% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.646 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.707 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.721 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Industries:

petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

7.704 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

7.083 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0.2% (2001)

Oil - production:

163,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

28,730 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

218,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

72,780 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

728.3 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

39 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

18.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

531.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.378 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$13.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers

Exports - partners:

US 57.5%, Jamaica 6.5%, Spain 3.9% (2007)

Imports:

$7.67 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals, grain

Imports - partners:

US 28.2%, Brazil 11%, Venezuela 8.2%, Colombia 5.4%, Gabon 4.9%,
China 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$200,000 (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.745 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.869 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$12.44 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.419 billion (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$15.57 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Currency code:

##### TTD

Exchange rates:

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar - 6.3275 (2007), 6.3107 (2006), 6.2842 (2005), 6.299 (2004), 6.2951 (2003)

Communications
Trinidad and Tobago

Telephones - main lines in use:

323,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.008 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent international service; good local service domestic: mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2005)

Televisions:

425,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tt

Internet hosts:

155,722 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:

430,800 (2007)

Transportation
Trinidad and Tobago

Airports:

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 245 km; gas 1,320 km; oil 563 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 9 by type: passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 1 (US 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Bahamas 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain

Military
Trinidad and Tobago

Military branches:

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago
Regiment, Coast Guard, Air Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 301,561 females age 16-49: 264,225 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 215,310 females age 16-49: 180,526 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 8,671 female: 8,153 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Trinidad and Tobago

Disputes - international:

in April 2006, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a decision that delimited a maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago and compelled Barbados to enter a fishing agreement that limited Barbadian fishermen's catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may extend into its waters as well

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Tunisia

Introduction
Tunisia

Background:

Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. BEN ALI is currently serving his fourth consecutive five-year term as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Geography
Tunisia

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates:

##### 34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline:

1,148 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Terrain:

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use:

arable land: 17.05% permanent crops: 13.08% other: 69.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3,940 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

4.6 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%) per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People
Tunisia

Population:

10,383,577 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,246,105/female 1,167,379) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 3,638,062/female 3,595,254) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 345,590/female 391,187) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.8 years male: 28.2 years female: 29.3 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.989% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.5 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.56 years male: 73.79 years female: 77.46 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Languages:

Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.3% male: 83.4% female: 65.3% (2004 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
Tunisia

Country name:

conventional long form: Tunisian Republic conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin
'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba
(Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili
(Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah),
Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax
(Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse
(Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan
(Zaghwan)

Independence:

20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)

Constitution:

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a fourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%, Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%

Legislative branch:

bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85 members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms) elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011) election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3, PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (due to boycott))

Judicial branch:

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI]; Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Maya JERIBI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]; note - the Islamist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Tarek Ben YOUSSEF chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] 71 107-000 FAX: [216] 71 963-263

Flag description:

red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy
Tunisia

Economy - overview:

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over the past decade, reached 6.3% in 2007 because of development in non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector. However, Tunisia will need to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as the growing population of university graduates. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$76.07 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$35.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.6% industry: 25.7% services: 62.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.593 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 55% industry: 23% services: 22% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $8.466 billion expenditures: $9.475 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

55.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2007 est.)

Stock of money:

$9.491 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$13.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$25.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products

Industries:

petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

7.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

12.65 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

10.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

135 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

86,210 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

91,110 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

73,790 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

89,130 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

400 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.55 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.85 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$905 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$15.15 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment

Exports - partners:

France 31.3%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.5%, Spain 5.5%, Libya 5.5% (2007)

Imports:

$18.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 23.8%, Italy 21.9%, Germany 9.7%, Spain 5%, Libya 4.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$376.5 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.854 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$19.27 billion (December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$26.22 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$118 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.446 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code:

##### TND

Exchange rates:

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003)

Communications
Tunisia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.273 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.842 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone services also leading to a surge in subscribership; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 90 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 216; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)

Radios:

2.06 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

920,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tn

Internet hosts:

376 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1.722 million (2007)

Transportation
Tunisia

Airports:

30 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 2,665 km; oil 1,235 km; refined products 353 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,153 km standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) dual gauge: 8 km 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 19,232 km paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 7 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Military
Tunisia

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,992,249 females age 16-49: 2,912,819 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,539,962 females age 16-49: 2,465,295 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 101,794 female: 95,198 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Tunisia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Turkey

Introduction
Turkey

Background:

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives. After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy enabling it to begin accession membership talks with the European Union.

Geography
Turkey

Location:

Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Geographic coordinates:

##### 39 00 N, 35 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 780,580 sq km land: 770,760 sq km water: 9,820 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,648 km border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km

Coastline:

7,200 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR

Climate:

temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Terrain:

high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 29.81% permanent crops: 3.39% other: 66.8% (2005)

Irrigated land:

52,150 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

234 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 39.78 cu km/yr (15%/11%/74%) per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country

People
Turkey

Population:

71,892,808 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.4% (male 8,937,515/female 8,608,375) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 25,030,793/female 24,253,312) 65 years and over: 7% (male 2,307,236/female 2,755,576) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29 years male: 28.8 years female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.013% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 36.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 40.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.14 years male: 70.67 years female: 75.73 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish

Ethnic groups:

Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)

Religions:

Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Languages:

Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian note: there is also a substantial Gagauz population in the European part of Turkey

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.4% male: 95.3% female: 79.6% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2004)

Government
Turkey

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Turkey conventional short form: Turkey local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti local short form: Turkiye

Government type:

republican parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Ankara geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

81 provinces (iller, singular - ili); Adana, Adiyaman,
Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan,
Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol,
Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli,
Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,
Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel (Mersin), Igdir,
Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman,
Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir,
Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus,
Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa,
Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond),
Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Independence:

29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Constitution:

7 November 1982

Legal system:

civil law system derived from various European continental legal systems; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified European Convention on Human Rights; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Abdullah GUL (since 28 August 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 14 March 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Cemil CICEK (since 29 August 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Hayati YAZICI (since 29 August 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Nazim EKREN (since 29 August 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister elections: president elected by the National Assembly for one seven-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president from among members of parliament election results: Abdullah GUL received 339 votes in the third round of voting on 28 August 2007, after failing to garner the two thirds vote required by law in the first two rounds note: president-elect must have a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on the third ballot

Legislative branch:

unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 22 July 2007 (next to be held on November 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 46.7%, CHP 20.8%, MHP 14.3%, independents 5.2%, and other 13.0%; seats by party - AKP 341, CHP 112, MHP 71, independents 26; note - seats by party as of 17 December 2007 - AKP 340, CHP 87, MHP 70, DTP 20, DSP 13, independents 6, other 12, vacant 2 (DTP entered parliament as independents; DSP entered parliament on CHP's party list); only parties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; High Court of Appeals (Yargitay); Council of State (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military High Court of Appeals; Military High Administrative Court

Political parties and leaders:

Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party) or Anavatan [Erkan MUMCU];
Democratic Left Party or DSP [Mehmet Zeki SEZER]; Democratic Society
Party or DTP [Nurettin DEMIRTAS]; Felicity Party or SP [Recai KUTAN]
(sometimes translated as Contentment Party); Justice and Development
Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP
[Devlet BAHCELI] (sometimes translated as Nationalist Movement
Party); People's Rise Party (Halkin Yukselisi Partisi) or HYP [Yasar
Nuri OZTURK]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL];
Social Democratic People's Party or SHP [Murat KARAYALCIN]; True
Path Party or DYP [Mehmet AGAR] (sometimes translated as Correct Way
Party); Young Party or GP [Cem Cengiz UZAN]
note: the parties listed above are some of the more significant of
the 49 parties that Turkey had on 1 December 2004

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Ismail Hakki TOMBUL];
Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman
CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
or MUSIAD [Omer BOLAT]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim
USLU]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions or TISK [Tugurl
KUDATGOBILIK]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is [Salih
KILIC]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or TESK
[Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association or TUSIAD [Omer SABANCI]; Turkish Union of Chambers of
Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN
(observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nabi SENSOY chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ross WILSON embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555 FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir

Flag description:

red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening

Economy
Turkey

Economy - overview:

Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that still accounts for more than 35% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which accounts for one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competition in international markets with the end of the global quota system. However, other sectors, notably the automotive and electronics industries, are rising in importance within Turkey's export mix. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. The economy is turning around with the implementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%, followed by roughly 5% annual growth from 2005-07. Inflation fell to 7.7% in 2005 - a 30-year low - but climbed back to 8.5% in 2007. Despite the strong economic gains from 2002-07, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a high current account deficit and high external debt. Further economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost foreign direct investment. The stock value of FDI currently stands at about $85 billion. Privatization sales are currently approaching $21 billion. Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline in May 2006, marking a major milestone that will bring up to 1 million barrels per day from the Caspian to market. In 2007, Turkish financial markets weathered significant domestic political turmoil, including turbulence sparked by controversy over the selection of former Foreign Minister Abdullah GUL as Turkey's 11th president. Economic fundamentals are sound, marked by strong economic growth and foreign direct investment. Turkey's high current account deficit leaves the economy vulnerable to destabilizing shifts in investor confidence, however.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$853.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$663.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.9% industry: 28.3% services: 62.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

23.53 million note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 35.9% industry: 22.8% services: 41.2% (3rd quarter, 2004)

Unemployment rate:

9.9% plus underemployment of 4% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 34.1% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43.6 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $145.5 billion expenditures: $156.1 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

38.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

25% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$64.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$254.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$358.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock

Industries:

textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Industrial production growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

181.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

141.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

2.576 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

863 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 79.3% hydro: 20.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

42,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

676,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

114,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

714,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

300 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

893 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

36.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

31 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

35.83 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$37.58 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$115.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment

Exports - partners:

Germany 11.2%, UK 8.1%, Italy 7%, France 5.6%, Russia 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$162 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment

Imports - partners:

Russia 13.8%, Germany 10.3%, China 7.8%, Italy 5.9%, US 4.8%, France 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $464 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$76.51 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$247.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$106.4 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$11.35 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$162.4 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Turkish lira (TRY); old Turkish lira (TRL) before 1 January 2005

Currency code:

##### TRL, YTL

Exchange rates:

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar - 1.319 (2007), 1.4286 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.4255 (2004), 1.5009 (2003) note: on 1 January 2005 the old Turkish lira (TRL) was converted to new Turkish lira (TRY) at a rate of 1,000,000 old to 1 new Turkish lira

Communications
Turkey

Telephones - main lines in use:

18.413 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

61.976 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and expansion especially with cellular telephones domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to mobile-cellular telephone service is growing rapidly international: country code - 90; international service is provided by the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

11.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

20.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.tr

Internet hosts:

2.667 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2001)

Internet users:

13.15 million (2006)

Transportation
Turkey

Airports:

117 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 90 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 27 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Heliports:

18 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 7,511 km; oil 3,636 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 8,697 km standard gauge: 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (1,920 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 426,951 km (includes 1,987 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

1,200 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 612 by type: bulk carrier 101, cargo 281, chemical tanker 70, combination ore/oil 1, container 35, liquefied gas 7, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 51, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 28, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 8 (Cyprus 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Italy 3, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 595 (Albania 1, Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas 8, Belize 15, Cambodia 26, Comoros 8, Dominica 5, Georgia 14, Greece 1, Isle of Man 2, Italy 1, Kiribati 1, Liberia 7, Malta 176, Marshall Islands 50, Moldova 3, Netherlands 1, Netherlands Antilles 10, Panama 94, Russia 80, Saint Kitts and Nevis 35, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 20, Sierra Leone 15, Slovakia 10, Tuvalu 2, UK 2, unknown 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Aliaga, Diliskelesi, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mercin Limani, Nemrut
Limani

Military
Turkey

Military branches:

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Turk Kara
Kuvvetleri, TKK), Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK;
includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava
Kuvvetleri, THK) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,213,205 females age 16-49: 19,432,688 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,011,635 females age 16-49: 16,433,364 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 660,452 female: 638,527 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military - note:

a "National Security Policy Document" adopted in October 2005 increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security, augmenting the General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command (Jandarma); the TSK leadership continues to play a key role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey's secular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about any pro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EU accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in establishing required civilian supremacy over the military; primary domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (the Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposed establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force 2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of a NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in Afghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey's coastal waters; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications; the Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept" in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile defense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)

Transnational Issues
Turkey

Disputes - international:

complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Syria and Iraq protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates waters; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq; border with Armenia remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and
Turkish military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Turkmenistan

Introduction
Turkmenistan

Background:

Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian province of Khurasan; in medieval times Merv (today known as Mary) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were to be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to develop alternative petroleum transportation routes to break Russia's pipeline monopoly. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential electoral process in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a vice premier under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president.

Geography
Turkmenistan

Location:

Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan

Geographic coordinates:

##### 40 00 N, 60 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 488,100 sq km land: 488,100 sq km water: NEGL

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 3,736 km border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

Coastline:

0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical desert

Terrain:

flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note - Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m) highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

Land use:

arable land: 4.51% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 95.35% (2005)

Irrigated land:

18,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

60.9 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 24.65 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%) per capita: 5,104 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau

People
Turkmenistan

Population:

5,179,571 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.2% (male 902,811/female 868,428) 15-64 years: 61.5% (male 1,577,187/female 1,607,353) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 97,480/female 126,312) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.6 years male: 22 years female: 23.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.596% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

25.07 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 56.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 47.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.6 years male: 65.53 years female: 71.82 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.07 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2004 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmenistani

Ethnic groups:

Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)

Religions:

Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%

Languages:

Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.3% female: 98.3% (1999 est.)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (1991)

Government
Turkmenistan

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital:

name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

27 October 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 18 May 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system and Islamic law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14 February 2007) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 11 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 89.2%, Amanyaz ATAJYKOW 3.2%, other candidates 7.6%

Legislative branch:

two parliamentary bodies, a People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (supreme legislative body of about 2,500 delegates, some elected by popular vote and some appointed; meets at least yearly) and a National Assembly or Mejlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003 (next to be held in December 2008); National Assembly - last held 19 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2008) election results: People's Council - percent of vote by party - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 2,507; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note - all elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and are preapproved by the president note: in late 2003, a law was adopted reducing the powers of the National Assembly and making the People's Council the supreme legislative organ; the People's Council can now legally dissolve the National Assembly, and the president is now able to participate in the National Assembly as its supreme leader; the National Assembly can no longer adopt or amend the constitution or announce referendums or its elections; since the president is both the chairman of the People's Council and the supreme leader of the National Assembly, the 2003 law has the effect of making him the sole authority of both the executive and legislative branches of government

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW] note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been National Democratic Movement of Turkmenistan (NDMT) and the United Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (UDPT); NDMT was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHMURADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 attack on President NYYAZOW's motorcade

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ADB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO (guest),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOW chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard M. MILES embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070 telephone: [993] (12) 35-00-45 FAX: [993] (12) 39-26-14

Flag description:

green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; a white crescent moon representing Islam with five white stars representing the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe

Economy
Turkmenistan

Economy - overview:

Turkmenistan is a largely desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it was the world's 10th-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years have led to an almost 50% decline in cotton exports. With an authoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. From 1998-2005, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports rose by an average of roughly 15% per year from 2003-07, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt market-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economic statistics were state secrets. The new government has established a State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOW has sought to improve the health and education systems, ordered unification of the country's dual currency exchange rate, begun decreasing state subsidies for gasoline, signed an agreement to build a gas line to China, and created a special tourism zone on the Caspian Sea. All of these moves hint that the new post-NYYAZOW government will work to create a friendlier foreign investment environment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.92 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$26.91 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.5% (IMF estimate) note: official government statistics are widely regarded as unreliable (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.5% industry: 40.8% services: 47.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

2.089 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 48.2% industry: 14% services: 37.8% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

60% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.8 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.664 billion expenditures: $1.624 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.3% (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, grain; livestock

Industries:

natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

10.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

12.83 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.584 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

1.34 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

180,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

107,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

40,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:

5,283 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

68.88 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

19.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

49.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.705 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$7.567 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

Exports - partners:

Ukraine 51.3%, Iran 18.5%, Turkey 5% (2007)

Imports:

$4.516 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

UAE 14.3%, Russia 11.6%, Turkey 10.3%, China 9.1%, Ukraine 8.7%,
Iran 7%, Germany 6.5%, US 5.6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$28.25 million from the US (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.172 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.4 billion to $5 billion (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Currency code:

##### TMM

Exchange rates:

Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar - 6,250 (2007) official rate note: the commercial rate was 19,800 Turkemen manat per US$ (2007)

Communications
Turkmenistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

398,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

216,900 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poorly developed domestic: Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign investors, is planning to upgrade the country's telephone exchanges and install a new digital switching system; mobile-cellular usage remains limited international: country code - 993; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

1.225 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (government-owned and programmed) (2004)

Televisions:

820,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tm

Internet hosts:

640 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1

Internet users:

70,000 (2007)

Transportation
Turkmenistan

Airports:

28 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 6,441 km; oil 1,361 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,440 km broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 58,592 km paved: 47,577 km unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland waterways) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 7 by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Turkmenbasy

Military
Turkmenistan

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,316,698 females age 16-49: 1,331,005 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,064,965 females age 16-49: 1,136,553 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 57,615 female: 55,426 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Turkmenistan

Disputes - international:

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005, but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran, and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate the sea's waters and seabed

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan); less than 1,000 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Turks and Caicos Islands

Introduction
Turks and Caicos Islands

Background:

The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.

Geography
Turks and Caicos Islands

Location:

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

##### 21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

389 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain:

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources:

spiny lobster, conch

Land use:

arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note:

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

People
Turks and Caicos Islands

Population:

22,352 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.7% (male 3,497/female 3,374) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 7,640/female 6,929) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 435/female 477) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.8 years male: 28.5 years female: 27 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.644% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.19 years male: 72.91 years female: 77.59 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: none adjective: none

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%

Religions:

Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

People - note:

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US

Government
Turks and Caicos Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution:

Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006)

Legal system:

based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008) head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (chief minister since 15 August 2003, sworn in as premier on 9 August 2006); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive
National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

Economy
Turks and Caicos Islands

Economy - overview:

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$216 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

4,848 (1990 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services

Unemployment rate:

10% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (1995)

Agriculture - products:

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

Industries:

tourism, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

10 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

80 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

83.78 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports - partners:

##### US, UK (2006)

Imports:

$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:

food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Imports - partners:

##### US, UK (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.1 million (1997)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,700 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Radios:

8,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.tc

Internet hosts:

2,352 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Turks and Caicos Islands

Airports:

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Military
Turks and Caicos Islands

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 222 female: 214 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues
Turks and Caicos Islands

Disputes - international:

have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Tuvalu

Introduction
Tuvalu

Background:

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.

Geography
Tuvalu

Location:

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 S, 178 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 26 sq km land: 26 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

24 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain:

very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 66.67% other: 33.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Environment - current issues:

since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

People
Tuvalu

Population:

12,177 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 1,826/female 1,754) 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,891/female 4,073) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 236/female 397) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.2 years male: 24.2 years female: 26.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.577% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.97 years male: 66.7 years female: 71.36 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Religions:

Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Languages:

Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Literacy:

##### NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Tuvalu

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu local long form: none local short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Funafuti geographic coordinates: 8 30 S, 179 12 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: administrative offices are located in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

1 October 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Constitution:

1 October 1978

Legal system:

##### NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Filoimea TELITO (since 15 April 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Apisai IELEMIA (since 14 August 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of Parliament; election last held 14 August 2006 (next to be held following parliamentary elections in 2010) election results: Apisai IELEMIA elected Prime Minister in a Parliamentary election on 14 August 2006

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 3 August 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15

Judicial branch:

High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, IFRCS (observer), IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017, telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Flag description:

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

Economy
Tuvalu

Economy - overview:

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average, visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and public sector workers make up the majority of those employed. About 15% of the adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroad and remittances are a vital source of income, contributing around $4 million in 2006. Substantial income is received annually from the Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF), an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservative withdrawals, this fund grew from an initial $17 million to an estimated value of $77 million in 2006. The TFF contributed nearly $9 million towards the government budget in 2006 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. The US Government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to ensure financial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts. Tuvalu also derives royalties from the lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name, with revenue of more than $2 million in 2006. A minor source of government revenue comes from the sale of stamps and coins. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers, official transfers, and income from overseas investments. Growing income disparities and the vulnerability of the country to climatic change are among leading concerns for the nation.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.94 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.94 million (2002)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.6% industry: 27.2% services: 56.2% (2002)

Labor force:

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $21.54 million expenditures: $23.05 million (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts; fish

Industries:

fishing, tourism, copra

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Current account balance:

-$11.68 million (2003)

Exports:

$1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copra, fish

Exports - partners:

Germany 60.5%, Italy 20.1%, Fiji 6.9% (2006)

Imports:

$12.91 million c.i.f. (2005)

Imports - commodities:

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Fiji 46.1%, Japan 18.9%, China 18.2%, Australia 7.7%, NZ 4.1% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$10.49 million note: includes distributions from the Tuvalu Trust Fund (2006)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan dollar

Currency code:

##### AUD

Exchange rates:

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications
Tuvalu

Telephones - main lines in use:

900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,300 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: serves particular needs for internal communications domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

4,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (2004)

Televisions:

800

Internet country code:

.tv

Internet hosts:

56,209 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1,300 (2002)

Transportation
Tuvalu

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 8 km paved: 8 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 80 by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 30, chemical tanker 14, container 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 63 (China 16, Hong Kong 7, Kenya 1, South Korea 1, Malaysia 1, Maldives 1, Norway 1, Russia 2, Singapore 23, Thailand 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 1, US 1, Vietnam 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Funafuti

Military
Tuvalu

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2008)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 128 female: 125 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Tuvalu

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Uganda

Introduction
Uganda

Background:

The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Geography
Uganda

Location:

Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Geographic coordinates:

##### 1 00 N, 32 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 236,040 sq km land: 199,710 sq km water: 36,330 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,698 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Terrain:

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Natural resources:

copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 21.57% permanent crops: 8.92% other: 69.51% (2005)

Irrigated land:

90 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

66 cu km (1970)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%) per capita: 10 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

People
Uganda

Population:

31,367,972 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 50% (male 7,903,935/female 7,789,792) 15-64 years: 47.8% (male 7,528,073/female 7,469,938) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 284,122/female 392,112) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 15 years male: 14.9 years female: 15.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.603% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

48.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 65.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 69.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.34 years male: 51.31 years female: 53.4 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

530,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

78,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan

Ethnic groups:

Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6% (2002 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)

Languages:

English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.8% male: 76.8% female: 57.7% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (2004)

Government
Uganda

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Kampala geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 25 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe note: as of a July 2005, 13 new districts were reportedly added bringing the total up to 69; the new districts are Amolatar, Amuria, Budaka, Butaleja, Ibanda, Kaabong, Kabingo, Kaliro, Kiruhura, Koboko, Manafwa, Mityana, Nakaseke; a total of ten more districts are in the process of being added

Independence:

9 October 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Constitution:

8 October 1995; in 2005 the constitution was amended removing presidential term limits and legalizing a multiparty political system

Legal system:

in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Apolo NSIBAMBI (since 5 April 1999); note - the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%, Kizza BESIGYE 37.4%, other 3.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members elected by popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established special interest groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 13 ex officio members; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 191, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 36, other 49

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or DP
[Kizito SSEBAANA]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Kizza
BESIGYE]; Justice Forum or JEEMA [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA];
National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; Peoples
Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI]; Ugandan People's Congress
or UPC [Miria OBOTE]
note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's
transition to a multi-party political system

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Lord's Resistence Group or LRA [Joseph KONY]; Young Parliamentary
Association [Henry BANYENZAKI]; Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or
PAFO; National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU
[Florence NEKYON]; The Ugandan Coalition for Political
Accountability to Wormen or COPAW

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Perezi Karukubiro KAMUNANWIRE chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Steven BROWNING embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (414) 259, 306-001 FAX: [256] (414) 258-451

Flag description:

six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side

Economy
Uganda

Economy - overview:

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper, cobalt, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and export earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Growth continues to be solid, despite variability in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export, and a consistent upturn in Uganda's export markets. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29.13 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.23 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 30.2% industry: 24.7% services: 45.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

14.02 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 82% industry: 5% services: 13% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

35% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.7% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45.7 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.211 billion expenditures: $2.443 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Public debt:

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

14.68% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.11% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.363 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.302 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$907.3 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Industries:

sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Industrial production growth rate:

5.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.161 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

899.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

180 million kWh (2006)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.9% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

115.2 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

11,540 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$744.7 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 10.2%, Belgium 9.8%, Germany 7.9%, France 7.2%, Rwanda 5.6% (2007)

Imports:

$2.983 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners:

Kenya 31.8%, China 7.8%, UAE 7.7%, South Africa 5.9%, India 5.2%,
Japan 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.198 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$103.4 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Currency code:

##### UGX

Exchange rates:

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 1,685.8 (2007), 1,834.9 (2006), 1,780.7 (2005), 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003)

Communications
Uganda

Telephones - main lines in use:

162,300 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.195 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: seriously inadequate; mobile cellular service is increasing rapidly, but the number of main lines is still deficient; e-mail and Internet services are available domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellular systems for short-range traffic international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (plus 1 repeater) (2001)

Televisions:

500,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.ug

Internet hosts:

1,090 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

2 million (2007)

Transportation
Uganda

Airports:

32 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,244 km narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 70,746 km paved: 16,272 km unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)

Waterways:

on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and parts of Albert Nile (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Military
Uganda

Military branches:

Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit),
Air Force (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18-26 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; 9-year service obligation; the government has stated that recruitment below 18 years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,532,894 females age 16-49: 6,352,416 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,856,365 females age 16-49: 3,769,120 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 384,638 female: 381,990 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.2% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Uganda

Disputes - international:

Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders; Uganda hosts 209,860 Sudanese, 27,560 Congolese, and 19,710 Rwandan refugees, while Ugandan refugees as well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek shelter in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 215,700 (Sudan); 28,880 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 24,900 (Rwanda) IDPs: 1.27 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following ongoing peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Ukraine

Introduction
Ukraine

Background:

Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest "Orange Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary elections and become prime minister in August of 2006. An early legislative election, brought on by a political crisis in the spring of 2007, saw Yuliya TYMOSHENKO, as head of an "Orange" coalition, installed as a new prime minister in December 2007.

Geography
Ukraine

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

Geographic coordinates:

##### 49 00 N, 32 00 E

Map references:

Asia, Europe

Area:

total: 603,700 sq km land: 603,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,566 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 940 km,
Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 176 km, Romania (southwest) 362 km,
Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km

Coastline:

2,782 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

Terrain:

most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 53.8% permanent crops: 1.5% other: 44.7% (2005)

Irrigated land:

22,080 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

139.5 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 37.53 cu km/yr (12%/35%/52%) per capita: 807 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds

Geography - note:

strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe

People
Ukraine

Population:

45,994,288 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.9% (male 3,277,905/female 3,106,012) 15-64 years: 70% (male 15,443,818/female 16,767,931) 65 years and over: 16.1% (male 2,489,235/female 4,909,386) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.4 years male: 36.1 years female: 42.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.651% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

15.93 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.06 years male: 62.24 years female: 74.24 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

360,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

20,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Ukrainian(s) adjective: Ukrainian

Ethnic groups:

Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%,
Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%,
Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox -
Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian
Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%,
Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)

Languages:

Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other 9% (includes small
Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4% male: 99.7% female: 99.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.3% of GDP (2006)

Government
Ukraine

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukrayina former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Kyiv (Kiev) geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status**; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Dnipropetrovs'k, Donets'k, Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmel'nyts'kyy, Kirovohrad, Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhans'k, L'viv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol'**, Sumy, Ternopil', Vinnytsya, Volyn' (Luts'k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) and the day the short-lived Western and Central Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day

Constitution:

adopted 28 June 1996

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Viktor A. YUSHCHENKO (since 23 January 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (since 18 December 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr TURCHYNOV (since 18 December 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Hryhoriy NEMYRYA and Ivan VASYUNYK (since 18 December 2007) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers selected by the prime minister; the only exceptions are the foreign and defense ministers, who are chosen by the president note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council; the NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a Presidential Secretariat helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a special repeat runoff presidential election between Viktor YUSHCHENKO and Viktor YANUKOVYCH took place on 26 December 2004 after the earlier 21 November 2004 contest - won by YANUKOVYCH - was invalidated by the Ukrainian Supreme Court because of widespread and significant violations; under constitutional reforms that went into effect 1 January 2006, the majority in parliament takes the lead in naming the prime minister election results: Viktor YUSHCHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Viktor YUSHCHENKO 52%, Viktor YANUKOVYCH 44.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or more of the national electoral vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Party of Regions 34.4%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%; seats by party/bloc - Party of Regions 175, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 156, Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn bloc 20

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Union [Volodymyr STRETOVYCH]; Communist Party
of Ukraine or CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; European Party of Ukraine
[Mykola KATERYNCHUK]; Fatherland Party (Batkivshchyna) [Yuliya
TYMOSHENKO]; Forward Ukraine! [Viktor MUSIYAKA]; Labor Party of
Ukraine [Mykola SYROTA]; People's Union Our Ukraine [Vyacheslav
KYRYLENKO]; Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy
KINAKH]; Party of the Defenders of the Fatherland [Yuriy Karmazin];
People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) [Borys TARASYUK]; People's Party
[Volodymyr LYTVYN]; PORA! (It's Time!) party [Vladyslav KASKIV];
Progressive Socialist Party [Natalya VITRENKO]; Reforms and Order
Party [Viktor PYNZENYK]; Party of Regions [Viktor YANUKOVYCH];
Republican Party [Yuriy BOYKO]; Sobor [Anatoliy MATVIYENKO]; Social
Democratic Party [Yevhen KORNICHUK]; Social Democratic Party
(United) or SDPU(o) [Yuriy ZAHORODNIY]; Socialist Party of Ukraine
or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ]; Ukrainian People's Party [Yuriy KOSTENKO];
Viche [Inna BOHOSLOVSKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee of Voters of Ukraine [Ihor POPOV]; Peoples' Self-Defense
[Yuriy LUTSENKO]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Oleh V. SHAMSHUR chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606 FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William B. TAYLOR Jr. embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 01901 Kyiv mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850 telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000 FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grain fields under a blue sky

Economy
Ukraine

Economy - overview:

After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Shortly after independence was ratified in December 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine depends on imports to meet about three-fourths of its annual oil and natural gas requirements. A dispute with Russia over pricing in late 2005 and early 2006 led to a temporary gas cut-off; Ukraine concluded a deal with Russia in January 2006 that almost doubled the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, and improving the legislative framework. Ukraine's economy remains buoyant despite political turmoil between the Prime Minister and President. Real GDP growth reached about 7% in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top export - and by strong domestic consumption, spurred by rising pensions and wages. Although the economy is likely to expand in 2008, long-term growth could be threatened by the government's plans to reinstate tax, trade, and customs privileges and to maintain restrictive grain export quotas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$324.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$140.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9% industry: 32.2% services: 58.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

21.58 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 25% industry: 20% services: 55% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

2.3% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers; the International Labor Organization calculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is nearly 7% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37.7% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 25.7% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $43.54 billion expenditures: $45.06 billion; note - this is the planned, consolidated budget (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

11.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

8% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.9% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$35.97 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$41.51 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$87.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk

Industries:

coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

182.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

148.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

12.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.082 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 48.6% hydro: 7.9% nuclear: 43.5% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

102,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

344,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

190,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

441,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

395 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

19.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

84.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

4 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

65.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.104 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$5.918 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$49.84 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Exports - partners:

Russia 23.3%, Turkey 7.9%, Italy 5.8% (2007)

Imports:

$60.41 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Russia 23.9%, Germany 11.8%, China 8.5%, Poland 8.1%, Turkmenistan 5.4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$409.6 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$32.48 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$69.04 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$31.08 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$895 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$42.87 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

hryvnia (UAH)

Currency code:

##### UAH

Exchange rates:

hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar - 5.05 (2007), 5.05 (2006), 5.1247 (2005), 5.3192 (2004), 5.3327 (2003)

Communications
Ukraine

Telephones - main lines in use:

12.858 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

55.24 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile-cellular system domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair; more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk system is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital and a majority of regional centers now have digital switching stations; improvements in local networks and local exchanges continue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding rapidly international: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3 Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems

Radio broadcast stations:

524 (station types NA) (2006)

Radios:

45.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

647 (2006)

Televisions:

18.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ua

Internet hosts:

524,202 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

260 (2001)

Internet users:

10 million (2007)

Transportation
Ukraine

Airports:

437 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 193 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 53 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 95 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 244 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 217 (2007)

Heliports:

10 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 33,721 km; oil 4,514 km; refined products 4,211 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 22,473 km broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 169,422 km paved: 165,611 km (includes 15 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,811 km (2007)

Waterways:

2,253 km (most on Dnieper River) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 189 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 141, chemical tanker 1, container 3, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Luxembourg 1, Russia 1) registered in other countries: 204 (Belize 7, Cambodia 34, Comoros 8, Cyprus 4, Dominica 4, Georgia 18, Liberia 25, Lithuania 1, Malta 30, Moldova 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Russia 11, Saint Kitts and Nevis 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 11, Sierra Leone 10, Slovakia 12, Tuvalu 1, unknown 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Feodosiya, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Yuzhnyy

Military
Ukraine

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly),
Air Defense Forces (2002)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air Force, 24 months for Navy (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,457,562 females age 16-49: 11,767,357 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,141,814 females age 16-49: 9,428,876 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 288,605 female: 276,324 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Ukraine

Disputes - international:

1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region, which remains under OSCE supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@United Arab Emirates

Introduction
United Arab Emirates

Background:

The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region.

Geography
United Arab Emirates

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 24 00 N, 54 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Coastline:

1,318 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain:

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.77% permanent crops: 2.27% other: 96.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:

760 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.2 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%) per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:

lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People
United Arab Emirates

Population:

4,621,399 note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.5% (male 484,102/female 462,405) 15-64 years: 78.6% (male 2,663,702/female 970,672) 65 years and over: 0.9% (male 26,244/female 14,274) note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.1 years male: 32 years female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.833% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.74 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.84 male(s)/female total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.89 years male: 73.35 years female: 78.56 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.18% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati

Ethnic groups:

Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982) note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)

Religions:

Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%

Languages:

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.9% male: 76.1% female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
United Arab Emirates

Country name:

conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE

Government type:

federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital:

name: Abu Dhabi geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn)

Independence:

2 December 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

Constitution:

2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996

Legal system:

based on a dual system of Sharia and civil courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

none

Executive branch:

chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006) head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SULTAN bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held in 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktum unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid Al-Maktum

Legislative branch:

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20 contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a seat note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto

Judicial branch:

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yousef bin Mani Saeed al-OTAIBA chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 consulate(s): New York, Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard OLSON embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200 FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603 consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side

Economy
United Arab Emirates

Economy - overview:

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Despite largely successful efforts at economic diversification, nearly 40% of GDP is still directly based on oil and gas output. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, housing shortages, and cheap credit in 2005-07 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation. Rising prices are increasing the operating costs for businesses in the UAE and adversely impacting government employees and others on fixed incomes. Dependence on oil and a large expatriate workforce are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification and creating more opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$164.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$192.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$37,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.8% industry: 60.6% services: 37.6% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.065 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7% industry: 15% services: 78% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.4% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

19.5% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $68.27 billion expenditures: $38.06 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

14% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Stock of money:

$49.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$104.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$155.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Industries:

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

62.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

57.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.948 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

381,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.703 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

232,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

48.79 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

43.11 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

6.848 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.343 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$34.53 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$178.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Exports - partners:

Japan 23.6%, South Korea 9.2%, Thailand 5%, India 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners:

China 12.8%, India 10%, US 8.7%, Japan 6.1%, Germany 5.9%, UK 5.3%,
Italy 4.6% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$5.36 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$77.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$44.37 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$14.14 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$138.5 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Emirati dirham (AED)

Currency code:

##### AED

Exchange rates:

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002

Communications
United Arab Emirates

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.385 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.595 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable international: country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:

820,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (2004)

Televisions:

310,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ae

Internet hosts:

381,915 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

2.3 million (2007)

Transportation
United Arab Emirates

Airports:

39 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 520 km; gas 2,908 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refined products 156 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 4,080 km paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 58 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, container 8, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 14 (Denmark 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 10) registered in other countries: 313 (Bahamas 23, Bahrain 1, Belize 5, Cambodia 2, Comoros 7, Cyprus 9, Dominica 1, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 3, Hong Kong 1, India 6, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Jordan 13, North Korea 8, Liberia 23, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 5, Panama 109, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 8, Singapore 12, Somalia 1, Turkey 1, UK 9, unknown 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Mina' Zayid (Abu Dhabi), Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai),
Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah), Khawr Fakkan
(Sharjah)

Military
United Arab Emirates

Military branches:

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marines),
Air Force and Air Defense, National Coast Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,405,884 (includes non-nationals) females age 16-49: 884,853 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,004,558 females age 16-49: 760,637 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 25,856 female: 23,085 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
United Arab Emirates

Disputes - international:

boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

Illicit drugs:

the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@United Kingdom

Introduction
United Kingdom

Background:

As the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process.

Geography
United Kingdom

Location:

Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

##### 54 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 244,820 sq km land: 241,590 sq km water: 3,230 sq km note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km border countries: Ireland 360 km

Coastline:

12,429 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries

Climate:

temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain:

mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: The Fens -4 m highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

Natural resources:

coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 23.23% permanent crops: 0.2% other: 76.57% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

160.6 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 11.75 cu km/yr (22%/75%/3%) per capita: 197 cu m/yr (1994)

Natural hazards:

winter windstorms; floods

Environment - current issues:

continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

People
United Kingdom

Population:

60,943,912 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 5,287,590/female 5,036,881) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,698,645/female 20,185,040) 65 years and over: 16% (male 4,186,561/female 5,549,195) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.9 years male: 38.8 years female: 41 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.276% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

10.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

10.05 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.85 years male: 76.37 years female: 81.46 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

51,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective: British

Ethnic groups:

white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.6% of GDP (2005)

Government
United Kingdom

Country name:

conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

name: London geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 10 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its overseas dependencies or territories

Administrative divisions:

England: 34 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of
London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan counties, 46 unitary
authorities
two-tier counties: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire,
Cheshire, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon,
Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire,
Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland,
Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire,
Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Worcestershire
London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and
Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing,
Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey,
Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and
Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London,
Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton,
Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
metropolitan counties: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury,
Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees,
Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North
Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport,
Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral,
Wolverhampton
unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset, Blackburn with
Darwen, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove,
City of Bristol, Darlington, Derby, East Riding of Yorkshire,
Halton, Hartlepool, County of Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, City of
Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton
Keynes, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Somerset,
Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading,
Redcar and Cleveland, Rutland, Slough, South Gloucestershire,
Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent,
Swindon, Telford and Wrekin, Thurrock, Torbay, Warrington, West
Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, York
Northern Ireland: 26 district council areas
district council areas: Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney,
Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine,
Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne,
Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne,
Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane
Scotland: 32 unitary authorities
unitary authorities: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and
Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East
Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City
of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow
City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire,
Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The
Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian
Wales: 22 unitary authorities
unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent; Bridgend; Caerphilly; Cardiff;
Carmarthenshire; Ceredigion; Conwy; Denbighshire; Flintshire;
Gwynedd; Isle of Anglesey; Merthyr Tydfil; Monmouthshire; Neath Port
Talbot; Newport; Pembrokeshire; Powys; Rhondda, Cynon, Taff;
Swansea; The Vale of Glamorgan; Torfaen; Wrexham

Dependent areas:

Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat,
Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich
Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

Independence:

England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales, begun in 1284 with the Statute of Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with an Act of Union; in another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927

National holiday:

the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

based on common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) head of government: Prime Minister James Gordon BROWN (since 27 June 2007) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (618 seats; consisting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers, and 26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005 elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier) elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by May 2010) election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%; seats by party - Labor 355, Conservative 198, Liberal Democrat 62, other 31; seats by party in the House of Commons as of 4 June 2008 - Labor 351, Conservative 192, Liberal Democrat 63, Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 9, Democratic Unionist 9, Sinn Fein 5, other 17 note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly (because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of 1999 and has been suspended four times, the latest occurring in October 2002 and lasting until 8 May 2007); in 1999, the UK held the first elections for a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, the most recent of which were held in May 2007

Judicial branch:

House of Lords (highest court of appeal; several Lords of Appeal in
Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life); Supreme Courts of
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising the Courts of
Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts);
Scotland's Court of Session and Court of the Justiciary

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative [David CAMERON]; Democratic Unionist Party (Northern
Ireland) [Peter ROBINSON]; Labor Party [Gordon BROWN]; Liberal
Democrats [Nick CLEGG]; Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Ieuan Wyn
JONES]; Scottish National Party or SNP [Alex SALMOND]; Sinn Fein
(Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS]; Social Democratic and Labor Party
or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Mark DURKAN]; Ulster Unionist Party
(Northern Ireland) [Sir Reg EMPEY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of British Industry;
National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CDB,
CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club,
PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Nigel E. SHEINWALD chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Denver, Orlando

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Holmes TUTTLE embassy: 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: [44] (0) 20 7499-9000 FAX: [44] (0) 20 7629-9124 consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

Flag description:

blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories

Economy
United Kingdom

Economy - overview:

The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over the past two decades, the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. Since emerging from recession in 1992, Britain's economy has enjoyed the longest period of expansion on record; growth has remained in the 2-3% range since 2004, outpacing most of Europe. The economy's strength has complicated the Labor government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that the economy is doing well outside of EMU, and public opinion polls show a majority of Britons are opposed to the euro. The BROWN government has been speeding up the improvement of education, health services, and affordable housing at a cost in higher taxes and a widening public deficit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.13 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.773 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$35,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 23.4% services: 75.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

30.89 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 18.2% services: 80.4% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

14% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 28.5% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.154 trillion expenditures: $1.239 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

6 April - 5 April

Public debt:

43.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.52% (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.278 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish

Industries:

machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:

0.5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

371 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

348.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

3.398 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.613 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 73.8% hydro: 0.9% nuclear: 23.7% other: 1.6% (2001)

Oil - production:

1.69 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.763 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.749 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1.673 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

3.6 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

72.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

91.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

10.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

29.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

412 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$119.2 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$442.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:

US 14.2%, Germany 11.1%, France 8.1%, Ireland 8%, Netherlands 6.8%,
Belgium 5.3%, Spain 4.5%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$621.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Germany 14.2%, US 8.6%, China 7.3%, Netherlands 7.3%, France 6.9%,
Belgium 4.7%, Norway 4.7%, Italy 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $12.46 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$57.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.45 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$1.288 trillion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.707 trillion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$3.058 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

British pound (GBP)

Currency code:

##### GBP

Exchange rates:

British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)

Communications
United Kingdom

Telephones - main lines in use:

33.682 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

71.992 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and international system domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems international: country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

84.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

30.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.uk

Internet hosts:

8.269 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

more than 400 (2000)

Internet users:

40.2 million (2007)

Transportation
United Kingdom

Airports:

449 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 310 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 131 914 to 1,523 m: 79 under 914 m: 59 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 139 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 113 (2007)

Heliports:

11 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate 567 km; condensate/gas 22 km; gas 18,980 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil 4,930 km; oil/gas/water 165 km; refined products 4,444 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 16,567 km broad gauge: 303 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) standard gauge: 16,264 km 1.435-m gauge (5,361 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 398,366 km paved: 398,366 km (includes 3,520 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 518 by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 67, carrier 5, chemical tanker 61, container 180, liquefied gas 18, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 67, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 24, vehicle carrier 18 foreign-owned: 264 (Cyprus 2, Denmark 62, Finland 1, France 23, Germany 76, Hong Kong 2, Ireland 1, Italy 5, Japan 4, NZ 1, Norway 31, South Africa 3, Spain 1, Sweden 17, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 11, Turkey 2, UAE 9, US 12) registered in other countries: 391 (Algeria 11, Antigua and Barbuda 9, Argentina 4, Australia 5, Bahamas 56, Barbados 9, Belize 5, Bermuda 3, Brunei 1, Cape Verde 1, Cayman Islands 3, Cyprus 19, Gibraltar 2, Greece 32, Hong Kong 39, India 2, Italy 7, South Korea 1, Liberia 20, Luxembourg 8, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 18, Netherlands 2, Norway 5, Panama 59, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 14, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 17, Slovakia 1, Spain 5, Sweden 2, Thailand 5, Tonga 1, US 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton,
Teesport (England), Forth Ports, Hound Point (Scotland), Milford
Haven (Wales)

Military
United Kingdom

Military branches:

Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

16-33 years of age (officers 17-28) for voluntary military service (with parental consent under 18); women serve in military services, but are excluded from ground combat positions and some naval postings; must be citizen of the UK, Commonwealth, or Republic of Ireland; reservists serve a minimum of 3 years, to age 45 or 55; 16 years of age for voluntary military service by Nepalese citizens in the Brigade of the Gurkhas; 16-34 years of age for voluntary military service by Papua New Guinean citizens (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,729,500 females age 16-49: 14,125,600 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,121,602 females age 16-49: 11,616,582 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 400,927 female: 383,593 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
United Kingdom

Disputes - international:

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants since their eviction in 1965; most Chagossians reside in Mauritius, and in 2001 were granted UK citizenship, where some have since resettled; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed the UK Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs:

producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@United States

Introduction
United States

Background:

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

Geography
United States

Location:

North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 38 00 N, 97 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 9,826,630 sq km land: 9,161,923 sq km water: 664,707 sq km note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

Area - comparative:

about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union

Land boundaries:

total: 12,034 km border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km

Coastline:

19,924 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

Terrain:

vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Death Valley -86 m highest point: Mount McKinley 6,198 m

Natural resources:

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

Land use:

arable land: 18.01% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 81.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:

223,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

3,069 cu km (1985)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 477 cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%) per capita: 1,600 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

Environment - current issues:

air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

Geography - note:

world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

People
United States

Population:

303,824,640 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 31,257,108/female 29,889,645) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 101,825,901/female 102,161,823) 65 years and over: 12.7% (male 16,263,255/female 22,426,914) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.7 years male: 35.4 years female: 38.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.883% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.14 years male: 75.29 years female: 81.13 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

950,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

17,011 (2005 est.)

Nationality:

noun: American(s) adjective: American

Ethnic groups:

white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate) note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.); about 15.1% of the total US population is Hispanic

Religions:

Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)

Languages:

English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census) note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2005)

Government
United States

Country name:

conventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States abbreviation: US or USA

Government type:

Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Capital:

name: Washington, DC geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November note: the 50 United States cover six time zones

Administrative divisions:

50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Dependent areas:

American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)

Independence:

4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution:

17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Legal system:

federal court system based on English common law; each state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one (Louisiana, which is still influenced by the Napoleonic Code) is based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held on 6 November 2012) election results: Barack H. OBAMA elected president; percent of popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%; note - OBAMA is expected to assume office on 20 January 2009

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, 2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third are elected every two years) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian Party
[William (Bill) REDPATH]; Republican Party [Robert M. (Mike) DUNCAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PAC; health groups; education groups; cuvuc griyos; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), ANZUS, APEC,
Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer),
CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club,
PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Flag description:

13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

Economy
United States

Economy - overview:

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004-07 was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in 2005-2007 threatened inflation and unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end 2007. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $847 billion in 2007. Together, these problems caused a marked reduction in the value and status of the dollar worldwide in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.78 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.84 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$45,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.2% industry: 19.8% services: 79% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

153.1 million (includes unemployed) (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

farming, forestry, and fishing 0.6%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.6%, managerial, professional, and technical 35.5%, sales and office 24.8%, other services 16.5% note: figures exclude the unemployed (2007)

Unemployment rate:

4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

12% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 30% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45 (2007)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.568 trillion expenditures: $2.73 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Public debt:

60.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.83% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.05% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.374 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$10.1 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$14.15 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

Industries:

leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Industrial production growth rate:

-1.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.167 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.892 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

20.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

51.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 5.6% nuclear: 20.7% other: 2.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

8.457 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20.68 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.165 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

13.71 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

20.97 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

545.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

652.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

23.28 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

130.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.977 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$731.2 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.148 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Canada 21.4%, Mexico 11.7%, China 5.6%, Japan 5.4%, UK 4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$1.968 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)

Imports - partners:

China 16.9%, Canada 15.7%, Mexico 10.6%, Japan 7.4%, Germany 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $23.53 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.57 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.25 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$2.093 trillion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$2.791 trillion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$17 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

British pounds per US dollar: 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003) Japanese yen per US dollar: 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006) 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003) euros per US dollar: 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.8860 (2003) Chinese yuan per US dollar: 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.2770 (2003)

Communications
United States

Telephones - main lines in use:

163.2 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

255 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country international: country code - 1; multiple ocean cable systems provide international connectivity; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)

Radios:

575 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2,218 (2006)

Televisions:

219 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.us

Internet hosts:

316 million (2008); note - the US Internet total host count includes the following top level domain host addresses: .us, .com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .net, and .org

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7,000 (2002 est.)

Internet users:

223 million (2008)

Transportation
United States

Airports:

14,947 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5,143 over 3,047 m: 191 2,438 to 3,047 m: 224 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,452 914 to 1,523 m: 2,323 under 914 m: 953 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9,804 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 153 914 to 1,523 m: 1,732 under 914 m: 7,912 (2007)

Heliports:

146 (2007)

Pipelines:

petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2006)

Railways:

total: 226,612 km standard gauge: 226,612 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:

total: 6,465,799 km paved: 4,209,835 km (includes 75,040 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,255,964 km (2007)

Waterways:

41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce) note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 422 by type: barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 61, cargo 69, carrier 2, chemical tanker 22, container 81, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 59, petroleum tanker 53, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 25, vehicle carrier 22 foreign-owned: 74 (Australia 1, Denmark 31, Germany 5, Japan 7, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Singapore 12, Sweden 5, UK 1) registered in other countries: 732 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia 2, Bahamas 106, Bermuda 23, Cambodia 6, Canada 10, Cayman Islands 42, Comoros 2, Cyprus 5, Ecuador 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 29, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 4, Italy 17, South Korea 7, Liberia 98, Luxembourg 4, Malta 23, Marshall Islands 123, Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Norway 7, Panama 126, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 22, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tuvalu 1, UK 12, Vanuatu 1, unknown 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los
Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City

Military
United States

Military branches:

US Army, US Navy (includes Marine Corps), US Air Force, US Coast
Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the
Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the
Department of the Navy (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 72,715,332 females age 16-49: 71,638,785 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 59,413,358 females age 16-49: 59,187,183 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,186,440 female: 2,079,688 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

4.06% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
United States

Disputes - international:

the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees during FY04/05 including; 10,586 (Somalia); 8,549 (Laos); 6,666 (Russia); 6,479 (Cuba); 3,100 (Haiti); 2,136 (Iran) (2006)

Illicit drugs:

world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Introduction
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Background:

All of the following US Pacific island territories except Midway Atoll constitute the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex and as such are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior. Midway Atoll NWR has been included in a Refuge Complex with the Hawaiian Islands NWR and also designated as part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. These remote refuges are the most widespread collection of marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a single country's jurisdiction. They sustain many endemic species including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere. Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Howland Island: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the uninhabited atoll was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano deposits until about 1890. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island, similar to the effort on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The famed American aviatrix Amelia EARHART disappeared while seeking out Howland Island as a refueling stop during her 1937 round-the-world flight; Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was named in her memory. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935 until it was abandoned in 1942 during World War II. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. Johnston and Sand Islands were designated wildlife refuges in 1926. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction, cleanup, and closure of the facility was completed by May 2005. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Air Force are currently discussing future management options; in the interim, Johnston Atoll and the three-mile Naval Defensive Sea around it remain under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the US Air Force. Kingman Reef: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge. Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a National Wildlife Refuge and are the site of the world's largest Laysan albatross colony. Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the Federal government and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Geography
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Location:

Oceania Baker Island: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,830 nm (3,389 km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia Howland Island: island in the North Pacific Ocean 1,815 nm (3,361 km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia Jarvis Island: island in the South Pacific Ocean 1,305 nm (2,417 km) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Cook Islands Johnston Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1,328 km) southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands Kingman Reef: reef in the North Pacific Ocean 930 nm (1,722 km) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa Midway Islands: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,260 nm (2,334 km) northwest of Honolulu near the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo Palmyra Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 960 nm (1,778 km) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:

Baker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W
Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W
Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W
Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W
Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total - 6,959.41 sq km; emergent land - 22.41 sq km; submerged -
6,937 sq km
Baker Island: total - 129.1 sq km; emergent land - 2.1 sq km;
submerged - 127 sq km
Howland Island: total - 138.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 136 sq km
Jarvis Island: total - 152 sq km; emergent land - 5 sq km; submerged
- 147 sq km
Johnston Atoll: total - 276.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 274 sq km
Kingman Reef: total - 1,958.01 sq km; emergent land - 0.01 sq km;
submerged - 1,958 sq km
Midway Islands: total - 2,355.2 sq km; emergent land - 6.2 sq km;
submerged - 2,349 sq km
Palmyra Atoll: total - 1,949.9 sq km; emergent land - 3.9 sq km;
submerged - 1,946 sq km

Area - comparative:

Baker Island: about two and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

none

Coastline:

Baker Island: 4.8 km
Howland Island: 6.4 km
Jarvis Island: 8 km
Johnston Atoll: 34 km
Kingman Reef: 3 km
Midway Islands: 15 km
Palmyra Atoll: 14.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation Midway Islands: subtropical with cool, moist winters (December to February) and warm, dry summers (May to October); moderated by prevailing easterly winds; most of the 1,067 mm (42 in) of annual rainfall occurs during the winter Palmyra Atoll: equatorial, hot; located within the low pressure area of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and southeast trade winds meet, it is extremely wet with between 4,000-5,000 mm (160-200 in) of rainfall each year

Terrain:

low and nearly level sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains, which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Baker Island, unnamed location - 8 m; Howland Island, unnamed location - 3 m; Jarvis Island, unnamed location - 7 m; Johnston Atoll, Sand Island - 10 m; Kingman Reef, unnamed location - less than 2 m; Midway Islands, unnamed location - 13 m; Palmyra Atoll, unnamed location - 3 m

Natural resources:

terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2008)

Natural hazards:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA

Environment - current issues:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural
fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA

Geography - note:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; closed to the public Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public Midway Islands: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography Palmyra Atoll: the high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island territories; supports a large undisturbed stand of Pisonia beach forest

People
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service Johnston Atoll: in previous years, an average of 1,100 US military and civilian contractor personnel were present; as of May 2005 all US government personnel had left the island Midway Islands: approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the atoll Palmyra Atoll: four to 20 Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife staff, and researchers

Government
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status:

unincorporated territories of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system note on Palmyra Atoll: incorporated Territory of the US; partly privately owned and partly federally owned; administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territories of the US)

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Airports:

Baker Island: one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and unusable Howland Island: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN; the aviators left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable Johnston Atoll: one closed and not maintained Kingman Reef: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 Midway Islands: 3 - one operational (2,409 m paved); no fuel for sale except emergencies Palmyra Atoll: 1 - 1,846 m unpaved runway; privately owned (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Kingman Reef: none; offshore
anchorage only
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island
Midway Islands: Sand Island
Palmyra Atoll: West Lagoon

Military
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Uruguay

Introduction
Uruguay

Background:

Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

Geography
Uruguay

Location:

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Argentina and Brazil

Geographic coordinates:

##### 33 00 S, 56 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Land boundaries:

total: 1,648 km border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km

Coastline:

660 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Climate:

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain:

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Natural resources:

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Land use:

arable land: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,100 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

139 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%) per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising

People
Uruguay

Population:

3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 401,209/female 388,315) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,105,891/female 1,120,858) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,704/female 275,801) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.2 years male: 31.8 years female: 34.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.486% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

14.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

9.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.14 years male: 72.89 years female: 79.51 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Ethnic groups:

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)

Languages:

Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the
Brazilian frontier)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 97.6% female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006)

Government
Uruguay

Country name:

conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

name: Montevideo geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

Administrative divisions:

19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas,
Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida,
Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera,
Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Independence:

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Constitution:

27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009) election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1%

Legislative branch:

bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has one vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive
Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO] (a broad
governing coalition that includes Movement of the Popular
Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA], New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio)
[Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista)
[Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ], the
Communist Party [Marina ARISMENDI], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea
Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]);
Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; National
Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and Jorge LARRANAGA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women other: Catholic Church; students

International organization participation:

CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH,
MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316 FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Frank E. BAXTER embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611

Flag description:

nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy

Economy
Uruguay

Economy - overview:

Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis. The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay in 2007 improved its debt profile by paying off $1.1 billion in IMF debt, and continues to follow the orthodox economic plan set by the Fund in 2005. The construction of a pulp mill in Fray Bentos, which represents the largest foreign direct investment in Uruguay's history at $1.2 billion, came online in November 2007 and is expected to add 1.6% to GDP and boost already rising exports. The economy has grown strongly since 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a strong peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$37.5 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$22.95 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.1% industry: 32% services: 57.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.631 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 9% industry: 15% services: 76% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.2% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

27.4% of households (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 34% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45.2 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

13.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.701 billion expenditures: $6.807 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

64.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.94% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$2.145 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$7.919 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$6.396 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry

Industries:

food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

7.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.2 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

7.03 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

995.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

788.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.7% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.3% (2001)

Oil - production:

935.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

33,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

4,410 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - imports:

43,670 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - proved reserves:

##### NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

102.8 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

116.9 million cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$185.6 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$5.063 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Exports - partners:

Brazil 15.5%, US 9.4%, Argentina 8.4%, Mexico 6.6%, China 6.1%,
Germany 4.8% (2007)

Imports:

$5.554 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics

Imports - partners:

Brazil 19.1%, Argentina 17.9%, US 9.5%, China 9.1%, Paraguay 7.7%,
Nigeria 4.7% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$14.62 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.121 billion (December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$11.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$4.19 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$156 million (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$224 million (2007)

Currency (code):

Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code:

##### UYU

Exchange rates:

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003)

Communications
Uruguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

965,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.004 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 115 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Radios:

1.97 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

62 (2005)

Televisions:

782,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.uy

Internet hosts:

480,593 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2001)

Internet users:

968,000 (2007)

Transportation
Uruguay

Airports:

60 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,073 km standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2006)

Roadways:

total: 77,732 km paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)

Waterways:

1,600 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 17 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 6) registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Montevideo

Military
Uruguay

Military branches:

Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito), Navy (Armada Nacional; includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 837,252 females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 703,955 females age 16-49: 690,296 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 27,082 female: 26,075 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Uruguay

Disputes - international:

in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with potential environmental implications to both countries; uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina

Illicit drugs:

small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Uzbekistan

Introduction
Uzbekistan

Background:

Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

Geography
Uzbekistan

Location:

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Geographic coordinates:

##### 41 00 N, 64 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 6,221 km border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Coastline:

0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Maritime claims:

none (doubly landlocked)

Climate:

mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

Terrain:

mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Land use:

arable land: 10.51% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 88.73% (2005)

Irrigated land:

42,810 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

72.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 58.34 cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%) per capita: 2,194 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

People
Uzbekistan

Population:

27,345,026 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29% (male 4,047,918/female 3,870,346) 15-64 years: 66% (male 8,971,017/female 9,079,170) 65 years and over: 5% (male 588,498/female 788,077) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.3 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.965% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

17.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.69 years male: 68.69 years female: 74.87 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

11,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani

Ethnic groups:

Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

Religions:

Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

Languages:

Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.3% male: 99.6% female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

9.4% of GDP (1991)

Government
Uzbekistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi local short form: Ozbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital:

name: Tashkent (Toshkent) geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan]* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 8 December 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Aslidden RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom TASHMUKHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held December 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10 note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TASHMUHAMMEDOVA];
Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Hurshid
DOSMUHAMMEDOV]; Fidokorlar National Democratic Party
(Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of
Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV; People's Democratic Party or
NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity)
Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the Protection
of Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party
[Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] (was banned 9 December 1992); Ezgulik
Human Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod
Dehqonlar [Nigora KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan
[Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Organization of
Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition
[Sanjar UMAROV, chairman]

International organization participation:

ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450 FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Economy
Uzbekistan

Economy - overview:

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source of export earnings. Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil. Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted Article VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry may boost growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), both organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$64.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$22.31 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 29.4% industry: 33.1% services: 37.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

14.6 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 44% industry: 20% services: 36% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

0.8% officially by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

33% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.8 (2003)

Budget:

revenues: $6.478 billion expenditures: $6.5 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

18.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12% officially, but 38% based on analysis of consumer prices (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Industries:

textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:

12.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

48.79 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

42.23 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

11.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

11.44 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 88.2% hydro: 11.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

99,260 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

157,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

11,940 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

31,440 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

594 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

65.19 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

51.18 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

14.01 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$4.615 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles

Exports - partners:

Russia 22.4%, Poland 10.4%, Turkey 9.4%, Kazakhstan 6.1%, Hungary 6%, China 5.6%, Ukraine 4.8%, Bangladesh 4.3% (2007)

Imports:

$4.48 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Imports - partners:

Russia 30.1%, China 13.3%, South Korea 13%, Germany 6.3%, Kazakhstan 6.2%, Ukraine 4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$172.3 million from the US (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$36.89 million (2005)

Currency (code):

soum (UZS)

Currency code:

##### UZS

Exchange rates:

Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,263.8 (2007), 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003)

Communications
Uzbekistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.793 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.8 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and telephone density is low; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, is working on improving main line services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber base more than doubling in 2007 to 5.8 million international: country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Radios:

10.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

28 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent and approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2006)

Televisions:

6.4 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.uz

Internet hosts:

38,183 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

42 (2000)

Internet users:

1.2 million (2007)

Transportation
Uzbekistan

Airports:

54 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 33 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 9,725 km; oil 868 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 86,496 km paved: 75,511 km unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)

Waterways:

1,100 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Military
Uzbekistan

Military branches:

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year conscript service obligation; moving toward a professional military, but conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,480,484 females age 16-49: 7,542,017 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,684,540 females age 16-49: 6,432,976 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 324,094 female: 323,923 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Uzbekistan

Disputes - international:

prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan); 1,060 (Afghanistan) IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for women and girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, Middle East, and Asia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in the construction, cotton, and tobacco industries; men and women are also trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude, forced labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in 2007; the government did not amend its criminal code to increase penalties for convicted traffickers; in March 2008, Uzbekistan adopted ILO Conventions on minimum age of employment and on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and is working with the ILO on implementation; the government also demonstrated its increasing commitment to combat trafficking in March 2008 by adopting a comprehensive anti-trafficking law; Uzbekistan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Vanuatu

Introduction
Vanuatu

Background:

Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Geography
Vanuatu

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 12,200 sq km land: 12,200 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

2,528 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April

Terrain:

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources:

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 6.97% other: 91.39% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

People
Vanuatu

Population:

215,446 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.3% (male 34,441/female 33,000) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 71,159/female 68,435) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 4,352/female 4,059) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.8 years male: 23.8 years female: 23.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.434% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 50.77 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.61 years male: 62.04 years female: 65.27 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups:

Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

Religions:

Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Languages:

local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74% male: NA female: NA (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

9.5% of GDP (2003)

Government
Vanuatu

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu local short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Port-Vila (on Efate) geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Independence:

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution:

30 July 1980

Legal system:

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following general elections in 2012) election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1, Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent 4; note - political party associations are fluid note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES]; Jon Frum Movement or
JF [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE];
Nagriamel movement or NAG [Havo MOLI]; Namangi Aute or NA [Paul
TELUKLUK]; National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI]; People's Action
Party or PAP [Peter VUTA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato
KILMAN]; Shepherds Alliance Party [leader NA]; Union of Moderate
Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP
[Eta RORI]; Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU]; Vanuatu
National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land
Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP
[Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP
[Jean RAVOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW,
PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a
Permanent Mission to the UN

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Economy
Vanuatu

Economy - overview:

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 60,000 visitors in 2005, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$897 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$455 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

76,410 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.7% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $78.7 million expenditures: $72.23 million (2005)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.16% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$107.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$421.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$229.5 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables; beef; fish

Industries:

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

46 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

39.99 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

660 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

671.1 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$60 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$40 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities:

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners:

Thailand 58.3%, India 18.5%, Japan 11.3% (2007)

Imports:

$156 million c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners:

Australia 20.7%, Singapore 11.8%, NZ 11.2%, Norway 8.5%, US 8.3%,
Fiji 8.1%, China 7.2%, New Caledonia 4.5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$39.48 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$40.54 million (2003)

Debt - external:

$81.2 million (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

vatu (VUV)

Currency code:

##### VUV

Exchange rates:

vatu (VUV) per US dollar - NA (2007), 111.93 (2006), NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)

Communications
Vanuatu

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

26,000 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

67,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2004)

Televisions:

2,300 (1999)

Internet country code:

.vu

Internet hosts:

990 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

17,000 (2007)

Transportation
Vanuatu

Airports:

31 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Merchant marine:

total: 54 by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 54 (Australia 2, Belgium 4, Canada 5, Estonia 1, Greece 1, Japan 29, Monaco 1, Poland 7, Russia 2, Switzerland 1, US 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Military
Vanuatu

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 58,900 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 40,577 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,385 female: 2,290 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
Vanuatu

Disputes - international:

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Venezuela

Introduction
Venezuela

Background:

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Geography
Venezuela

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates:

##### 8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline:

2,800 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain:

Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Land use:

arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

5,750 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,233.2 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%) per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall

People
Venezuela

Population:

26,414,816 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31% (male 4,162,862/female 4,034,044) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 8,299,266/female 8,562,290) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 602,725/female 753,628) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.2 years male: 24.6 years female: 25.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.498% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.45 years male: 70.4 years female: 76.65 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.52 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,100 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic groups:

Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people

Religions:

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Languages:

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 93.3% female: 92.7% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2006)

Government
Venezuela

Country name:

conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

name: Caracas geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W time difference: UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Independence:

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Constitution:

30 December 1999

Legal system:

open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012) note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela) elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 1 January 2008 - pro-government 152 (PSUV 114, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25), PODEMOS 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)

Political parties and leaders:

A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI
[Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Jeronimo
CARRERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland
for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES];
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; United Socialist
Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV
[Henrique SALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)

International organization participation:

Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS
(observer), Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angelo SANTOS chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John CAULFIELD embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours) FAX: [58] (212) 907-8199

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy
Venezuela

Economy - overview:

Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output since then has recovered strongly. Fueled by high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP in 2006 by about 9% and in 2007 by about 8%. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has created a consumption boom but has come at the cost of higher inflation-roughly 20 percent in 2007. Imports also have jumped significantly. Embolden by his December 2006 reelection, President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2007 nationalized firms in the petroleum, communications, and electricity sectors, which reduced foreign influence in the economy. Although voters in December 2007 rejected CHAVEZ's proposed constitutional changes, CHAVEZ still has significant control of the economy and has indicated he intends to continue to consolidate and centralize authority over the economy by implementing "21st Century Socialism."

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$334.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$236.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 38.4% services: 57.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

12.37 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13% industry: 23% services: 64% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.5% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37.9% (end 2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 35.2% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

48.2 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $65.83 billion expenditures: $58.9 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

18.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

28.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.11% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$63.18 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$8.889 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$50.24 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

3.9% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

110.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

83.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

542 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 31.7% hydro: 68.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

2.667 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

738,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.203 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

87.04 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

26.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

26.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.708 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$20 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$69.17 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners:

US 42.7%, Netherlands Antilles 8%, China 3.1% (2007)

Imports:

$45.46 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US 26.6%, Colombia 13.5%, Brazil 9.5%, China 6.7%, Mexico 5.2%,
Panama 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$48.66 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$33.48 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$43.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$43.96 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$13.81 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$8.251 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

bolivar (VEB)

Currency code:

##### VEB

Exchange rates:

bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar

Communications
Venezuela

Telephones - main lines in use:

5.082 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

23.82 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; fixed-line teledensity 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity more than 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:

10.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

4.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ve

Internet hosts:

145,394 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

5.72 million (2007)

Transportation
Venezuela

Airports:

390 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 128 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 262 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 149 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

extra heavy crude oil 992 km; gas 5,400 km; oil 7,607 km; refined products 1,650 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 682 km standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (2002)

Waterways:

7,100 km note: Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 62 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 16, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 12 (Chile 1, Denmark 1, Greece 3, Mexico 5, Panama 1, Spain 1) registered in other countries: 12 (Bahamas 1, Panama 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military
Venezuela

Military branches:

National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacionale, FAN): Ground Forces
or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas
Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast Guard), Air Force
(Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or
National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service obligation - all citizens 18-50 years old are obligated to register for military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,647,124 females age 16-49: 6,801,133 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,280,974 females age 16-49: 5,768,814 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 275,323 female: 274,106 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Venezuela

Disputes - international:

claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas; child prostitution in urban areas and child sex tourism in resort destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Western Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean destinations tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Venezuela is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, up from Tier 3, as it showed greater resolve to address trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention efforts in 2007, although stringent punishment of offenders and victim assistance remain lacking (2008)

Illicit drugs:

small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Vietnam

Introduction
Vietnam

Background:

The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to experience protests from various groups - such as the Protestant Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to Vietnamese settlers.

Geography
Vietnam

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 16 00 N, 106 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 329,560 sq km land: 325,360 sq km water: 4,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

Coastline:

3,444 km (excludes islands)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

Terrain:

low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 20.14% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 72.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

891.2 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 71.39 cu km/yr (8%/24%/68%) per capita: 847 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta

Environment - current issues:

logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point

People
Vietnam

Population:

86,116,560 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.6% (male 11,418,642/female 10,598,184) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 29,341,216/female 29,777,696) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,925,609/female 3,055,212) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.9 years male: 25.8 years female: 28 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.99% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.47 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.33 years male: 68.52 years female: 74.33 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

220,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague water contact disease: leptospirosis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese

Ethnic groups:

Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

Languages:

Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.3% male: 93.9% female: 86.9% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

1.8% of GDP (1991)

Government
Vietnam

Country name:

conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam abbreviation: SRV

Government type:

Communist state

Capital:

name: Hanoi geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh
pho, singular and plural)
provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba
Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh
Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai,
Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong,
Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai
Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh
Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang
Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh,
Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen
Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh

Independence:

2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution:

15 April 1992

Legal system:

based on communist legal theory and French civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; last held 27 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPV 450, non-party CPV-approved 42, self-nominated 1; note - 493 candidates were elected; CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front

Judicial branch:

Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy note: these groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by the government

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Le Cong PHUNG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MICHALAK embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 3850-5000 FAX: [84] (4) 3850-5010 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Flag description:

red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Economy
Vietnam

Economy - overview:

Vietnam is a densely-populated developing country that in the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy. Economic stagnation marked the period after reunification from 1975 to 1985. In 1986, the Sixth Party Congress approved a broad economic reform package that introduced market reforms and set the groundwork for Vietnam's improved investment climate. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of development and significantly reducing poverty. The 1997 Asian financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy and temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress toward a market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from 1997 to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial crisis and a global recession. Since 2001, Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and international integration. They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The economy grew 8.5% in 2007. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US increased 900% from 2001 to 2007. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007, following over a decade long negotiation process. WTO membership has provided Vietnam an anchor to the global market and reinforced the domestic economic reform process. Among other benefits, accession allows Vietnam to take advantage of the phase-out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to less than 20% in 2007. Deep poverty, defined as a percent of the population living under $1 per day, has declined significantly and is now smaller than that of China, India, and the Philippines. Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor force that is growing by more than one-and-a-half million people every year. In an effort to stem high inflation which took off in 2007, early in 2008 Vietnamese authorities began to raise benchmark interest rates and reserve requirements. Hanoi is targeting an economic growth rate of 7.5-8% during the next four years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$221.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$70.02 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 19.5% industry: 42.3% services: 38.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

46.42 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 55.6% industry: 18.9% services: 25.5% (July 2005)

Unemployment rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

14.8% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28.9% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

37.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $18.62 billion expenditures: $19.71 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

42% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.18% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$27.15 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$51.08 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$68.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood

Industries:

food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper

Industrial production growth rate:

10.6% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

61.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

48.08 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 43.7% hydro: 56.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

350,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

271,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

394,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

271,100 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - proved reserves:

600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

6.86 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.86 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

192.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$6.993 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$48.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes

Exports - partners:

US 20.8%, Japan 12.5%, Australia 7.3%, China 6.9%, Singapore 4.5% (2007)

Imports:

$58.92 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Imports - partners:

China 19.9%, Singapore 12.1%, Taiwan 11%, Japan 9.9%, South Korea 8.5%, Thailand 6% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$5.4 billion in credits and grants pledged by the 2007 Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$23.87 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$21.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$32.74 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

dong (VND)

Currency code:

##### VND

Exchange rates:

dong (VND) per US dollar - 16,119 (2007), 15,983 (2006), 15,746 (2005), NA (2004), 15,510 (2003)

Communications
Vietnam

Telephones - main lines in use:

10.8 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

33.2 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly international: country code - 84; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduled for completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Radios:

8.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

67 (includes 61 relay, provincial, and city TV stations) (2006)

Televisions:

3.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.vn

Internet hosts:

84,151 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

17.87 million (2007)

Transportation
Vietnam

Airports:

44 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 37 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 432 km; gas 510 km; oil 49 km; refined products 206 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,600 km standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (2006)

Roadways:

total: 222,179 km paved: 42,167 km unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)

Waterways:

17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 387 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 36, cargo 280, chemical tanker 12, container 14, liquefied gas 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 32, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Hong Kong 1, Japan 1) registered in other countries: 64 (Honduras 1, Liberia 4, Mongolia 23, Panama 30, Tuvalu 5, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military
Vietnam

Military branches:

People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air and
Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command),
People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Forces (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 24,586,328 females age 16-49: 24,335,132 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,849,274 females age 16-49: 20,575,884 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 903,734 female: 845,306 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Vietnam

Disputes - international:

southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; demarcation of the China-Vietnam boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004, implementation has been delayed; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

Illicit drugs:

minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin; government continues to face domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding crackdowns

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Virgin Islands

Introduction
Virgin Islands

Background:

During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

Geography
Virgin Islands

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

##### 18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

188 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Terrain:

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m

Natural resources:

sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use:

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

lack of natural freshwater resources

Geography - note:

important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People
Virgin Islands

Population:

109,840 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21% (male 11,698/female 11,390) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,035/female 38,670) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 6,312/female 7,735) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.5 years male: 38 years female: 39 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.002% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.92 years male: 75.9 years female: 82.11 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups:

black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

Religions:

Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Languages:

English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French
Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA% female: NA% (2005 est.)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
Virgin Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI

Dependency status:

organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

Independence:

none (territory of the US)

National holiday:

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

Constitution:

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system:

based on US laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010) election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)

Judicial branch:

US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

##### IOC, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Economy
Virgin Islands

Economy - overview:

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.577 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

43,980 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.2% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

28.9% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2003)

Agriculture - products:

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Industries:

tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

960 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

892.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

17,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

91,680 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

398,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

492,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

##### NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$4.234 billion (2001)

Exports - commodities:

refined petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US, Puerto Rico (2006)

Imports:

$4.609 billion (2001)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Imports - partners:

US, Puerto Rico (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

##### USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications
Virgin Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

71,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

80,300 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay domestic: full range of services available international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2006)

Televisions:

68,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.vi

Internet hosts:

4,610 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:

30,000 (2007)

Transportation
Virgin Islands

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 1,257 km (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay

Military
Virgin Islands

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 861 female: 897 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues
Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Wake Island

Introduction
Wake Island

Background:

The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been used by the US military, as well as for emergency landings. All operations on the island were suspended and all personnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of super typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustained winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A US Air Force assessment and repair team returned to the island in September and restored limited function to the airfield and facilities. The future status of activities on the island will be determined upon completion of the survey and assessment.

Geography
Wake Island

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Geographic coordinates:

##### 19 17 N, 166 39 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

19.3 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:

##### NA

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

People
Wake Island

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: since super typhoon IOKE, a small military contingent along with 75 contractor personnel have returned to the island to conduct clean-up and restore basic operations on the island (July 2008 est.)

Government
Wake Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island

Dependency status:

unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the US Air Force

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy
Wake Island

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Communications
Wake Island

Telephone system:

general assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSN circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) domestic: NA international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (Armed Forces Radio/Television Service
(AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (2005)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (2005)

Transportation
Wake Island

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Transportation - note:

there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available

Military
Wake Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Transnational Issues
Wake Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Marshall Islands

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Wallis and Futuna

Introduction
Wallis and Futuna

Background:

The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.

Geography
Wallis and Futuna

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

##### 13 18 S, 176 12 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 274 sq km land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

129 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C

Terrain:

volcanic origin; low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

Natural resources:

##### NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 7.14% permanent crops: 35.71% other: 57.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

##### NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

both island groups have fringing reefs

People
Wallis and Futuna

Population:

15,237 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: (male 2,215/female 1,999) 15-64 years: (male 4,982/female 4,996) 65 years and over: (male 465/female 580)

Population growth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Languages:

Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%,
French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)

Government
Wallis and Futuna

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna

Dependency status:

overseas territory of France

Government type:

##### NA

Capital:

name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

Independence:

none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI (since 28 July 2008) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7 note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held by September 2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - PS 1

Judicial branch:

justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia

Political parties and leaders:

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG;
Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU];
Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union
Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie
Francaise or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag

Economy
Wallis and Futuna

Economy - overview:

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

3,104 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15.2% (2003)

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $29,730 expenditures: $31,330 (2004)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

Industries:

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%

Exports:

$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)

Exports - commodities:

copra, chemicals, construction materials

Exports - partners:

Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)

Imports:

$61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities:

chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

assistance from France, $NA

Debt - external:

$3.67 million (2004)

Currency (code):

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:

##### XPF

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)

Communications
Wallis and Futuna

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

##### NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 681

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2000)

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet country code:

.wf

Internet hosts:

1 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

900 (2002)

Transportation
Wallis and Futuna

Airports:

2 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 8 by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6 foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Leava, Mata-Utu

Military
Wallis and Futuna

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 172 female: 170 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues
Wallis and Futuna

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@West Bank

Introduction
West Bank

Background:

The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.

Geography
West Bank

Location:

Middle East, west of Jordan

Geographic coordinates:

##### 32 00 N, 35 15 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 5,860 sq km land: 5,640 sq km water: 220 sq km note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 404 km border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Terrain:

mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 16.9% permanent crops: 18.97% other: 64.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment

Geography - note:

landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites—including 100 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 29 sites in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)

People
West Bank

Population:

2,407,681 note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38% (male 469,754/female 445,999) 15-64 years: 58.3% (male 719,267/female 684,790) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 36,606/female 51,265) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.2 years male: 20 years female: 20.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.225% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

25.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.29 years male: 72.32 years female: 76.38 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: NA adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

Religions:

Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%

Languages:

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),
English (widely understood)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.4% male: 96.7% female: 88% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

##### NA

Government
West Bank

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank

Economy
West Bank

Economy - overview:

The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic conditions since the second intifada began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during March 2006 - June 2007 has interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of PA salaries. Since June the Fayyad government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high levels of international assistance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.034 billion (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.328 billion (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-8% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8% industry: 13% services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Labor force:

605,000 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 18% industry: 15% services: 67% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

18.6% (2006)

Population below poverty line:

46% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $1.149 billion expenditures: $2.31 billion note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.73% (31 December 2006)

Stock of money:

$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.455 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Industries:

generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers

Industrial production growth rate:

2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exports:

$301 million f.o.b.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Exports - commodities:

olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Exports - partners:

Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006)

Imports:

$2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Imports - commodities:

food, consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:

Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.4 billion; (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.461 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

new Israeli shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code:

##### ILS; JOD

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)

Communications
West Bank

Telephones - main lines in use:

350,400 (includes Gaza Strip) (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.026 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services international: country code - 970 (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008)

Radios:

NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

30 (2008)

Televisions:

NA; note - many Palestinian households have televisions (1999)

Internet country code:

.ps; note - same as Gaza Strip

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (1999)

Internet users:

355,500 (includes Gaza Strip) (2007)

Transportation
West Bank

Airports:

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 5,147 km paved: 5,147 km note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)

Military
West Bank

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 29,866 female: 28,372 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

##### NA

Transnational Issues
West Bank

Disputes - international:

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 722,000 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Western Sahara

Introduction
Western Sahara

Background:

Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. In April 2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to the UN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisario also presented a plan to the UN in 2007. Since June 2007, representatives from the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front have met four times to negotiate the status of Western Sahara.

Geography
Western Sahara

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Mauritania and Morocco

Geographic coordinates:

##### 24 30 N, 13 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 266,000 sq km land: 266,000 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:

total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

Coastline:

1,110 km

Maritime claims:

contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

Climate:

hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew

Terrain:

mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.02% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.98% (2005)

Irrigated land:

##### NA

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

Environment - current issues:

sparse water and lack of arable land

Environment - international agreements:

party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas

People
Western Sahara

Population:

393,831 note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.1% (male 90,306/female 87,498) 15-64 years: 52.6% (male 101,730/female 105,313) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,786/female 5,198) (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.868% NA (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

39.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

##### NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: 71.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 71.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.92 years NA male: 51.64 years NA female: 56.31 years NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA 5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Nationality:

noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Ethnic groups:

Arab, Berber

Religions:

Muslim

Languages:

Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy:

##### NA

Government
Western Sahara

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara former: Spanish Sahara

Government type:

legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara or MINURSO

Capital:

none time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (under de facto control of Morocco)

Suffrage:

none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed

Executive branch:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

##### WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none

Economy
Western Sahara

Economy - overview:

Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

##### $NA

GDP (official exchange rate):

##### $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

##### NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

##### $NA

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%

Labor force:

12,000 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 50% industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

##### NA%

Population below poverty line:

##### NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

##### NA%

Agriculture - products:

fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish

Industries:

phosphate mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

##### NA%

Electricity - production:

90 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

83.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

1,925 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

##### $NA

Exports - commodities:

phosphates 62%

Exports - partners:

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)

Imports:

##### $NA

Imports - commodities:

fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

##### $NA

Debt - external:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:

##### MAD

Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003)

Communications
Western Sahara

Telephones - main lines in use:

about 2,000 (1999 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: sparse and limited system domestic: NA international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

56,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

##### NA

Televisions:

6,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.eh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

##### NA

Transportation
Western Sahara

Airports:

9 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)

Military
Western Sahara

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,658 female: 4,545 (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues
Western Sahara

Disputes - international:

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; several states have extended diplomatic relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; most of the approximately 102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@World

Introduction
World

Background:

Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about the environment, including loss of forests, shortages of energy and water, the decline in biological diversity, and air pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1988, and 6 billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal weapons of war).

Geography
World

Geographic overview:

The surface of the earth is approximately 70.9% water and 29.1% land. The former portion is divided into large water bodies termed oceans. The World Factbook recognizes and describes five oceans, which are in decreasing order of size: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. The land portion is generally divided into several, large, discrete landmasses termed continents. Depending on the convention used, the number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together into a Eurasian continent resulting in six continents. Alternatively, North and South America are sometimes grouped as simply the Americas, resulting in a continent total of six (or five, if the Eurasia designation is used). North America is commonly understood to include the island of Greenland, the isles of the Caribbean, and to extend south all the way to the Isthmus of Panama. The easternmost extent of Europe is generally defined as being the Ural Mountains and the Ural River; on the southeast the Caspian Sea; and on the south the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean. Africa's northeast extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often included as part of Africa. Asia usually incorporates all the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The islands of the Pacific are often lumped with Australia into a "land mass" termed Oceania or Australasia. Although the above groupings are the most common, different continental dispositions are recognized or taught in certain parts of the world, with some arrangements more heavily based on cultural spheres rather than physical geographic considerations.

Map references:

Physical Map of the World, Political Map of the World, Standard Time
Zones of the World

Area:

total: 510.072 million sq km land: 148.94 million sq km water: 361.132 million sq km note: 70.9% of the world's surface is water, 29.1% is land

Area - comparative:

land area about 16 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:

the land boundaries in the world total 251,060 km (not counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries note: 45 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked

Coastline:

356,000 km
note: 94 nations and other entities are islands that border no other
countries, they include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and
Barbuda, Aruba, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Baker Island, Barbados, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean
Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands,
Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,
Comoros, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica,
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Greenland, Grenada,
Guam, Guernsey, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Howland Island,
Iceland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island,
Jersey, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar,
Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte,
Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru,
Navassa Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Paracel Islands,
Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint
Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao
Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka,
Svalbard, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos
Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Wallis and
Futuna, Taiwan

Maritime claims:

a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm

Climate:

a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates - bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones - that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates

Terrain:

the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924 m in the Pacific Ocean

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m note: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific Ocean highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Natural resources:

the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only beginning to address

Land use:

arable land: 10.57% permanent crops: 1.04% other: 88.38% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,770,980 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)

Environment - current issues:

large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion; global warming becoming a greater concern

Geography - note:

the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13.7-billion-year age estimated for the universe

People
World

Population:

6,706,993,152 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 944,665,142/female 887,471,328) 15-64 years: 65.1% 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 222,808,372/female 284,647,297) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: male: 27.4 years female: 28.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.188% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

20.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 42.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 44.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.26 years male: 64.3 years female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.61 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

##### NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Religions:

Christians 33.32% (of which Roman Catholics 16.99%, Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.53%, Anglicans 1.25%), Muslims 21.01%, Hindus 13.26%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.35%, Jews 0.23%, Baha'is 0.12%, other religions 11.78%, non-religious 11.77%, atheists 2.32% (2007 est.)

Languages:

Mandarin Chinese 13.22%, Spanish 4.88%, English 4.68%, Arabic 3.12%, Hindi 2.74%, Portuguese 2.69%, Bengali 2.59%, Russian 2.2%, Japanese 1.85%, Standard German 1.44%, French 1.2% (2005 est.) note: percents are for "first language" speakers only

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82% male: 87% female: 77% note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and West Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)

Government
World

Administrative divisions:

266 nations, dependent areas, and other entities

Legal system:

all members of the UN are parties to the statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court

Economy
World

Economy - overview:

Global output rose by 5.2% in 2007, led by China (11.4%), India (9.2%), and Russia (8.1%). The 14 other successor nations of the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experienced widely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued as strong performers, in the 8%-10% range of growth. From 2006 to 2007 growth rates slowed in all the major industrial countries except for the United Kingdom (3.1%). Analysts attribute the slowdown to uncertainties in the financial markets and lowered consumer confidence. Worldwide, nations varied widely in their growth results. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology. Internally, the central government often finds its control over resources slipping as separatist regional movements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in many of the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada. Externally, the central government is losing decisionmaking powers to international bodies, notably the EU. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, poses economic risks because of varying levels of income and cultural and political differences among the participating nations. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a growing risk to global prosperity, illustrated, for example, by the reallocation of resources away from investment to anti-terrorist programs. The opening of war in March 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq added new uncertainties to global economic prospects. After the initial coalition victory, the complex political difficulties and the high economic cost of establishing domestic order in Iraq became major global problems that continued through 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

GWP (gross world product): $65.61 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

GWP (gross world product): $54.62 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4% industry: 32% services: 64% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.131 billion (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40.2% industry: 20.5% services: 39.4% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.8% (2002 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries 5% to 20% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from declining prices in Japan to hyperinflation in one Third World country (Zimbabwe); inflation rates have declined for most countries for the last several years, held in check by increasing international competition from several low wage countries (2005 est.)

Industries:

dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

18.96 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

16.88 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports:

655.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

627.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Oil - production:

84.79 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

85.27 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

66.19 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

65.41 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.332 trillion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

3.021 trillion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.198 trillion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

929.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

957.6 billion cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

175.4 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Exports:

$13.89 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:

the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten - share of world trade: electrical machinery, including computers 14.8%; mineral fuels, including oil, coal, gas, and refined products 14.4%; nuclear reactors, boilers, and parts 14.2%; cars, trucks, and buses 8.9%; scientific and precision instruments 3.5%; plastics 3.4%; iron and steel 2.7%; organic chemicals 2.6%; pharmaceutical products 2.6%; diamonds, pearls, and precious stones 1.9% (2006 est.)

Exports - partners:

US 13.7%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 4.6%, UK 4.5%, Japan 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$13.74 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:

the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten - share of world trade: see listing for exports

Imports - partners:

China 10.7%, Germany 9.23%, US 8.28%, Japan 5.14%, France 3.99% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $106.4 billion (2005)

Debt - external:

$51.78 trillion note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt, both public and private (2004 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

World total DFI $14 trillion top ten recipients of DFI: US $1.966 trillion; UK $1.324 trillion; France $872.4 billion; Germany $811.0 billion; HK $780.4 billion; China $758.9 billion; Belgium $703.9 billion; Netherlands $535.1 billion; Canada $527.4 billion; Spain $487.8 billion (year-end 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

World total DFI $14 trillion top ten sources of DFI: US $2.627 trillion; UK $1.741 trillion; France $1.211 trillion; Germany $1.123 trillion; Netherlands $811.4 billion; HK $716.2 billion; Spain $613.9 billion; Switzerland $591.5 billion; Belgium $537.6 billion; Japan $527.8 billion (year-end 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$53.51 trillion (2006)

Communications
World

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,263,367,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,168,433,600 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios:

##### NA

Television broadcast stations:

##### NA

Televisions:

##### NA

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10,350 (2000 est.)

Internet users:

1,018,057,389 (2005)

Transportation
World

Airports:

total airports - 49,024 top ten by passengers: Atlanta - 84,846,639; Chicago - 77,028,134; London - 67,530,197; Tokyo - 65,810,672; Los Angeles - 61,041,066; Dallas/Fort Worth - 60,226,138; Paris - 56,849,567; Frankfurt - 52,810,683; Beijing - 48,654,770; Denver - 47,325,016 top ten by cargo (metric tons): Memphis - 3,692,081; Hong Kong - 3,609,780; Anchorage - 2,691,395; Seoul - 2,336,572; Tokyo - 2,280,830; Shanghai - 2,168,122; Paris - 2,130,724; Frankfurt - 2,127,646; Louisville (US) - 1,983,032; Singapore - 1,931,881 (2006)

Heliports:

1,359 (2007)

Railways:

total: 1,370,782 km (2006)

Roadways:

total: 68,937,575 km (2008)

Waterways:

671,886 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:

top ten container ports (TEUs): Singapore - 24,792,400; Hong Kong - 23,539,000; Shanghai - 21,710,000; Shenzhen (China) - 18,468,890; Busan (South Korea) - 12,030,000; Kaohsiung (Taiwan) - 9,774,670; - Rotterdam - 9,603,000; Dubai (UAE) - 8,923,465; Hamburg - 8,861,545; Los Angeles - 8,469,853 (2006)

Military
World

Military expenditures:

roughly 2% of GDP of gross world product (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
World

Disputes - international:

stretching over 250,000 km, the world's 322 international land boundaries separate 194 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 6.6 million people and cross-border displacements of 8.6 million refugees around the world as of early 2006; just over one million refugees were repatriated in the same period; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradation

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that in December 2006 there was a global population of 8.8 million registered refugees and as many as 24.5 million IDPs in more than 50 countries; the actual global population of refugees is probably closer to 10 million given the estimated 1.5 million Iraqi refugees displaced throughout the Middle East (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: approximately 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked annually across national borders, not including millions trafficked within their own countries; at least 80% of the victims are female and up to 50% are minors; 75% of all victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation; almost two-thirds of the global victims are trafficked intra-regionally within East Asia and the Pacific (260,000 to 280,000 people) and Europe and Eurasia (170,000 to 210,000 people) Tier 2 Watch List: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Niger, Panama, Republic of the Congo, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Tier 3: Algeria, Burma, Cuba, Fiji, Iran, Kuwait, Moldova, North Korea, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria (2008)

Illicit drugs:

cocaine: worldwide coca leaf cultivation in 2007 amounted to 232,500 hectares; Colombia produced slightly more than two-thirds of the worldwide crop, followed by Peru and Bolivia; potential pure cocaine production decreased 7% to 865 metric tons in 2007; Colombia conducts aggressive coca eradication campaign, but both Peruvian and Bolivian Governments are hesitant to eradicate coca in key growing areas; 551 metric tons of export-quality cocaine (85% pure) is documented to have been seized or destroyed in 2005; US consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated to have been in excess of 380 metric tons opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation continued to increase in 2007, with a potential opium production of 8,400 metric tons, reaching the highest levels recorded since estimates began in mid-1980s; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 95% of the global supply; Southeast Asia - responsible for 9% of global opium - saw marginal increases in production; Latin America produced 1% of global opium, but most was refined into heroin destined for the US market; if all potential opium was processed into pure heroin, the potential global production would be 1,000 metric tons of heroin in 2007

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Yemen

Introduction
Yemen

Background:

North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border.

Geography
Yemen

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 N, 48 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 527,970 sq km land: 527,970 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries:

total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Coastline:

1,906 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west

Land use:

arable land: 2.91% permanent crops: 0.25% other: 96.84% (2005)

Irrigated land:

5,500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

4.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 6.63 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%) per capita: 316 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

People
Yemen

Population:

23,013,376 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.2% (male 5,415,385/female 5,218,237) 15-64 years: 51.2% (male 5,996,202/female 5,795,779) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 284,195/female 303,578) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.7 years male: 16.7 years female: 16.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.46% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

42.42 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

7.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 60.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 51.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.9 years male: 60.96 years female: 64.94 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

##### NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni

Ethnic groups:

predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans

Religions:

Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of
Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Languages:

Arabic

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50.2% male: 70.5% female: 30% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 11 years female: 7 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

9.6% of GDP (2001)

Government
Yemen

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Sanaa geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz note: for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city of Sanaa is treated as an additional governorate

Independence:

22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became independent in November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Constitution:

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

Legal system:

based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31 March 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

Legislative branch:

a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: last held on 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

General People's Congress or GPC [Abdul-Kader BAJAMMAL]; Islamic
Reform Grouping or Islah [Mohammed Abdullah AL-YADOUMI (acting)];
Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdal Malik al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab
Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM]; Yemeni Socialist Party or
YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]; note - there are at least seven more active
political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Muslim Brotherhood; Women National Committee other: conservative tribal groups

International organization participation:

AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen A. SECHE embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266 FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Economy
Yemen

Economy - overview:

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported average annual growth in the range of 3-4% from 2000 through 2007. Its economic fortunes depend mostly on declining oil resources, but the country is trying to diversify its earnings. In 2006 Yemen began an economic reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. As a result of the program, international donors pledged about $5 billion for development projects. In addition, Yemen has made some progress on reforms over the last year that will likely encourage foreign investment. Oil revenues probably increased in 2007 as a result of higher prices.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$56.24 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$21.66 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.4% industry: 40.9% services: 46.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

6.305 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force

Unemployment rate:

35% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

45.2% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.4 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

25% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $7.576 billion expenditures: $8.391 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

33.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

##### NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$3.076 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.526 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.224 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.017 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.804 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

320,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

135,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

336,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

62,850 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

3 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$362 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$7.311 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Exports - partners:

China 23.3%, India 20.4%, Thailand 19.1%, Japan 7.2%, UAE 5%, US 4.2% (2007)

Imports:

$6.735 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

UAE 15.1%, China 11.6%, US 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 7.1%, Kuwait 5.3%,
Germany 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.76 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.044 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

##### $NA

Currency (code):

Yemeni rial (YER)

Currency code:

##### YER

Exchange rates:

Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 199.14 (2007), 197.18 (2006), 192.67 (2005), 184.78 (2004), 183.45 (2003)

Communications
Yemen

Telephones - main lines in use:

968,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.978 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by regional standards international: country code - 967; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

1.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (including one Egypt-based station that broadcasts in Yemen); plus several repeaters (2007)

Televisions:

470,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ye

Internet hosts:

167 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

320,000 (2007)

Transportation
Yemen

Airports:

50 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 33 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 71 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,309 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 71,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 4 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 13 (North Korea 2, Moldova 1, Panama 6, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Aden, Hudaydah, Mukalla

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom

Military
Yemen

Military branches:

Army (includes Republican Guard), Navy (includes Marines), Yemen Air
Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya; includes Air
Defense Force) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

voluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,080,038 females age 16-49: 4,852,555 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,585,947 females age 16-49: 3,619,195 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 268,468 female: 258,196 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

6.6% of GDP (2006)

Military - note:

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

Transnational Issues
Yemen

Disputes - international:

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 91,587 (Somalia) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Zambia

Introduction
Zambia

Background:

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an anticorruption investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable for USD 41 million. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair.

Geography
Zambia

Location:

Southern Africa, east of Angola

Geographic coordinates:

##### 15 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 752,614 sq km land: 740,724 sq km water: 11,890 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,664 km border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Terrain:

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Natural resources:

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 6.99% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 92.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,560 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

105.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%) per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)

Environment - current issues:

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe

People
Zambia

Population:

11,669,534 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.4% (male 2,659,572/female 2,634,379) 15-64 years: 52.3% (male 3,045,536/female 3,053,465) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 115,662/female 160,920) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.9 years male: 16.8 years female: 17.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.654% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

40.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

21.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 100.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 105.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 96.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 38.59 years male: 38.49 years female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

16.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

920,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

89,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Ethnic groups:

African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

Religions:

Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Languages:

English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda,
Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 80.6% male: 86.8% female: 74.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

2% of GDP (2005)

Government
Zambia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Lusaka geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Independence:

24 October 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Constitution:

24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term limits

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008); note - President BANDA was acting president since the illness and eventual death of President Levy MWANAWASA on 18 August 2008, he was then elected president on 30 October 2008 to serve out the remainder of MWANAWASA's term; the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 October 2008 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the president; note - due to the untimely death of former President Levy MWANAWASA, early elections were held to identify a replacement to serve out the remainder of his term election results: Rupiah BANDA elected president; percent of vote - Rupiah BANDA 40.1%, Michael SATA 38.1%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 19.7%, Godfrey MIYANDA 0.8%, other 1.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by popular vote, 8 members are appointed by the president, to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not determined 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders:

All Peoples Congress Party [Winright NGONDO]; Forum for Democracy
and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]; Heritage Party or HP
[Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE];
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA]; National
Democratic Focus or NDF; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Party
of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]; Reform
Party [Nevers MUMBA]; United Democratic Alliance or UDA; United
Liberal Party or ULP [Sakwiba SIKOTA]; United National Independence
Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for National
Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]; Zambia Democratic Congress
or ZADECO [Langton SICHONE]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP
[Benjamin MWILA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

##### NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OPCW,
PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (211) 250-955 FAX: [260] (211) 252-225

Flag description:

green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag

Economy
Zambia

Economy - overview:

Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Zambia experienced a bumper harvest in 2007, which helped to boost GDP and agricultural exports and contain inflation. Although poverty continues to be significant problem in Zambia, its economy has strengthened, featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.16 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.4% industry: 26.1% services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.989 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 85% industry: 6% services: 9% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

50% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

86% (1993)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.8 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.655 billion expenditures: $2.8 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

28.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

11.73% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18.89% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$995.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.709 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.968 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides

Industries:

copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

Industrial production growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.289 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

8.625 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

255 million kWh (2006)

Electricity - imports:

68 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.5% hydro: 99.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

150 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

14,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

190.6 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

13,810 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

##### NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$228 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.594 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners:

Switzerland 41.8%, South Africa 12%, Thailand 5.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5.3%, Egypt 5%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, China 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$3.611 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

South Africa 47.4%, UAE 6.3%, China 6%, India 4.1%, UK 4% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$504 million (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.596 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.5 billion (2007)

Currency (code):

Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Currency code:

##### ZMK

Exchange rates:

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 3,990.2 (2007), 3,601.5 (2006), 4,463.5 (2005), 4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003)

Communications
Zambia

Telephones - main lines in use:

91,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.639 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: facilities are aging but still among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation and network coverage is improving; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

1.2 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

9 (2001)

Televisions:

277,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.zm

Internet hosts:

7,610 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

500,000 (2007)

Transportation
Zambia

Airports:

107 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 98 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 64 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Pipelines:

oil 771 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,157 km narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 91,440 km paved: 20,117 km unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Waterways:

2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Mpulungu

Military
Zambia

Military branches:

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambian Army, Zambian Air
Force, National Service (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,678,668 females age 16-49: 2,567,433 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,329,343 females age 16-49: 1,218,114 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 147,358 female: 146,771 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Zambia

Disputes - international:

in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; 42,250 Congolese refugees in Zambia are offered voluntary repatriation in November 2006, most of whom are expected to return in the next two years; Angolan refugees too have been repatriating but 26,450 still remain with 90,000 others from other neighboring states in 2006

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 42,565 (Angola); 60,874 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,100 (Rwanda) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Zambia is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; many Zambian child laborers, particularly those in the agriculture, domestic service, and fishing sectors, are also victims of human trafficking; Zambian women, lured by false employment or marriage offers abroad, are trafficked to South Africa via Zimbabwe and to Europe via Malawi for sexual exploitation; Zambia is a transit point for regional trafficking of women and children, particularly from Angola to Namibia and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa for agricultural labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Zambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking, particularly in regard to its inability to bring alleged traffickers to justice through prosecutions and convictions; unlike 2006, there were no new prosecutions or convictions of alleged traffickers in 2007; government efforts to protect victims of trafficking remained extremely limited throughout the year (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@Zimbabwe

Introduction
Zimbabwe

Background:

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. The ruling ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidation to win a two-thirds majority in the March 2005 parliamentary election, allowing it to amend the constitution at will and recreate the Senate, which had been abolished in the late 1980s. In April 2005, Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with significant gains in opposition seats in parliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the presidential polls, and may have won an out right majority, but official results posted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Committee did not reflect this. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of vote tampering and ballot-box stuffing resulted in international condemnation of the process, and calls for the creation of a power-sharing government have been ignored.

Geography
Zimbabwe

Location:

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Geographic coordinates:

##### 20 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 390,580 sq km land: 386,670 sq km water: 3,910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 3,066 km border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain:

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

Natural resources:

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Land use:

arable land: 8.24% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 91.43% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,740 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

20 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%) per capita: 324 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water

People
Zimbabwe

Population:

11,350,111 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.9% (male 2,514,135/female 2,465,715) 15-64 years: 52.3% (male 2,671,164/female 3,260,457) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 194,854/female 243,786) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.6 years male: 16.4 years female: 18.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.787% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

31.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

17.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 33.86 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 31.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 44.28 years male: 45.08 years female: 43.46 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

24.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.8 million (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

170,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean

Ethnic groups:

African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%

Religions:

syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Languages:

English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 90.7% male: 94.2% female: 87.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2000)

Government
Zimbabwe

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Harare geographic coordinates: 17 50 S, 31 03 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*,
Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East,
Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South,
Midlands

Independence:

18 April 1980 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Constitution:

21 December 1979

Legal system:

mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999) and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999) and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); elections last held 28 March 2008 followed by a run-off on 27 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013); co-vice presidents appointed by the president election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 85.5%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 9.3%, other 5.2%; note - first round voting results - Morgan TSVANGIRAI 47.9%, Robert Gabriel MUGABE 43.2%, Simba MAKONI 8.3%, other 0.6%; first-round round polls were deemed to be flawed suppressing TSVANGIRAI's results; the 27 June 2008 run-off between MUGABE and TSVANGIRAI were severely flawed and internationally condemned

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats - 60 elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial governors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs elected by the Council of Chiefs, 2 held by the president and deputy president of the Council of Chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president) and a House of Assembly (210 seats - all elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.6%, ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.6%; seats by party - MDC 30, ZANU-PF 30; House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.3%, ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.9%; seats by party - MDC 109, ZANU-PF 97, other 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA]; Movement for
Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI, anti-Senate faction;
Arthur MUTAMBARA, pro-Senate faction]; Peace Action is Freedom for
All or PAFA; United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]; United People's Party
or UPP [Daniel SHUMBA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or
ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]; Zimbabwe
African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]; Zimbabwe Youth in
Alliance or ZIYA

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition [Xolani ZITHA]; National Constitutional
Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA
[Jenny WILLIAMS]; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU
[Wellington CHIBEBE]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594 FAX: [263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618

Flag description:

seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral wealth, red - blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

Economy
Zimbabwe

Economy - overview:

The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of difficult economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainable fiscal deficit, an overvalued official exchange rate, hyperinflation, and bare store shelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. The government's land reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged the commercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs, turning Zimbabwe into a net importer of food products. The EU and the US provide food aid on humanitarian grounds. Badly needed support from the IMF has been suspended because of the government's arrears on past loans and the government's unwillingness to enact reforms that would stabilize the economy. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe routinely prints money to fund the budget deficit, causing the official annual inflation rate to rise from 32% in 1998, to 133% in 2004, 585% in 2005, passed 1000% in 2006, and 26000% in November 2007. Private sector estimates of inflation in 2007 are well above 100,000%. Meanwhile, the official exchange rate fell from approximately 1 (revalued) Zimbabwean dollar per US dollar in 2003 to 30,000 per US dollar in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.342 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$641 million note: hyperinflation and the plunging value of the Zimbabwean dollar makes Zimbabwe's GDP at the official exchange rate a highly inaccurate statistic (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-5.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$200 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18.1% industry: 22.6% services: 59.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

4.032 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 66% industry: 10% services: 24% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

80% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

68% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 40.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.1 (2006)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.442 billion expenditures: $3.017 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

218.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12,563% official data; private sector estimates are much higher (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

975% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

578.96% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$14.18 billion note: This number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange rate of 30,000 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar. At an unofficial rate of 800,000 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar, the stock of Zimbabwe dollars would equal only about US$500 million and Zimbabwe's velocity of money (the number of times money turns over in the course of a year) would be nine, in line with the velocity of money for other countries in the region. (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.349 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$24.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs

Industries:

mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

-5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.467 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

11.59 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

34 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.867 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 53% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

14,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

15,800 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$649 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.52 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports - partners:

South Africa 33.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.3%, Japan 8.1%, Botswana 7.4%, Netherlands 5.2%, China 5.2%, Italy 4.1%, Zambia 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$2.183 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners:

South Africa 50.7%, China 8.4%, US 4.5%, Botswana 4.3% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$367.7 million (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$120 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.155 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

##### $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

##### $NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$26.56 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)

Currency code:

##### ZWD

Exchange rates:

Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar - 30,000 (2007), 162.07 (2006), 77.965 (2005), 5.729 (2004), 0.824 (2003) note: these are official exchange rates; non-official rates vary significantly

Communications
Zimbabwe

Telephones - main lines in use:

344,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.226 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed but unused main lines domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones international: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.14 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

16 (1997)

Televisions:

370,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.zw

Internet hosts:

19,157 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

1.351 million (2007)

Transportation
Zimbabwe

Airports:

341 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 19 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 322 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 152 under 914 m: 166 (2007)

Pipelines:

refined products 270 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,077 km narrow gauge: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 97,267 km paved: 18,481 km unpaved: 78,786 km (2002)

Waterways:

on Lake Kariba (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Binga, Kariba

Military
Zimbabwe

Military branches:

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air
Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Zimbabwe Republic Police (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-24 years of age for compulsory military service; women are eligible to serve (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,264,258 females age 16-49: 3,048,049 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,643,036 females age 16-49: 1,404,663 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 144,601 female: 147,627 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Zimbabwe

Disputes - international:

Botswana built electric fences and South Africa has placed military along the border to stem the flow of thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 2,500 (Democratic Republic of Congo) IDPs: 569,685 (MUGABE-led political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; large scale migration of Zimbabweans to surrounding countries - as they flee a progressively more desperate situation at home - has increased; rural Zimbabwean men, women, and children are trafficked internally to farms for agricultural labor and domestic servitude and to cities for domestic labor and commercial sexual exploitation; young men and boys are trafficked to South Africa for farm work, often laboring for months in South Africa without pay before "employers" have them arrested and deported as illegal immigrants; young women and girls are lured abroad with false employment offers that result in involuntary domestic servitude or commercial sexual exploitation; men, women, and children from neighboring states are trafficked through Zimbabwe en route to South Africa tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Zimbabwe is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking, and because the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is significantly increasing; the trafficking situation in the country is worsening as more of the population is made vulnerable by declining socio-economic conditions (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

@2001 GDP (purchasing power parity)

Afghanistan
$35 billion (2007 est.)

Albania
$20.87 billion
note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50%
of official GDP (2007 est.)

Algeria
$222.3 billion (2007 est.)

American Samoa
$510.1 million (2003 est.)

Andorra
$2.77 billion (2005)

Angola
$95.46 billion (2007 est.)

Anguilla
$108.9 million (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
$1.526 billion (2007 est.)

Argentina
$526.4 billion (2007 est.)

Armenia
$17.17 billion (2007 est.)

Aruba
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

Australia
$773 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$322 billion (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$64.66 billion (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
$8.553 billion (2007 est.)

Bahrain
$24.01 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$208.3 billion (2007 est.)

Barbados
$5.31 billion (2007 est.)

Belarus
$103.5 billion (2007 est.)

Belgium
$376.5 billion (2007 est.)

Belize
$2.444 billion (2007 est.)

Benin
$12 billion (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)

Bhutan
$3.359 billion (2007 est.)

Bolivia
$39.75 billion (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$27.7 billion
note: Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much
as 50% of official GDP (2007 est.)

Botswana
$26.04 billion (2007 est.)

Brazil
$1.849 trillion (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
$853.4 million (2004 est.)

Brunei
$19.64 billion (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
$86.71 billion (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
$17.41 billion (2007 est.)

Burma
$91.13 billion (2007 est.)

Burundi
$2.907 billion (2007 est.)

Cambodia
$26.19 billion (2007 est.)

Cameroon
$40.24 billion (2007 est.)

Canada
$1.271 trillion (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
$1.603 billion (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

Central African Republic
$3.007 billion (2007 est.)

Chad
$15.26 billion (2007 est.)

Chile
$232.8 billion (2007 est.)

China
$7.099 trillion (2007 est.)

Christmas Island
$NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
$NA

Colombia
$327.7 billion (2007 est.)

Comoros
$1.262 billion (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$19.03 billion (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
$12.86 billion (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
$183.2 million (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
$45.77 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$32.85 billion (2007 est.)

Croatia
$69.59 billion (2007 est.)

Cuba
$125.5 billion (2007 est.)

Cyprus
$21.4 billion (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$251 billion (2007 est.)

Denmark
$203.3 billion (2007 est.)

Djibouti
$1.738 billion (2007 est.)

Dominica
$648 million (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
$61.67 billion (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$98.71 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$405.4 billion (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$41.63 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$15.54 billion (2007 est.)

Eritrea
$3.619 billion (2007 est.)

Estonia
$28.69 billion (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
$56.05 billion (2007 est.)

European Union
$14.43 trillion (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$75 million (2002 est.)

Faroe Islands
$1 billion (2001 est.)

Fiji
$5.079 billion (2007 est.)

Finland
$188.4 billion (2007 est.)

France
$2.075 trillion (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
$4.58 billion (2003 est.)

Gabon
$20.44 billion (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$2.061 billion (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
$5.034 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Georgia
$20.6 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
$2.807 trillion (2007 est.)

Ghana
$31.13 billion (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)

Greece
$327.6 billion (2007 est.)

Greenland
$1.1 billion (2001 est.)

Grenada
$1.108 billion (2007 est.)

Guam
$2.5 billion (2005 est.)

Guatemala
$64.76 billion (2007 est.)

Guernsey
$2.742 billion (2005)

Guinea
$10.96 billion (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$826.4 million (2007 est.)

Guyana
$2.819 billion (2007 est.)

Haiti
$11.38 billion (2007 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
$NA

Honduras
$32.26 billion (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$293.3 billion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$191.7 billion (2007 est.)

Iceland
$12.19 billion (2007 est.)

India
$2.966 trillion (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$843.7 billion (2007 est.)

Iran
$762.9 billion (2007 est.)

Iraq
$102.4 billion (2007 est.)

Ireland
$191.6 billion (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

Israel
$185.8 billion (2007 est.)

Italy
$1.8 trillion (2007 est.)

Jamaica
$20.48 billion (2007 est.)

Japan
$4.272 trillion (2007 est.)

Jersey
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

Jordan
$28.45 billion (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$168.2 billion (2007 est.)

Kenya
$61.22 billion (2007 est.)

Kiribati
$348 million (2007 est.)

Korea, North
$40 billion
note: North Korea does not publish any reliable National Income
Accounts data; the datum shown here is derived from purchasing power
parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus
MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was
extrapolated to 2007 using estimated real growth rates for North
Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator;
the result was rounded to the nearest $10 billion (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$1.206 trillion (2007 est.)

Kosovo
$4 billion (2007 est.)

Kuwait
$140 billion (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$10.55 billion (2007 est.)

Laos
$12.8 billion (2007 est.)

Latvia
$40.05 billion (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$40.44 billion (2007 est.)

Lesotho
$3.063 billion (2007 est.)

Liberia
$1.525 billion (2007 est.)

Libya
$74.72 billion (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$1.786 billion (2001 est.)

Lithuania
$59.98 billion (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$38.14 billion (2007 est.)

Macau
$12.5 billion (2006)

Macedonia $17.35 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2007 est.)

Madagascar
$18.44 billion (2007 est.)

Malawi
$10.59 billion (2007 est.)

Malaysia
$361.2 billion (2007 est.)

Maldives
$1.588 billion (2007 est.)

Mali
$13.63 billion (2007 est.)

Malta
$9.4 billion (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
$115 million (2001 est.)

Mauritania
$5.974 billion (2007 est.)

Mauritius
$14.27 billion (2007 est.)

Mayotte
$953.6 million (2005 est.)

Mexico
$1.353 trillion (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of $277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

Moldova
$9.756 billion (2007 est.)

Monaco
$976.3 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough (2006 est.)

Mongolia
$8.542 billion (2007 est.)

Montenegro
$5.918 billion (2007 est.)

Montserrat
$29 million (2002 est.)

Morocco
$125 billion (2007 est.)

Mozambique
$17.64 billion (2007 est.)

Namibia
$10.69 billion (2007 est.)

Nauru
$60 million (2005 est.)

Nepal
$29.29 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands
$645.5 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)

New Caledonia
$3.158 billion (2003 est.)

New Zealand
$112.4 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$16.17 billion (2007 est.)

Niger
$8.859 billion (2007 est.)

Nigeria
$296.1 billion (2007 est.)

Niue
$7.6 million (2000 est.)

Norfolk Island
$NA

Northern Mariana Islands $900 million note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

Norway
$246.6 billion (2007 est.)

Oman
$60.89 billion (2007 est.)

Pakistan
$411.9 billion (2007 est.)

Palau
$124.5 million
note: GDP estimates includes US subsidy (2004 est.)

Panama
$34.81 billion (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$12.05 billion (2007 est.)

Paraguay
$26.7 billion (2007 est.)

Peru
$219.6 billion (2007 est.)

Philippines
$300.1 billion (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
$NA

Poland
$623.1 billion (2007 est.)

Portugal
$232.3 billion (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
$72.61 billion (2007 est.)

Qatar
$71.42 billion (2007 est.)

Romania
$247.1 billion (2007 est.)

Russia
$2.097 trillion (2007 est.)

Rwanda
$8.057 billion (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
$18 million (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$721 million (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
$1.794 billion (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$48.3 million
note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60
million (2003 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$1.042 billion (2007 est.)

Samoa
$1.029 billion (2007 est.)

San Marino
$850 million (2004 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
$256 million (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$546 billion (2007 est.)

Senegal
$21.02 billion (2007 est.)

Serbia
$77.28 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$1.378 billion (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$3.991 billion (2007 est.)

Singapore
$227.1 billion (2007 est.)

Slovakia
$110.2 billion (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$56.19 billion (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
$948 million (2007 est.)

Somalia
$5.387 billion (2007 est.)

South Africa
$467.8 billion (2007 est.)

Spain
$1.361 trillion (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$82.02 billion (2007 est.)

Sudan
$80.98 billion (2007 est.)

Suriname
$3.846 billion (2007 est.)

Svalbard
$NA

Swaziland
$5.364 billion (2007 est.)

Sweden
$338.5 billion (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$303.2 billion (2007 est.)

Syria
$90.37 billion (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$698.6 billion (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
$11.96 billion (2007 est.)

Tanzania
$51.07 billion (2007 est.)

Thailand
$521.5 billion (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
$2.608 billion (2007 est.)

Togo
$5.042 billion (2007 est.)

Tokelau
$1.5 million (1993 est.)

Tonga
$526 million (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
$26.79 billion (2007 est.)

Tunisia
$76.07 billion (2007 est.)

Turkey
$853.9 billion (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$26.92 billion (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$216 million (2002 est.)

Tuvalu
$14.94 million (2002 est.)

Uganda
$29.13 billion (2007 est.)

Ukraine
$324.8 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$164.4 billion (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$2.13 trillion (2007 est.)

United States
$13.78 trillion (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$37.5 billion (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$64.4 billion (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$897 million (2007 est.)

Venezuela
$334.3 billion (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$221.1 billion (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$1.577 billion (2004 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
$60 million (2004 est.)

West Bank
$5.034 billion (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
GWP (gross world product): $65.61 trillion (2007 est.)

Yemen
$56.24 billion (2007 est.)

Zambia
$16.1 billion (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$2.342 billion (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2002 Population growth rate (%)

Afghanistan
2.626% (2008 est.)

Albania
0.538% (2008 est.)

Algeria
1.209% (2008 est.)

American Samoa
1.236% (2008 est.)

Andorra
1.899% (2008 est.)

Angola
2.136% (2008 est.)

Anguilla
2.332% (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
1.305% (2008 est.)

Argentina
1.068% (2008 est.)

Armenia
-0.077% (2008 est.)

Aruba
1.501% (2008 est.)

Australia
1.221% (2008 est.)

Austria
0.064% (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
0.723% (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
0.57% (2008 est.)

Bahrain
1.337% (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
2.022% (2008 est.)

Barbados
0.36% (2008 est.)

Belarus
-0.393% (2008 est.)

Belgium
0.106% (2008 est.)

Belize
2.207% (2008 est.)

Benin
3.01% (2008 est.)

Bermuda
0.546% (2008 est.)

Bhutan
1.301% (2008 est.)

Bolivia
1.383% (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.666% (2008 est.)

Botswana
1.434% (2008 est.)

Brazil
1.228% (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
1.88% (2008 est.)

Brunei
1.785% (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
-0.813% (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
3.109% (2008 est.)

Burma
0.8% (2008 est.)

Burundi
3.443% (2008 est.)

Cambodia
1.752% (2008 est.)

Cameroon
2.218% (2008 est.)

Canada
0.83% (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
0.595% (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
2.449% (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
1.509% (2008 est.)

Chad
2.195% (2008 est.)

Chile
0.905% (2008 est.)

China
0.629% (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
0% (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
0% (2008 est.)

Colombia
1.405% (2008 est.)

Comoros
2.803% (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
3.236% (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
2.696% (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
1.388% (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
2.156% (2008 est.)

Croatia
-0.043% (2008 est.)

Cuba
0.251% (2008 est.)

Cyprus
0.522% (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
-0.082% (2008 est.)

Denmark
0.295% (2008 est.)

Djibouti
1.945% (2008 est.)

Dominica
0.196% (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
1.495% (2008 est.)

Ecuador
0.935% (2008 est.)

Egypt
1.682% (2008 est.)

El Salvador
1.679% (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
2.732% (2008 est.)

Eritrea
2.631% (2008 est.)

Estonia
-0.632% (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
3.212% (2008 est.)

European Union
0.11% (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0.011% (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
0.376% (2008 est.)

Fiji
1.388% (2008 est.)

Finland
0.112% (2008 est.)

France
0.574% (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
1.425% (2008 est.)

Gabon
1.954% (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
2.724% (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
3.422% (2008 est.)

Georgia
-0.325% (2008 est.)

Germany
-0.044% (2008 est.)

Ghana
1.928% (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
0.125% (2008 est.)

Greece
0.146% (2008 est.)

Greenland
0.064% (2008 est.)

Grenada
0.406% (2008 est.)

Guam
1.373% (2008 est.)

Guatemala
2.11% (2008 est.)

Guernsey
0.228% (2008 est.)

Guinea
2.492% (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
2.035% (2008 est.)

Guyana
0.211% (2008 est.)

Haiti
2.493% (2008 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
0.003% (2008 est.)

Honduras
2.024% (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
0.532% (2008 est.)

Hungary
-0.254% (2008 est.)

Iceland
0.783% (2008 est.)

India
1.578% (2008 est.)

Indonesia
1.175% (2008 est.)

Iran
0.792% (2008 est.)

Iraq
2.562% (2008 est.)

Ireland
1.133% (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
0.509% (2008 est.)

Israel
1.713% (2008 est.)

Italy
-0.019% (2008 est.)

Jamaica
0.779% (2008 est.)

Japan
-0.139% (2008 est.)

Jersey
0.221% (2008 est.)

Jordan
2.338% (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
0.374% (2008 est.)

Kenya
2.758% (2008 est.)

Kiribati
2.235% (2008 est.)

Korea, North
0.732% (2008 est.)

Korea, South
0.269% (2008 est.)

Kuwait
3.591%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
1.38% (2008 est.)

Laos
2.344% (2008 est.)

Latvia
-0.629% (2008 est.)

Lebanon
1.154% (2008 est.)

Lesotho
0.129% (2008 est.)

Liberia
3.661% (2008 est.)

Libya
2.216% (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
0.713% (2008 est.)

Lithuania
-0.284% (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
1.188% (2008 est.)

Macau
3.148% (2008 est.)

Macedonia
0.262% (2008 est.)

Madagascar
3.005% (2008 est.)

Malawi
2.39% (2008 est.)

Malaysia
1.742% (2008 est.)

Maldives
5.566% (2008 est.)

Mali
2.725% (2008 est.)

Malta
0.407% (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
2.142% (2008 est.)

Mauritania
2.852% (2008 est.)

Mauritius
0.8% (2008 est.)

Mayotte
3.465% (2008 est.)

Mexico
1.142% (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
-0.191% (2008 est.)

Moldova
-0.092% (2008 est.)

Monaco
0.375% (2008 est.)

Mongolia
1.493% (2008 est.)

Montenegro
-0.925% (2008 est.)

Montserrat
0.315% (2008 est.)

Morocco
1.505% (2008 est.)

Mozambique
1.792% (2008 est.)

Namibia
0.947% (2008 est.)

Nauru
1.772% (2008 est.)

Nepal
2.095% (2008 est.)

Netherlands
0.436% (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0.754% (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
1.175% (2008 est.)

New Zealand
0.971% (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
1.825% (2008 est.)

Niger
2.878% (2008 est.)

Nigeria
2.025% (2008 est.)

Niue
-0.032% (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
0.006% (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
2.377% (2008 est.)

Norway
0.35% (2008 est.)

Oman
3.19% (2008 est.)

Pakistan
1.999% (2008 est.)

Palau
1.157% (2008 est.)

Panama
1.544% (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
2.118% (2008 est.)

Paraguay
2.39% (2008 est.)

Peru
1.264% (2008 est.)

Philippines
1.991% (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
0% (2008 est.)

Poland
-0.045% (2008 est.)

Portugal
0.305% (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
0.369% (2008 est.)

Qatar
1.093% (2008 est.)

Romania
-0.136% (2008 est.)

Russia
-0.474% (2008 est.)

Rwanda
2.779% (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
0.487% (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0.723% (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
0.436% (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0.114% (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0.231% (2008 est.)

Samoa
1.322% (2008 est.)

San Marino
1.181% (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
3.116% (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
1.954% (2008 est.)

Senegal
2.58% (2008 est.)

Seychelles
0.428% (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
2.282% (2008 est.)

Singapore
1.135% (2008 est.)

Slovakia
0.143% (2008 est.)

Slovenia
-0.088% (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
2.467% (2008 est.)

Somalia
2.824% (2008 est.)

South Africa
0.828% (2008 est.)

Spain
0.096% (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
0.943% (2008 est.)

Sudan
2.134% (2008 est.)

Suriname
1.099% (2008 est.)

Svalbard
-0.023% (2008 est.)

Swaziland
-0.41% (2008 est.)

Sweden
0.157% (2008 est.)

Switzerland
0.329% (2008 est.)

Syria
2.189% (2008 est.)

Taiwan
0.238% (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
1.893% (2008 est.)

Tanzania
2.072% (2008 est.)

Thailand
0.64% (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
2.05% (2008 est.)

Togo
2.717% (2008 est.)

Tokelau
-0.011% (2008 est.)

Tonga
1.669% (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
-0.891% (2008 est.)

Tunisia
0.989% (2008 est.)

Turkey
1.013% (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
1.596% (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
2.644% (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
1.577% (2008 est.)

Uganda
3.603% (2008 est.)

Ukraine
-0.651% (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
3.833% (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
0.276% (2008 est.)

United States
0.883% (2008 est.)

Uruguay
0.486% (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
0.965% (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
1.434% (2008 est.)

Venezuela
1.498% (2008 est.)

Vietnam
0.99% (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
0.002% (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
2.225% (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
2.868% NA (2008 est.)

World
1.188% (2008 est.)

Yemen
3.46% (2008 est.)

Zambia
1.654% (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
-0.787% (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2003 GDP - real growth rate (%)

Afghanistan
11.5% (2007 est.)

Albania
6% (2007 est.)

Algeria
4.5% (2007 est.)

American Samoa
3% (2003 est.)

Andorra
3.5% (2005 est.)

Angola
16.7% (2007 est.)

Anguilla
10.2% (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
6.1% (2007 est.)

Argentina
8.7% (2007 est.)

Armenia
13.7% (2007 est.)

Aruba
2.4% (2005 est.)

Australia
4.3% (2007 est.)

Austria
3.1% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
23.4% (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
2.8% (2007 est.)

Bahrain
6.7% (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
6.3% (2007 est.)

Barbados
4.3% (2007 est.)

Belarus
8.2% (2007 est.)

Belgium
2.8% (2007 est.)

Belize
2.2% (2007 est.)

Benin
4.5% (2007 est.)

Bermuda
4.6% (2004 est.)

Bhutan
22.4% (2007 est.)

Bolivia
4.6% (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
6% (2007 est.)

Botswana
4.8% (2007 est.)

Brazil
5.4% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
1% (2002 est.)

Brunei
0.4% (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
6.2% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
4.2% (2007 est.)

Burma
3.8% (2007 est.)

Burundi
3.6% (2007 est.)

Cambodia
10.1% (2007 est.)

Cameroon
2.7% (2007 est.)

Canada
2.7% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
6.9% (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0.9% (2004 est.)

Central African Republic
4% (2007 est.)

Chad
1.3% (2007 est.)

Chile
5.1% (2007 est.)

China
11.9% (2007 est.)

Colombia
8.2% (2007 est.)

Comoros
-1% (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
7% (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
-1.6% (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
0.1% (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
6.8% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.6% (2007 est.)

Croatia
5.7% (2007 est.)

Cuba
6.5% (2007 est.)

Cyprus
4.4% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
6.6% (2007 est.)

Denmark
1.7% (2007 est.)

Djibouti
5.2% (2007 est.)

Dominica
0.9% (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
8.5% (2007 est.)

Ecuador
2% (2007 est.)

Egypt
7.1% (2007 est.)

El Salvador
4.7% (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
12.4% (2007 est.)

Eritrea
1.3% (2007 est.)

Estonia
7.1% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
11.1% (2007 est.)

European Union
3% (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA%

Faroe Islands
2.4% (2005 est.)

Fiji
-4.4% (2007 est.)

Finland
4.5% (2007 est.)

France
2.1% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
5.1% (2002)

Gabon
6.2% (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
7% (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
-8% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Georgia
12% (2007 est.)

Germany
2.5% (2007 est.)

Ghana
5.5% (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
7% (2005 est.)

Greece
4% (2007 est.)

Greenland
2% (2005 est.)

Grenada
3.1% (2007 est.)

Guam
NA%

Guatemala
5.7% (2007 est.)

Guernsey
3% (2005 est.)

Guinea
1.5% (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
2.7% (2007 est.)

Guyana
5.3% (2007 est.)

Haiti
3.2% (2007 est.)

Honduras
6.3% (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
6.4% (2007 est.)

Hungary
1.3% (2007 est.)

Iceland
3.8% (2007 est.)

India
9% (2007 est.)

Indonesia
6.3% (2007 est.)

Iran
6.2% (2007 est.)

Iraq
5.9% (2007 est.)

Ireland
6% (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
5.2% (2005)

Israel
5.3% (2007 est.)

Italy
1.4% (2007 est.)

Jamaica
1.2% (2007 est.)

Japan
2% (2007 est.)

Jersey
NA%

Jordan
6% (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
8.5% (2007 est.)

Kenya
7% (2007 est.)

Kiribati
2% (2007 est.)

Korea, North
-1.1% (2007 est.)

Korea, South
5% (2007 est.)

Kosovo
2.6% (2007 est.)

Kuwait
4.7% (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
8.2% (2007 est.)

Laos
7.5% (2007 est.)

Latvia
10.3% (2007 est.)

Lebanon
3.6% (2007 est.)

Lesotho
4.8% (2007 est.)

Liberia
9.4% (2007 est.)

Libya
5.8% (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
11% (1999 est.)

Lithuania
8.8% (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
4.5% (2007 est.)

Macau
16.6% (2006)

Macedonia
5.1% (2007 est.)

Madagascar
6.3% (2007 est.)

Malawi
8% (2007 est.)

Malaysia
6.3% (2007 est.)

Maldives
6.6% (2007 est.)

Mali
2.8% (2007 est.)

Malta
3.8% (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
3.5% (2005 est.)

Mauritania
1% (2007 est.)

Mauritius
5.4% (2007 est.)

Mayotte
NA%

Mexico
3.2% (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
0.3% (2005 est.)

Moldova
3% (2007 est.)

Monaco
0.9% (2000 est.)

Mongolia
9.9% (2007 est.)

Montenegro
7.5% (2007 est.)

Montserrat
-1% (2002 est.)

Morocco
2.2% (2007 est.)

Mozambique
7.3% (2007 est.)

Namibia
3.6% (2007 est.)

Nauru
NA%

Nepal
3.2% (2007 est.)

Netherlands
3.5% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
1% (2004 est.)

New Caledonia
NA%

New Zealand
3.1% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
3.8% (2007 est.)

Niger
3.2% (2007 est.)

Nigeria
6.4% (2007 est.)

Niue
6.2% (2003 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
NA%

Norway
3.7% (2007 est.)

Oman
5.6% (2007 est.)

Pakistan
5.3% (2007 est.)

Palau
5.5% (2005 est.)

Panama
11.2% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
6% (2007 est.)

Paraguay
6.6% (2007 est.)

Peru
9% (2007 est.)

Philippines
7.3% (2007 est.)

Poland
6.6% (2007 est.)

Portugal
1.8% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
-1.2% (2007 est.)

Qatar
8.4% (2007 est.)

Romania
6% (2007 est.)

Russia
8.1% (2007 est.)

Rwanda
6% (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis
3.3% (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
3.2% (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6.6% (2007 est.)

Samoa
6% (2007 est.)

San Marino
4.6% (2004 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
6% (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
3.5% (2007 est.)

Senegal
4.6% (2007 est.)

Serbia
7.3% (2007 est.)

Seychelles
5.3% (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
7% (2007 est.)

Singapore
7.7% (2007 est.)

Slovakia
10.4% (2007 est.)

Slovenia
6.1% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
5.4% (2007 est.)

Somalia
2.6% (2007 est.)

South Africa
5.1% (2007 est.)

Spain
3.8% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
6.8% (2007 est.)

Sudan
10.2% (2007 est.)

Suriname
5.1% (2007 est.)

Svalbard
NA%

Swaziland
2.3% (2007 est.)

Sweden
2.7% (2007 est.)

Switzerland
3.1% (2007 est.)

Syria
4.3% (2007 est.)

Taiwan
5.7% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
7.8% (2007 est.)

Tanzania
7.3% (2007 est.)

Thailand
4.8% (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
19.8% (2007 est.)

Togo
2.1% (2007 est.)

Tokelau
NA%

Tonga
-3.5% (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
5.5% (2007 est.)

Tunisia
6.3% (2007 est.)

Turkey
4.5% (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
11.5% (IMF estimate)
note: official government statistics are widely regarded as
unreliable (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
4.9% (2000 est.)

Tuvalu
3% (2006 est.)

Uganda
6% (2007 est.)

Ukraine
7.7% (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
7.5% (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
3.1% (2007 est.)

United States
2% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
7.4% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
9.5% (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
5% (2007 est.)

Venezuela
8.4% (2007 est.)

Vietnam
8.5% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
2% (2002 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA%

West Bank
-8% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
NA%

World
5.2% (2007 est.)

Yemen
2.8% (2007 est.)

Zambia
6% (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
-5.5% (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2004 GDP - per capita (PPP)

Afghanistan
$1,000 (2007 est.)

Albania
$5,800 (2007 est.)

Algeria
$6,700 (2007 est.)

American Samoa
$5,800 (2005 est.)

Andorra
$38,800 (2005)

Angola
$7,800 (2007 est.)

Anguilla
$8,800 (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
$18,300 (2007 est.)

Argentina
$13,100 (2007 est.)

Armenia
$5,800 (2007 est.)

Aruba
$21,800 (2004 est.)

Australia
$37,300 (2007 est.)

Austria
$39,300 (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$8,000 (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
$28,000 (2007 est.)

Bahrain
$33,900 (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$1,400 (2007 est.)

Barbados
$18,900 (2007 est.)

Belarus
$10,600 (2007 est.)

Belgium
$36,200 (2007 est.)

Belize
$7,900 (2007 est.)

Benin
$1,400 (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$69,900 (2004 est.)

Bhutan
$5,200 (2007 est.)

Bolivia
$4,400 (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$6,100 (2007 est.)

Botswana
$14,300 (2007 est.)

Brazil
$9,500 (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
$38,500 (2004 est.)

Brunei
$51,000 (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
$11,800 (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
$1,200 (2007 est.)

Burma
$1,900 (2007 est.)

Burundi
$300 (2007 est.)

Cambodia
$1,900 (2007 est.)

Cameroon
$2,200 (2007 est.)

Canada
$38,600 (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
$3,200 (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$43,800 (2004 est.)

Central African Republic
$700 (2007 est.)

Chad
$1,500 (2007 est.)

Chile
$14,300 (2007 est.)

China
$5,400 (2007 est.)

Colombia
$7,400 (2007 est.)

Comoros
$1,100 (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$300 (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
$3,400 (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
$9,100 (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
$11,100 (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$1,700 (2007 est.)

Croatia
$15,500 (2007 est.)

Cuba
$11,000 (2007 est.)

Cyprus
$27,100 (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$24,500 (2007 est.)

Denmark
$37,200 (2007 est.)

Djibouti
$2,300 (2007 est.)

Dominica
$9,000 (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
$6,600 (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$7,200 (2007 est.)

Egypt
$5,000 (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$6,000 (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$28,200 (2007 est.)

Eritrea
$800 (2007 est.)

Estonia
$21,800 (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
$700 (2007 est.)

European Union
$32,700 (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$25,000 (2002 est.)

Faroe Islands
$31,000 (2001 est.)

Fiji
$3,900 (2007 est.)

Finland
$36,000 (2007 est.)

France
$32,600 (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
$17,500 (2003 est.)

Gabon
$14,000 (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$1,200 (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
$1,100 (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Georgia
$4,400 (2007 est.)

Germany
$34,100 (2007 est.)

Ghana
$1,400 (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
$38,200 (2005 est.)

Greece
$30,600 (2007 est.)

Greenland
$20,000 (2001 est.)

Grenada
$10,500 (2007 est.)

Guam
$15,000 (2005 est.)

Guatemala
$5,100 (2007 est.)

Guernsey
$44,600 (2005)

Guinea
$1,100 (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$600 (2007 est.)

Guyana
$3,700 (2007 est.)

Haiti
$1,300 (2007 est.)

Honduras
$4,300 (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$42,000 (2007 est.)

Hungary
$19,300 (2007 est.)

Iceland
$40,400 (2007 est.)

India
$2,600 (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$3,600 (2007 est.)

Iran
$11,700 (2007 est.)

Iraq
$3,700 (2007 est.)

Ireland
$46,600 (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
$35,000 (2005 est.)

Israel
$26,600 (2007 est.)

Italy
$30,900 (2007 est.)

Jamaica
$7,400 (2007 est.)

Japan
$33,500 (2007 est.)

Jersey
$57,000 (2005 est.)

Jordan
$4,700 (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$11,000 (2007 est.)

Kenya
$1,700 (2007 est.)

Kiribati
$3,600 (2007 est.)

Korea, North
$1,700 (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$25,000 (2007 est.)

Kosovo
$1,800 (2007 est.)

Kuwait
$55,900 (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$2,000 (2007 est.)

Laos
$2,000 (2007 est.)

Latvia
$17,700 (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$10,300 (2007 est.)

Lesotho
$1,400 (2007 est.)

Liberia
$500 (2007 est.)

Libya
$12,400 (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$25,000 (1999 est.)

Lithuania
$16,800 (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$79,400 (2007 est.)

Macau
$28,400 (2006)

Macedonia
$8,400 (2007 est.)

Madagascar
$900 (2007 est.)

Malawi
$800 (2007 est.)

Malaysia
$14,500 (2007 est.)

Maldives
$4,600 (2007 est.)

Mali
$1,100 (2007 est.)

Malta
$23,400 (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
$2,900 (2005 est.)

Mauritania
$1,800 (2007 est.)

Mauritius
$11,300 (2007 est.)

Mayotte
$4,900 (2005 est.)

Mexico
$12,400 (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$2,300 (2005 est.)

Moldova
$2,300 (2007 est.)

Monaco
$30,000 (2006 est.)

Mongolia
$2,900 (2007 est.)

Montenegro
$3,800 (2005 est.)

Montserrat
$3,400 (2002 est.)

Morocco
$3,700 (2007 est.)

Mozambique
$800 (2007 est.)

Namibia
$5,200 (2007 est.)

Nauru
$5,000 (2005 est.)

Nepal
$1,000 (2007 est.)

Netherlands
$39,000 (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$16,000 (2004 est.)

New Caledonia
$15,000 (2003 est.)

New Zealand
$27,200 (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$2,800 (2007 est.)

Niger
$700 (2007 est.)

Nigeria
$2,100 (2007 est.)

Niue
$5,800 (2003 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
$12,500 (2000 est.)

Norway
$53,300 (2007 est.)

Oman
$19,000 (2007 est.)

Pakistan
$2,400 (2007 est.)

Palau
$7,600 (2005 est.)

Panama
$10,700 (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$2,100 (2007 est.)

Paraguay
$4,000 (2007 est.)

Peru
$7,600 (2007 est.)

Philippines
$3,200 (2007 est.)

Poland
$16,200 (2007 est.)

Portugal
$21,800 (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
$18,400 (2007 est.)

Qatar
$87,600 (2007 est.)

Romania
$11,100 (2007 est.)

Russia
$14,800 (2007 est.)

Rwanda
$800 (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
$2,500 (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$13,900 (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
$10,700 (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$7,000 (2001 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$9,800 (2007 est.)

Samoa
$5,400 (2007 est.)

San Marino
$34,100 (2004 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
$1,600 (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$19,800 (2007 est.)

Senegal
$1,700 (2007 est.)

Serbia
$10,400 (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$16,600 (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$600 (2007 est.)

Singapore
$49,900 (2007 est.)

Slovakia
$20,200 (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$28,000 (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
$1,900 (2007 est.)

Somalia
$600 (2007 est.)

South Africa
$9,700 (2007 est.)

Spain
$33,600 (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$4,000 (2007 est.)

Sudan
$1,900 (2007 est.)

Suriname
$8,700 (2007 est.)

Swaziland
$4,700 (2007 est.)

Sweden
$37,500 (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$40,100 (2007 est.)

Syria
$4,700 (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$30,100 (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
$1,600 (2007 est.)

Tanzania
$1,300 (2007 est.)

Thailand
$8,000 (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
$2,500 (2007 est.)

Togo
$900 (2007 est.)

Tokelau
$1,000 (1993 est.)

Tonga
$5,100 (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
$25,400 (2007 est.)

Tunisia
$7,400 (2007 est.)

Turkey
$12,000 (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$5,300 (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$11,500 (2002 est.)

Tuvalu
$1,600 (2002 est.)

Uganda
$1,000 (2007 est.)

Ukraine
$7,000 (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$37,000 (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$35,000 (2007 est.)

United States
$45,800 (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$10,800 (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$2,400 (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$3,900 (2007 est.)

Venezuela
$12,800 (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$2,600 (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$14,500 (2004 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
$3,800 (2004 est.)

West Bank
$1,100 (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
$10,000 (2007 est.)

Yemen
$2,500 (2007 est.)

Zambia
$1,400 (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$200 (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2006 Dependency status

Akrotiri
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an
administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

American Samoa
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US;
administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior

Anguilla
overseas territory of the UK

Aruba
member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from
the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense
and foreign affairs

Ashmore and Cartier Islands territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Bermuda
overseas territory of the UK

Bouvet Island
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar
Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo

British Indian Ocean Territory overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London

British Virgin Islands overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Cayman Islands
overseas territory of the UK

Christmas Island
non-self governing territory of Australia;
administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's
Department

Clipperton Island
possession of France; administered directly by the
Minister of Overseas France

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
non-self governing territory of Australia;
administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's
Department

Cook Islands
self-governing in free association with New Zealand;
Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand
retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in
consultation with the Cook Islands

Coral Sea Islands
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra
by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Dhekelia
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an
administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
overseas territory of the UK; also
claimed by Argentina

Faroe Islands
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

French Polynesia
overseas lands of France; overseas territory of
France from 1946-2004

French Southern and Antarctic Lands overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Eric PILLOTON (since 10 April 2007)

Gibraltar
overseas territory of the UK

Greenland
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Guam
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy
relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Guernsey
British crown dependency

Heard Island and McDonald Islands territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Hong Kong
special administrative region of China

Isle of Man
British crown dependency

Jan Mayen
territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from
Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however,
authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian
Defense Communication Service

Jersey
British crown dependency

Macau
special administrative region of China

Mayotte
departmental collectivity of France

Montserrat
overseas territory of the UK

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

Netherlands Antilles
an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the
Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954;
Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

New Caledonia
territorial collectivity of France since 1998

Niue
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these
responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised
at the request of the Government of Niue

Norfolk Island
self governing territory of Australia; administered
from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Northern Mariana Islands
commonwealth in political union with the
US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US
Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Pitcairn Islands
overseas territory of the UK

Puerto Rico
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with
commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US
conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Saint Barthelemy
overseas collectivity of France

Saint Helena
overseas territory of the UK

Saint Martin
overseas collectivity of France

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
self-governing territorial overseas
collectivity of France

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
overseas territory of
the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland
Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the
Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II

Svalbard
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department
of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing
in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Tokelau
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau
and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves
toward free association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum
on self governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds
majority vote necessary for changing the political status

Turks and Caicos Islands
overseas territory of the UK

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
unincorporated
territories of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of
the National Wildlife Refuge system
note on Palmyra Atoll: incorporated Territory of the US; partly
privately owned and partly federally owned; administered from
Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department
of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department
of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas
comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm
territorial sea or within the lagoon

Virgin Islands
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with
policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the
jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior

Wake Island
unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior;
activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the US Air Force

Wallis and Futuna
overseas territory of France

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2007 Diplomatic representation from the US

Afghanistan
chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone: [93] 0700 108 001
FAX: [93] 0700 108 564

Akrotiri
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Albania
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II
embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles,
VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 2247285
FAX: [355] (4) 2232222

Algeria
chief of mission: Ambassador David D. PEARCE
embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16000 Algiers
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] 770-08-2000
FAX: [213] 21-60-7355

American Samoa
none (territory of the US)

Andorra
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US
Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in
Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in
Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de
Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227;
FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175

Angola
chief of mission: Ambassador Dan MOZENA
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place,
Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
FAX: [244] (222) 64-1232

Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda
the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and
Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and
Barbuda

Argentina
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl Anthony WAYNE
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use embassy street address; APO
address: US Embassy Buenos Aires, Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240

Armenia
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State,
7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742

Aruba
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General
to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Australia
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Austria
chief of mission: Ambassador David F. GIRARD-DICARLO
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0
FAX: [43] (1) 3100682

Azerbaijan
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
embassy: 83 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050
Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337
FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671

Bahamas, The
chief of mission: Ambassador Ned L. SIEGEL
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,
Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC
20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 328-2206

Bahrain
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Adam ERELI
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international
mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 1724-2700
FAX: [973] 1727-0547

Bangladesh
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500
FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744

Barbados
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
embassy: U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB
14006
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO
AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 227-4399
FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179

Belarus
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Jonathan MOORE
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

Belgium
chief of mission: Ambassador Sam FOX
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Belize
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER
embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize
telephone: [501] 822-4011
FAX: [501] 822-4012

Benin
chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84

Bermuda
chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place,
Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Bhutan
the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations,
although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US
Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Bolivia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Krishna URS
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111

Bosnia and Herzegovina
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles L.
ENGLISH
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [387] (33) 445-700
FAX: [387] (33) 659-722
branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar

Botswana
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN
embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 395-3982
FAX: [267] 395-6947

Brazil
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife

British Indian Ocean Territory
none (overseas territory of the UK)

British Virgin Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei
chief of mission: Ambassador William E. TODD
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar
Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone: [673] 222-0384
FAX: [673] 222-5293

Bulgaria
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy McELDOWNEY
embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State,
5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320

Burkina Faso
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23
FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90

Burma
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry
M. DINGER
embassy: 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038
FAX: [95] (1) 650-306

Burundi
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 223454
FAX: [257] 222926

Cambodia
chief of mission: Ambassador Carol A. RODLEY
embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600

Cameroon
chief of mission: Ambassador Janet E. GARVEY
embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220 16 03
FAX: [237] 2220 16 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 2220 17 52
branch office(s): Douala

Canada
chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430; P.O.
Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1
telephone: [1] (613) 688-5335
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
Vancouver, Winnipeg

Cape Verde
chief of mission: Ambassador Marianne M. MYLES
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55

Cayman Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Central African Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Frederick B.
COOK
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff

Chad
chief of mission: Ambassador Louis NIGRO
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 251-62-11, [235] 251-70-09, [235] 251-77-59
FAX: [235] 251-56-54

Chile
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul E. SIMONS
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 330-3000
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710, 330-3160

China
chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.
embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Lu, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000
FAX: [86] (10) 8531-3300
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau,
Shanghai, Shenyang

Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Colombia
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.
mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197

Comoros
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador
to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros

Congo, Democratic Republic of the chief of mission: Ambassador William GARVELINK embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (81) 225-5872 FAX: [243] (81) 301-0561

Congo, Republic of the
chief of mission: Ambassador Allan EASTHAM
embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, BDEAC Building, 4th Floor,
Brazzaville; note - a new embassy is expected to open in 2009
mailing address: B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone: [242] 281-1481, [242] 281-3368; note - until the new
embassy in Brazzaville becomes operational, some duties will still
be handled in the US embassy in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of
the Congo

Cook Islands
none (self-governing in free association with New
Zealand)

Coral Sea Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Costa Rica
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter CIANCHETTE
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 519-2000
FAX: [506] 519-2305

Cote d'Ivoire
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy: Cocody Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 22 49 40 00
FAX: [225] 22 49 43 32

Croatia
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. BRADTKE
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Cuba
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss
Embassy, headed by Chief of Mission Jonathan D. FARRAR; address:
USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado,
Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator
assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-1653; protecting power in
Cuba is Switzerland

Cyprus
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank C. URBANCIC, Jr.
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi,
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944

Czech Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. GRABER
embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] 257 022 000
FAX: [420] 257 022 809

Denmark
chief of mission: Ambassador James P. CAIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23

Dhekelia
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Djibouti
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. SWAN
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Dominica
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Dominican Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador P. Robert FANNIN
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo
Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171
FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Ecuador
chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES
embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras
telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Egypt
chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY
embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik
Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo
telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200

El Salvador
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles L. GLAZER
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La
Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place,
Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
FAX: [503] 2501-2150

Equatorial Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El
Paraiso, Malabo; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited
functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US
Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220-1500
FAX: [237] 2220-1572

Eritrea
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald MCMULLEN
embassy: 179 Ala Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Estonia
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley Davis PHILLIPS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8265

Ethiopia
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Y. YAMAMOTO
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] 11-517-40-00
FAX: [251] 11-517-40-01

European Union
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristen SILVERBERG
embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: same as above
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 508-2063

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Faroe Islands
none (self-governing overseas administrative division
of Denmark)

Fiji
chief of mission: Ambassador C. Steven McGANN
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081

Finland
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara BARRETT
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800

France
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

French Polynesia
none (overseas lands of France)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
none (overseas territory of
France)

Gabon
chief of mission: Ambassador Eunice S. REDDICK
embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270
Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171
FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Gambia, The
chief of mission: Ambassador Barry L. WELLS
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX: [220] 439-2475

Georgia
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10

Germany
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. TIMKEN, Jr.
embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin; note - new embassy opened 4
July 2008
mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265, clayallee 170,
14195 Berlin
telephone: [49] (030) 2385174
FAX: [49] (030) 8305-1215
consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg,
Leipzig, Munich

Ghana
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM
embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 741-000
FAX: [233] (21) 741-389

Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD
embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Greenland
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of
Denmark)

Grenada
chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is
accredited to Grenada
embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1177
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Guam
none (territory of the US)

Guatemala
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen G. MCFARLAND
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 2326-4000
FAX: [502] 2326-4654

Guernsey
none (British crown dependency)

Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Elizabeth RASPOLIC
embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif
de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00
FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97

Guinea-Bissau
the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in
the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President
VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is
accredited to Guinea-Bissau

Guyana
chief of mission: Ambassador John Melvin JONES
embassy: US Embassy, 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170
Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497

Haiti
chief of mission: Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON
embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: use mailing address
telephone: [509] 229-8000
FAX: [509] 229-8028

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Holy See (Vatican City)
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann GLENDON
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346

Honduras
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo LLORENS
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 236-9320, 238-5114
FAX: [504] 238-4357

Hong Kong
chief of mission: Consul General Joseph A. DONOVAN, Jr.
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2845-1598

Hungary
chief of mission: Ambassador April H. FOLEY
embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest
Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764

Iceland
chief of mission: Ambassador Carol VAN VOORST
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place,
Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118

India
chief of mission: Ambassador David C. MULFORD
embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (011) 2419-8000
FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017
consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai
(Bombay)

Indonesia
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME
embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 3435-9922
consulate(s) general: Surabaya

Iran
none; note - the American Interests Section is located in the
Swiss Embassy compound at Africa Avenue, West Farzan Street, number
32, Tehran, Iran; telephone [98] 21 8878 2964 or 21 8879 2364; FAX
[98] 21 8877 3265

Iraq
chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section
FAX: NA

Ireland
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Isle of Man
none (British crown dependency)

Israel
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CUNNINGHAM
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission,
established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign
government

Italy
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald P. SPOGLI
embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 46741
FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356
consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples

Jamaica
chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange JOHNSON
embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5
telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000
FAX: [1] (876) 702-6001

Japan
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Jersey
none (British crown dependency)

Jordan
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. Beecroft
embassy: Abdun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box
5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

Kazakhstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND
embassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00
FAX: [7] (7172) 34-08-90

Kenya
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606
Village Market, Nairobi 00621
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000
FAX: [254] (20) 363-410

Kiribati
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador
to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Korea, North
none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents
the US as consular protecting power

Korea, South
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen STEPHENS
embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845

Kosovo
chief of mission: Ambassador Tina KAIDANOW
embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: 381 38 59 59 3000
FAX: 381 38 549 890

Kuwait
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES
embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the
Bayan palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE
09880-9000
telephone: [965] 259-1001
FAX: [965] 538-0282

Kyrgyzstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatiana C. GFOELLER
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264

Laos
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26-7000
FAX: [856] 21-26-7190

Latvia
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles LARSON Jr.
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: [371] 670-36200
FAX: [371] 678-20047

Lebanon
chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. SISON
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon; (Awkar facing the Municipality)
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US
Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070
telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600
FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Lesotho
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert NOLAN
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 22 312666
FAX: [266] 22 310116

Liberia
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda THOMAS-GREENFIELD
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 98, Mamba Point, 1000
Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 7-705-4826
FAX: [231] 7-701-0370

Libya
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J.
Christopher STEVENS
embassy: Serraj Area, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 91-220-0125

Liechtenstein
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the
US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein

Lithuania
chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Luxembourg
chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE
09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box
9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01

Macau
the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong
Kong is accredited to Macau

Macedonia
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State,
7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Madagascar
chief of mission: Ambassador R. Niels MARQUARDT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Malawi
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Malaysia
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. KEITH
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Maldives
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US
Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic
visits

Mali
chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC
embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of
the Bamako central district
mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako
telephone: [223] 270-2300
FAX: [223] 270-2479

Malta
chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229

Marshall Islands
chief of mission: Ambassador Clyde BISHOP
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012

Mauritania
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building
and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592

Mauritius
chief of mission: Ambassador Cesar CABRERA
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA, Jr.
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5511-9980
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo

Micronesia, Federated States of
chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam
K. HUGHES
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186

Moldova
chief of mission: Ambassador Asif CHAUDHRY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

Monaco
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador
to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in
Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to
France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning
Monaco

Mongolia
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: [976] (11) 329-095
FAX: [976] (11) 320-776

Montenegro
chief of mission: Ambassador Roderick W. MOORE
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [382] 81 225 417
FAX: [382] 81 241 358

Montserrat
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Mozambique
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Todd C. CHAPMAN
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (21) 492797
FAX: [258] (21) 490114

Namibia
chief of mission: Ambassador G. Dennise MATHIEU
embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500
FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603

Nauru
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Navassa Island
none (territory of the US)

Nepal
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272

Netherlands
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CULBERTSON
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209
FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Netherlands Antilles
chief of mission: Consul General Robert E.
SORENSON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489

New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France)

New Zealand
chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP
96531-1034
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general: Auckland

Nicaragua
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI
embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours)
FAX: [505] 252-7304

Niger
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64
FAX: [227] 20-73-31-67

Nigeria
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin SANDERS
embassy: 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja
telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000
FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036

Niue
none (self-governing territory in free association with New
Zealand)

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Norway
chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY
embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will
move to Huseby in the near future
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51

Oman
chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771

Pakistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 208-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar

Palau
chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Mark BEZNER
embassy: Koror (no street address)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911

Panama
chief of mission: Ambassador William A. EATON
embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama,
Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 317-5568

Papua New Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423

Paraguay
Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 228-603

Peru
chief of mission: Ambassador P. Michael MCKINLEY
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397

Philippines
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000
FAX: [63] (2) 301-2399

Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland
chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688
consulate(s) general: Krakow

Portugal
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas F. STEPHENSON
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE
09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Puerto Rico
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Qatar
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4161
FAX: [974] 488 4150

Romania
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of
State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442

Russia
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. BEYRLE
embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Rwanda
chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON
embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 596-400
FAX: [250] 596-591

Saint Barthelemy
none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Helena
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts
and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint
Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Saint Martin
none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
none (territorial overseas collectivity of
France)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
the US does not have an embassy in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is
accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa
chief of mission: none; US Ambassador to New Zealand is
accredited to Samoa
embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia
telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696
FAX: [685] 22030

San Marino
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the
ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome
and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and
Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the
islands

Saudi Arabia
chief of mission: Ambassador Ford M. FRAKER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307;
International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Senegal
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcia S. BERNICAT
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 33-829-2100
FAX: [221] 33-822-2991

Serbia
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron MUNTER
embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070
telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344
FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230

Seychelles
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the
ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Sierra Leone
chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY
embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or [232] (76) 515 000
FAX: [232] (22) 515 355

Singapore
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340

Slovakia
chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent OBSITNIK
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861

Slovenia
chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif B. GHAFARI
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State,
7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

Solomon Islands
the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands
(embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is
accredited to the Solomon Islands

Somalia
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations
Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

South Africa
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric BOST
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
none (overseas
territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Spain
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo AGUIRRE, Jr.
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Sri Lanka
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr.
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Sudan
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Alberto M. FERNANDEZ
embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum
mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone: [249] (183) 774701/2/3
FAX: [249] (183) 774137

Suriname
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 410-025

Swaziland
chief of mission: Ambassador Maurice S. PARKER
embassy: 2350 Mbabane Place, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-2445
FAX: [268] 404-2059

Sweden
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael M. WOOD
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State,
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64

Switzerland
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

Syria
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maura
CONNELLY
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 3391-4444
FAX: [963] (11) 3391-3999

Taiwan
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the
people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial
instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has
offices in the US and Taiwan; US office at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite
1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX:
[1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road,
Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2162-2000, FAX:
[886] (2) 2162-2251; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kaohsiung,
Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 238-7744, FAX: [886] (7) 238-5237; and
the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building,
Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei,
Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2)
2757-7162

Tajikistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50

Tanzania
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GREEN
embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 266-8001
FAX: [255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373

Thailand
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Timor-Leste
chief of mission: Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place,
Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206

Togo
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS
embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC
20512-2300
telephone: [228] 261-5470
FAX: [228] 261-5501

Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376
FAX: [1] (868) 822-5905

Tunisia
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 963-263

Turkey
chief of mission: Ambassador Ross WILSON
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555
FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir

Turkmenistan
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
d'Affaires Richard M. MILES
embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan 744000
mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
telephone: [993] (12) 35-00-45
FAX: [993] (12) 39-26-14

Turks and Caicos Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador
to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Uganda
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven BROWNING
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (414) 259, 306-001
FAX: [256] (414) 258-451

Ukraine
chief of mission: Ambassador William B. TAYLOR Jr.
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 01901 Kyiv
mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085

United Arab Emirates
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard OLSON
embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4,
Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603
consulate(s) general: Dubai

United Kingdom
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Holmes TUTTLE
embassy: 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
telephone: [44] (0) 20 7499-9000
FAX: [44] (0) 20 7629-9124
consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
none (territories of
the US)

Uruguay
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank E. BAXTER
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611

Uzbekistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND
embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent
100093
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335

Vanuatu
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador
to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Venezuela
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
John CAULFIELD
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle
Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours)
FAX: [58] (212) 907-8199

Vietnam
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MICHALAK
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 3850-5000
FAX: [84] (4) 3850-5010
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Virgin Islands
none (territory of the US)

Wallis and Futuna
none (overseas territory of France)

Western Sahara
none

Yemen
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen A. SECHE
embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266
FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Zambia
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (211) 250-955
FAX: [260] (211) 252-225

Zimbabwe
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2008 Transportation - note

Arctic Ocean
sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes;
the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route
(Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

Atlantic Ocean
Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two
important waterways; significant domestic commercial and
recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south
Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US; the International
Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states
and offshore Atlantic waters as high risk for piracy and armed
robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea off West
Africa, the east coast of Brazil, and the Caribbean Sea; numerous
commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor
and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes
stolen; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Bangladesh
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
waters of Bangladesh as high risk for armed robbery against ships;
numerous commercial vessels have been attacked both at anchor and
while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Brazil
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Atlantic Ocean as a significant risk for
piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels
have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Djibouti
the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters
in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels,
including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked
and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers,
and cargo are held for ransom

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
aids to navigation -
lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova Island (W side) 37m;
Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m (all in the Iles Eparses district)

Georgia
large parts of transportation network are in poor condition
because of lack of maintenance and repair

Indian Ocean
the International Maritime Bureau reports the
territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high
risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the
Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and
the Strait of Malacca; numerous vessels, including commercial
shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at
anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and
cargoes stolen; crew and passengers are often held for ransom,
murdered, or cast adrift

Indonesia
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as
high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous
commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor
and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo
diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast
adrift

Malaysia
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as
high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous
commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor
and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo
diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast
adrift

Nigeria
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high
risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial
vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while
underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Pacific Ocean
Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast
Alaska to Puget Sound (Washington state); the International Maritime
Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and
offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked
vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crew and passengers
are often held for ransom, murdered, or cast adrift

Philippines
the International Maritime Bureau reports the
territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk
for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial
vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while
underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to
ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Saint Barthelemy
nearest airport for international flights is
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten
(Netherlands Antilles)

Saint Helena
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan
da Cunha; an international airport for Saint Helena is in
development for 2010

Saint Martin
nearest airport for international flights is Princess
Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten

Singapore
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy
and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have
been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in
East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Somalia
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are high
risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels,
including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked
and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers,
and cargo are held for ransom

Southern Ocean
Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through
the Panama Canal

Tanzania
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have
been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Venezuela
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as a significant risk for
piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including
commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and
hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed
and stores or cargoes stolen

Vietnam
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial
and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy
and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have
been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in
East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Wake Island
there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from
Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency
landing is available

Yemen
the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in
the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels,
including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked
and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers,
and cargo are held for ransom

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2010 Age structure (%)

Afghanistan
0-14 years: 44.6% (male 7,474,394/female 7,121,145)
15-64 years: 53% (male 8,901,880/female 8,447,983)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 383,830/female 409,144) (2008 est.)

Albania
0-14 years: 23.6% (male 447,126/female 406,757)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,239,819/female 1,180,720)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 160,241/female 185,115) (2008 est.)

Algeria
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 4,528,919/female 4,349,746)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,699,701/female 11,509,619)
65 years and over: 5% (male 779,467/female 902,217) (2008 est.)

American Samoa
0-14 years: 34.4% (male 11,337/female 10,946)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 20,335/female 19,728)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 1,161/female 1,320) (2008 est.)

Andorra
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 6,606/female 6,192)
15-64 years: 72.5% (male 31,313/female 28,563)
65 years and over: 12% (male 4,906/female 5,047) (2008 est.)

Angola
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 2,760,264/female 2,707,665)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 3,416,914/female 3,302,552)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 151,609/female 192,353) (2008 est.)

Anguilla
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 1,795/female 1,706)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 4,569/female 4,970)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 510/female 558) (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 11,670/female 11,318)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 26,138/female 29,859)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 2,408/female 3,129) (2008 est.)

Argentina
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 5,341,642/female 5,095,325)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 12,807,458/female 12,884,745)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 1,784,652/female 2,568,176) (2008
est.)

Armenia
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 296,401/female 259,594)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 975,438/female 1,111,989)
65 years and over: 11% (male 128,398/female 196,766) (2008 est.)

Aruba
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 9,933/female 9,747)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,123/female 37,228)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 4,189/female 6,321) (2008 est.)

Australia
0-14 years: 18.8% (male 2,022,151/female 1,919,002)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,233,555/female 7,038,722)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,266,166/female 1,527,714) (2008
est.)

Austria
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 621,326/female 592,131)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,783,531/female 2,753,389)
65 years and over: 17.7% (male 599,415/female 855,741) (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,061,318/female 947,607)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 2,753,277/female 2,855,406)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 208,293/female 351,816) (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 40,608/female 40,506)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 101,150/female 104,457)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 8,472/female 12,258) (2008 est.)

Bahrain
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 95,709/female 93,747)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 288,957/female 212,706)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 14,224/female 12,963) (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
0-14 years: 33.4% (male 26,364,370/female 24,859,792)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 49,412,903/female 47,468,013)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,912,321/female 2,529,502) (2008 est.)

Barbados
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 27,270/female 27,193)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 99,357/female 102,683)
65 years and over: 9% (male 9,856/female 15,609) (2008 est.)

Belarus
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 717,885/female 677,254)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 3,333,699/female 3,531,920)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 459,627/female 965,383) (2008 est.)

Belgium
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 864,287/female 828,435)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,476,802/female 3,416,383)
65 years and over: 17.5% (male 751,745/female 1,066,299) (2008 est.)

Belize
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 58,987/female 56,674)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 88,521/female 86,450)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,095/female 5,543) (2008 est.)

Benin
0-14 years: 45.5% (male 1,978,897/female 1,901,005)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 2,195,667/female 2,236,458)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 91,213/female 129,307) (2008 est.)

Bermuda
0-14 years: 18% (male 6,055/female 5,954)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 22,795/female 23,189)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 3,728/female 4,815) (2008 est.)

Bhutan
0-14 years: 30.8% (male 107,360/female 103,093)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 231,323/female 203,649)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 19,561/female 17,335) (2008 est.)

Bolivia
0-14 years: 33.5% (male 1,580,887/female 1,519,960)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 2,800,457/female 2,912,375)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 192,701/female 241,436) (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 347,679/female
326,091)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,634,053/female 1,606,341)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 277,504/female 398,642) (2008 est.)

Botswana
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 329,418/female 318,160)
15-64 years: 60.9% (male 566,239/female 556,286)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 29,165/female 43,055) (2008 est.)

Brazil
0-14 years: 27% (male 26,986,909/female 25,961,947)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 64,939,225/female 66,157,812)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 5,182,987/female 7,113,707) (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0-14 years: 20% (male 2,432/female 2,366)
15-64 years: 74.4% (male 9,178/female 8,715)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 697/female 653) (2008 est.)

Brunei
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 53,400/female 50,333)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 132,895/female 132,391)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 5,927/female 6,425) (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 514,238/female 489,608)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 2,449,812/female 2,532,845)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 520,962/female 755,210) (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 3,549,034/female 3,521,684)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 3,885,124/female 3,922,198)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 154,476/female 232,219) (2008 est.)

Burma
0-14 years: 25.7% (male 6,236,484/female 6,038,576)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 16,300,380/female 16,627,045)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,098,344/female 1,457,352) (2008 est.)

Burundi
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,021,320/female 1,998,502)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 2,210,157/female 2,240,921)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,600/female 132,505) (2008 est.)

Cambodia
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 2,389,668/female 2,338,838)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,372,480/female 4,627,895)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,338/female 319,421) (2008 est.)

Cameroon
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 3,826,232/female 3,757,859)
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 5,164,338/female 5,122,817)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 274,821/female 321,625) (2008 est.)

Canada
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 2,780,491/female 2,644,276)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 11,547,354/female 11,300,639)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 2,150,991/female 2,788,945) (2008
est.)

Cape Verde
0-14 years: 36.1% (male 77,533/female 76,489)
15-64 years: 57.4% (male 120,208/female 125,009)
65 years and over: 6.5% (male 10,226/female 17,533) (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 4,774/female 4,759)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,594/female 17,434)
65 years and over: 9% (male 2,022/female 2,279) (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
0-14 years: 41.3% (male 922,053/female
911,601)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,206,121/female 1,221,158)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 71,597/female 111,800) (2008 est.)

Chad
0-14 years: 47% (male 2,408,638/female 2,346,984)
15-64 years: 50.1% (male 2,317,406/female 2,746,104)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 123,561/female 168,644) (2008 est.)

Chile
0-14 years: 23.6% (male 1,987,962/female 1,899,489)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 5,556,867/female 5,563,666)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 602,789/female 843,370) (2008 est.)

China
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 142,085,665/female 125,300,391)
15-64 years: 71.9% (male 491,513,378/female 465,020,030)
65 years and over: 8% (male 50,652,480/female 55,472,661) (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Colombia
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 6,688,530/female 6,531,768)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 14,292,647/female 15,017,204)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 1,072,644/female 1,410,881) (2008 est.)

Comoros
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 155,662/female 154,520)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 197,178/female 202,231)
65 years and over: 3% (male 10,203/female 11,981) (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0-14 years: 47.1% (male
15,711,817/female 15,594,449)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 16,672,399/female 16,875,468)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 674,766/female 985,607) (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
0-14 years: 46.1% (male 906,345/female
894,568)
15-64 years: 51% (male 989,126/female 1,002,682)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 45,560/female 65,037) (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
0-14 years: (male 1,834/female 1,624)
15-64 years: (male 3,973/female 3,747)
65 years and over: (male 542/female 551)

Costa Rica
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 584,782/female 557,952)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,416,456/female 1,384,692)
65 years and over: 6% (male 116,461/female 135,571) (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 4,161,238/female 4,092,593)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 5,790,503/female 5,568,621)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 285,116/female 281,531) (2008 est.)

Croatia
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 363,551/female 345,132)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 1,501,949/female 1,517,962)
65 years and over: 17% (male 295,229/female 467,720) (2008 est.)

Cuba
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 1,088,311/female 1,030,499)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 4,029,381/female 4,025,154)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 569,002/female 681,605) (2008 est.)

Cyprus
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 78,922/female 75,523)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 275,223/female 267,798)
65 years and over: 12% (male 41,592/female 53,546) (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 723,521/female 684,786)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 3,653,679/female 3,619,872)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male 604,419/female 934,634) (2008 est.)

Denmark
0-14 years: 18.4% (male 516,735/female 490,532)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,818,681/female 1,796,753)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 374,388/female 487,634) (2008 est.)

Djibouti
0-14 years: 43.3% (male 110,089/female 109,331)
15-64 years: 53.1% (male 139,164/female 129,614)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 9,068/female 8,955) (2008 est.)

Dominica
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 9,175/female 8,762)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 24,192/female 22,995)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,178/female 4,212) (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
0-14 years: 31.8% (male 1,537,981/female
1,482,546)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 3,029,349/female 2,905,471)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 255,898/female 295,888) (2008 est.)

Ecuador
0-14 years: 32.1% (male 2,274,986/female 2,189,437)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,355,909/female 4,381,141)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 340,861/female 385,316) (2008 est.)

Egypt
0-14 years: 31.8% (male 13,292,961/female 12,690,711)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 26,257,440/female 25,627,390)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 1,636,560/female 2,208,455) (2008 est.)

El Salvador
0-14 years: 35.8% (male 1,291,147/female 1,237,453)
15-64 years: 59% (male 1,987,671/female 2,179,620)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 162,100/female 208,412) (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
0-14 years: 42% (male 131,696/female 127,253)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 162,458/female 169,445)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 11,394/female 14,213) (2008 est.)

Eritrea
0-14 years: 43% (male 1,188,496/female 1,178,520)
15-64 years: 53.4% (male 1,437,653/female 1,502,449)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 89,634/female 105,274) (2008 est.)

Estonia
0-14 years: 14.9% (male 100,143/female 94,450)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 420,896/female 462,072)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 76,171/female 153,873) (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
0-14 years: 46% (male 18,922,334/female 19,017,593)
15-64 years: 51.4% (male 20,749,002/female 21,656,509)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 947,323/female 1,252,077) (2008 est.)

European Union
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 37,208,905/female 35,254,445)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 155,807,769/female 153,690,235)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 32,592,595/female 46,273,197) (2008
est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Faroe Islands
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 5,489/female 5,166)
15-64 years: 64% (male 16,650/female 14,482)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 3,233/female 3,648) (2008 est.)

Fiji
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 145,430/female 139,498)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 302,460/female 301,344)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 19,413/female 23,596) (2008 est.)

Finland
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 443,738/female 427,875)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,232/female 1,731,808)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 349,826/female 518,270) (2008 est.)

France
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,091,571/female 5,803,127)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 20,884,919/female 20,849,988)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 4,335,996/female 6,092,189) (2008
est.)

French Polynesia
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 35,903/female 34,364)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 100,700/female 93,492)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 9,374/female 9,186) (2008 est.)

Gabon
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 314,078/female 311,900)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 399,586/female 401,602)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 24,388/female 34,278) (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
0-14 years: 43.9% (male 382,385/female 378,853)
15-64 years: 53.4% (male 459,315/female 466,689)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,303/female 23,919) (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 343,988/female 325,856)
15-64 years: 52.7% (male 403,855/female 386,681)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 16,196/female 23,626) (2008 est.)

Georgia
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 402,961/female 352,735)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,496,802/female 1,610,725)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 307,795/female 459,823) (2008 est.)

Germany
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 5,826,066/female 5,524,568)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 27,763,917/female 26,739,934)
65 years and over: 20% (male 6,892,743/female 9,622,320) (2008 est.)

Ghana
0-14 years: 37.8% (male 4,470,382/female 4,360,359)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 6,852,363/female 6,866,470)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 386,150/female 447,124) (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,426/female 2,309)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 9,507/female 9,153)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,103/female 2,504) (2008 est.)

Greece
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 789,137/female 742,469)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,101/female 3,575,572)
65 years and over: 19.1% (male 898,337/female 1,149,200) (2008 est.)

Greenland
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 6,867/female 6,634)
15-64 years: 69.9% (male 21,683/female 18,575)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,892/female 1,913) (2008 est.)

Grenada
0-14 years: 32.4% (male 14,725/female 14,524)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 30,911/female 27,502)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,310/female 1,371) (2008 est.)

Guam
0-14 years: 28.2% (male 25,644/female 23,910)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 58,034/female 55,900)
65 years and over: 7% (male 5,801/female 6,588) (2008 est.)

Guatemala
0-14 years: 40.1% (male 2,653,915/female 2,565,841)
15-64 years: 56.2% (male 3,539,874/female 3,762,471)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 222,303/female 257,802) (2008 est.)

Guernsey
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 4,849/female 4,727)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,013/female 22,380)
65 years and over: 17.9% (male 4,988/female 6,769) (2008 est.)

Guinea
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 2,126,575/female 2,080,048)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,628,675/female 2,633,876)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 148,159/female 189,176) (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0-14 years: 41% (male 307,353/female 308,726)
15-64 years: 55.9% (male 404,747/female 436,245)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 18,819/female 27,292) (2008 est.)

Guyana
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 101,712/female 97,907)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 267,239/female 262,188)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 17,610/female 24,138) (2008 est.)

Haiti
0-14 years: 41.8% (male 1,881,509/female 1,851,591)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 2,386,761/female 2,495,233)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 135,695/female 173,764) (2008 est.)

Honduras
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,508,835/female 1,446,530)
15-64 years: 57.8% (male 2,210,187/female 2,203,620)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 121,839/female 148,316) (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
0-14 years: 12.6% (male 463,300/female 422,945)
15-64 years: 74.4% (male 2,535,246/female 2,684,495)
65 years and over: 13% (male 425,500/female 487,150) (2008 est.)

Hungary
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 774,092/female 730,485)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 3,393,630/female 3,488,011)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 559,483/female 985,214) (2008 est.)

Iceland
0-14 years: 21% (male 32,500/female 31,566)
15-64 years: 67% (male 103,231/female 100,545)
65 years and over: 12% (male 16,530/female 19,995) (2008 est.)

India
0-14 years: 31.5% (male 189,238,487/female 172,168,306)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 374,157,581/female 352,868,003)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 28,285,796/female 31,277,725) (2008
est.)

Indonesia
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 34,343,198/female 33,175,135)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 78,330,830/female 77,812,339)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 6,151,305/female 7,699,548) (2008 est.)

Iran
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 7,548,116/female 7,164,921)
15-64 years: 72.3% (male 24,090,976/female 23,522,861)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,713,533/female 1,834,816) (2008 est.)

Iraq
0-14 years: 39.2% (male 5,613,420/female 5,438,770)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 8,270,573/female 8,057,423)
65 years and over: 3% (male 396,751/female 444,244) (2008 est.)

Ireland
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 448,333/female 418,476)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,400,222/female 1,398,194)
65 years and over: 11.8% (male 218,459/female 272,435) (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
0-14 years: 17% (male 6,629/female 6,318)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 25,251/female 24,959)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,294/female 7,769) (2008 est.)

Israel
0-14 years: 28% (male 1,018,229/female 971,083)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 2,242,928/female 2,183,688)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 303,289/female 393,142) (2008 est.)

Italy
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 4,086,951/female 3,842,765)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 19,534,247/female 19,024,776)
65 years and over: 20% (male 4,864,189/female 6,792,393) (2008 est.)

Jamaica
0-14 years: 32% (male 455,871/female 440,928)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 837,241/female 861,906)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 93,415/female 114,971) (2008 est.)

Japan
0-14 years: 13.7% (male 8,926,439/female 8,460,629)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 41,513,061/female 40,894,057)
65 years and over: 21.6% (male 11,643,845/female 15,850,388) (2008
est.)

Jersey
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 7,851/female 7,298)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 30,744/female 30,997)
65 years and over: 16% (male 6,499/female 8,144) (2008 est.)

Jordan
0-14 years: 32.2% (male 1,017,233/female 976,284)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,110,293/female 1,840,531)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 122,975/female 131,361) (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
0-14 years: 22.1% (male 1,734,622/female 1,659,723)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 5,219,983/female 5,463,468)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 443,483/female 819,254) (2008 est.)

Kenya
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 8,065,789/female 7,953,077)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 10,498,468/female 10,434,764)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 457,886/female 543,854) (2008 est.)

Kiribati
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 21,180/female 20,604)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 31,993/female 32,797)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,606/female 2,176) (2008 est.)

Korea, North
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 2,733,352/female 2,654,186)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 7,931,484/female 8,083,626)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 751,401/female 1,325,040) (2008 est.)

Korea, South
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 4,431,315/female 4,004,810)
15-64 years: 72% (male 17,760,975/female 17,095,436)
65 years and over: 10.5% (male 2,030,931/female 3,055,925) (2008
est.)

Kuwait
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 351,057/female 338,634)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,172,460/female 659,927)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 46,770/female 27,951) (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
0-14 years: 29.9% (male 817,369/female 784,782)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,681,440/female 1,748,222)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 127,263/female 197,793) (2008 est.)

Laos
0-14 years: 41% (male 1,374,966/female 1,362,945)
15-64 years: 55.9% (male 1,846,375/female 1,885,029)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 91,028/female 117,191) (2008 est.)

Latvia
0-14 years: 13.4% (male 154,077/female 146,825)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 760,976/female 803,106)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 124,658/female 255,781) (2008 est.)

Lebanon
0-14 years: 26% (male 526,994/female 505,894)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,275,021/female 1,380,131)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 128,002/female 155,899) (2008 est.)

Lesotho
0-14 years: 35.3% (male 377,784/female 372,840)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 621,687/female 649,981)
65 years and over: 5% (male 42,348/female 63,540) (2008 est.)

Liberia
0-14 years: 44% (male 734,375/female 731,287)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 879,848/female 896,319)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 45,175/female 47,583) (2008 est.)

Libya
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 1,046,400/female 1,002,148)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,988,038/female 1,875,034)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 128,386/female 133,573) (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,892/female 2,927)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 11,905/female 12,180)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,964/female 2,630) (2008 est.)

Lithuania
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 264,668/female 250,997)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,214,236/female 1,263,198)
65 years and over: 16% (male 197,498/female 374,608) (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 46,729/female 43,889)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 163,356/female 160,425)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 29,206/female 42,401) (2008 est.)

Macau
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 47,935/female 42,301)
15-64 years: 75.8% (male 193,571/female 220,108)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 19,340/female 22,419) (2008 est.)

Macedonia
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 207,954/female 193,428)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 719,708/female 708,033)
65 years and over: 11.3% (male 101,036/female 131,156) (2008 est.)

Madagascar
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 4,408,615/female 4,349,862)
15-64 years: 53.2% (male 5,298,805/female 5,371,764)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 275,087/female 338,418) (2008 est.)

Malawi
0-14 years: 46% (male 3,208,112/female 3,194,600)
15-64 years: 51.4% (male 3,592,073/female 3,563,840)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 159,450/female 213,756) (2008 est.)

Malaysia
0-14 years: 31.8% (male 4,135,013/female 3,898,761)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,026,755/female 7,965,332)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 548,970/female 699,302) (2008 est.)

Maldives
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 46,174/female 44,396)
15-64 years: 72.7% (male 172,279/female 108,152)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,510/female 7,414) (2008 est.)

Mali
0-14 years: 48.2% (male 3,004,003/female 2,937,138)
15-64 years: 48.7% (male 2,976,314/female 3,028,433)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 150,597/female 227,544) (2008 est.)

Malta
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 33,954/female 32,158)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 142,338/female 138,792)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 24,240/female 32,050) (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
0-14 years: 38.5% (male 12,404/female 11,946)
15-64 years: 58.6% (male 18,937/female 18,095)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 869/female 923) (2008 est.)

Mauritania
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 763,845/female 759,957)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 872,924/female 894,980)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 29,147/female 44,087) (2008 est.)

Mauritius
0-14 years: 23% (male 148,573/female 143,859)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 443,968/female 449,670)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 35,269/female 52,850) (2008 est.)

Mayotte
0-14 years: 45.5% (male 49,521/female 48,996)
15-64 years: 52.7% (male 61,267/female 52,641)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 1,971/female 1,910) (2008 est.)

Mexico
0-14 years: 29.6% (male 16,619,995/female 15,936,154)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 34,179,440/female 36,530,154)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 3,023,185/female 3,666,472) (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 0-14 years: 35.3% (male 19,344/female 18,687) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 33,142/female 33,389) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,320/female 1,783) (2008 est.)

Moldova
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 361,000/female 341,785)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male 1,528,080/female 1,622,620)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 174,448/female 296,517) (2008 est.)

Monaco
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,488/female 2,369)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,110/female 10,353)
65 years and over: 22.8% (male 3,048/female 4,428) (2008 est.)

Mongolia
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 433,835/female 416,549)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 1,013,215/female 1,015,221)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 51,093/female 66,168) (2008 est.)

Montserrat
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 738/female 675)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,575/female 1,716)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 245/female 130) (2008 est.)

Morocco
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 5,337,322/female 5,136,156)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 11,015,409/female 11,069,038)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 765,882/female 1,019,412) (2008 est.)

Mozambique
0-14 years: 44.5% (male 4,762,335/female 4,711,422)
15-64 years: 52.7% (male 5,472,184/female 5,736,154)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 251,026/female 351,580) (2008 est.)

Namibia
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 386,252/female 379,426)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 627,752/female 615,241)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 35,960/female 44,038) (2008 est.)

Nauru
0-14 years: 35.5% (male 2,492/female 2,393)
15-64 years: 62.5% (male 4,237/female 4,363)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 148/female 137) (2008 est.)

Nepal
0-14 years: 38% (male 5,792,042/female 5,427,370)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 8,832,488/female 8,345,724)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 542,192/female 579,298) (2008 est.)

Netherlands
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 1,496,348/female 1,427,297)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,705,003/female 5,583,787)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 1,040,932/female 1,391,946) (2008
est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0-14 years: 23.2% (male 26,749/female 25,467)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 73,319/female 78,842)
65 years and over: 9.3% (male 8,541/female 12,451) (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 31,376/female 30,064)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 74,064/female 73,369)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 7,377/female 8,574) (2008 est.)

New Zealand
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 446,883/female 424,240)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,390,669/female 1,385,686)
65 years and over: 12.6% (male 238,560/female 287,422) (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 1,019,281/female 981,903)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 1,792,398/female 1,803,133)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 82,840/female 106,291) (2008 est.)

Niger
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,174,834/female 3,057,003)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 3,450,393/female 3,267,496)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 159,945/female 163,008) (2008 est.)

Nigeria
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 31,171,949/female 29,806,204)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 41,243,003/female 39,611,565)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,152,318/female 2,270,267) (2008 est.)

Niue
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Norfolk Island
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2007 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
0-14 years: 18.4% (male 8,342/female 7,594)
15-64 years: 79.9% (male 27,996/female 41,245)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 740/female 699) (2008 est.)

Norway
0-14 years: 18.8% (male 446,146/female 426,166)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,559,750/female 1,516,217)
65 years and over: 15% (male 297,175/female 399,003) (2008 est.)

Oman
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 721,796/female 692,699)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,053,040/female 752,962)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 51,290/female 39,853) (2008 est.)

Pakistan
0-14 years: 37.8% (male 33,617,953/female 31,741,258)
15-64 years: 58% (male 51,292,535/female 48,921,023)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,408,749/female 3,818,533) (2008 est.)

Palau
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 2,797/female 2,637)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 7,864/female 6,779)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 482/female 534) (2008 est.)

Panama
0-14 years: 29.6% (male 499,254/female 479,242)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 1,066,915/female 1,043,499)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 102,937/female 117,832) (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 1,124,174/female 1,086,478)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 1,791,342/female 1,690,089)
65 years and over: 4% (male 111,023/female 128,663) (2008 est.)

Paraguay
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 1,283,311/female 1,240,769)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,988,256/female 1,968,869)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 161,811/female 188,290) (2008 est.)

Peru
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 4,409,227/female 4,253,836)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 9,501,597/female 9,381,139)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 770,389/female 864,711) (2008 est.)

Philippines
0-14 years: 35.5% (male 17,392,780/female 16,708,255)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 28,986,232/female 29,076,329)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,682,485/female 2,215,602) (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Poland
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,013,109/female 2,849,977)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 13,681,481/female 13,808,412)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,964,477/female 3,183,240) (2008
est.)

Portugal
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 912,995/female 835,715)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 3,514,905/female 3,555,097)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 764,443/female 1,093,755) (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 415,141/female 396,782)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,254,416/female 1,358,229)
65 years and over: 13.5% (male 229,727/female 303,833) (2008 est.)

Qatar
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 92,896/female 87,201)
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 451,127/female 182,330)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,545/female 4,690) (2008 est.)

Romania
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 1,778,864/female 1,687,659)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,718,125/female 7,791,102)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,337,915/female 1,933,197) (2008
est.)

Russia
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 10,577,858/female 10,033,254)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 48,187,807/female 52,045,102)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 6,162,400/female 13,695,673) (2008
est.)

Rwanda
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 2,143,479/female 2,124,588)
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 2,826,557/female 2,842,020)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 99,721/female 149,698) (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 716/female 690)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 2,754/female 2,618)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 381/female 442) (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 5,439/female 5,186)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 13,018/female 12,968)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,334/female 1,872) (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 20,614/female 19,559)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 50,897/female 54,140)
65 years and over: 9% (male 6,481/female 7,894) (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 806/female 772)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,370/female 2,301)
65 years and over: 11.3% (male 366/female 429) (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0-14 years: 25.1% (male 15,161/female 14,600) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 41,855/female 39,105) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 3,402/female 4,309) (2008 est.)

Samoa
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 41,834/female 40,343)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 64,402/female 58,257)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 5,481/female 6,766) (2008 est.)

San Marino
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,608/female 2,430)
15-64 years: 66% (male 9,464/female 10,304)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 2,229/female 2,938) (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0-14 years: 47.1% (male 49,196/female 47,941)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 49,326/female 52,324)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 3,350/female 4,041) (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
0-14 years: 38% (male 5,458,023/female 5,245,911)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,470,353/female 7,284,696)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 356,910/female 330,764) (2008 est.)

Senegal
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 2,717,257/female 2,668,602)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,524,683/female 3,552,643)
65 years and over: 3% (male 183,188/female 206,886) (2008 est.)

Seychelles
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 10,337/female 10,108)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 27,752/female 29,048)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,575/female 3,427) (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
0-14 years: 44.6% (male 1,377,981/female 1,429,993)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 1,573,990/female 1,708,840)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 94,359/female 109,611) (2008 est.)

Singapore
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 353,333/female 329,005)
15-64 years: 76.5% (male 1,717,357/female 1,809,462)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 177,378/female 221,632) (2008 est.)

Slovakia
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 448,083/female 427,643)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 1,947,112/female 1,961,788)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 250,787/female 419,994) (2008 est.)

Slovenia
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 140,686/female 132,778)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 709,689/female 697,862)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 127,313/female 199,383) (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
0-14 years: 40.1% (male 118,856/female 114,173)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 166,004/female 162,317)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 9,487/female 10,481) (2008 est.)

Somalia
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 2,143,758/female 2,132,869)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 2,525,562/female 2,516,879)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 100,655/female 138,943) (2008 est.)

South Africa
0-14 years: 29.2% (male 7,147,151/female 7,120,183)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 16,057,340/female 15,889,750)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 1,050,287/female 1,518,044) (2008 est.)

Spain
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 3,011,815/female 2,832,788)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 13,741,493/female 13,641,914)
65 years and over: 17.9% (male 3,031,597/female 4,231,444) (2008
est.)

Sri Lanka
0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,596,463/female 2,495,136)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,019,446/female 7,340,809)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 783,823/female 893,096) (2008 est.)

Sudan
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 8,451,576/female 8,093,609)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 11,407,233/female 11,275,685)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 518,822/female 471,530) (2008 est.)

Suriname
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 66,695/female 64,356)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 156,961/female 158,234)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,868/female 16,882) (2008 est.)

Svalbard
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Swaziland
0-14 years: 39.9% (male 226,947/female 222,922)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 306,560/female 331,406)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 15,594/female 25,385) (2008 est.)

Sweden
0-14 years: 16% (male 745,110/female 703,857)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,008,148/female 2,928,930)
65 years and over: 18.3% (male 729,500/female 929,844) (2008 est.)

Switzerland
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 623,213/female 577,430)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 2,605,044/female 2,562,354)
65 years and over: 16% (male 501,699/female 711,780) (2008 est.)

Syria
0-14 years: 36.2% (male 3,679,473/female 3,467,096)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 6,119,459/female 5,822,376)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 310,838/female 348,344) (2008 est.)

Taiwan
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 2,057,458/female 1,900,449)
15-64 years: 72.3% (male 8,362,038/female 8,204,834)
65 years and over: 10.5% (male 1,167,476/female 1,228,691) (2008
est.)

Tajikistan
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 1,270,289/female 1,226,954)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 2,203,720/female 2,244,660)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 113,156/female 153,105) (2008 est.)

Tanzania
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 8,763,471/female 8,719,198)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 10,638,666/female 10,947,190)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 502,368/female 642,269) (2008 est.)

Thailand
0-14 years: 21.2% (male 7,104,776/female 6,781,453)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 22,763,274/female 23,304,793)
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 2,516,721/female 3,022,281) (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 197,975/female 191,716)
15-64 years: 61.6% (male 347,573/female 334,908)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 17,578/female 19,027) (2008 est.)

Togo
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 1,226,320/female 1,218,182)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 1,588,354/female 1,666,274)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 63,508/female 96,035) (2008 est.)

Tokelau
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5%

Tonga
0-14 years: 33.7% (male 20,484/female 19,633)
15-64 years: 62% (male 36,699/female 37,108)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,135/female 2,950) (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
0-14 years: 19% (male 102,352/female 96,487)
15-64 years: 71.8% (male 396,352/female 356,080)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 42,998/female 53,097) (2008 est.)

Tunisia
0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,246,105/female 1,167,379)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 3,638,062/female 3,595,254)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 345,590/female 391,187) (2008 est.)

Turkey
0-14 years: 24.4% (male 8,937,515/female 8,608,375)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 25,030,793/female 24,253,312)
65 years and over: 7% (male 2,307,236/female 2,755,576) (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
0-14 years: 34.2% (male 902,811/female 868,428)
15-64 years: 61.5% (male 1,577,187/female 1,607,353)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 97,480/female 126,312) (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 3,497/female 3,374)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 7,640/female 6,929)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 435/female 477) (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 1,826/female 1,754)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,891/female 4,073)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 236/female 397) (2008 est.)

Uganda
0-14 years: 50% (male 7,903,935/female 7,789,792)
15-64 years: 47.8% (male 7,528,073/female 7,469,938)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 284,122/female 392,112) (2008 est.)

Ukraine
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 3,277,905/female 3,106,012)
15-64 years: 70% (male 15,443,818/female 16,767,931)
65 years and over: 16.1% (male 2,489,235/female 4,909,386) (2008
est.)

United Arab Emirates
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 484,102/female 462,405)
15-64 years: 78.6% (male 2,663,702/female 970,672)
65 years and over: 0.9% (male 26,244/female 14,274)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2008 est.)

United Kingdom
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 5,287,590/female 5,036,881)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,698,645/female 20,185,040)
65 years and over: 16% (male 4,186,561/female 5,549,195) (2008 est.)

United States
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 31,257,108/female 29,889,645)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 101,825,901/female 102,161,823)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 16,263,255/female 22,426,914) (2008
est.)

Uruguay
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 401,209/female 388,315)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,105,891/female 1,120,858)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,704/female 275,801) (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
0-14 years: 29% (male 4,047,918/female 3,870,346)
15-64 years: 66% (male 8,971,017/female 9,079,170)
65 years and over: 5% (male 588,498/female 788,077) (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 34,441/female 33,000)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 71,159/female 68,435)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 4,352/female 4,059) (2008 est.)

Venezuela
0-14 years: 31% (male 4,162,862/female 4,034,044)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 8,299,266/female 8,562,290)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 602,725/female 753,628) (2008 est.)

Vietnam
0-14 years: 25.6% (male 11,418,642/female 10,598,184)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 29,341,216/female 29,777,696)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,925,609/female 3,055,212) (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
0-14 years: 21% (male 11,698/female 11,390)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,035/female 38,670)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 6,312/female 7,735) (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
0-14 years: (male 2,215/female 1,999)
15-64 years: (male 4,982/female 4,996)
65 years and over: (male 465/female 580)

West Bank
0-14 years: 38% (male 469,754/female 445,999)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 719,267/female 684,790)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 36,606/female 51,265) (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
0-14 years: 45.1% (male 90,306/female 87,498)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 101,730/female 105,313)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,786/female 5,198) (2008 est.)

World
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 944,665,142/female 887,471,328)
15-64 years: 65.1%
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 222,808,372/female 284,647,297) (2008
est.)

Yemen
0-14 years: 46.2% (male 5,415,385/female 5,218,237)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 5,996,202/female 5,795,779)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 284,195/female 303,578) (2008 est.)

Zambia
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 2,659,572/female 2,634,379)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 3,045,536/female 3,053,465)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 115,662/female 160,920) (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
0-14 years: 43.9% (male 2,514,135/female 2,465,715)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 2,671,164/female 3,260,457)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 194,854/female 243,786) (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2011 Geographic coordinates

Afghanistan
33 00 N, 65 00 E

Akrotiri
34 37 N, 32 58 E

Albania
41 00 N, 20 00 E

Algeria
28 00 N, 3 00 E

American Samoa
14 20 S, 170 00 W

Andorra
42 30 N, 1 30 E

Angola
12 30 S, 18 30 E

Anguilla
18 15 N, 63 10 W

Antarctica
90 00 S, 0 00 E

Antigua and Barbuda
17 03 N, 61 48 W

Arctic Ocean
90 00 N, 0 00 E

Argentina
34 00 S, 64 00 W

Armenia
40 00 N, 45 00 E

Aruba
12 30 N, 69 58 W

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
12 14 S, 123 05 E

Atlantic Ocean
0 00 N, 25 00 W

Australia
27 00 S, 133 00 E

Austria
47 20 N, 13 20 E

Azerbaijan
40 30 N, 47 30 E

Bahamas, The
24 15 N, 76 00 W

Bahrain
26 00 N, 50 33 E

Bangladesh
24 00 N, 90 00 E

Barbados
13 10 N, 59 32 W

Belarus
53 00 N, 28 00 E

Belgium
50 50 N, 4 00 E

Belize
17 15 N, 88 45 W

Benin
9 30 N, 2 15 E

Bermuda
32 20 N, 64 45 W

Bhutan
27 30 N, 90 30 E

Bolivia
17 00 S, 65 00 W

Bosnia and Herzegovina
44 00 N, 18 00 E

Botswana
22 00 S, 24 00 E

Bouvet Island
54 26 S, 3 24 E

Brazil
10 00 S, 55 00 W

British Indian Ocean Territory 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E

British Virgin Islands
18 30 N, 64 30 W

Brunei
4 30 N, 114 40 E

Bulgaria
43 00 N, 25 00 E

Burkina Faso
13 00 N, 2 00 W

Burma
22 00 N, 98 00 E

Burundi
3 30 S, 30 00 E

Cambodia
13 00 N, 105 00 E

Cameroon
6 00 N, 12 00 E

Canada
60 00 N, 95 00 W

Cape Verde
16 00 N, 24 00 W

Cayman Islands
19 30 N, 80 30 W

Central African Republic
7 00 N, 21 00 E

Chad
15 00 N, 19 00 E

Chile
30 00 S, 71 00 W

China
35 00 N, 105 00 E

Christmas Island
10 30 S, 105 40 E

Clipperton Island
10 17 N, 109 13 W

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
12 30 S, 96 50 E

Colombia
4 00 N, 72 00 W

Comoros
12 10 S, 44 15 E

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0 00 N, 25 00 E

Congo, Republic of the
1 00 S, 15 00 E

Cook Islands
21 14 S, 159 46 W

Coral Sea Islands
18 00 S, 152 00 E

Costa Rica
10 00 N, 84 00 W

Cote d'Ivoire
8 00 N, 5 00 W

Croatia
45 10 N, 15 30 E

Cuba
21 30 N, 80 00 W

Cyprus
35 00 N, 33 00 E

Czech Republic
49 45 N, 15 30 E

Denmark
56 00 N, 10 00 E

Dhekelia
34 59 N, 33 45 E

Djibouti
11 30 N, 43 00 E

Dominica
15 25 N, 61 20 W

Dominican Republic
19 00 N, 70 40 W

Ecuador
2 00 S, 77 30 W

Egypt
27 00 N, 30 00 E

El Salvador
13 50 N, 88 55 W

Equatorial Guinea
2 00 N, 10 00 E

Eritrea
15 00 N, 39 00 E

Estonia
59 00 N, 26 00 E

Ethiopia
8 00 N, 38 00 E

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
51 45 S, 59 00 W

Faroe Islands
62 00 N, 7 00 W

Fiji
18 00 S, 175 00 E

Finland
64 00 N, 26 00 E

France
metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

French Polynesia
15 00 S, 140 00 W

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E
Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E
Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E

Gabon
1 00 S, 11 45 E

Gambia, The
13 28 N, 16 34 W

Gaza Strip
31 25 N, 34 20 E

Georgia
42 00 N, 43 30 E

Germany
51 00 N, 9 00 E

Ghana
8 00 N, 2 00 W

Gibraltar
36 08 N, 5 21 W

Greece
39 00 N, 22 00 E

Greenland
72 00 N, 40 00 W

Grenada
12 07 N, 61 40 W

Guam
13 28 N, 144 47 E

Guatemala
15 30 N, 90 15 W

Guernsey
49 28 N, 2 35 W

Guinea
11 00 N, 10 00 W

Guinea-Bissau
12 00 N, 15 00 W

Guyana
5 00 N, 59 00 W

Haiti
19 00 N, 72 25 W

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
53 06 S, 72 31 E

Holy See (Vatican City)
41 54 N, 12 27 E

Honduras
15 00 N, 86 30 W

Hong Kong
22 15 N, 114 10 E

Hungary
47 00 N, 20 00 E

Iceland
65 00 N, 18 00 W

India
20 00 N, 77 00 E

Indian Ocean
20 00 S, 80 00 E

Indonesia
5 00 S, 120 00 E

Iran
32 00 N, 53 00 E

Iraq
33 00 N, 44 00 E

Ireland
53 00 N, 8 00 W

Isle of Man
54 15 N, 4 30 W

Israel
31 30 N, 34 45 E

Italy
42 50 N, 12 50 E

Jamaica
18 15 N, 77 30 W

Jan Mayen
71 00 N, 8 00 W

Japan
36 00 N, 138 00 E

Jersey
49 15 N, 2 10 W

Jordan
31 00 N, 36 00 E

Kazakhstan
48 00 N, 68 00 E

Kenya
1 00 N, 38 00 E

Kiribati
1 25 N, 173 00 E

Korea, North
40 00 N, 127 00 E

Korea, South
37 00 N, 127 30 E

Kosovo
42 35 N, 21 00 E

Kuwait
29 30 N, 45 45 E

Kyrgyzstan
41 00 N, 75 00 E

Laos
18 00 N, 105 00 E

Latvia
57 00 N, 25 00 E

Lebanon
33 50 N, 35 50 E

Lesotho
29 30 S, 28 30 E

Liberia
6 30 N, 9 30 W

Libya
25 00 N, 17 00 E

Liechtenstein
47 16 N, 9 32 E

Lithuania
56 00 N, 24 00 E

Luxembourg
49 45 N, 6 10 E

Macau
22 10 N, 113 33 E

Macedonia
41 50 N, 22 00 E

Madagascar
20 00 S, 47 00 E

Malawi
13 30 S, 34 00 E

Malaysia
2 30 N, 112 30 E

Maldives
3 15 N, 73 00 E

Mali
17 00 N, 4 00 W

Malta
35 50 N, 14 35 E

Marshall Islands
9 00 N, 168 00 E

Mauritania
20 00 N, 12 00 W

Mauritius
20 17 S, 57 33 E

Mayotte
12 50 S, 45 10 E

Mexico
23 00 N, 102 00 W

Micronesia, Federated States of
6 55 N, 158 15 E

Moldova
47 00 N, 29 00 E

Monaco
43 44 N, 7 24 E

Mongolia
46 00 N, 105 00 E

Montenegro
42 30 N, 19 18 E

Montserrat
16 45 N, 62 12 W

Morocco
32 00 N, 5 00 W

Mozambique
18 15 S, 35 00 E

Namibia
22 00 S, 17 00 E

Nauru
0 32 S, 166 55 E

Navassa Island
18 25 N, 75 02 W

Nepal
28 00 N, 84 00 E

Netherlands
52 30 N, 5 45 E

Netherlands Antilles
Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 W
Curacao: 12 10 N, 69 00 W
Saba: 17 38 N, 63 14 W
Sint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 W
Sint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 W

New Caledonia
21 30 S, 165 30 E

New Zealand
41 00 S, 174 00 E

Nicaragua
13 00 N, 85 00 W

Niger
16 00 N, 8 00 E

Nigeria
10 00 N, 8 00 E

Niue
19 02 S, 169 52 W

Norfolk Island
29 02 S, 167 57 E

Northern Mariana Islands
15 12 N, 145 45 E

Norway
62 00 N, 10 00 E

Oman
21 00 N, 57 00 E

Pacific Ocean
0 00 N, 160 00 W

Pakistan
30 00 N, 70 00 E

Palau
7 30 N, 134 30 E

Panama
9 00 N, 80 00 W

Papua New Guinea
6 00 S, 147 00 E

Paracel Islands
16 30 N, 112 00 E

Paraguay
23 00 S, 58 00 W

Peru
10 00 S, 76 00 W

Philippines
13 00 N, 122 00 E

Pitcairn Islands
25 04 S, 130 06 W

Poland
52 00 N, 20 00 E

Portugal
39 30 N, 8 00 W

Puerto Rico
18 15 N, 66 30 W

Qatar
25 30 N, 51 15 E

Romania
46 00 N, 25 00 E

Russia
60 00 N, 100 00 E

Rwanda
2 00 S, 30 00 E

Saint Barthelemy
17 90 N, 62 85 W

Saint Helena
Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W
Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W
Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W

Saint Kitts and Nevis
17 20 N, 62 45 W

Saint Lucia
13 53 N, 60 58 W

Saint Martin
18 05 N, 63 57 W

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
46 50 N, 56 20 W

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
13 15 N, 61 12 W

Samoa
13 35 S, 172 20 W

San Marino
43 46 N, 12 25 E

Sao Tome and Principe
1 00 N, 7 00 E

Saudi Arabia
25 00 N, 45 00 E

Senegal
14 00 N, 14 00 W

Serbia
44 00 N, 21 00 E

Seychelles
4 35 S, 55 40 E

Sierra Leone
8 30 N, 11 30 W

Singapore
1 22 N, 103 48 E

Slovakia
48 40 N, 19 30 E

Slovenia
46 07 N, 14 49 E

Solomon Islands
8 00 S, 159 00 E

Somalia
10 00 N, 49 00 E

South Africa
29 00 S, 24 00 E

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
54 30 S, 37 00 W

Southern Ocean
60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean
has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of
water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of
water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of
Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude

Spain
40 00 N, 4 00 W

Spratly Islands
8 38 N, 111 55 E

Sri Lanka
7 00 N, 81 00 E

Sudan
15 00 N, 30 00 E

Suriname
4 00 N, 56 00 W

Svalbard
78 00 N, 20 00 E

Swaziland
26 30 S, 31 30 E

Sweden
62 00 N, 15 00 E

Switzerland
47 00 N, 8 00 E

Syria
35 00 N, 38 00 E

Taiwan
23 30 N, 121 00 E

Tajikistan
39 00 N, 71 00 E

Tanzania
6 00 S, 35 00 E

Thailand
15 00 N, 100 00 E

Timor-Leste
8 50 S, 125 55 E

Togo
8 00 N, 1 10 E

Tokelau
9 00 S, 172 00 W

Tonga
20 00 S, 175 00 W

Trinidad and Tobago
11 00 N, 61 00 W

Tunisia
34 00 N, 9 00 E

Turkey
39 00 N, 35 00 E

Turkmenistan
40 00 N, 60 00 E

Turks and Caicos Islands
21 45 N, 71 35 W

Tuvalu
8 00 S, 178 00 E

Uganda
1 00 N, 32 00 E

Ukraine
49 00 N, 32 00 E

United Arab Emirates
24 00 N, 54 00 E

United Kingdom
54 00 N, 2 00 W

United States
38 00 N, 97 00 W

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker Island: 0 13 N,
176 28 W
Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W
Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W
Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W
Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W

Uruguay
33 00 S, 56 00 W

Uzbekistan
41 00 N, 64 00 E

Vanuatu
16 00 S, 167 00 E

Venezuela
8 00 N, 66 00 W

Vietnam
16 00 N, 106 00 E

Virgin Islands
18 20 N, 64 50 W

Wake Island
19 17 N, 166 39 E

Wallis and Futuna
13 18 S, 176 12 W

West Bank
32 00 N, 35 15 E

Western Sahara
24 30 N, 13 00 W

Yemen
15 00 N, 48 00 E

Zambia
15 00 S, 30 00 E

Zimbabwe
20 00 S, 30 00 E

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2012 GDP - composition by sector (%)

Afghanistan agriculture: 38% industry: 24% services: 38% note: data exclude opium production (2005 est.)

Albania
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 20.5%
services: 58.3% (2007 est.)

Algeria
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 61.5%
services: 30.3% (2007 est.)

American Samoa
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Andorra
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Angola
agriculture: 9.5%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2007 est.)

Anguilla
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 22%
services: 74.3% (2002 est.)

Argentina
agriculture: 9.5%
industry: 34%
services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

Armenia
agriculture: 17.2%
industry: 36.4%
services: 46.4% (2007 est.)

Aruba
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 66.3% (2002 est.)

Australia
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26.4%
services: 70.6% (2007 est.)

Austria
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 30.3%
services: 68% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 63.3%
services: 30.5% (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% (2001 est.)

Bahrain
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 43.6%
services: 56% (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
agriculture: 19%
industry: 28.7%
services: 52.3% (2007 est.)

Barbados
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)

Belarus
agriculture: 8.7%
industry: 40.6%
services: 50.6% (2007 est.)

Belgium
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.4% (2007 est.)

Belize
agriculture: 21.3%
industry: 13.7%
services: 65% (2007 est.)

Benin
agriculture: 33.2%
industry: 14.5%
services: 52.3% (2007 est.)

Bermuda
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)

Bhutan
agriculture: 22.3%
industry: 37.9%
services: 39.8% (2006)

Bolivia
agriculture: 14.5%
industry: 30.5%
services: 55% (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 23.9%
services: 66% (2006 est.)

Botswana
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 51.5% (including 36% mining)
services: 46.9% (2006 est.)

Brazil
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 28.7%
services: 65.8% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)

Brunei
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 71.6%
services: 27.5% (2005 est.)

Bulgaria
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 32.3%
services: 61.5% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
agriculture: 29.7%
industry: 19.4%
services: 50.9% (2007 est.)

Burma
agriculture: 42.4%
industry: 18.9%
services: 38.7% (2007 est.)

Burundi
agriculture: 33.7%
industry: 20.9%
services: 45.4% (2007 est.)

Cambodia
agriculture: 31%
industry: 26%
services: 43% (2007 est.)

Cameroon
agriculture: 43.9%
industry: 15.8%
services: 40.3% (2007 est.)

Canada
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 28.8%
services: 69.1% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 16.7%
services: 74% (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Central African Republic
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)

Chad
agriculture: 21.5%
industry: 47.8%
services: 30.6% (2007 est.)

Chile
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 51.2%
services: 44% (2007 est.)

China
agriculture: 11.3%
industry: 48.6%
services: 40.1% (2007 est.)

Colombia
agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 36%
services: 52.5% (2007 est.)

Comoros
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 57.1%
services: 37.3% (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
agriculture: 15.1%
industry: 9.6%
services: 75.3% (2004)

Costa Rica
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 29.4%
services: 62.1% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
agriculture: 28.1%
industry: 21.5%
services: 50.5% (2007 est.)

Croatia
agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 31.7%
services: 61.2% (2007 est.)

Cuba
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 25%
services: 69.8% (2007 est.)

Cyprus
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 19.2%
services: 78% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 38.7%
services: 58.6% (2007 est.)

Denmark
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 25.7%
services: 73% (2007 est.)

Djibouti
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 14.9%
services: 81.9% (2006)

Dominica
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 49.5% (2004 est.)

Dominican Republic
agriculture: 11.7%
industry: 23.8%
services: 64.4% (2007 est.)

Ecuador
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 35.1%
services: 58.2% (2007 est.)

Egypt
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 38.1%
services: 48% (2007 est.)

El Salvador
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 30.8%
services: 58.4% (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 92.2%
services: 4.8% (2007 est.)

Eritrea
agriculture: 17.5%
industry: 23.2%
services: 59.3% (2007 est.)

Estonia
agriculture: 3%
industry: 28.5%
services: 68.5% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
agriculture: 47%
industry: 13.2%
services: 39.8% (2007 est.)

European Union
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 27.1%
services: 70.7% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
agriculture: 95%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Faroe Islands
agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)

Fiji
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 13.5%
services: 77.6% (2004 est.)

Finland
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 32.6%
services: 64.3% (2007 est.)

France
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 20.6%
services: 77.2% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 19%
services: 77.8% (2005)

Gabon
agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 58%
services: 35.9% (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
agriculture: 32.8%
industry: 8.7%
services: 58.5% (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
agriculture: 8%
industry: 13%
services: 79% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Georgia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 28.7%
services: 58.3% (2007 est.)

Germany
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 30.1%
services: 69% (2007 est.)

Ghana
agriculture: 37.3%
industry: 25.3%
services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Greece
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 24.5%
services: 71.9% (2007 est.)

Greenland
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Grenada
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 18%
services: 76.6% (2003)

Guam
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Guatemala
agriculture: 13.3%
industry: 25.8%
services: 60.9% (2007 est.)

Guernsey
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)

Guinea
agriculture: 23.8%
industry: 38.6%
services: 37.6% (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)

Guyana
agriculture: 31.1%
industry: 21.7%
services: 47.1% (2007 est.)

Haiti
agriculture: 28%
industry: 20%
services: 52% (2004 est.)

Honduras
agriculture: 13.4%
industry: 28.1%
services: 58.6% (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 8.1%
services: 91.7% (2007 est.)

Hungary
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 31.5%
services: 65.8% (2007 est.)

Iceland
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 25.7%
services: 69.1% (2007 est.)

India
agriculture: 17.8%
industry: 29.4%
services: 52.8% (2007 est.)

Indonesia
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 46.7%
services: 39.4% (2007 est.)

Iran
agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 42.9%
services: 46.5% (2007 est.)

Iraq
agriculture: 5%
industry: 68%
services: 27% (2006 est.)

Ireland
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)

Isle of Man
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)

Israel
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 30.2%
services: 67.1% (2007 est.)

Italy
agriculture: 2%
industry: 27%
services: 70.9% (2007 est.)

Jamaica
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 32.7%
services: 62.2% (2007 est.)

Japan
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 26.5%
services: 72% (2007 est.)

Jersey
agriculture: 1%
industry: 2%
services: 97% (2005)

Jordan
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 10.3%
services: 86.2% (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 39.4%
services: 54.8% (2007 est.)

Kenya
agriculture: 23.8%
industry: 16.7%
services: 59.5% (2007 est.)

Kiribati
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 24.2%
services: 66.8% (2004)

Korea, North
agriculture: 23.3%
industry: 43.1%
services: 33.6% (2002 est.)

Korea, South
agriculture: 3%
industry: 39.4%
services: 57.6% (2007 est.)

Kosovo
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2007 est.)

Kuwait
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 52.4%
services: 47.3% (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
agriculture: 33.6%
industry: 18.9%
services: 47.5% (2007 est.)

Laos
agriculture: 40.9%
industry: 33.2%
services: 25.9% (2007 est.)

Latvia
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 22%
services: 74.7% (2007 est.)

Lebanon
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 19.5%
services: 75.4% (2007 est.)

Lesotho
agriculture: 15.2%
industry: 45%
services: 39.7% (2007 est.)

Liberia
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Libya
agriculture: 2%
industry: 83.1%
services: 14.8% (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
agriculture: 6%
industry: 39%
services: 55% (2001)

Lithuania
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 33.3%
services: 61.4% (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2005 est.)

Macau
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 3.9%
services: 96% (2006 est.)

Macedonia
agriculture: 11.9%
industry: 28.2%
services: 59.9% (2007 est.)

Madagascar
agriculture: 26.8%
industry: 15.8%
services: 57.4% (2007 est.)

Malawi
agriculture: 37.8%
industry: 18.1%
services: 44.1% (2007 est.)

Malaysia
agriculture: 9.9%
industry: 45.3%
services: 44.8% (2007 est.)

Maldives
agriculture: 16%
industry: 7%
services: 77% (2006 est.)

Mali
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)

Malta
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 22.3%
services: 74.9% (2003 est.)

Marshall Islands
agriculture: 31.7%
industry: 14.9%
services: 53.4% (2004 est.)

Mauritania
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)

Mauritius
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 25%
services: 70.1% (2007 est.)

Mayotte
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Mexico
agriculture: 4%
industry: 26.6%
services: 69.5% (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)

Moldova
agriculture: 17.8%
industry: 21.7%
services: 60.5% (2007 est.)

Monaco
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)

Mongolia
agriculture: 18.8%
industry: 40.4%
services: 40.8% (2006)

Montenegro
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Montserrat
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)

Morocco
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 38.4%
services: 47.8% (2007 est.)

Mozambique
agriculture: 23%
industry: 30.1%
services: 46.9% (2007 est.)

Namibia
agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 35.4%
services: 53.9% (2007 est.)

Nauru
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Nepal
agriculture: 38%
industry: 20%
services: 42% (FY05/06 est.)

Netherlands
agriculture: 2%
industry: 24.4%
services: 73.6% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)

New Caledonia
agriculture: 15%
industry: 8.8%
services: 76.2% (2003)

New Zealand
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 26.2%
services: 69.3% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
agriculture: 16.9%
industry: 25.8%
services: 57.2% (2007 est.)

Niger
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)

Nigeria
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 52.6%
services: 29.8% (2007 est.)

Niue
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 49.5% (2003)

Northern Mariana Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Norway
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 41.9%
services: 55.7% (2007 est.)

Oman
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 38.2%
services: 59.6% (2007 est.)

Pakistan
agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 26.6%
services: 52.8% (2007 est.)

Palau
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 12%
services: 81.8% (2003)

Panama
agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 16.4%
services: 77% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
agriculture: 34%
industry: 37.3%
services: 28.7% (2007 est.)

Paraguay
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 17.6%
services: 59.7% (2007 est.)

Peru
agriculture: 8.4%
industry: 25.6%
services: 66% (2007 est.)

Philippines
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 31.7%
services: 54.5% (2007 est.)

Poland
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 31.6%
services: 64.4% (2007 est.)

Portugal
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 25.4%
services: 66.4% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.)

Qatar
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 77.8%
services: 22.1% (2007 est.)

Romania
agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 35.6%
services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

Russia
agriculture: 4.7%
industry: 39.1%
services: 56.2% (2007 est.)

Rwanda
agriculture: 36.9%
industry: 21.7%
services: 41.4% (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)

Saint Lucia
agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)

Saint Martin
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)

Samoa
agriculture: 11.4%
industry: 58.4%
services: 30.2% (2004 est.)

San Marino
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Sao Tome and Principe
agriculture: 14.9%
industry: 14%
services: 71% (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
agriculture: 3%
industry: 63.7%
services: 33.3% (2007 est.)

Senegal
agriculture: 16%
industry: 19.4%
services: 64.6% (2007 est.)

Serbia
agriculture: 12.3%
industry: 24.2%
services: 63.5% (2007 est.)

Seychelles
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 28.3%
services: 69.6% (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
agriculture: 49%
industry: 31%
services: 21% (2001 est.)

Singapore
agriculture: 0%
industry: 31.2%
services: 68.8% (2007 est.)

Slovakia
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 33.5%
services: 63.9% (2007 est.)

Slovenia
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 34.4%
services: 63.5% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2000 est.)

Somalia
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)

South Africa
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 31.3%
services: 65.5% (2007 est.)

Spain
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 30.2%
services: 66.1% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
agriculture: 11.7%
industry: 29.9%
services: 58.4% (2007 est.)

Sudan
agriculture: 32%
industry: 32.8%
services: 35.2% (2007 est.)

Suriname
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 24.4%
services: 64.8% (2005 est.)

Swaziland
agriculture: 11.8%
industry: 45.7%
services: 42.5% (2007 est.)

Sweden
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 28.8%
services: 69.7% (2007 est.)

Switzerland
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

Syria
agriculture: 24%
industry: 27.9%
services: 48.2% (2007 est.)

Taiwan
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 27.5%
services: 71.1% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
agriculture: 23.8%
industry: 30.4%
services: 45.8% (2007 est.)

Tanzania
agriculture: 42.5%
industry: 18.9%
services: 38.5% (2007 est.)

Thailand
agriculture: 11.4%
industry: 43.8%
services: 44.8% (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 12.8%
services: 55% (2005)

Togo
agriculture: 40%
industry: 25%
services: 35% (2003 est.)

Tokelau
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Tonga
agriculture: 25%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 62%
services: 37.5% (2007 est.)

Tunisia
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 25.7%
services: 62.8% (2007 est.)

Turkey
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 28.3%
services: 62.8% (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 40.8%
services: 47.7% (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Tuvalu
agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 27.2%
services: 56.2% (2002)

Uganda
agriculture: 30.2%
industry: 24.7%
services: 45.1% (2007 est.)

Ukraine
agriculture: 9%
industry: 32.2%
services: 58.8% (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 60.6%
services: 37.6% (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 23.4%
services: 75.7% (2007 est.)

United States
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 19.8%
services: 79% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 32%
services: 57.9% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
agriculture: 29.4%
industry: 33.1%
services: 37.5% (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Venezuela
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 38.4%
services: 57.8% (2007 est.)

Vietnam
agriculture: 19.5%
industry: 42.3%
services: 38.2% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

West Bank
agriculture: 8%
industry: 13%
services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 40%

World
agriculture: 4%
industry: 32%
services: 64% (2007 est.)

Yemen
agriculture: 12.4%
industry: 40.9%
services: 46.7% (2007 est.)

Zambia
agriculture: 17.4%
industry: 26.1%
services: 56.5% (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
agriculture: 18.1%
industry: 22.6%
services: 59.3% (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2013 Radio broadcast stations

Afghanistan
AM 21, FM 5, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashto, Dari
(Afghan Persian), Urdu, and English) (2006)

Akrotiri
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting
Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri,
Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

Albania
AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005)

Algeria
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

American Samoa
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Andorra
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Angola
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)

Anguilla
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Antarctica
FM 2, shortwave 1 (information for US bases only); note -
many research stations have a local FM radio station (2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Argentina
AM 260 (includes 10 inactive stations), FM (probably more
than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)

Armenia
AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)

Aruba
AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Australia
AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Austria
AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1
(2001)

Azerbaijan
AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

Bahamas, The
AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2006)

Bahrain
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Bangladesh
AM 15, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)

Barbados
AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Belarus
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)

Belgium
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)

Belize
AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)

Benin
AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)

Bermuda
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Bhutan
AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2007)

Bolivia
AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)

Botswana
AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Brazil
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated
with AM stations) (1999)

British Indian Ocean Territory
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

British Virgin Islands
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Brunei
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies),
shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station
transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)

Bulgaria
AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Burkina Faso
AM 2, FM 26, shortwave 3

Burma
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 3 (2007)

Burundi
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Cambodia
AM 2, FM 17, shortwave NA (2003)

Cameroon
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2001)

Canada
AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Cape Verde
AM 0, FM 22 (plus 12 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2001)

Cayman Islands
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Central African Republic
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)

Chad
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2001)

Chile
AM 180 (8 inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (1 inactive) (1998)

China
AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)

Christmas Island
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)

Colombia
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Comoros
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Congo, Republic of the
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Cook Islands
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Costa Rica
AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Cote d'Ivoire
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)

Croatia
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Cuba
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Cyprus
area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1
(2004)

Czech Republic
AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)

Denmark
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Dhekelia
AM NA, FM 1 (located in Akrotiri), shortwave NA (British
Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2
service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)

Djibouti
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Dominica
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2003)

Dominican Republic
AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Ecuador
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Egypt
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

El Salvador
AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)

Equatorial Guinea
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)

Eritrea
AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)

Estonia
AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Ethiopia
AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)

European Union
AM 930, FM 13,655, shortwave 71 (1998); note - sum of
individual country radio broadcast stations; there is also a
European-wide station (Euroradio)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (British
Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2
service) (2006)

Faroe Islands
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Fiji
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Finland
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

France
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and
includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

French Polynesia
AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Gabon
AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Gambia, The
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Gaza Strip
AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 0 (2008)

Georgia
AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Germany
AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)

Ghana
AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)

Gibraltar
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Greece
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Greenland
AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Grenada
AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Guam
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2005)

Guatemala
AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Guernsey
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Guinea
AM 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0
(2001)

Guyana
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Haiti
AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Holy See (Vatican City)
AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)

Honduras
AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)

Hong Kong
AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)

Hungary
AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)

Iceland
AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

India
AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)

Indonesia
AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)

Iran
AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)

Iraq
after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are
approximately 80 radio stations (types NA) on the air inside Iraq
(2004)

Ireland
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Isle of Man
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Israel
AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)

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

Jamaica
AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Jan Mayen
NA; note - there is one radio and meteorological station
(1998)

Japan
AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters),
shortwave 21 (2001)

Jersey
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Jordan
FM 31 (2007)

Kazakhstan
AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)

Kenya
AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Kiribati
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (may be inactive) (2002)

Korea, North
AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central
Broadcasting Station; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable
radio station wired throughout the country that is a significant
source of information for the average North Korean citizen; it is
wired into most residences and workplaces and carries news and
commentary), FM 14, shortwave 14 (2006)

Korea, South
AM 61, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2005)

Kuwait
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Kyrgyzstan
AM 3 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 23, shortwave NA
(2007)

Laos
AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)

Latvia
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Lebanon
AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)

Lesotho
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Liberia
AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2007)

Libya
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001)

Liechtenstein
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Lithuania
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Luxembourg
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Macau
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Macedonia
AM 29, FM 63, shortwave 0 (2007)

Madagascar
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9,
shortwave 6 (2001)

Malawi
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one
shortwave station on standby) (2001)

Malaysia
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)

Maldives
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Mali
AM 1, FM 230 (27 regional and government stations, and 203
private stations), shortwave 1 (2001)

Malta
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Marshall Islands
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (additionally, the US Armed
Forces Radio and Television Services (Central Pacific Network)
operate one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein) (2005)

Mauritania
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Mauritius
AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)

Mayotte
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)

Mexico
AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)

Micronesia, Federated States of
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Moldova
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Monaco
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Mongolia
AM 7, FM 115 (includes 20 National radio broadcaster
repeaters), shortwave 4 (2006)

Montenegro
31 (station types NA) (2004)

Montserrat
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Morocco
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Mozambique
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Namibia
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Nauru
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Nepal
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2000)

Netherlands
AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2003)

New Caledonia
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

New Zealand
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Nicaragua
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Niger
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Nigeria
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Niue
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Norfolk Island
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Northern Mariana Islands
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)

Norway
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Oman
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Pakistan
AM 31, FM 68, shortwave NA (2006)

Palau
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Panama
AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Papua New Guinea
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Paraguay
AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (2006)

Peru
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Philippines
AM 381, FM 628, shortwave 4 (each shortwave station
operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target
audience) (2007)

Pitcairn Islands
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (15 Ham radio operators
(VP6)) (2004)

Poland
AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Portugal
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Puerto Rico
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2005)

Qatar
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Romania
698 (frequency type NA) (2006)

Russia
AM 323, FM 1,500 est., shortwave 62 (2004)

Rwanda
AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a
system of repeaters, three international FM programs include the
BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)

Saint Helena
Saint Helena: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Ascension: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2003)

Saint Lucia
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Saint Martin
FM 3 (2007)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Samoa
AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

San Marino
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Sao Tome and Principe
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)

Saudi Arabia
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Senegal
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Serbia
153 (station types NA) (2001)

Seychelles
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001)

Sierra Leone
AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2001)

Singapore
AM 0, FM 17, shortwave 2 (2003)

Slovakia
AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Slovenia
AM 10, FM 230, shortwave 0 (2006)

Solomon Islands
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Somalia
AM 0, FM 11 (also 1 station each in Puntland and
Somaliland), shortwave 1 (in Mogadishu) (2001)

South Africa
AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
0 (2003)

Spain
AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)

Sri Lanka
AM 15, FM 52, shortwave 4 (2007)

Sudan
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Suriname
AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Svalbard
AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Swaziland
AM 3, FM 2 (plus 4 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2004)

Sweden
AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)

Switzerland
AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 2
(1998)

Syria
AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Taiwan
AM 140, FM 229, shortwave 49

Tajikistan
AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)

Tanzania
AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Thailand
AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007)

Timor-Leste
at least 21 (Timor-Leste has one national public
broadcaster and 20 community and church radio stations - frequency
type NA)

Togo
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)

Tokelau
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides
service to all islands) (2002)

Tonga
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Trinidad and Tobago
AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2001)

Tunisia
AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)

Turkey
AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)

Turkmenistan
AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Turks and Caicos Islands
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Tuvalu
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Uganda
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Ukraine
524 (station types NA) (2006)

United Arab Emirates
AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

United Kingdom
AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)

United States
AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)

Uruguay
AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Uzbekistan
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Vanuatu
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Venezuela
AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Vietnam
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Virgin Islands
AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)

Wake Island
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (Armed Forces Radio/Television
Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (2005)

Wallis and Futuna
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

West Bank
AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008)

Western Sahara
AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

World
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Yemen
AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Zambia
AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Zimbabwe
AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2015 Television broadcast stations

Afghanistan
at least 7 (1 government-run central television station
in Kabul and regional stations in 6 of the 34 provinces) (2006)

Akrotiri
0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia)
(2006)

Albania
65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005)

Algeria
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

American Samoa
1 (2006)

Andorra
0 (1997)

Angola
6 (2000)

Anguilla
1 (1997)

Antarctica
1 (cable system with 6 channels; American Forces
Antarctic Network-McMurdo - information for US bases only) (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda
2 (1997)

Argentina
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)

Armenia
48 (private television stations alongside 2 public networks;
major Russian channels widely available) (2006)

Aruba
1 (1997)

Australia
104 (1997)

Austria
10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)

Azerbaijan
2 (1997)

Bahamas, The
2 (2006)

Bahrain
4 (1997)

Bangladesh
15 (1999)

Barbados
1 (plus 2 cable channels) (2004)

Belarus
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)

Belgium
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Belize
5 (2006)

Benin
6 (2007)

Bermuda
3 (2005)

Bhutan
1 (2007)

Bolivia
48 (1997)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)

Botswana
2 (1 state-owned, 1 private)

Brazil
138 (1997)

British Indian Ocean Territory
1 (1997)

British Virgin Islands
1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)

Brunei
4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription
service) (2006)

Bulgaria
39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)

Burkina Faso
3 (1 national, 2 private)

Burma
4 (2008)

Burundi
1 (2001)

Cambodia
9 (including 2 TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese
broadcasts); excludes 18 regional relay stations (2006)

Cameroon
1 (2001)

Canada
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Cape Verde
1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001)

Cayman Islands
4 with cable system (2004)

Central African Republic
1 (2001)

Chad
1 (2001)

Chile
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

China
3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television,
31 are provincial TV stations, and nearly 3,000 are local city
stations) (1997)

Christmas Island 0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
4 (2007)

Colombia
60 (1997)

Comoros
NA

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
4 (2001)

Congo, Republic of the
1 (2001)

Cook Islands
1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)

Costa Rica
20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Cote d'Ivoire
14 (1998)

Croatia
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (1995)

Cuba
58 (1997)

Cyprus
area under government control: 8
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

Czech Republic
150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)

Denmark
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)

Dhekelia
0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia)
(2006)

Djibouti
1 (2001)

Dominica
1 (2004)

Dominican Republic
25 (2003)

Ecuador
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)

Egypt
98 (September 1995)

El Salvador
5 (1997)

Equatorial Guinea
1 (2001)

Eritrea
2 (2006)

Estonia
3 (2001)

Ethiopia
1 (plus 24 repeaters) (2001)

European Union
2,700 (1995); note - sum of individual country
television broadcast stations excluding repeaters; there is also a
European-wide station (Eurovision)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to members of UK Forces as well as islanders); cable television is available in Stanley (2006)

Faroe Islands
3 (plus 43 repeaters) (September 1995)

Fiji
NA

Finland
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999); note - On 1 September 2007,
Finland became one of the first countries in the world to broadcast
all television signals digitally

France
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)

French Polynesia
7 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Gabon
4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)

Gambia, The
1 (government-owned) (1997)

Gaza Strip
1 (2008)

Georgia
12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Germany
373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)

Ghana
7 (2007)

Gibraltar
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)

Greece
36 (plus 1,341 repeaters); also 2 stations in the US Armed
Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Greenland
1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 Armed Forces
Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

Grenada
2 (1997)

Guam
3 (2006)

Guatemala
26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Guernsey
1 (1997)

Guinea
6 (2001)

Guinea-Bissau
NA (2005)

Guyana
3 (1 public station; 2 private stations which relay US
satellite services) (1997)

Haiti
2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Holy See (Vatican City)
1 (2005)

Honduras
11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Hong Kong
55 (2 TV networks, each broadcasting on 2 channels) (2007)

Hungary
35 (plus 161 repeaters) (1995)

Iceland
14 (plus 156 repeaters) (1997)

India
562 (1997)

Indonesia
54 local TV stations (11 national TV networks; each with
its group of local transmitters) (2006)

Iran
28 (plus 450 repeaters) (1997)

Iraq
21 (2004)

Ireland
4 (many repeaters) (2001)

Isle of Man
0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Israel
17 (plus 36 repeaters) (1995)

Italy
358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)

Jamaica
7 (1997)

Japan
211 (plus 7,341 repeaters); in addition, US Forces are served
by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)

Jersey
2 (1997)

Jordan
22 (2007)

Kazakhstan
12 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Kenya
8 (2001)

Kiribati
1 (possibly inactive) (2002)

Korea, North
4 (includes Korean Central Television, Mansudae
Television, Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong
Television targeting South Korea) (2003)

Korea, South
43 (plus 59 cable operators and 190 relay cable
operators) (2005)

Kuwait
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Kyrgyzstan
8 (2 countrywide and 6 regional stations; state-owned);
note - there are about 20 private TV stations, most of which
rebroadcast other channels (2007)

Laos
7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi)
(2006)

Latvia
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Lebanon
15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)

Lesotho
1 (2000)

Liberia
4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2007)

Libya
12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999)

Liechtenstein
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Lithuania
27 (may have as many as 100 transmitters, including
repeater stations) (2001)

Luxembourg
5 (1999)

Macau
1 (2006)

Macedonia
52 (2007)

Madagascar
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Malawi
1 (2001)

Malaysia
88 (mainland Malaysia 51, Sabah 16, and Sarawak 21) (2006)

Maldives
1 (2006)

Mali
2 (plus repeaters) (2007)

Malta
5 (2006)

Marshall Islands
2 (both are US military stations; Marshalls
Broadcasting Service, a cable company, operates on Majuro) (2005)

Mauritania
1 (2002)

Mauritius
2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Mayotte
3 (2001)

Mexico
236 (plus repeaters) (1997)

Micronesia, Federated States of
3 (cable TV also available) (2004)

Moldova
40 (2006)

Monaco
5 (1998)

Mongolia
456 (including provincial and low-power repeaters) (2006)

Montenegro
13 (2004)

Montserrat
1 (1997)

Morocco
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Mozambique
1 (2000)

Namibia
2 (2007)

Nauru
1 (1997)

Nepal
1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Netherlands
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Netherlands Antilles
3 (there is also a cable service that supplies
programs received from various US satellite networks and 4
Venezuelan channels) (2003)

New Caledonia
6 (plus 25 repeaters) (1997)

New Zealand
41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)

Nicaragua
3 (plus 7 repeaters) (1997)

Niger
5 (2007)

Nigeria
3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations
and 15 repeater stations) (2001)

Niue
1 (1997)

Norfolk Island
1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that
air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Northern Mariana Islands
1 (on Saipan; in addition, 2 cable services
on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)

Norway
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Oman
13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)

Pakistan
20 (5 state-run channels and 15 privately-owned satellite
channels) (2006)

Palau
1 (cable) (2005)

Panama
38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Papua New Guinea
3 (all in the Port Moresby area; stations at Mt.
Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned) (2004)

Paraguay
5 (2007)

Peru
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Philippines
250 (plus 1,501 CATV networks) (2007)

Poland
40 (2006)

Portugal
62 (plus 166 repeaters; includes Azores and Madeira
Islands) (1995)

Puerto Rico
32 (2006)

Qatar
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2001)

Romania
623 (plus 200 repeaters) (2006)

Russia
7,306 (1998)

Rwanda
2 (2004)

Saint Helena
0 (3 television channels are received via satellite and
distributed by UHF) (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2003)

Saint Lucia
2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community
antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 (2 repeaters rebroadcast programs from
France, Canada, and the US) (1997)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)

Samoa
2 (2002)

San Marino
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from
Italy) (1997)

Sao Tome and Principe
2 (2001)

Saudi Arabia
117 (1997)

Senegal
4 (2007)

Seychelles
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Sierra Leone
2 (1999)

Singapore
1 (broadcasting on six channels); additional reception of
numerous UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia
(2006)

Slovakia
80 (national broadcasting 6, regional 7, local 67) (2004)

Slovenia
31 (2006)

Somalia
4 (2 in Mogadishu and 2 in Hargeisa) (2001)

South Africa
556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
0 (2003)

Spain
224 (plus 2,105 repeaters; includes 11 television broadcast
stations and 88 repeaters in the Canary Islands) (1995)

Sri Lanka
14 (2006)

Sudan
3 (1997)

Suriname
3 (plus 7 repeaters) (2000)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)

Sweden
169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)

Switzerland
115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Syria
44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)

Taiwan
76 (46 digital and 30 analog) (2007)

Tajikistan
6 (2006)

Tanzania
3 (1999)

Thailand
111 (2006)

Timor-Leste
1 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster)

Togo
3 (plus 2 repeaters) (1997)

Tonga
3 (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
6 (2005)

Tunisia
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Turkey
635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)

Turkmenistan
4 (government-owned and programmed) (2004)

Turks and Caicos Islands 0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)

Tuvalu
0 (2004)

Uganda
8 (plus 1 repeater) (2001)

Ukraine
647 (2006)

United Arab Emirates
15 (2004)

United Kingdom
228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)

United States
2,218 (2006)

Uruguay
62 (2005)

Uzbekistan
28 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent and
approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2006)

Vanuatu
1 (2004)

Venezuela
66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Vietnam
67 (includes 61 relay, provincial, and city TV stations)
(2006)

Virgin Islands
5 (2006)

Wake Island
0 (2005)

Wallis and Futuna
2 (2000)

West Bank
30 (2008)

Western Sahara
NA

World
NA

Yemen
3 (including one Egypt-based station that broadcasts in
Yemen); plus several repeaters (2007)

Zambia
9 (2001)

Zimbabwe
16 (1997)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2018 Sex ratio (male(s)/female)

Afghanistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Albania
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Algeria
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

American Samoa
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Andorra
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Angola
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Anguilla
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Argentina
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Armenia
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Aruba
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Australia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Austria
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bahrain
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Barbados
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Belarus
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Belgium
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Belize
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Benin
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bermuda
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bhutan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bolivia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Botswana
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Brazil
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Brunei
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Burma
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Burundi
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cambodia
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cameroon
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Canada
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Chad
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Chile
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

China
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Colombia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Comoros
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Costa Rica
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Croatia
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cuba
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Cyprus
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Denmark
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Djibouti
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Dominica
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Ecuador
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Egypt
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

El Salvador
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Eritrea
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Estonia
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

European Union
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Fiji
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Finland
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

France
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Gabon
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Georgia
at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Germany
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Ghana
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Greece
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Greenland
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Grenada
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Guam
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Guatemala
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Guernsey
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Guinea
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Guyana
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Haiti
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Honduras
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Hungary
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Iceland
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

India
at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Indonesia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Iran
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Iraq
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Ireland
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Israel
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Italy
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Jamaica
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Japan
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Jersey
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Jordan
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Kenya
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Kiribati
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Korea, North
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Korea, South
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Kuwait
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Laos
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Latvia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Lebanon
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Lesotho
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Liberia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Libya
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Lithuania
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Macau
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Macedonia
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Madagascar
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Malawi
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Malaysia
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Maldives
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.59 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.41 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mali
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Malta
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mauritania
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mauritius
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mayotte
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mexico
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA

Moldova
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Monaco
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mongolia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Montserrat
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Morocco
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Mozambique
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Namibia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Nauru
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Nepal
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Netherlands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

New Zealand
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Niger
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Nigeria
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.68 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 0.75 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Norway
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Oman
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Pakistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Palau
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Panama
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Paraguay
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Peru
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Philippines
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Portugal
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Qatar
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.47 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.4 male(s)/female
total population: 2.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Romania
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Russia
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Rwanda
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Samoa
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

San Marino
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Senegal
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Seychelles
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Singapore
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Slovakia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Slovenia
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Somalia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

South Africa
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Spain
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Sudan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Suriname
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Sweden
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Switzerland
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Syria
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Taiwan
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Tanzania
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Thailand
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Togo
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Tunisia
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Turkey
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Uganda
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Ukraine
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.74 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.84 male(s)/female
total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

United States
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Uruguay
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Venezuela
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Vietnam
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

West Bank
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
NA

World
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Yemen
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Zambia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2019 Heliports

Afghanistan
9 (2007)

Albania
1 (2007)

Algeria
2 (2007)

Antarctica
53
note: all year-round and seasonal stations operated by National
Antarctic Programs stations have some kind of helicopter landing
facilities, prepared (helipads) or unprepared (2007)

Argentina
1 (2007)

Australia
1 (2007)

Austria
1 (2007)

Azerbaijan
1 (2007)

Bahamas, The
1 (2007)

Bahrain
1 (2007)

Belarus
1 (2007)

Belgium
1 (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 (2007)

Brazil
16 (2007)

Brunei
3 (2007)

Bulgaria
4 (2007)

Burma
4 (2007)

Burundi
1 (2007)

Cambodia
1 (2007)

Canada
11 (2007)

China
35 (2007)

Colombia
2 (2007)

Croatia
2 (2007)

Cyprus
10 (2007)

Czech Republic
1 (2007)

Ecuador
1 (2007)

Egypt
3 (2007)

El Salvador
1 (2007)

Eritrea
1 (2007)

Estonia
1 (2007)

European Union
100 (2007)

France
3 (2007)

French Polynesia
1 (2007)

Gaza Strip
1 (2007)

Georgia
3 (2007)

Germany
28 (2007)

Greece
9 (2007)

Hong Kong
5 (2007)

Hungary
5 (2007)

India
30 (2007)

Indonesia
17 (2007)

Iran
14 (2007)

Iraq
17 (2007)

Israel
3 (2007)

Italy
5 (2007)

Japan
14 (2007)

Jordan
1 (2007)

Kazakhstan
5 (2007)

Korea, North
23 (2007)

Korea, South
536 (2007)

Kosovo
2 (2008)

Kuwait
4 (2007)

Libya
2 (2007)

Luxembourg
1 (2007)

Macau
1 (2007)

Malaysia
2 (2007)

Mexico
1 (2007)

Monaco
1 (2007)

Mongolia
1 (2007)

Montenegro
1 (2007)

Morocco
1 (2007)

Netherlands
1 (2007)

New Caledonia
6 (2007)

Nigeria
2 (2007)

Northern Mariana Islands
1 (2007)

Norway
1 (2007)

Oman
2 (2007)

Pakistan
18 (2007)

Panama
2 (2007)

Papua New Guinea
2 (2007)

Peru
1 (2007)

Philippines
2 (2007)

Poland
7 (2007)

Qatar
1 (2007)

Romania
2 (2007)

Russia
47 (2007)

Saudi Arabia
8 (2007)

Serbia
2 (2007)

Sierra Leone
2 (2007)

Slovakia
1 (2007)

Solomon Islands
3 (2007)

South Africa
1 (2007)

Spain
8 (2007)

Spratly Islands
3 (2007)

Sudan
4 (2007)

Svalbard
1 (2007)

Sweden
2 (2007)

Switzerland
2 (2007)

Syria
7 (2007)

Taiwan
4 (2007)

Thailand
3 (2007)

Timor-Leste
9 (2007)

Turkey
18 (2007)

Turkmenistan
1 (2007)

Ukraine
10 (2007)

United Arab Emirates
5 (2007)

United Kingdom
11 (2007)

United States
146 (2007)

Venezuela
2 (2007)

Vietnam
1 (2007)

World
1,359 (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2020 Elevation extremes (m)

Afghanistan
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m

Albania
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

Algeria
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m

American Samoa
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

Andorra
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Angola
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Anguilla
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Antarctica
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m
note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the
Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet
discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

Antigua and Barbuda
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Arctic Ocean
lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Argentina
lowest point: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between
Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province
of Santa Cruz)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern
corner of the province of Mendoza)

Armenia
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Aruba
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Atlantic Ocean
lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico
Trench -8,605 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Australia
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Austria
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

Azerbaijan
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Bahamas, The
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Bahrain
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Bangladesh
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Barbados
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Belarus
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

Belgium
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Belize
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m

Benin
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Bermuda
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Bhutan
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Bolivia
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Bosnia and Herzegovina
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

Botswana
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513
m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Bouvet Island
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m

Brazil
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

British Indian Ocean Territory
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

British Virgin Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Brunei
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Bulgaria
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Burkina Faso
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Burma
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Burundi
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Heha 2,670 m

Cambodia
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Cameroon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

Canada
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Cape Verde
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Cayman Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Central African Republic
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Chad
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Chile
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

China
lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Christmas Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Clipperton Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Colombia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

Comoros
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Karthala 2,360 m

Congo, Democratic Republic of the lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

Congo, Republic of the
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Cook Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Coral Sea Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Costa Rica
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Cote d'Ivoire
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Croatia
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Cuba
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Cyprus
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Czech Republic
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Denmark
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Djibouti
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m

Dominica
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Dominican Republic
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Ecuador
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Egypt
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

El Salvador
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Equatorial Guinea
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Eritrea
lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m

Estonia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Ethiopia
lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,533 m

European Union
lowest point: Lammefjord, Denmark -7 m;
Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m; note - situated on the border
between France and Italy

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Faroe Islands
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Fiji
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Finland
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

France
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

French Polynesia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

French Southern and Antarctic Lands lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m; unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1,090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m

Gabon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Gambia, The
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Gaza Strip
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Georgia
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Germany
lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m

Ghana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Gibraltar
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Greece
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Greenland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Grenada
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Guam
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Guatemala
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Guernsey
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m

Guinea
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Guinea-Bissau
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the
country 300 m

Guyana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Haiti
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m

Holy See (Vatican City)
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Honduras
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Hong Kong
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Hungary
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Iceland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

India
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

Indian Ocean
lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Indonesia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m

Iran
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m

Iraq
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is neither
Gundah Zhur 3,607 m nor Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m

Ireland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Isle of Man
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Israel
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Italy
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a
secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

Jamaica
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Jan Mayen
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Japan
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

Jersey
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Jordan
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Kazakhstan
lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

Kenya
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Kiribati
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Korea, North
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

Korea, South
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Kosovo
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the
border with Albania)
highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,565 m

Kuwait
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Kyrgyzstan
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Laos
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Latvia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Galzina Kalns 312 m

Lebanon
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m

Lesotho
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers
1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Liberia
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Libya
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Liechtenstein
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Lithuania
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m

Luxembourg
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Macau
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Macedonia
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Madagascar
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Malawi
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Malaysia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Maldives
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m

Mali
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Malta
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Marshall Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Mauritania
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Mauritius
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Mayotte
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m

Mexico
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Micronesia, Federated States of
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Moldova
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Monaco
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Mongolia
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Montenegro
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Montserrat
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Morocco
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Mozambique
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Namibia
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

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

Navassa Island
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Nepal
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Netherlands
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Netherlands Antilles
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

New Caledonia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

New Zealand
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m

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

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

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

Niue
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Norfolk Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Northern Mariana Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Norway
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Oman
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Pacific Ocean
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench
-10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Pakistan
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Palau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Panama
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m

Papua New Guinea
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Paracel Islands
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Paraguay
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Peru
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Philippines
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Pitcairn Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Poland
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Portugal
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in
the Azores 2,351 m

Puerto Rico
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m

Qatar
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Romania
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Russia
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m

Rwanda
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Saint Barthelemy
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

Saint Helena
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green
Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena
Island 818 m

Saint Kitts and Nevis
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Saint Lucia
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Saint Martin
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m

Samoa
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m

San Marino
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m

Sao Tome and Principe
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Saudi Arabia
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Senegal
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

Serbia
lowest point: NA
highest point: Midzor 2,169 m

Seychelles
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Sierra Leone
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Singapore
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Slovakia
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Slovenia
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Solomon Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Somalia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

South Africa
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m

Southern Ocean
lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the
South Sandwich Trench
highest point: sea level 0 m

Spain
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Spratly Islands
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Sri Lanka
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Sudan
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Suriname
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Svalbard
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Swaziland
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Sweden
lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near
Kristianstad -2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Switzerland
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Syria
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m

Taiwan
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

Tajikistan
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m

Tanzania
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Thailand
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Timor-Leste
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Togo
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

Tokelau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Tonga
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Trinidad and Tobago
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Tunisia
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Turkey
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Turkmenistan
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note -
Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water
level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina
Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m)
highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

Turks and Caicos Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Tuvalu
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Uganda
lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Ukraine
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

United Arab Emirates
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

United Kingdom
lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

United States
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,198 m

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
lowest point: Pacific
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Baker Island, unnamed location - 8 m; Howland Island,
unnamed location - 3 m; Jarvis Island, unnamed location - 7 m;
Johnston Atoll, Sand Island - 10 m; Kingman Reef, unnamed location -
less than 2 m; Midway Islands, unnamed location - 13 m; Palmyra
Atoll, unnamed location - 3 m

Uruguay
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Uzbekistan
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Vanuatu
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Venezuela
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Vietnam
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Virgin Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m

Wake Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Wallis and Futuna
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

West Bank
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

Western Sahara
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m

World
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m
note: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is
the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific
Ocean
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Yemen
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Zambia
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Zimbabwe
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2021 Natural hazards

Afghanistan
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding; droughts

Albania
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern
coast; floods; drought

Algeria
mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides
and floods in rainy season

American Samoa
typhoons common from December to March

Andorra
avalanches

Angola
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Anguilla
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to
October)

Antarctica
katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the
high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;
cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the
coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West
Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may
calve from ice shelf

Antigua and Barbuda
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October); periodic droughts

Arctic Ocean
ice islands occasionally break away from northern
Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland
and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually
ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure
icing from October to May

Argentina
San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes
subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can
strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding

Armenia
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Aruba
hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is
rarely threatened

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can
pose maritime hazards

Atlantic Ocean
icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and
the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have
been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships
subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from
October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September; hurricanes (May to December)

Australia
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Austria
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Azerbaijan
droughts

Bahamas, The
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive
flood and wind damage

Bahrain
periodic droughts; dust storms

Bangladesh
droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
inundated during the summer monsoon season

Barbados
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Belarus
NA

Belgium
flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed
coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Belize
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and
coastal flooding (especially in south)

Benin
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December
to March

Bermuda
hurricanes (June to November)

Bhutan
violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the
country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon;
frequent landslides during the rainy season

Bolivia
flooding in the northeast (March-April)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
destructive earthquakes

Botswana
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the
west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure
visibility

Bouvet Island
NA

Brazil
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost
in south

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA

British Virgin Islands
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October)

Brunei
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Bulgaria
earthquakes, landslides

Burkina Faso
recurring droughts

Burma
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

Burundi
flooding, landslides, drought

Cambodia
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional
droughts

Cameroon
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases
from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Canada
continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to
development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a
result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and
North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and
snow east of the mountains

Cape Verde
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces
obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Cayman Islands
hurricanes (July to November)

Central African Republic
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect
northern areas; floods are common

Chad
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic
droughts; locust plagues

Chile
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

China
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and
eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts;
land subsidence

Christmas Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard

Clipperton Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
cyclone season is October to April

Colombia
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Comoros
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April);
Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Congo, Democratic Republic of the periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes

Congo, Republic of the
seasonal flooding

Cook Islands
typhoons (November to March)

Coral Sea Islands
occasional tropical cyclones

Costa Rica
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;
frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and
landslides; active volcanoes

Cote d'Ivoire
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Croatia
destructive earthquakes

Cuba
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November
(in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other
year); droughts are common

Cyprus
moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Czech Republic
flooding

Denmark
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g.,
parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland)
that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

Djibouti
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances
from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Dominica
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes
can be expected during the late summer months

Dominican Republic
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding;
periodic droughts

Ecuador
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts

Egypt
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods,
landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
dust storms, sandstorms

El Salvador
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes
destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible
to hurricanes

Equatorial Guinea
violent windstorms, flash floods

Eritrea
frequent droughts; locust swarms

Estonia
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Ethiopia
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

European Union
flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous
area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy;
periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
strong winds persist throughout
the year

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Finland
NA

France
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter
windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones), flooding, volcanic
activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

French Polynesia
occasional cyclonic storms in January

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul
are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones;
Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a
period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and
surrounded by reefs

Gabon
NA

Gambia, The
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30
years)

Gaza Strip
droughts

Georgia
earthquakes

Germany
flooding

Ghana
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
severe earthquakes

Greenland
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the
island

Grenada
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from
June to November

Guam
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but
potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Guatemala
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during
dry season

Guinea-Bissau
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; brush fires

Guyana
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Haiti
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;
periodic droughts

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is
on Heard Island

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely
susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean
coast

Hong Kong
occasional typhoons

Iceland
earthquakes and volcanic activity

India
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive
flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes

Indian Ocean
occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in
southern reaches

Indonesia
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes,
volcanoes, forest fires

Iran
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Iraq
dust storms, sandstorms, floods

Ireland
NA

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts;
periodic earthquakes

Italy
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

Jamaica
hurricanes (especially July to November)

Jan Mayen
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred
in 1985

Japan
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Jersey
NA

Jordan
droughts; periodic earthquakes

Kazakhstan
earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty

Kenya
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Kiribati
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
sensitive to changes in sea level

Korea, North
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding;
occasional typhoons during the early fall

Korea, South
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Kuwait
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring
heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust
storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March
and August

Kyrgyzstan
NA

Laos
floods, droughts

Latvia
NA

Lebanon
dust storms, sandstorms

Lesotho
periodic droughts

Liberia
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to
March)

Libya
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to
four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
NA

Luxembourg
NA

Macau
typhoons

Macedonia
high seismic risks

Madagascar
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Malawi
NA

Malaysia
flooding, landslides, forest fires

Maldives
low level of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

Mali
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons;
recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Malta
NA

Marshall Islands
infrequent typhoons

Mauritania
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in
March and April; periodic droughts

Mauritius
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Mayotte
cyclones during rainy season

Mexico
tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive
earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts

Micronesia, Federated States of
typhoons (June to December)

Moldova
landslides

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and
"zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Montenegro
destructive earthquakes

Montserrat
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions
(Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Morocco
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Mozambique
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in
central and southern provinces

Namibia
prolonged periods of drought

Nauru
periodic droughts

Navassa Island
hurricanes

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

Netherlands
flooding

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

New Caledonia
cyclones, most frequent from November to March

New Zealand
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity

Nicaragua
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes

Niger
recurring droughts

Nigeria
periodic droughts; flooding

Niue
typhoons

Norfolk Island
typhoons (especially May to July)

Northern Mariana Islands active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Norway
rockslides, avalanches

Oman
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts

Pacific Ocean
surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and
earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of
Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east
Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October);
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike
Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in
August and September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in
the equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the Western
Hemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure
icing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the
northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December

Pakistan
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in
north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and
August)

Palau
typhoons (June to December)

Panama
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Papua New Guinea
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring
of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis

Paracel Islands
typhoons

Paraguay
local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Peru
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic
activity

Philippines
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck
by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active
volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Pitcairn Islands
typhoons (especially November to March)

Poland
flooding

Portugal
Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Puerto Rico
periodic droughts; hurricanes

Qatar
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Romania
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic
structure and climate promote landslides

Russia
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to
development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and
summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European
Russia

Rwanda
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saint Helena
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in
1961

Saint Kitts and Nevis
hurricanes (July to October)

Saint Lucia
hurricanes and volcanic activity

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
persistent fog throughout the year can be
a maritime hazard

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on
the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Samoa
occasional typhoons; active volcanism

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
frequent sand and dust storms

Senegal
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Serbia
destructive earthquakes

Seychelles
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
short droughts possible

Sierra Leone
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Singapore
NA

Slovakia
NA

Slovenia
flooding and earthquakes

Solomon Islands
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically
active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic
activity; tsunamis

Somalia
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains
in summer; floods during rainy season

South Africa
prolonged droughts

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the South Sandwich
Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them
difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active
volcanism

Southern Ocean
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred
meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5
to 1 m thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with
large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf
floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances;
high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially
May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and
rescue

Spain
periodic droughts

Spratly Islands
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious
maritime hazard

Sri Lanka
occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Sudan
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Suriname
NA

Svalbard
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit
point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts
of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic

Swaziland
drought

Sweden
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf
of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Switzerland
avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Syria
dust storms, sandstorms

Taiwan
earthquakes and typhoons

Tajikistan
earthquakes and floods

Tanzania
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
drought

Thailand
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts

Timor-Leste
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones

Togo
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts

Tokelau
lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Tonga
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity
on Fonuafo'ou

Trinidad and Tobago
outside usual path of hurricanes and other
tropical storms

Tunisia
NA

Turkey
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an
arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Turkmenistan
NA

Turks and Caicos Islands
frequent hurricanes

Tuvalu
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there
were three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to
changes in sea level

Uganda
NA

Ukraine
NA

United Arab Emirates
frequent sand and dust storms

United Kingdom
winter windstorms; floods

United States
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA

Uruguay
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
changes from weather fronts

Uzbekistan
NA

Vanuatu
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic
eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism
also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Venezuela
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Vietnam
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta

Virgin Islands
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Wake Island
occasional typhoons

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
droughts

Western Sahara
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility

World
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones),
natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic
eruptions)

Yemen
sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Zambia
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)

Zimbabwe
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2022 People - note

Cook Islands
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Cuba
illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to
depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien
smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use
non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to
Miami and over-land via the southwest border

Germany
second most populous country in Europe after Russia

Rwanda
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Trinidad and Tobago
in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago
estimated the population to be 1.3 million

Turks and Caicos Islands
destination and transit point for illegal
Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The
Bahamas, and the US

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2023 Area - comparative

Afghanistan
slightly smaller than Texas

Akrotiri
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Albania
slightly smaller than Maryland

Algeria
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

American Samoa
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Andorra
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Angola
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Anguilla
about half the size of Washington, DC

Antarctica
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Antigua and Barbuda
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Arctic Ocean
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Argentina
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Armenia
slightly smaller than Maryland

Aruba
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Ashmore and Cartier Islands about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Atlantic Ocean
slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US

Australia
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Austria
slightly smaller than Maine

Azerbaijan
slightly smaller than Maine

Bahamas, The
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Bahrain
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Bangladesh
slightly smaller than Iowa

Barbados
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Belarus
slightly smaller than Kansas

Belgium
about the size of Maryland

Belize
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Benin
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Bermuda
about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Bhutan
about one-half the size of Indiana

Bolivia
slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Bosnia and Herzegovina
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Botswana
slightly smaller than Texas

Bouvet Island
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Brazil
slightly smaller than the US

British Indian Ocean Territory land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

British Virgin Islands
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Brunei
slightly smaller than Delaware

Bulgaria
slightly larger than Tennessee

Burkina Faso
slightly larger than Colorado

Burma
slightly smaller than Texas

Burundi
slightly smaller than Maryland

Cambodia
slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Cameroon
slightly larger than California

Canada
somewhat larger than the US

Cape Verde
slightly larger than Rhode Island

Cayman Islands
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Central African Republic
slightly smaller than Texas

Chad
slightly more than three times the size of California

Chile
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

China
slightly smaller than the US

Christmas Island
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Clipperton Island
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Colombia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Comoros
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Congo, Democratic Republic of the slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Congo, Republic of the
slightly smaller than Montana

Cook Islands
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Coral Sea Islands
NA

Costa Rica
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Cote d'Ivoire
slightly larger than New Mexico

Croatia
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Cuba
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Cyprus
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Czech Republic
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Denmark
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Dhekelia
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Djibouti
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Dominica
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Dominican Republic
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Ecuador
slightly smaller than Nevada

Egypt
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

El Salvador
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Equatorial Guinea
slightly smaller than Maryland

Eritrea
slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Estonia
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Ethiopia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

European Union
less than one-half the size of the US

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Faroe Islands
eight times the size of Washington, DC

Fiji
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Finland
slightly smaller than Montana

France
slightly less than the size of Texas

French Polynesia
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DC
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC
Iles Kerguelen: a little larger than Delaware
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size
of The Mall in Washington, DC
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of
Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of The
Mall in Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC

Gabon
slightly smaller than Colorado

Gambia, The
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Gaza Strip
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Georgia
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Germany
slightly smaller than Montana

Ghana
slightly smaller than Oregon

Gibraltar
a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island

Greece
slightly smaller than Alabama

Greenland
slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Grenada
twice the size of Washington, DC

Guam
three times the size of Washington, DC

Guatemala
slightly smaller than Tennessee

Guernsey
about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Guinea
slightly smaller than Oregon

Guinea-Bissau
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Guyana
slightly smaller than Idaho

Haiti
slightly smaller than Maryland

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
slightly more than two times the
size of Washington, DC

Holy See (Vatican City)
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Honduras
slightly larger than Tennessee

Hong Kong
six times the size of Washington, DC

Hungary
slightly smaller than Indiana

Iceland
slightly smaller than Kentucky

India
slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Indian Ocean
about 5.5 times the size of the US

Indonesia
slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Iran
slightly larger than Alaska

Iraq
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Ireland
slightly larger than West Virginia

Isle of Man
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Israel
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Italy
slightly larger than Arizona

Jamaica
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Jan Mayen
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Japan
slightly smaller than California

Jersey
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Jordan
slightly smaller than Indiana

Kazakhstan
slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Kenya
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Kiribati
four times the size of Washington, DC

Korea, North
slightly smaller than Mississippi

Korea, South
slightly larger than Indiana

Kosovo
slightly larger than Delaware

Kuwait
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Kyrgyzstan
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Laos
slightly larger than Utah

Latvia
slightly larger than West Virginia

Lebanon
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Lesotho
slightly smaller than Maryland

Liberia
slightly larger than Tennessee

Libya
slightly larger than Alaska

Liechtenstein
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Lithuania
slightly larger than West Virginia

Luxembourg
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Macau
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

Macedonia
slightly larger than Vermont

Madagascar
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Malawi
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Malaysia
slightly larger than New Mexico

Maldives
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Mali
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Malta
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Marshall Islands
about the size of Washington, DC

Mauritania
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Mauritius
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Mayotte
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Mexico
slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Micronesia, Federated States of
four times the size of Washington,
DC (land area only)

Moldova
slightly larger than Maryland

Monaco
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Mongolia
slightly smaller than Alaska

Montenegro
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Montserrat
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Morocco
slightly larger than California

Mozambique
slightly less than twice the size of California

Namibia
slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Nauru
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Navassa Island
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Nepal
slightly larger than Arkansas

Netherlands
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Netherlands Antilles
more than five times the size of Washington, DC

New Caledonia
slightly smaller than New Jersey

New Zealand
about the size of Colorado

Nicaragua
slightly smaller than the state of New York

Niger
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Nigeria
slightly more than twice the size of California

Niue
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Norfolk Island
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Northern Mariana Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Norway
slightly larger than New Mexico

Oman
slightly smaller than Kansas

Pacific Ocean
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of
the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world

Pakistan
slightly less than twice the size of California

Palau
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Panama
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Papua New Guinea
slightly larger than California

Paracel Islands
NA

Paraguay
slightly smaller than California

Peru
slightly smaller than Alaska

Philippines
slightly larger than Arizona

Pitcairn Islands
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Poland
slightly smaller than New Mexico

Portugal
slightly smaller than Indiana

Puerto Rico
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Qatar
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Romania
slightly smaller than Oregon

Russia
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US

Rwanda
slightly smaller than Maryland

Saint Barthelemy
less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC

Saint Helena
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Lucia
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Martin
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
twice the size of Washington, DC

Samoa
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

San Marino
about one third times the size of Washington, DC

Sao Tome and Principe
more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Saudi Arabia
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Senegal
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Serbia
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Seychelles
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Sierra Leone
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Singapore
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Slovakia
about twice the size of New Hampshire

Slovenia
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Solomon Islands
slightly smaller than Maryland

Somalia
slightly smaller than Texas

South Africa
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
slightly larger than
Rhode Island

Southern Ocean
slightly more than twice the size of the US

Spain
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
slightly larger than West Virginia

Sudan
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Suriname
slightly larger than Georgia

Svalbard
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Swaziland
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Sweden
slightly larger than California

Switzerland
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Syria
slightly larger than North Dakota

Taiwan
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Tajikistan
slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Tanzania
slightly larger than twice the size of California

Thailand
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Timor-Leste
slightly larger than Connecticut

Togo
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Tokelau
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Tonga
four times the size of Washington, DC

Trinidad and Tobago
slightly smaller than Delaware

Tunisia
slightly larger than Georgia

Turkey
slightly larger than Texas

Turkmenistan
slightly larger than California

Turks and Caicos Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Tuvalu
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Uganda
slightly smaller than Oregon

Ukraine
slightly smaller than Texas

United Arab Emirates
slightly smaller than Maine

United Kingdom
slightly smaller than Oregon

United States
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the
size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly
larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the
size of the European Union

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker Island: about
two and a half times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Uruguay
slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Uzbekistan
slightly larger than California

Vanuatu
slightly larger than Connecticut

Venezuela
slightly more than twice the size of California

Vietnam
slightly larger than New Mexico

Virgin Islands
twice the size of Washington, DC

Wake Island
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Wallis and Futuna
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

West Bank
slightly smaller than Delaware

Western Sahara
about the size of Colorado

World
land area about 16 times the size of the US

Yemen
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Zambia
slightly larger than Texas

Zimbabwe
slightly larger than Montana

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age)

Afghanistan
22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service
for a 4-year term (2005)

Albania
19 years of age (2004)

Algeria
19-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training,
12 months civil projects) (2006)

Angola
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)

Antigua and Barbuda
18 years of age for voluntary military service;
no conscription (2008)

Argentina
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21
requires parental permission); no conscription (2001)

Armenia
18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military
service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Australia
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with
parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army
combat units in non-combat support roles (2008)

Austria
18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years
of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 7
months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation (2006)

Azerbaijan
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18
years of age for voluntary military service; length of military
service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

Bahamas, The
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)

Bahrain
17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of
age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)

Bangladesh
16 years of age for voluntary military service; 17 years
of age for officers (both with parental consent); conscription
legally possible in emergency, but has never been implemented (2008)

Barbados
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger
requires parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Belarus
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Belgium
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
suspended (2008)

Belize
18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow
for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription
has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available
positions by 3:1 (2008)

Benin
21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes
are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18
months (2006)

Bermuda
18-23 years of age; eligible men required to register for
conscription as needed into the Bermuda Regiment, which is largely
voluntary; term of service 39 months (2007)

Bhutan
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Bolivia
18 years of age for 12-month compulsory military service;
when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory
recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as
14; 15-19 years of age for voluntary premilitary service, provides
exemption from further military service (2008)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
17 years of age for voluntary military
service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; conscription
abolished January 2006; 4-month service obligation (2006)

Botswana
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the
official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown
(2001)

Brazil
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are
"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)

Brunei
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service;
non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)

Bulgaria
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the
Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription
ended as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and Naval
Forces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)

Burkina Faso
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20
years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Burma
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes;
forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited,
reportedly continues (2007)

Burundi
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; children as young as 10 years of age have been conscripted
into the armed forces; the enrollment of children is still not
prohibited (2007)

Cambodia
conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between
18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation
(2006)

Cameroon
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers
(2006)

Canada
17 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and
military college applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent
residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service
obligation 3-9 years (2008)

Cape Verde
18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory military
service; 14-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Central African Republic
18 years of age for compulsory and
voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation
(2006)

Chad
20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation;
18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for
volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to 1 year
of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

Chile
18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military
service, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained;
service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air
Force (2008)

China
18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service,
with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary
service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women
high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military
jobs (2007)

Colombia
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
18-45 years of age for military
service

Congo, Republic of the
18 years of age for voluntary military
service; women allowed to serve (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2008)

Croatia
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years
of age with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript service
obligation; full conversion to professional military service by 2010
(2006)

Cuba
17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
service obligation; both sexes subject to military service (2006)

Cyprus
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for
compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of
age for voluntary service; females are not conscripted; age of
military eligibility 17 to 50; length of normal service is 25 months
with a minimum of 3 months (2006)

Czech Republic
18-28 years of age for voluntary and 19-28 for
compulsory military service (2008)

Denmark
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies
from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are
assigned to mobilization units following completion of their
conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service
(2004)

Djibouti
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years
of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)

Dominican Republic
18 years of age for voluntary military service
(2007)

Ecuador
20 years of age for selective conscript military service;
12-month service obligation (2008)

Egypt
18-30 years of age for male conscript military service;
service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve
obligation (2008)

El Salvador
18 years of age for selective compulsory military
service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; service obligation -
8 months, but 11 months for officers and NCOs (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
18 years of age (est.) for compulsory military
service (2008)

Eritrea
18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and
compulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation
(2006)

Estonia
compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28;
conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon
leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a
different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to
retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and
Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17
years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60
(2006)

Ethiopia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; theoretically, no compulsory military service, but the
military can conduct call-ups when necessary and compliance is
compulsory (2008)

Fiji
18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve
obligation to age 45 (2006)

Finland
18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory national
military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months
(2008)

France
17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military
service); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve
in noncombat military posts (2005)

Gabon
20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service
(2007)

Gambia, The
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Georgia
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active
duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(2005)

Germany
18 years of age (conscripts serve a 9-month tour of
compulsory military service) (2004)

Ghana
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Greece
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during
wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year
of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years
of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all
services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)

Guatemala
all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable
for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to
24 months; women can serve as officers (2007)

Guinea
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
conscript service obligation (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
18 years of age for selective compulsory military
service (2006)

Guyana
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Honduras
18 years of age for voluntary 2 to 3-year military service
(2004)

Hungary
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in June 2004; 6-month service obligation, with reserve
obligation to age 50 (2006)

India
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription; women officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008)

Indonesia
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary
military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve
obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)

Iran
19 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of
age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15
years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript
military service obligation - 18 months; women exempt from military
service (2008)

Iraq
18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)

Ireland
17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary military
service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16
years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions;
maximum obligation 12 years; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve
Defense Forces; EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland
required (2008)

Israel
18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary
(Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are
obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36
months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for
officers; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2008)

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

Jamaica
18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger
recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

Japan
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Jordan
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are
required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)

Kazakhstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers
NA (2004)

Kenya
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary service, with a 9-year
obligation (2007)

Korea, North
17 years of age (2004)

Korea, South
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service,
with middle school education required; conscript service obligation
- 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be
reduced to 18 months beginning 2016); 18-26 years of age for
voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted
to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from
artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some 4,000 women
serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of
all officers (2008)

Kuwait
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; reserve obligation to age 40 with 1 month annual training;
women have served in police forces since 1999 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Laos
15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum
18-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Latvia
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled
to serve in the armed forces for life (2006)

Lebanon
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2007)

Lesotho
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Liberia
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Libya
17 years of age (2004)

Lithuania
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 18
years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation
(2006)

Luxembourg
17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with
peacekeeping missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EU
citizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2008)

Macedonia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Madagascar
18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory military
service; 18-month conscript service obligation (either military or
equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National
Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military
experience) (2008)

Malawi
18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard
obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service
(2007)

Malaysia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Maldives
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Mali
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years (2008)

Malta
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Mauritania
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2
years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in
Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)

Mexico
18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy and
Air Force service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntary
military service (2007)

Moldova
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month
service obligation (2006)

Mongolia
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense
forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5
percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed
overseas for military operations (2006)

Montenegro
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006

Morocco
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Mozambique
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
2-year service obligation (2006)

Namibia
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Nepal
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of
age for military training; no conscription (2008)

Netherlands
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment;
no conscription (2004)

New Zealand
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)

Nicaragua
17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of
duty 18-36 months (2008)

Niger
17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; 2-year
service term; women may serve in health care (2008)

Nigeria
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Norway
18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16
years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18
years of age for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice
shortened to 8 to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18
and 44 are liable for service, in practice they are seldom called to
duty after age 30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age
for volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2006)

Oman
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Pakistan
16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air
Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and
sailors (2006)

Papua New Guinea
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Paraguay
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy (2006)

Peru
18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female military
service; no conscription (2008)

Philippines
18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory and
voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female
Philippine citizens (2007)

Poland
17 years of age for male compulsory military service after
January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for
voluntary military service; conscript service obligation shortened
from 12 to 9 months in 2005; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of
military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have
completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for
professional service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to
serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2006)

Portugal
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory
military service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on
naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some
combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)

Qatar
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Romania
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including
women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent
voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until
the age of 36 (2006)

Russia
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military
service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age;
service obligation - 1 year; reserve obligation to age 50; as of
July 2008, a draft military strategy called for the draft to
continue up to the year 2030 (2008)

Rwanda
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
18 years of age for voluntary military
service; no conscription (2008)

San Marino
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force
(2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Saudi Arabia
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Senegal
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Serbia
19-35 years of age for compulsory military service; under a
state of war or impending war, conscription can begin at age 16;
conscription is to be abolished in 2010; 9-month service obligation,
with a reserve obligation to age 60 for men and 50 for women (2007)

Seychelles
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger
with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Sierra Leone
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service
(younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Singapore
18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service;
16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation,
with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers)
(2008)

Slovakia
17-30 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)

Slovenia
17 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription abolished in 2003 (2007)

South Africa
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women
have a long history of military service in noncombat roles dating
back to World War I (2004)

Spain
20 years of age (2004)

Sri Lanka
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Sudan
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
service obligation (2006)

Suriname
18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with
personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)

Swaziland
18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service; no conscription (2008)

Sweden
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation: 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force);
after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment
until age 47 (2006)

Switzerland
19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18
years of age for voluntary male and female military service; the
Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do
military service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days
in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory
training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training
during the next 10 years (2008)

Syria
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy);
women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)

Taiwan
19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service;
service obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009) year;
women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to
noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry
of Defense has announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary
enlistment system beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts each
year thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to
perform alternative service or go through 3-4 months of military
training (2008)

Tajikistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
conscript service obligation (2007)

Tanzania
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Thailand
21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years
of age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18
years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

Timor-Leste
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Togo
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military
service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Tonga
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)

Trinidad and Tobago
18 years of age for voluntary military service
(16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Tunisia
20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary
military service (2007)

Turkey
20 years of age (2004)

Turkmenistan
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Uganda
18-26 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
duty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; 9-year service
obligation; the government has stated that recruitment below 18
years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no person
under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed
forces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2008)

Ukraine
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air
Force, 24 months for Navy (2004)

United Arab Emirates
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military
service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription
(2008)

United Kingdom
16-33 years of age (officers 17-28) for voluntary
military service (with parental consent under 18); women serve in
military services, but are excluded from ground combat positions and
some naval postings; must be citizen of the UK, Commonwealth, or
Republic of Ireland; reservists serve a minimum of 3 years, to age
45 or 55; 16 years of age for voluntary military service by Nepalese
citizens in the Brigade of the Gurkhas; 16-34 years of age for
voluntary military service by Papua New Guinean citizens (2008)

United States
18 years of age (17 years of age with parental
consent) for male and female voluntary service; maximum enlistment
age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service
obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years
active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines) (2008)

Uruguay
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government
has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)

Uzbekistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year
conscript service obligation; moving toward a professional military,
but conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodate
everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the
military is similar to the competition for admission to universities
(2007)

Venezuela
18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; 30-month conscript service obligation - all citizens 18-50
years old are obligated to register for military service (2008)

Vietnam
18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service;
females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 years
of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or
Self Defense Forces (2006)

Yemen
voluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-year
service obligation (2006)

Zambia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of
age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Zimbabwe
18-24 years of age for compulsory military service; women
are eligible to serve (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2025 Manpower fit for military service

Afghanistan
males age 16-49: 4,234,180
females age 16-49: 3,946,685 (2008 est.)

Albania
males age 16-49: 798,454
females age 16-49: 767,143 (2008 est.)

Algeria
males age 16-49: 8,141,864
females age 16-49: 8,215,895 (2008 est.)

Andorra
males age 16-49: 14,976 (2008 est.)

Angola
males age 16-49: 1,430,658
females age 16-49: 1,371,689 (2008 est.)

Anguilla
males age 16-49: 2,929 (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
males age 16-49: 15,591
females age 16-49: 15,542 (2008 est.)

Argentina
males age 16-49: 8,352,147
females age 16-49: 8,366,781 (2008 est.)

Armenia
males age 16-49: 637,776
females age 16-49: 729,846 (2008 est.)

Aruba
males age 16-49: 20,173
females age 16-49: 21,062 (2008 est.)

Australia
males age 16-49: 4,137,176
females age 16-49: 4,022,588 (2008 est.)

Austria
males age 16-49: 1,617,385
females age 16-49: 1,583,886 (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
males age 16-49: 1,696,167
females age 16-49: 1,923,556 (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
males age 16-49: 50,282 (2008 est.)

Bahrain
males age 16-49: 171,536
females age 16-49: 142,714 (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
males age 16-49: 31,968,168 (2008 est.)

Barbados
males age 16-49: 58,556
females age 16-49: 58,143 (2008 est.)

Belarus
males age 16-49: 1,727,974
females age 16-49: 2,093,106 (2008 est.)

Belgium
males age 16-49: 1,973,167
females age 16-49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.)

Belize
males age 16-49: 54,627
females age 16-49: 53,500 (2008 est.)

Benin
males age 16-49: 1,173,742
females age 16-49: 1,162,113 (2008 est.)

Bermuda
males age 16-49: 12,682 (2008 est.)

Bhutan
males age 16-49: 146,063
females age 16-49: 131,193 (2008 est.)

Bolivia
males age 16-49: 1,600,219
females age 16-49: 1,815,514 (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
males age 16-49: 996,225
females age 16-49: 962,927 (2008 est.)

Botswana
males age 16-49: 290,093
females age 16-49: 257,700 (2008 est.)

Brazil
males age 16-49: 39,263,710
females age 16-49: 44,109,056 (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
males age 16-49: 5,921 (2008 est.)

Brunei
males age 16-49: 91,297
females age 16-49: 93,228 (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
males age 16-49: 1,364,029
females age 16-49: 1,401,348 (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
males age 16-49: 2,115,948 (2008 est.)

Burma
males age 16-49: 9,031,046
females age 16-49: 9,396,547 (2008 est.)

Burundi
males age 16-49: 1,083,899
females age 16-49: 1,062,488 (2008 est.)

Cambodia
males age 16-49: 2,581,045
females age 16-49: 2,676,075 (2008 est.)

Cameroon
males age 16-49: 2,567,428
females age 16-49: 2,498,990 (2008 est.)

Canada
males age 16-49: 6,646,281
females age 16-49: 6,417,924 (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
males age 16-49: 83,082
females age 16-49: 88,832 (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
males age 16-49: 9,577 (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
males age 16-49: 534,141
females age 16-49: 495,303 (2008 est.)

Chad
males age 16-49: 1,066,565
females age 16-49: 1,279,318 (2008 est.)

Chile
males age 16-49: 3,542,448
females age 16-49: 3,500,059 (2008 est.)

China
males age 16-49: 313,321,639
females age 16-49: 295,951,438 (2008 est.)

Colombia
males age 16-49: 8,056,336
females age 16-49: 9,919,952 (2008 est.)

Comoros
males age 16-49: 121,550
females age 16-49: 131,015 (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
males age 16-49: 8,562,989 (2008
est.)

Congo, Republic of the
males age 16-49: 519,296
females age 16-49: 509,564 (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
males age 16-49: 958,013
females age 16-49: 925,727 (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
males age 16-49: 2,393,104
females age 16-49: 2,381,607 (2008 est.)

Croatia
males age 16-49: 771,323
females age 16-49: 855,937 (2008 est.)

Cuba
males age 16-49: 2,543,044
females age 16-49: 2,481,823 (2008 est.)

Cyprus
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 165,042
females age 16-49: 158,869 (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
males age 16-49: 2,100,789
females age 16-49: 2,018,101 (2008 est.)

Denmark
males age 16-49: 1,012,716
females age 16-49: 996,436 (2008 est.)

Djibouti
males age 16-49: 54,460
females age 16-49: 51,684 (2008 est.)

Dominica
males age 16-49: 15,648 (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
males age 16-49: 2,020,490
females age 16-49: 1,883,875 (2008 est.)

Ecuador
males age 16-49: 3,030,664
females age 16-49: 3,037,892 (2008 est.)

Egypt
males age 16-49: 18,153,158
females age 16-49: 17,405,837 (2008 est.)

El Salvador
males age 16-49: 1,168,406
females age 16-49: 1,519,375 (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
males age 16-49: 101,712
females age 16-49: 104,381 (2008 est.)

Eritrea
males age 16-49: 715,531
females age 16-49: 731,511 (2008 est.)

Estonia
males age 16-49: 218,448
females age 16-49: 264,187 (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
males age 16-49: 10,060,775
females age 16-49: 9,854,710 (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
males age 16-49: 9,735 (2008 est.)

Fiji
males age 16-49: 189,282
females age 16-49: 202,350 (2008 est.)

Finland
males age 16-49: 965,131
females age 16-49: 923,224 (2008 est.)

France
males age 16-49: 12,110,718
females age 16-49: 11,849,988 (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
males age 16-49: 64,287 (2008 est.)

Gabon
males age 16-49: 192,717
females age 16-49: 188,539 (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
males age 16-49: 230,202
females age 16-49: 244,480 (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
males age 16-49: 291,467 (2008 est.)

Georgia
males age 16-49: 910,720
females age 16-49: 967,566 (2008 est.)

Germany
males age 16-49: 15,906,930
females age 16-49: 15,051,183 (2008 est.)

Ghana
males age 16-49: 3,737,481
females age 16-49: 3,729,699 (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
males age 16-49: 5,244 (2008 est.)

Greece
males age 16-49: 2,084,469
females age 16-49: 2,065,956 (2008 est.)

Greenland
males age 16-49: 10,739 (2008 est.)

Grenada
males age 16-49: 20,249 (2008 est.)

Guatemala
males age 16-49: 2,310,272
females age 16-49: 2,622,450 (2008 est.)

Guinea
males age 16-49: 1,268,193
females age 16-49: 1,259,913 (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
males age 16-49: 188,605
females age 16-49: 195,429 (2008 est.)

Guyana
males age 16-49: 150,623 (2008 est.)

Haiti
males age 16-49: 1,303,743
females age 16-49: 1,332,316 (2008 est.)

Honduras
males age 16-49: 1,359,406
females age 16-49: 1,371,418 (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
males age 16-49: 1,438,165
females age 16-49: 1,561,252 (2008 est.)

Hungary
males age 16-49: 1,890,105
females age 16-49: 1,943,422 (2008 est.)

Iceland
males age 16-49: 62,342 (2008 est.)

India
males age 16-49: 231,161,111
females age 16-49: 236,633,962 (2008 est.)

Indonesia
males age 16-49: 52,367,788
females age 16-49: 52,129,123 (2008 est.)

Iran
males age 16-49: 17,416,126
females age 16-49: 16,928,226 (2008 est.)

Iraq
males age 16-49: 6,019,795
females age 16-49: 5,878,905 (2008 est.)

Ireland
males age 16-49: 854,982
females age 16-49: 852,592 (2008 est.)

Israel
males age 16-49: 1,452,926
females age 16-49: 1,383,796 (2008 est.)

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

Jamaica
males age 16-49: 566,477
females age 16-49: 583,075 (2008 est.)

Japan
males age 16-49: 22.963 million
females age 16-49: 22,134,127 (2008 est.)

Jordan
males age 16-49: 1,546,766
females age 16-49: 1,339,366 (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
males age 16-49: 2,871,205
females age 16-49: 3,551,032 (2008 est.)

Kenya
males age 16-49: 5,688,259
females age 16-49: 5,396,166 (2008 est.)

Kiribati
males age 16-49: 17,577 (2008 est.)

Korea, North
males age 16-49: 5,141,240
females age 16-49: 5,139,447 (2008 est.)

Korea, South
males age 16-49: 11,282,699
females age 16-49: 10,683,668 (2008 est.)

Kuwait
males age 16-49: 892,816
females age 16-49: 500,540 (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
males age 16-49: 1,061,942
females age 16-49: 1,211,249 (2008 est.)

Laos
males age 16-49: 993,162
females age 16-49: 1,052,053 (2008 est.)

Latvia
males age 16-49: 412,849
females age 16-49: 468,827 (2008 est.)

Lebanon
males age 16-49: 934,828
females age 16-49: 948,327 (2008 est.)

Lesotho
males age 16-49: 262,101
females age 16-49: 238,350 (2008 est.)

Liberia
males age 16-49: 371,287
females age 16-49: 373,265 (2008 est.)

Libya
males age 16-49: 1,439,941
females age 16-49: 1,381,914 (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
males age 16-49: 6,584 (2008 est.)

Lithuania
males age 16-49: 678,434
females age 16-49: 749,483 (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
males age 16-49: 95,152
females age 16-49: 93,792 (2008 est.)

Macau
males age 16-49: 100,826 (2008 est.)

Macedonia
males age 16-49: 444,693
females age 16-49: 428,341 (2008 est.)

Madagascar
males age 16-49: 3,034,600
females age 16-49: 3,271,732 (2008 est.)

Malawi
males age 16-49: 1,676,117 (2008 est.)

Malaysia
males age 16-49: 5,374,006
females age 16-49: 5,316,865 (2008 est.)

Maldives
males age 16-49: 72,150
females age 16-49: 69,058 (2008 est.)

Mali
males age 16-49: 1,594,184
females age 16-49: 1,529,871 (2008 est.)

Malta
males age 16-49: 80,227
females age 16-49: 76,623 (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
males age 16-49: 12,864 (2008 est.)

Mauritania
males age 16-49: 463,305
females age 16-49: 484,777 (2008 est.)

Mexico
males age 16-49: 22,188,284
females age 16-49: 24,884,614 (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
males age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.)

Moldova
males age 16-49: 877,070
females age 16-49: 994,091 (2008 est.)

Monaco
males age 16-49: 5,376 (2008 est.)

Mongolia
males age 16-49: 696,652
females age 16-49: 731,480 (2008 est.)

Montserrat
males age 16-49: 2,097 (2008 est.)

Morocco
males age 16-49: 7,627,988
females age 16-49: 7,754,873 (2008 est.)

Mozambique
males age 16-49: 2,287,526 (2008 est.)

Namibia
males age 16-49: 313,497 (2008 est.)

Nepal
males age 16-49: 5,146,958
females age 16-49: 4,724,495 (2008 est.)

Netherlands
males age 16-49: 3,233,773
females age 16-49: 3,150,790 (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
males age 16-49: 46,102
females age 16-49: 47,219 (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
males age 16-49: 47,342 (2008 est.)

New Zealand
males age 16-49: 833,073
females age 16-49: 822,807 (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
males age 16-49: 1,235,400
females age 16-49: 1,302,318 (2008 est.)

Niger
males age 16-49: 1,665,108
females age 16-49: 1,548,965 (2008 est.)

Nigeria
males age 16-49: 18,556,755
females age 16-49: 17,288,225 (2008 est.)

Norway
males age 16-49: 888,101
females age 16-49: 862,159 (2008 est.)

Oman
males age 16-49: 663,881
females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)

Pakistan
males age 16-49: 32,453,913
females age 16-49: 31,369,057 (2008 est.)

Palau
males age 16-49: 4,397 (2008 est.)

Panama
males age 16-49: 673,103 (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
males age 16-49: 1,080,466
females age 16-49: 1,092,040 (2008 est.)

Paraguay
males age 16-49: 1,327,730
females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)

Peru
males age 16-49: 5,796,449
females age 16-49: 6,217,524 (2008 est.)

Philippines
males age 16-49: 18,232,050
females age 16-49: 19,827,538 (2008 est.)

Poland
males age 16-49: 7,937,840
females age 16-49: 7,949,677 (2008 est.)

Portugal
males age 16-49: 2,099,647
females age 16-49: 2,060,559 (2008 est.)

Qatar
males age 16-49: 258,159
females age 16-49: 143,999 (2008 est.)

Romania
males age 16-49: 4,572,017
females age 16-49: 4,644,474 (2008 est.)

Russia
males age 16-49: 21,488,878
females age 16-49: 28,760,976 (2008 est.)

Rwanda
males age 16-49: 1,404,066
females age 16-49: 1,403,700 (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
males age 16-49: 8,064
females age 16-49: 8,464 (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
males age 16-49: 38,660 (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
males age 16-49: 28,518 (2008 est.)

Samoa
males age 16-49: 42,359 (2008 est.)

San Marino
males age 16-49: 5,345 (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
males age 16-49: 33,735
females age 16-49: 36,779 (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
males age 16-49: 7,398,417
females age 16-49: 5,525,357 (2008 est.)

Senegal
males age 16-49: 1,866,602
females age 16-49: 1,947,076 (2008 est.)

Seychelles
males age 16-49: 17,942
females age 16-49: 20,436 (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
males age 16-49: 671,418 (2008 est.)

Singapore
males age 16-49: 1,038,603 (2008 est.)

Slovakia
males age 16-49: 1,166,833
females age 16-49: 1,156,874 (2008 est.)

Slovenia
males age 16-49: 406,951
females age 16-49: 395,444 (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
males age 16-49: 116,891 (2008 est.)

Somalia
males age 16-49: 1,274,783
females age 16-49: 1,317,991 (2008 est.)

South Africa
males age 16-49: 6,042,498
females age 16-49: 5,471,103 (2008 est.)

Spain
males age 16-49: 8,228,426
females age 16-49: 7,990,678 (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
males age 16-49: 4,477,437
females age 16-49: 4,683,716 (2008 est.)

Sudan
males age 16-49: 5,586,468
females age 16-49: 5,678,427 (2008 est.)

Suriname
males age 16-49: 105,770
females age 16-49: 109,666 (2008 est.)

Swaziland
males age 16-49: 122,260 (2008 est.)

Sweden
males age 16-49: 1,699,115
females age 16-49: 1,637,868 (2008 est.)

Switzerland
males age 16-49: 1,513,984
females age 16-49: 1,478,761 (2008 est.)

Syria
males age 16-49: 4,242,401
females age 16-49: 4,218,648 (2008 est.)

Taiwan
males age 16-49: 5,112,737
females age 16-49: 5,036,346 (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
males age 16-49: 1,391,287
females age 16-49: 1,561,826 (2008 est.)

Tanzania
males age 16-49: 5,278,833 (2008 est.)

Thailand
males age 16-49: 12,968,674
females age 16-49: 14,058,779 (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
males age 16-49: 224,096
females age 16-49: 231,901 (2008 est.)

Togo
males age 16-49: 897,195
females age 16-49: 913,327 (2008 est.)

Tonga
males age 16-49: 25,520
females age 16-49: 26,893 (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
males age 16-49: 215,310
females age 16-49: 180,526 (2008 est.)

Tunisia
males age 16-49: 2,539,962
females age 16-49: 2,465,295 (2008 est.)

Turkey
males age 16-49: 17,011,635
females age 16-49: 16,433,364 (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
males age 16-49: 1,064,965
females age 16-49: 1,136,553 (2008 est.)

Uganda
males age 16-49: 3,856,365
females age 16-49: 3,769,120 (2008 est.)

Ukraine
males age 16-49: 7,141,814
females age 16-49: 9,428,876 (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
males age 16-49: 2,004,558
females age 16-49: 760,637 (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
males age 16-49: 12,121,602
females age 16-49: 11,616,582 (2008 est.)

United States
males age 16-49: 59,413,358
females age 16-49: 59,187,183 (2008 est.)

Uruguay
males age 16-49: 703,955
females age 16-49: 690,296 (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
males age 16-49: 5,684,540
females age 16-49: 6,432,976 (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
males age 16-49: 40,577 (2008 est.)

Venezuela
males age 16-49: 5,280,974
females age 16-49: 5,768,814 (2008 est.)

Vietnam
males age 16-49: 18,849,274
females age 16-49: 20,575,884 (2008 est.)

Yemen
males age 16-49: 3,585,947
females age 16-49: 3,619,195 (2008 est.)

Zambia
males age 16-49: 1,329,343
females age 16-49: 1,218,114 (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
males age 16-49: 1,643,036
females age 16-49: 1,404,663 (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2026 Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

Afghanistan
male: 371,451
female: 351,295 (2008 est.)

Albania
male: 36,340
female: 33,077 (2008 est.)

Algeria
male: 374,365
female: 360,942 (2008 est.)

American Samoa
male: 806
female: 781 (2008 est.)

Andorra
male: 412
female: 395 (2008 est.)

Angola
male: 142,791
female: 139,539 (2008 est.)

Anguilla
male: 103
female: 103 (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
male: 744
female: 742 (2008 est.)

Argentina
male: 348,310
female: 332,944 (2008 est.)

Armenia
male: 30,548
female: 29,170 (2008 est.)

Aruba
male: 705
female: 719 (2008 est.)

Australia
male: 144,934
female: 137,511 (2008 est.)

Austria
male: 50,869
female: 48,246 (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
male: 94,402
female: 89,686 (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
male: 3,016
female: 3,024 (2008 est.)

Bahrain
male: 6,543
female: 6,429 (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
male: 1,311,850
female: 1,246,012 (2008 est.)

Barbados
male: 2,157
female: 2,155 (2008 est.)

Belarus
male: 64,232
female: 60,788 (2008 est.)

Belgium
male: 64,659
female: 61,881 (2008 est.)

Belize
male: 3,580
female: 3,449 (2008 est.)

Benin
male: 97,543
female: 94,008 (2008 est.)

Bermuda
male: 426
female: 445 (2008 est.)

Bhutan
male: 7,847
female: 7,530 (2008 est.)

Bolivia
male: 107,051
female: 103,620 (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
male: 30,246
female: 28,189 (2008 est.)

Botswana
male: 23,007
female: 22,551 (2008 est.)

Brazil
male: 1,666,791
female: 1,608,363 (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
male: 184
female: 179 (2008 est.)

Brunei
male: 3,223
female: 3,182 (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
male: 39,477
female: 37,339 (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
male: 176,358
female: 173,856 (2008 est.)

Burma
male: 423,809
female: 415,843 (2008 est.)

Burundi
male: 98,105
female: 98,533 (2008 est.)

Cambodia
male: 185,959
female: 182,558 (2008 est.)

Cameroon
male: 212,205
female: 207,545 (2008 est.)

Canada
male: 227,435
female: 215,556 (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
male: 5,566
female: 5,441 (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
male: 336
female: 336 (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
male: 54,655
female: 54,420 (2008 est.)

Chad
male: 116,824
female: 117,831 (2008 est.)

Chile
male: 147,518
female: 141,139 (2008 est.)

China
male: 10,760,380
female: 9,710,032 (2008 est.)

Colombia
male: 442,403
female: 433,192 (2008 est.)

Comoros
male: 7,901
female: 7,894 (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
male: 783,762
female: 780,922 (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
male: 45,671
female: 45,248 (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
male: 157
female: 133 (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
male: 40,767
female: 38,899 (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
male: 234,032
female: 230,799 (2008 est.)

Croatia
male: 27,500
female: 25,893 (2008 est.)

Cuba
male: 79,945
female: 76,014 (2008 est.)

Cyprus
male: 6,482
female: 6,208 (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
male: 63,124
female: 59,786 (2008 est.)

Denmark
male: 36,561
female: 34,603 (2008 est.)

Djibouti
male: 5,618
female: 5,609 (2008 est.)

Dominica
male: 756
female: 713 (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
male: 96,971
female: 93,116 (2008 est.)

Ecuador
male: 144,821
female: 139,091 (2008 est.)

Egypt
male: 825,300
female: 786,590 (2008 est.)

El Salvador
male: 73,915
female: 71,252 (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
male: 6,784
female: 6,543 (2008 est.)

Eritrea
male: 60,490
female: 60,639 (2008 est.)

Estonia
male: 8,322
female: 7,846 (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
male: 887,061
female: 896,048 (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
male: 400
female: 387 (2008 est.)

Fiji
male: 9,077
female: 8,728 (2008 est.)

Finland
male: 34,152
female: 32,870 (2008 est.)

France
male: 401,379
female: 382,409 (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
male: 2,699
female: 2,589 (2008 est.)

Gabon
male: 16,558
female: 16,577 (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
male: 19,650
female: 19,582 (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
male: 19,275
female: 18,309 (2008 est.)

Georgia
male: 35,917
female: 34,566 (2008 est.)

Germany
male: 442,972
female: 420,801 (2008 est.)

Ghana
male: 273,265
female: 267,204 (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
male: 190
female: 185 (2008 est.)

Greece
male: 53,858
female: 50,488 (2008 est.)

Greenland
male: 534
female: 503 (2008 est.)

Grenada
male: 1,034
female: 970 (2008 est.)

Guam
male: 1,665
female: 1,547 (2008 est.)

Guatemala
male: 161,550
female: 159,760 (2008 est.)

Guernsey
male: 379
female: 353 (2008 est.)

Guinea
male: 106,967
female: 104,631 (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
male: 16,634
female: 16,841 (2008 est.)

Guyana
male: 6,713
female: 6,451 (2008 est.)

Haiti
male: 105,655
female: 104,376 (2008 est.)

Honduras
male: 90,876
female: 87,292 (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
male: 42,173
female: 38,753 (2008 est.)

Hungary
male: 62,197
female: 59,267 (2008 est.)

Iceland
male: 2,393
female: 2,317 (2008 est.)

India
male: 11,592,516
female: 10,636,857 (2008 est.)

Indonesia
male: 2,181,303
female: 2,110,397 (2008 est.)

Iran
male: 766,668
female: 727,654 (2008 est.)

Iraq
male: 302,926
female: 294,747 (2008 est.)

Ireland
male: 28,610
female: 27,095 (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
male: 471
female: 447 (2008 est.)

Israel
male: 60,602
female: 57,532 (2008 est.)

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

Jamaica
male: 32,000
female: 31,428 (2008 est.)

Japan
male: 622,168
female: 590,153 (2008 est.)

Jersey
male: 587
female: 540 (2008 est.)

Jordan
male: 68,067
female: 65,512 (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
male: 145,495
female: 140,149 (2008 est.)

Kenya
male: 411,032
female: 406,794 (2008 est.)

Kiribati
male: 1,247
female: 1,226 (2008 est.)

Korea, North
male: 199,628
female: 192,388 (2008 est.)

Korea, South
male: 371,108
female: 325,408 (2008 est.)

Kuwait
male: 17,737
female: 18,519 (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
male: 60,706
female: 58,721 (2008 est.)

Laos
male: 73,973
female: 72,758 (2008 est.)

Latvia
male: 14,506
female: 13,982 (2008 est.)

Lebanon
male: 32,815
female: 31,610 (2008 est.)

Lesotho
male: 26,084
female: 26,006 (2008 est.)

Liberia
male: 30,448
female: 29,902 (2008 est.)

Libya
male: 61,305
female: 58,788 (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
male: 202
female: 222 (2008 est.)

Lithuania
male: 25,907
female: 24,735 (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
male: 3,066
female: 2,909 (2008 est.)

Macau
male: 4,601
female: 4,171 (2008 est.)

Macedonia
male: 15,141
female: 14,434 (2008 est.)

Madagascar
male: 230,088
female: 229,932 (2008 est.)

Malawi
male: 168,858
female: 168,946 (2008 est.)

Malaysia
male: 260,725
female: 247,309 (2008 est.)

Maldives
male: 4,749
female: 4,084 (2008 est.)

Mali
male: 144,293
female: 136,381 (2008 est.)

Malta
male: 2,815
female: 2,657 (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
male: 512
female: 494 (2008 est.)

Mauritania
male: 38,191
female: 38,638 (2008 est.)

Mauritius
male: 11,089
female: 10,843 (2008 est.)

Mayotte
male: 2,407
female: 2,401 (2008 est.)

Mexico
male: 1,110,544
female: 1,073,223 (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
male: 1,310
female: 1,262 (2008 est.)

Moldova
male: 33,053
female: 31,712 (2008 est.)

Monaco
male: 191
female: 182 (2008 est.)

Mongolia
male: 29,990
female: 29,256 (2008 est.)

Montenegro
male: 4,426
female: 4,201 (2008 est.)

Montserrat
male: 31
female: 39 (2008 est.)

Morocco
male: 355,479
female: 343,016 (2008 est.)

Mozambique
male: 257,261
female: 259,114 (2008 est.)

Namibia
male: 25,525
female: 25,182 (2008 est.)

Nauru
male: 173
female: 159 (2008 est.)

Nepal
male: 335,747
female: 312,297 (2008 est.)

Netherlands
male: 105,735
female: 100,747 (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
male: 1,855
female: 1,760 (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
male: 2,202
female: 2,121 (2008 est.)

New Zealand
male: 31,834
female: 30,243 (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
male: 72,689
female: 70,452 (2008 est.)

Niger
male: 150,728
female: 143,379 (2008 est.)

Nigeria
male: 1,663,025
female: 1,585,224 (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
male: 572
female: 594 (2008 est.)

Norway
male: 32,185
female: 30,683 (2008 est.)

Oman
male: 34,238
female: 33,139 (2008 est.)

Pakistan
male: 2,062,065
female: 1,936,916 (2008 est.)

Palau
male: 179
female: 165 (2008 est.)

Panama
male: 31,042
female: 29,969 (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
male: 62,865
female: 61,102 (2008 est.)

Paraguay
male: 72,109
female: 70,509 (2008 est.)

Peru
male: 306,260
female: 296,819 (2008 est.)

Philippines
male: 1,012,779
female: 977,030 (2008 est.)

Poland
male: 257,605
female: 245,832 (2008 est.)

Portugal
male: 64,910
female: 58,599 (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
male: 30,760
female: 29,469 (2008 est.)

Qatar
male: 6,224
female: 4,845 (2008 est.)

Romania
male: 127,706
female: 121,852 (2008 est.)

Russia
male: 821,103
female: 781,570 (2008 est.)

Rwanda
male: 111,791
female: 112,131 (2008 est.)

Saint Barthelemy
male: 21
female: 20 (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
male: 47
female: 43 (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
male: 367
female: 352 (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
male: 1,591
female: 1,504 (2008 est.)

Saint Martin
male: 186
female: 162 (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
male: 61
female: 58 (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
male: 1,224
female: 1,169 (2008 est.)

Samoa
male: 2,571
female: 2,454 (2008 est.)

San Marino
male: 156
female: 154 (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
male: 2,437
female: 2,394 (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
male: 271,905
female: 261,795 (2008 est.)

Senegal
male: 141,832
female: 139,541 (2008 est.)

Serbia
male: 66,263
female: 62,165 (2008 est.)

Seychelles
male: 770
female: 750 (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
male: 70,068
female: 73,930 (2008 est.)

Singapore
male: 27,742
female: 26,325 (2008 est.)

Slovakia
male: 38,183
female: 36,388 (2008 est.)

Slovenia
male: 10,516
female: 9,934 (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
male: 6,924
female: 6,679 (2008 est.)

Somalia
male: 95,446
female: 95,339 (2008 est.)

South Africa
male: 529,201
female: 522,678 (2008 est.)

Spain
male: 203,650
female: 191,352 (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
male: 174,065
female: 168,593 (2008 est.)

Sudan
male: 488,679
female: 469,547 (2008 est.)

Suriname
male: 4,329
female: 4,350 (2008 est.)

Swaziland
male: 15,951
female: 15,728 (2008 est.)

Sweden
male: 64,605
female: 61,110 (2008 est.)

Switzerland
male: 49,205
female: 45,220 (2008 est.)

Syria
male: 215,734
female: 203,106 (2008 est.)

Taiwan
male: 164,883
female: 152,085 (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
male: 84,137
female: 81,777 (2008 est.)

Tanzania
male: 478,812
female: 479,557 (2008 est.)

Thailand
male: 531,315
female: 511,288 (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
male: 13,045
female: 12,670 (2008 est.)

Togo
male: 69,156
female: 69,200 (2008 est.)

Tonga
male: 1,464
female: 1,412 (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
male: 8,671
female: 8,153 (2008 est.)

Tunisia
male: 101,794
female: 95,198 (2008 est.)

Turkey
male: 660,452
female: 638,527 (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
male: 57,615
female: 55,426 (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
male: 222
female: 214 (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
male: 128
female: 125 (2008 est.)

Uganda
male: 384,638
female: 381,990 (2008 est.)

Ukraine
male: 288,605
female: 276,324 (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
male: 25,856
female: 23,085 (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
male: 400,927
female: 383,593 (2008 est.)

United States
male: 2,186,440
female: 2,079,688 (2008 est.)

Uruguay
male: 27,082
female: 26,075 (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
male: 324,094
female: 323,923 (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
male: 2,385
female: 2,290 (2008 est.)

Venezuela
male: 275,323
female: 274,106 (2008 est.)

Vietnam
male: 903,734
female: 845,306 (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
male: 861
female: 897 (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
male: 172
female: 170 (2008 est.)

West Bank
male: 29,866
female: 28,372 (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
male: 4,658
female: 4,545 (2008 est.)

Yemen
male: 268,468
female: 258,196 (2008 est.)

Zambia
male: 147,358
female: 146,771 (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
male: 144,601
female: 147,627 (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2028 Background

Afghanistan
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and
founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between
the British and Russian empires until it won independence from
notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy
ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet
Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist
regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew
in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported
anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars
saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline
Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the
country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks in New York City, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban
Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering
Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001
established a process for political reconstruction that included the
adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and
National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI
became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and
the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December.
Despite gains toward building a stable central government, a
resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability -
particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challenges
for the Afghan Government.

Akrotiri
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created
the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty
and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the
Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the
Western Sovereign Base Area.

Albania
Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in
1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took
over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR
(until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s,
Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established
a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as
successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment,
widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure,
powerful organized crime networks, and combative political
opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development
since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies
remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free
and fair since the restoration of political stability following the
collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections,
the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on
pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth,
and decreasing the size of government. The election, and
particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an
important step forward. Although Albania's economy continues to
grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by
a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation
infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in
managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is
continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the
global war on terrorism.

Algeria
After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians
fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962.
Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front
(FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the
subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to
counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising
first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the
December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and
postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular
elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming
power. The army began a crackdown on the FIS that spurred FIS
supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government
later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate
religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who
progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an
insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which
resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate
massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the
upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic
Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of
armed militants persist in confronting government forces and
conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army
placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a
fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide
reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face
BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority
Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a
shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies,
government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing
activities of extremist militants. The 2006 merger of the Salafist
Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) with al-Qaida (followed by a
name change to al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb)
signaled an increase in bombings, including high-profile,
mass-casualty suicide attacks targeted against the Algerian
government and Western interests. Algeria must also diversify its
petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but
which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and
infrastructure problems.

American Samoa
Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered"
by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries
in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899
treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago.
The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern
islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.

Andorra
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a
unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from
1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of
Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular
heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a
parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous
Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through
its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are
attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Angola
Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year
civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the
Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by
Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace
seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but
UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls.
Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people
displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in
2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on
power. President DOS SANTOS has announced legislative elections will
be held in September 2008, with presidential elections planned for
sometime in 2009.

Anguilla
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650,
Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th
century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants -
was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two
years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this
arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming
a separate British dependency.

Antarctica
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was
not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American
commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions
began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south
of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that
Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up a range
of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support
scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial
claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to
form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the
continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies
nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in
1959, it entered into force in 1961.

Antigua and Barbuda
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the
islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians
populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in
1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by
the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run
the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands
became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of
Nations in 1981.

Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five
oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and
the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US
and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two
important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river,
and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.

Argentina
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared
their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay
went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina.
The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by
immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and
Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860
to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's
history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict
between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule
and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a
military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983,
and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable
of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent
public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.
The economy has recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002.

Armenia
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally
adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy,
over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires
including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain
preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to
Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan
began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after
both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not
only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan
proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their
inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution.
Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common
border because of the Armenian separatists' control of
Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Aruba
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired
by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by
three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by
prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The
last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a
separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in
1990.

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
These uninhabited islands came under
Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years
later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine
habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier
Island, a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000.

Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the
world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the
Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal
(Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of
Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US)
are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the
International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to
delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion
of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.

Australia
Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from
Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began
exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were
made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name
of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and
19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of
Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural
resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing
industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in
World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed
itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy.
It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the
1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted
in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include climate-change issues such
as the depletion of the ozone layer and more frequent droughts, and
management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great
Barrier Reef.

Austria
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian
Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in
World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and
subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's
status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955
ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade
unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year
declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for
Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and
Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the
meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country,
Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and
majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to
1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to
resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan
has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 600,000
internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption
is ubiquitous, and the government has been accused of
authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in
recent years, the promise of widespread wealth from development of
Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.

Bahamas, The
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher
COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492.
British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became
a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973,
The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking
and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is
a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly
shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for
smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Bahrain
In 1783, the al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the
Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a
series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made
Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its
independence in 1971. Bahrain's small size and central location
among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing
act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining
oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and
refining and has transformed itself into an international banking
center. King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in
1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations
with the Shia community. Shia political societies participated in
2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest
Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the
elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shi'a discontent has
resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional
low-level violence.

Bangladesh
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of
Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to
dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947,
West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from
India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of
Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward
arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units
separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and
dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West
Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. A military-backed
caretaker regime suspended planned parliamentary elections in
January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root
out corruption; the regime has pledged new democratic elections by
the end of 2008. About a third of this extremely poor country floods
annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic
development.

Barbados
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the
British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on
the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy
remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production
through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social
and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete
independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and
manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.

Belarus
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR,
Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer
political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former
Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state
union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic
integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the
accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his
election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Alexandr
LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian
means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press,
peaceful assembly, and religion continue.

Belgium
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it
was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country
prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically
advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions
between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the
French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to
constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition
and autonomy.

Belize
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their
decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and
Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it
formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation
until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment,
growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban
crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.

Benin
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West
African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became
a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960,
as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended
in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the
establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles.
A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later,
free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as
president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa
from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by
elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were
alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006
and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and
independent. YAYI has begun a high profile fight against corruption
and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Bermuda
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English
colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North
American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism
continues to be important to the island's economy, although
international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has
developed into a highly successful offshore financial center.
Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly
defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the
issue.

Bhutan
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu,
under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for
ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, a
monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed
whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal
affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs.
This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years
later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan
annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country
received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and
foreign relations. A refugee issue of over 100,000 Bhutanese in
Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the
government's draft constitution - which would introduce major
democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for
its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his
son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience
as head of state before the democratic transition. In early 2007,
India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty to allow Bhutan greater
autonomy in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu
continues to coordinate policy decisions in this area with New
Delhi. In July 2007, seven ministers of Bhutan's ten-member cabinet
resigned to join the political process, and the cabinet acted as a
caretaker regime until democratic elections for seats to the
country's first parliament were completed in March 2008. The king
ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008.

Bolivia
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR,
broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history
has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups.
Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have
faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and
illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected
Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the
widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule
in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's
traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.
However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have
exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian
populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of
the eastern lowlands.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of
sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of
independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a
referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported
by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed
resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and
joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994,
Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from
three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in
Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that
brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final
agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace
Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries
and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government charged
with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also
recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities
roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The
Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most
government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR)
was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian
aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international
peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to
implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR
was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR)
whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union
peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their
mission is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.
EUFOR's mission changed from peacekeeping to civil policing in
October 2007, with its presence reduced from nearly 7,000 to 2,500
troops.

Botswana
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana
adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of
uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and
significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic
economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,
dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due
to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature
preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of
HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and
comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

Bouvet Island
This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely
covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered
in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named.
No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In
1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied
the island the previous year. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet
Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since
1977, it has run an automated meteorological station on the island.

Brazil
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil
became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far
the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil
overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the
governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime
peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to
pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its
interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool,
it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional
leader. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing
problems.

British Indian Ocean Territory
Formerly administered as part of the
British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean
Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK
in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later
transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976.
Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups
comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of
the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support
facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Between 1967
and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the
islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the
Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the
establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as
compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians.
Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits
against the British Government seeking further compensation and the
right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court
rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004
BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the
archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia.
In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK,
ruled in favor of the British Goverment by overturning the lower
court rulings and finding no right of return on the part of the
Chagossians.

British Virgin Islands
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib
Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and
then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the
British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were
granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger
and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is
the legal currency.

Brunei
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th
and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of
northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently
entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal
succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In
1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was
achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six
centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas
fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.

Bulgaria
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the
local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first
Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with
the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the
end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman
Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of
Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having
fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within
the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in
1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its
first multiparty election since World War II and began the
contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a
market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption,
and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved
independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the
1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early
1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987
military coup and has won every election since then. Burkina Faso's
high population density and limited natural resources result in poor
economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest
in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of
several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find
employment in neighboring countries.

Burma
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886)
and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered
as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,
self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and
later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections
in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National
League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling
junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize
recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to
1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently
transferred to house arrest. After Burma's ruling junta in August
2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of
Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and
Buddhist monks. In late September 2007, the government brutally
suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting
thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the
regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest
persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests.
The junta appointed Labor Minister AUNG KYI in October 2007 as
liaison to AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who remains under house arrest and
virtually incommunicado with her party and supporters.

Burundi
Burundi's first democratically elected president was
assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office,
triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi
factions. More than 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict
that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of
Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in
neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing
agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels
in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an
integrated defense force, established a new constitution in 2005,
and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government,
led by President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered
ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in September of 2006
but still faces many challenges.

Cambodia
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers,
descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of
Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th
centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam)
weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king
placed the country under French protection in 1863 and it became
part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in
World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953.
In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge
forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At
least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships,
or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A
December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the
countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off
almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated
democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected
by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore
some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional
fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second
round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another
coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining
elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the
remaining Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored
tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were
relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between
contending political parties before a coalition government was
formed. In October 2004, King SIHANOUK abdicated the throne due to
illness and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to
succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007,
and there was little in the way of pre-election violence that
preceded prior elections. National elections are scheduled for July
2008.

Cameroon
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon
merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally
enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of
agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry.
Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power
remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Canada
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada
became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the
British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across
an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of
meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and
education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in
predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its
diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the
environment.

Cape Verde
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by
the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a
trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and
resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the
British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by
Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within
the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved
in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Central African Republic
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari
became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After
three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments
- civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade.
President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by
unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by
General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government.
Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups
and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the
municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and
May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in neighboring nations, Chad,
Sudan, and the DRC, continues to affect stability in the Central
African Republic as well.

Chad
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured
three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before
a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which has sporadically flared up despite
several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In
2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing
attacks into eastern Chad, despite signing peace agreements in
December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an
ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a
referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won
another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns
continued throughout 2006 and 2007, and the capital experienced a
significant rebel threat in early 2008.

Chile
Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century,
northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians (also
known as Mapuches) inhabited central and southern Chile. Although
Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the
Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific
(1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present
northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Araucanian
Indians were completely subjugated. A three-year-old Marxist
government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military
coup led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected
president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained
consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth,
reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the
country's commitment to democratic and representative government.
Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership
roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

China
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing
the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and
early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major
famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War
II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic
socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed
strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of
millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and
other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by
2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living
standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal
choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

Christmas Island
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the
island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate
mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to
Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared
a national park.

Clipperton Island
This isolated island was named for John
CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th
century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897.
Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took
possession in 1935.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
There are 27 coral islands in the group.
Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they
remained uninhabited until the 19th century. From the 1820s to 1978,
members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the
copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the
Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955.
The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split
between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on
Home Island.

Colombia
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from
the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and
Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and
anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups -
both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s.
The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since
about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and
large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence. More
than 32,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006
and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as a formal
organization had ceased to function. Still, some renegades continued
to engage in criminal activities. The Colombian Government has
stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the
country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative
departments. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence
spilling over their borders.

Comoros
Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups
since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands
of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999,
military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and
helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in
which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and
each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002
Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected
its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI
took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has
refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. In 2007,
BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing
to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros'
other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union
(AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying
sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and
Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed
by the island's inhabitants.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003. Joseph KABILA as president and four vice presidents represented the former government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil society. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006. KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006. The National Assembly was installed in September 2006. Its president, Vital KAMERHE, was chosen in December. Provincial assemblies were constituted in early 2007, and elected governors and national senators in January 2007.

Congo, Republic of the
Upon independence in 1960, the former French
region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter
century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a
democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest.
Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March
2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a
humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's
largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will
need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the
long term.

Cook Islands
Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the
islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900,
administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965,
residents chose self-government in free association with New
Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and
government deficits are continuing problems.

Coral Sea Islands
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a
million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were
declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited
except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets.
Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many
other islands and reefs.

Costa Rica
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th
century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved
unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease
from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives,
and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement
of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands.
The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In
1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces
that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later
it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this
federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica
proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th
century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the
country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a
large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to
include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of
living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Cote d'Ivoire
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the
development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment
made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African
states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December
1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged
elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular
protest forced him to step aside and brought Laurent GBAGBO into
power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military
launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces
claimed the northern half of the country, and in January 2003 were
granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the
auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and
rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December
2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the
civil war, such as land reform and grounds for citizenship, remained
unresolved. In March 2007 President GBAGBO and former New Force
rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed the Ouagadougou Political
Agreement. As a result of the agreement, SORO joined GBAGBO's
government as Prime Minister and the two agreed to reunite the
country by dismantling the zone of confidence separating North from
South, integrate rebel forces into the national armed forces, and
hold elections. Several thousand French and UN troops remain in Cote
d'Ivoire to help the parties implement their commitments and to
support the peace process.

Croatia
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the
Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as
Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal
independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO.
Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991,
it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before
occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under
UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was
returned to Croatia in 1998.

Cuba
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after
the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492
and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next
several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to
work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the
launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from
Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became
increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and
occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. It was US
intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally
overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established
Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year
transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959;
his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five
decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of
his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's Communist revolution, with
Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa
during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly
recovering from a severe economic downturn in 1990, following the
withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6
billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of
the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US -
using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the
southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard
intercepted 2,864 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of
Florida in fiscal year 2006.

Cyprus
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960
following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the
Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head
in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.
Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into
enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek
Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by
military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a
third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself
the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is
recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered
talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island -
ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an
April 2004 referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May
2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and
obligations - applies only to the areas under direct government
control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish
Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document
their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy
the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states.
The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the
impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish and Cypriot
Governments to reopen unification negotiations.

Czech Republic
Following the First World War, the closely related
Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to
form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's
leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of
other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the
Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II,
a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of
influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the
efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule
and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations
the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the
collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its
freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993,
the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national
components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic
joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Denmark
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north
European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation
that is participating in the general political and economic
integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the
EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements
of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and
issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

Dhekelia
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created
the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty
and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign
Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base
Area.

Djibouti
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became
Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian
one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999.
Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war
that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord
between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999,
Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the
election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and
final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic
location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important
transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east
African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to
France, which maintains a significant military presence in the
country, but also has strong ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the
only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line
state in the global war on terrorism.

Dominica
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be
colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the
native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763,
which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after
independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and
tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia
CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who
remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still
living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining
in the eastern Caribbean.

Dominican Republic
Explored and claimed by Christopher COLUMBUS on
his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a
springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American
mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western
third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of
the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own
independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians
for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican
Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to
the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that
restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly
non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of
Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61. Juan BOSCH was elected
president in 1962, but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In
1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil
war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin
BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. BALAGUER
maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when
international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his
term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been
held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former
President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a
second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing
presidents to serve more than one term.

Ecuador
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire
until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New
Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between
1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When
Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of
the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost
territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border
war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although
Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period
has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have
contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three
democratically elected Presidents. In 2007, a Constituent Assembly
was elected to draft a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since
gaining independence.

Egypt
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood,
coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and
west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great
civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series
of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last
native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were
replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who
introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who
ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the
Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the
conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the
completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important
world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.
Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of
Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman
Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in
1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the
British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High
Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the
time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology
of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab
world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue
to overtax resources and stress society. The government has
struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through
economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.

El Salvador
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and
from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war,
which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when
the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for
military and political reforms.

Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968
after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a
mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest
on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO
has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup.
Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996
and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004
legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president
exerts almost total control over the political system and has
discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced
rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil
reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's
third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall
from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government
revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the
population's living standards.

Eritrea
Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a
federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years
later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991
with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was
overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year
border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN
auspices in December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping
operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone
(TSZ) on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission,
organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in
2002. However, both parties have been unable to reach agreement on
implementing the decision. On 30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia
Boundary Commission remotely demarcated the border by coordinates
and dissolved itself, leaving Ethiopia still occupying several
tracts of disputed territory, including the town of Badme. Eritrea
accepted the EEBC's "virtual demarcation" decision and called on
Ethiopia to remove its troops from the TSZ which it states is
Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not accepted the virtual
demarcation decision.

Estonia
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian
rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated
into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - it
regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to
promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined
both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Ethiopia
Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian
monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the
exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In
1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE
(who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn
by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee
problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of
rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first
multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea
late in the 1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. The
Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission in November 2007 remotely
demarcated the border by geographical coordinates, but final
demarcation of the boundary on the ground is currently on hold
because of Ethiopian objections to an international commission's
finding requiring it to surrender territory considered sensitive to
Ethiopia.

European Union
Following the two devastating World Wars of the first
half of the 20th century, a number of European leaders in the late
1940s became convinced that the only way to establish a lasting
peace was to unite the two chief belligerent nations - France and
Germany - both economically and politically. In 1950, the French
Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed an eventual union of all
Europe, the first step of which would be the integration of the coal
and steel industries of Western Europe. The following year the
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six
members, Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the
Netherlands, signed the Treaty of Paris.
The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was
made to integrate other parts of the countries' economies. In 1957,
the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC)
and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six
member states undertook to eliminate trade barriers among themselves
by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three
communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC),
creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the
European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were
initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first
direct elections were undertaken and they have been held every five
years since.
In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the
addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The 1980s saw
further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain
and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis
for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in
judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic
and monetary union - including a common currency. This further
integration created the European Union (EU). In 1995, Austria,
Finland, and Sweden joined the EU, raising the membership total to
15.
A new currency, the euro, was launched in world money markets on 1
January 1999; it became the unit of exchange for all of the EU
states except the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. In 2002,
citizens of the 12 euro-area countries began using the euro
banknotes and coins. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 -
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia - and in 2007 Bulgaria and
Romania joined, bringing the current membership to 27. In order to
ensure that the EU can continue to function efficiently with an
expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice (in force as of 1 February
2003) set forth rules streamlining the size and procedures of EU
institutions. An effort to establish an EU constitution, begun in
October 2004, failed to attain unanimous ratification. A new effort,
undertaken in June 2007, calls for the creation of an
Intergovernmental Conference to form a political agreement, known as
the Reform Treaty, which is to serve as a constitution. Unlike the
constitution, however, the Reform Treaty would amend existing
treaties rather than replace them.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Although first sighted by an
English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur
until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement
(French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over
to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject
of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then
between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the
islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina
invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an
expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce
fighting forced an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Faroe Islands
The population of the Faroe Islands is largely
descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The
islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th
century. A high degree of self government was attained in 1948.

Fiji
Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a
British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military
coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as
dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers
brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The
coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian
control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss
resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians
became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more
equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a
government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May
2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil.
Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a
democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia
QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006
military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially
appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was
appointed interim prime minister.

Finland
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden
from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy
of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917.
During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom
and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of
territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a
remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a
diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now
among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union
since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro
system at its initiation in January 1999.

France
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France
suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank
as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the
most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European
nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid
presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the
instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary
administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency,
the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of
efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement
progress toward an EU foreign policy.

French Polynesia
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups
during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up
widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll
after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January
1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been
considerably expanded.

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
In February 2007, the Iles
Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic
Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five
administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, Iles Crozet
and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic
islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses,
consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They
contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers
studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific
stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is
the Antarctic portion, which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice
of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in
1840.
Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the
island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from
a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt
at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station
established on the island in 1949 is still in use.
Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a
fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster
cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931,
seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when
rescue finally arrived.
Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau,
Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the
West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des
Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the
east), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the
largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in
1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for
whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they
became part of the TAAF in 1955.
Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, is made up of
one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A
permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at
Port-aux-Francais.
Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the
Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not
recognize it as a French dependency.
Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a
volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.
Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French
possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison
that staffs a weather station.
Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso
Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile
Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison
operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish
navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession
since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate.
Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological
station.
Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island
came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it
serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important
meteorological station.

Gabon
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since
independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El
Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state
in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for four
decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and
a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of
electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the
presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal
political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains
weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime.
Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural
resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon
one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Gambia, The
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.
Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived
federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two
nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions
have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led
a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned
political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in
1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president
in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.

Gaza Strip The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of Presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.

Georgia
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient
kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman
influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the
state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks
was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was
cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman
and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia
was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian
revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the
Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian
government to manipulate national legislative elections in November
2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of
Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early
2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National
Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has
been made in the years since independence, but this progress has
been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian military action in
South Ossetia in early August 2008 led to a Russian military
response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large
portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from
most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia
unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's
nations and international organizations.

Germany
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation,
Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and
defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in
two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and
left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US,
UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the
Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal
Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic
(GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic
and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO,
while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led
Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War
allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has
expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages
up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU
countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

Ghana
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast
and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first
sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence.
Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took
power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new
constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won
presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally
prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR
succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. Kufuor is constitutionally
barred from running for a third term in upcoming Presidential
elections, which are scheduled for December 2008.

Gibraltar
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded
to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British
garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum
held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British
dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK
led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication
links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997
and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar.
In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a
referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted
overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since
the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with
Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way
agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air
movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement
international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming
agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards
who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain
will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish
flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in
2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign
relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Greece
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829.
During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the
20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and
territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II,
Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied
by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war
between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the
latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military
dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and
forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974
democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary
republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC
(now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and
Monetary Union in 2001.

Greenland
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81%
ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from
Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and
Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined
the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but
withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing
quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish
parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Denmark
continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in
consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Grenada
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the
island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century.
The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar
estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took
the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the
19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export
crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In
1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full
independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada one of the
smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada
was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six
days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six
other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and
their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted
the following year and have continued since that time. Hurricane
Ivan struck Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.

Guam
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the
Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The
military installation on the island is one of the most strategically
important US bases in the Pacific.

Guatemala
The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and
surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost
three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence
in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced
a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year
guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement
formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000
people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million
refugees.

Guernsey
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last
remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in
both France and England. The islands were the only British soil
occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British
crown dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK
Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and
international representation.

Guinea
Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its
independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in
1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the
first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic
elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military
government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was
reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls have been
marred by irregularities. Guinea has maintained its internal
stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone
and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own
vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased.
Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with
corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006;
a third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in
many Guinean cities and prompted two weeks of martial law. To
appease the unions and end the unrest, CONTE named a new prime
minister in March 2007.

Guinea-Bissau
Since independence from Portugal in 1974,
Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military
upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian
dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a
path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was
characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the
purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s
and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected
president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny
and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in
May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over
power to opposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected
president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only
three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a
bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as
interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected
president pledging to pursue economic development and national
reconciliation.

Guyana
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana
had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to
black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured
servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This
ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent
politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and
since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented
governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is
considered the country's first free and fair election since
independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet
JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her
successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.

Haiti
The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of
Hispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - were
virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the
early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola,
and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the
island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on
forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest
in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African
slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th
century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint
L'OUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first
black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest
country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by
political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion
led to the forced resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand
ARISTIDE in February 2004, an interim government took office to
organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and
technical delays prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally
did inaugurate a democratically elected president and parliament in
May of 2006.

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
These uninhabited, barren,
sub-Antarctic islands were transferred from the UK to Australia in
1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the
islands have been designated a nature preserve.

Holy See (Vatican City)
Popes in their secular role ruled portions
of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the
mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the
newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were
further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between
a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by
three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of
Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy.
In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain
of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman
Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the
Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the
environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in
Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and
the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and
globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the
Catholic faith.

Honduras
Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras
became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades
of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came
to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for
anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government
and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist
guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998,
which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion
in damage.

Hong Kong
Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded
by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later
in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and
the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this
agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system would not be imposed on
Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy
in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50
years.

Hungary
Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many
centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in
Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the polyglot
Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The
country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a
revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met
with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership
of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy,
introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first
multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It
joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

Iceland
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish)
immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland
boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the
Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland
was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja
volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused
widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the
island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited
home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence
attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion
are first-rate by world standards.

India
Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto the Indian
subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier
Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The
Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. - which reached its
zenith under ASHOKA - united much of South Asia. The Golden Age
ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a
flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Arab incursions
starting in the 8th century and Turkic in the 12th were followed by
those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By
the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually
all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a
vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British
colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought
independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular
state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war
between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming
the separate nation of Bangladesh. India's nuclear weapons testing
in 1998 caused Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. The
dispute between the countries over the state of Kashmir is ongoing,
but discussions and confidence-building measures have led to
decreased tensions since 2002. Despite impressive gains in economic
investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as
significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive
poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's
five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger
than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important
access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb
(Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of
Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International
Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth
ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean
south of 60 degrees south latitude.

Indonesia
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th
century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945.
Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it
required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring
hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to
relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic
state and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current
issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism,
consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism,
implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, holding
the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and
controlling avian influenza. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic
peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to
democratic elections in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face a
low intensity separatist movement in Papua.

Iran
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in
1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was
forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a
theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority
vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the
Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable
only to the Assembly of Experts. US-Iranian relations have been
strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in
Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During
1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that
eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between
US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988. Iran has
been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in
Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US and UN
economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued
involvement in terrorism and conventional weapons proliferation.
Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI
as president in 1997 and similarly a reformer Majles (parliament) in
2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular
dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as
conservative politicians, through the control of unelected
institutions, prevented reform measures from being enacted and
increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide municipal
elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004,
conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government
institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of
hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. In December 2006 and
March 2007, the international community passed resolutions 1737 and
1747 respectively after Iran failed to comply with UN demands to
halt the enrichment of uranium or to agree to full IAEA oversight of
its nuclear program. In October 2007, Iranian entities were also
subject to US sanctions under EO 13382 designations for
proliferation activities and EO 13224 designations for providing
material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.

Iraq
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by
Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a
League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over
the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in
1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series
of military strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was
SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive
and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized
Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the
Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation,
the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of
mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN
verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC
resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of
Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime.
Coalition forces remain in Iraq under a UNSC mandate, helping to
provide security and to support the freely elected government. The
Coalition Provisional Authority, which temporarily administered Iraq
after the invasion, transferred full governmental authority on 28
June 2004 to the Iraqi Interim Government, which governed under the
Transitional Administrative Law for Iraq (TAL). Under the TAL,
elections for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were
held in Iraq on 30 January 2005. Following these elections, the
Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) assumed office. The TNA was
charged with drafting Iraq's permanent constitution, which was
approved in a 15 October 2005 constitutional referendum. An election
under the constitution for a 275-member Council of Representatives
(CoR) was held on 15 December 2005. The CoR approval in the
selection of most of the cabinet ministers on 20 May 2006 marked the
transition from the ITG to Iraq's first constitutional government in
nearly a half-century.

Ireland
Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C.
Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were
finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014.
English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than
seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions
and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched
off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in
independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern
(Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew
from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in
1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of
Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A
peace settlement for Northern Ireland is being implemented with some
difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed
and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the
Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Isle of Man
Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the
13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the
British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost
extinct Manx Gaelic language. Isle of Man is a British crown
dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government
remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and
international representation.

Israel
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their
mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and
Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently,
the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending
the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel
occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country
profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew
from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In
keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in
October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel
and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent
settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September
1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords")
guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding
territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26
October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May
2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it
had occupied since 1982. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working
in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took
the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the
conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties
leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However,
progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by
Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February
2005. An Israeli-Palestinian agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in
February 2005, along with an internally-brokered Palestinian
ceasefire, significantly reduced the violence. In the summer of
2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating
settlers and its military while retaining control over most points
of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS in January 2006
to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between
Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became prime
minister in March 2006; following an Israeli military operation in
Gaza in June-July 2006 and a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in
Lebanon in June-August 2006, he shelved plans to unilaterally
evacuate from most of the West Bank. OLMERT in June 2007 resumed
talks with the PA after HAMAS seized control of the Gaza Strip and
PA President Mahmoud ABBAS formed a new government without HAMAS.

Italy
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states
of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under
King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to
a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a
Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's
defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy
in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of
NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the
forefront of European economic and political unification, joining
the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include
illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment,
sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical
standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

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

Jan Mayen
This desolate, arctic, mountainous island was named after
a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614
(earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal
hunters and trappers over the following centuries, the island came
under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; the most recent
eruption occurred in 1985. It is the northernmost active volcano on
earth.

Japan
In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered
in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to
secure its power. For more than two centuries this policy enabled
Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture.
Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, Japan opened
its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a
regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and
Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin
Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched
a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 -
triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied
much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II,
Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of
the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national
unity, elected politicians - with heavy input from bureaucrats and
business executives - wield actual decisionmaking power. The economy
experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three
decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major
economic power, both in Asia and globally.

Jersey
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last
remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both
France and England. These islands were the only British soil
occupied by German troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown
dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is
constitutionally responsible for its defense and international
representation.

Jordan
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman
Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East.
Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from
Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence
in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's
long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he
successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers
(US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large
internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup
attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and
gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty
with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the
throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he
has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic
reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in
2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade
Association in 2001. Municipal elections were held in July 2007
under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were
reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held in
November 2007 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the
vast majority of seats. In November 2007, King Abdallah instructed
his new prime minister to focus on socioeconomic reform, developing
a healthcare and housing network for civilians and military
personnel, and improving the educational system.

Kazakhstan
Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes
who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united
as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th
century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the
1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens
were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures.
This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other
deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled
non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many
of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than
those of all the other Central Asian states combined, largely due to
the country's vast natural resources and a recent history of
political stability. Current issues include: developing a cohesive
national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast
energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a
sustainable economic growth; diversifying the economy outside the
oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's
competitiveness; and strengthening relations with neighboring states
and other foreign powers.

Kenya
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA
led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when
President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional
succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969
until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made
itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and
external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The
ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power
in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and
fraud, but were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the
Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following
fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate
of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow
Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed
the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption
platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the
constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU
to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement,
which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular
referendum in November 2005. KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007
brought charges of vote rigging from ODM candidate Raila ODINGA and
unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people
died. UN-sponsored talks in late February produced a powersharing
accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position
of prime minister.

Kiribati
The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892
and a colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the
Pacific War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites
of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons
in 1943. The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in
1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of
Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited
Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with
Kiribati.

Korea, North
An independent kingdom for much of its long history,
Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese
War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula.
Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half
coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist domination. After failing in
the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea
(ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under
its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible
diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessive
Soviet or Communist Chinese influence. The DPRK demonized the US as
the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded
propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies
around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of
Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM's son, the current ruler KIM
Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in
1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the
elder KIM's death in 1994. After decades of economic mismanagement
and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied
heavily on international aid to feed its population while continuing
to expend resources to maintain an army of approximately 1 million.
North Korea's history of regional military provocations,
proliferation of military-related items, and long-range missile
development - as well as its nuclear, chemical, and biological
weapons programs and massive conventional armed forces - are of
major concern to the international community. In December 2002,
following revelations that the DPRK was pursuing a nuclear weapons
program based on enriched uranium in violation of a 1994 agreement
with the US to freeze and ultimately dismantle its existing
plutonium-based program, North Korea expelled monitors from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In January 2003, it
declared its withdrawal from the international Non-Proliferation
Treaty. In mid-2003 Pyongyang announced it had completed the
reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods (to extract weapons-grade
plutonium) and was developing a "nuclear deterrent." Beginning in
August 2003, North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the
US have participated in the Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the
stalemate over the DPRK's nuclear programs. North Korea pulled out
of the talks in November 2005. It test-fired ballistic missiles in
July 2006 and conducted a nuclear test in October 2006. North Korea
returned to the Six-Party Talks in December 2006 and subsequently
signed two agreements on denuclearization. The 13 February 2007
Initial Actions Agreement shut down the North's nuclear facilities
at Yongbyon in July 2007. In the 3 October 2007 Second Phase Actions
Agreement, Pyongyang pledged to disable those facilities and provide
a correct and complete declaration of its nuclear programs. Under
the supervision of US nuclear experts, North Korean personnel
completed a number of agreed-upon disablement actions at the three
core facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex by the end of 2007.
North Korea also began the discharge of spent fuel rods in December
2007, but it did not provide a declaration of its nuclear programs
by the end of the year.

Korea, South
An independent Korean state or collection of states has
existed almost continuously for several millennia. Between its
initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor
Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single
independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War,
Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was
annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following
Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II,
a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of the
Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in
the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and
UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South
Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An
armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a
demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South
Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising
to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam
became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of
military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern
democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took
place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the North's
leader KIM Jong Il. In October 2007, a second North-South summit
took place between the South's President ROH Moo-hyun and the North
Korean leader.

Kosovo Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm until the early 13th century. The Serbian defeat at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War (1912). After World War II (1945), the government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia led by Josip TITO reorganized Kosovo as an autonomous province within the constituent republic of Serbia. Over the next four decades, Kosovo Albanians lobbied for greater autonomy, and Kosovo was granted the status almost equal to that of a republic in the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution. Despite the legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s leading to nationalist riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. Serbs in Kosovo complained of mistreatment and Serb nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan MILOSEVIC, exploited those charges to win support among Serbian voters many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new constitution in 1989 that drastically curtailed Kosovo's autonomy. Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum that declared Kosovo independent from Serbia. The MILOSEVIC regime carried out repressive measures against the Albanians in the early 1990s as the unofficial government of Kosovo, led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, tried to use passive resistance to gain international assistance and recognition of its demands for independence. In 1995, Albanians dissatisfied with RUGOVA's nonviolent strategy created the Kosovo Liberation Army and launched an insurgency. In 1998, MILOSEVIC authorized a counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians by Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces. The international community tried to resolve the conflict peacefully, but MILOSEVIC rejected the proposed international settlement - the Rambouillet Accords - leading to a three-month NATO bombing of Serbia beginning in March 1999, which forced Serbia to withdraw its military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. Under the resolution, Serbia's territorial integrity was protected, but it was UNMIK that assumed responsibility for governing Kosovo. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework, which established Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). In succeeding years UNMIK increasingly devolved responsibilities to the PISG. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's future status. Negotiations held intermittently between 2006 and 2007 on issues related to decentralization, religious heritage, and minority rights failed to yield a resolution between Serbia's willingness to grant a high degree of autonomy and the Albanians' call for full independence for Kosovo. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared its independence from Serbia.

Kuwait
Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling
Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.
Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following
several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a
ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four
days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure
damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since
returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature
that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.

Kyrgyzstan
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and
proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to
Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist
Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population
was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved
independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide
demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of
President Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990.
Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won
overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. The
political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April,
May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new
constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to
parliament and the government. In December 2006, the Kyrgyz
parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the
presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change.
By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution
were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the AKAYEV-era
2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed
referendum initiated by BAKIEV. The president then dissolved
parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the
new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in
December 2007 elections. Current concerns include: privatization of
state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political
freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic relations,
and combating terrorism.

Laos
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan
Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300
years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and
Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries
of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam
(Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century
when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty
of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the
Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a
six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime
closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise
and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986.
Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

Latvia
The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one
of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the
Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region
subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and
finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I,
but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized
by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its
independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the
Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to
Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Lebanon
Following the capture of Syria from the Ottoman Empire by
Anglo-French forces in 1918, France received a mandate over this
territory and separated out the region of Lebanon in 1920. France
granted this area independence in 1943. A lengthy civil war
(1975-1990) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since made
progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the
Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the
Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly
by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while
institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the
end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections.
Most militias have been disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) have extended authority over about two-thirds of the country.
Hizballah, a radical Shia organization listed by the US State
Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, retains its weapons.
During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if
Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly
east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Israel's withdrawal from
southern Lebanon in May 2000 and the passage in October 2004 of
UNSCR 1559 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon
and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - encouraged some
Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well.
The assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI and 20
others in February 2005 led to massive demonstrations in Beirut
against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"), and Syria
withdrew the remainder of its military forces in April 2005. In
May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first legislative elections since
the end of the civil war free of foreign interference, handing a
majority to the bloc led by Saad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's
son. Lebanon continues to be plagued by violence - Hizballah
kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in July 2006 leading to a 34-day
conflict with Israel. The LAF in May-September 2007 battled Sunni
extremist group Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian
refugee camp; and the country has witnessed a string of politically
motivated assassinations since the death of Rafiq HARIRI. Lebanese
politicians in November 2007 were unable to agree on a successor to
Emile LAHUD when he stepped down as president, creating a political
vacuum until the election of Army Commander Michel SULAYMAN in May
2008 and the formation of a new cabinet in July 2008.

Lesotho
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon
independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled
for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but
returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995.
Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of
military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny
following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody
intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under
the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent
constitutional reforms restored relative political stability.
Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National
Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and
aggrieved parties continue to periodically demonstrate their
distrust of the results.

Liberia
Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today
Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to
establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did
much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic,
social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original
settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military
coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In
December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's
regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was
killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections
that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An
August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the
resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes
charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's
civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government,
democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON
SIRLEAF to power. The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) maintains a
strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation
is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and
economic structure of this war-torn country will take many years.

Libya
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around
Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when
defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and
achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col.
Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political
system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of
socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is
supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a
unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself
as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during
the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya,
supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of
Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged
in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain
access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian
politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992
isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight
103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to
rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended
in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya
accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003,
Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to
develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism.
QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with
Western nations since then. He has received various Western European
leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations,
and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he
traveled to Brussels in April 2004. Libya has responded in good
faith to legal cases brought against it in US courts for terrorist
acts that predate its renunciation of violence. Claims for
compensation in the Lockerbie bombing, LaBelle disco bombing, and
UTA 772 bombing cases are ongoing. The US rescinded Libya's
designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In late
2007, Libya was elected by the General Assembly to a nonpermanent
seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established
within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and
Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign
state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815.
Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the
Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was
closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that
conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary
union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein
remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding
economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory
oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial
institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein
implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.

Lithuania
Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over
the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended
its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By
the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in
Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a
union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and
Poland formally united into a single dual state, the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795,
when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries.
Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was
annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US
and many other countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the
first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but
Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991
(following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops
withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy
for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both
NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Luxembourg
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815
and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than
half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger
measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun
by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when
it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO
the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six
founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the
European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

Macau
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the
Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December
1999. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one
country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system
would not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a high
degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs
for the next 50 years.

Macedonia
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from
Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of
what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted
a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its
constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations
continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.
Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the
support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led
to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the
fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of
minorities. Fully implementating the Framework Agreement and
stimulating economic growth and development continue to be
challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both
fronts over the past several years.

Madagascar
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a
French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During
1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held
ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second
presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and
1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential
election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and
Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country.
In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA
the winner. RAVALOMANANA is now in his second term following a
landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential
elections of 2006.

Malawi
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland
became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades
of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country
held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution
that came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and
subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial
economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the
legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant
legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population
growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and
the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

Malaysia
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain
established colonies and protectorates in the area of current
Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948,
the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the
Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was
formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the
East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of
Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the
country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian
confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and
Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the
22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003),
Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence
on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services,
and tourism.

Maldives
The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and
then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three
years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated
the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive
terms by single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital
Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to
embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative
political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was
sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be
realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In
June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" -
finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in
August. The first-ever presidential elections under a
multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008.
GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political
activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former
regime. Challenges facing the new president include strengthening
democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse.

Mali
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France
in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a
few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a
military coup - led by the current president Amadou TOURE - enabling
Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the
continent. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic
presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping
with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in
2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was subsequently elected
to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be
free and fair.

Malta
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814.
The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and
remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the
island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a
financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU
member in May 2004 and began to use the euro as currency in 2008.

Marshall Islands
After almost four decades under US administration
as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a
Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a
result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and
1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA)
Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile
defense network.

Mauritania
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the
southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in
1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the
Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory.
Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled
Mauritania with a heavy hand for over two decades. A series of
presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A
bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in
a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule.
Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in
April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected
president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a coup
deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Meanwhile,
the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black
population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor
(Arab-Berber) communities.

Mauritius
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the
10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the
16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in
honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French
assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important
naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a
plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in
1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically
important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an
important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy
operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence.
Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy
with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the
country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned
one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather,
declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel
production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests
over standards of living in the Creole community.

Mayotte
Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of
the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago
that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego
independence.

Mexico
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came
under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence
early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994
threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession
in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive
recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real
wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population,
inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities
for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern
states. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the
1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate - Vicente FOX
of the National Action Party (PAN) - defeated the party in
government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was
succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON.

Micronesia, Federated States of
In 1979 the Federated States of
Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a
constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of
Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004.
Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and
overdependence on US aid.

Moldova
Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the
Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from
the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan
territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority
population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a
"Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe,
Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as
its president in 2001.

Monaco
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day
Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control
in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in
1338. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with
a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then,
the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling
facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation
center.

Mongolia
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under
Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death
the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but
these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually
retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th
century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in
1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924.
Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990
and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC)
in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary
elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000, but
2004 elections reduced MPRP representation and, therefore, its
authority.

Montenegro
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century
when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of
Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its
independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th
centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop
princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality.
After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in
1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent
republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the
latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser
union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its
right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to
hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for
severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU
- allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June
2006.

Montserrat
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled
on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three
decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the
island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as
a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy
was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century.
Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population
fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano
that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity
since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

Morocco
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North
Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In
the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad
AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a
golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in
a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw
Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a
protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle
with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city
of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new
country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara
during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the
territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s
resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which
first met in 1997. Improvements in human rights have occurred and
there is a largely free press. Despite the continuing reforms,
ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

Mozambique
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a
close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites,
economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a
prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid
1990's. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO)
party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the
following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market
economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel
Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in
1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition
as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His
elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the
sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Mozambique has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the
civil war largely due to post-conflict reconstruction.

Namibia
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa
during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after
World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist
South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group
launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named
Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end
its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire
region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won
independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in
November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led
the country during its first 14 years of self rule.

Nauru
The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their
language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was
annexed by Germany in 1888 and its phosphate deposits began to be
mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium.
Nauru was occupied by Australian forces in World War I and
subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second
World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN
trust territory. It achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the
UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.

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

Nepal
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of
rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of
government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy
within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led
by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing nine-year civil
war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the
dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute
power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were
followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists
and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace
accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. The newly
formed interim parliament declared Nepal a democratic federal
republic at its first meeting in May 2008, the king vacated the
throne in mid-June 2008, and parliament elected the country's first
president the following month.

Netherlands
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence
from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading
seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around
the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the
Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a
separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I,
but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A
modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large
exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member
of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the
introduction of the euro in 1999.

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

New Caledonia
Settled by both Britain and France during the first
half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in
1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864.
Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in
the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will
transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from
France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to
conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide
whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and
independence.

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

Nicaragua
The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish
colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from
Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent
republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first
half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region
in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental
manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and
resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist
Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist
rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista
contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990,
1996, and 2001, saw the Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006
announced the return of former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra. Nicaragua's infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the
earlier civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being
rebuilt.

Niger
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced
single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was
forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which
resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting
brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by
Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military
officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections
that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.
TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries
in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds
to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and
subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended
droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately
Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement
for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's
northern region throughout 2007. Events have since evolved into a
budding insurrection.

Nigeria
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria
grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World
War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960.
Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was
adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government
was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of
reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been
squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and
institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to
experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both
the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant
irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its
longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general
elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian
transfer of power in the country's history.

Niue
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic
differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest
of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered.
The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200
in 1966 to an estimated 1,444 in 2008), with substantial emigration
to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Norfolk Island
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a
penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In
1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of
the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Northern Mariana Islands
Under US administration as part of the UN
Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana
Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to
forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status
began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political
union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24
March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in
1978.

Norway
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off
following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in
994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next
several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with
Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians
resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new
constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway
keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a
Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to
a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway
remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its
shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World
War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany
(1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a
member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the
late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is
on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning
for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held
in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Oman
The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on
Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established
sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship
treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British
political and military advisors increased, but it never became a
British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the
restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since.
His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the
outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the
UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to
maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five
oceans (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern
Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways
include the La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and
Torres Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic
Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the
Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60
degrees south.

Pakistan
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the
world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what
is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants
of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The
area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the
Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and
Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries;
the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The
separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of
Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was
never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two
wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A
third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India
capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani
politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of
Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan
conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of
Kashmir is ongoing, but discussions and confidence-building measures
have led to decreased tensions since 2002. Mounting public
dissatisfaction with President MUSHARRAF, coupled with the
assassination of the prominent and popular political leader, Benazir
BHUTTO, in late 2007, and MUSHARRAF?s resignation in August 2008,
led to the September presidential election of Asif ZARDARI, BHUTTO?s
widower. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to
control Islamist militants, many of whom are located in the tribal
areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. The Pakistani
government is also faced with a deteriorating economy as foreign
exchange reserves decline, the currency depreciates, and the current
account deficit widens.

Palau
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the
Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the
Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with
the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered
into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

Panama
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century,
Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia,
Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When
the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With
US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed
a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US
sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure
(the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army
Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was
signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama
by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and
increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the
subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was
deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the
Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by
the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious
plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could
double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.

Papua New Guinea
The eastern half of the island of New Guinea -
second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north)
and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to
Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World
War I and continued to administer the combined areas until
independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island
of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive
fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932,
French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on
Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam.
China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops
seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands.
China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The
islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Paraguay
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) -
between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost
two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It
stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War
of 1932-35, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from
Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER
ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political
infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and
regular presidential elections since then.

Peru
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean
civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was
captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence
was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824.
After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic
leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth
of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in
1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the
economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.
Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian
measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting
dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. A
caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001,
which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government -
Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American
ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan
GARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to
1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve social
conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.

Philippines
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during
the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the
Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a
self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and
was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a
10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese
occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought
together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the
Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. The 20-year
rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power"
movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed
Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several
coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability
and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992
and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress
on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases
on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but
was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in
January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption
charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2")
demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year
term as president in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces
threats from three terrorist groups on the US Government's Foreign
Terrorist Organization list, but in 2006 and 2007 scored some major
successes in capturing or killing key wanted terrorists. Decades of
Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines have led to a peace
accord with one group and an ongoing cease-fire and peace talks with
another.

Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the
British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their
Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become
a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of
that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New
Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to
less than 50 today.

Poland
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the
middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th
century. During the following century, the strengthening of the
gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of
agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria
partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its
independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet
Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following
the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and
progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the
independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a
political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and
the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s
enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most
robust in Central Europe, but Poland still faces the lingering
challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated
infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered a
major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to
elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new
leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce
the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the
European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic,
market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly
active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Portugal
Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and
16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the
destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the
Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.
A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six
decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a
left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The
following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African
colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC
(now the EU) in 1986.

Puerto Rico
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the
island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS'
second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial
rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and
African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a
result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since
1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal
self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters
chose not to alter the existing political status.

Qatar
Ruled by the Al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar
transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for
pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural
gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari
economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum
revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son,
the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al-Thani, overthrew him in a
bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding
border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil
and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per
capita income in the world.

Romania
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries
under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their
autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted
the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its
independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and
acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the
conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and
participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years
later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The
post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist
"people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The
decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in
1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive
and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and
executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government
until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in
2004 and the EU in 2007.

Russia
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was
able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th
centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding
principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty
continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific.
Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic
Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th
century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia.
Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the
Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament
and other reforms. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army
in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the
Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial
household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon
after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53)
strengthened Communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet
Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and
society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary
Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and
perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism,
but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December
1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent
republics. Since then, Russia has shifted its post-Soviet democratic
ambitions in favor of a centralized semi-authoritarian state whose
legitimacy is buttressed, in part, by carefully managed national
elections, former President PUTIN's genuine popularity, and the
prudent management of Russia's windfall energy wealth. Russia has
severely disabled a Chechen rebel movement, although violence still
occurs throughout the North Caucasus.

Rwanda
In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the
majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king.
Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and
some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The
children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan
Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along
with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic
tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly
800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the
Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2
million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to
neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire. Since then, most
of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand
remained in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC;
the former Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency bent on
retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in 1990. Despite substantial
international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's
first local elections in March 1999 and its first post-genocide
presidential and legislative elections in August and September 2003
- the country continues to struggle to boost investment and
agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliation is complicated by the
real and perceived Tutsi political dominance. Kigali's increasing
centralization and intolerance of dissent, the nagging Hutu
extremist insurgency across the border, and Rwandan involvement in
two wars in recent years in the neighboring DRC continue to hinder
Rwanda's efforts to escape its bloody legacy.

Saint Barthelemy
Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who
named it for his brother Bartolomeo, St. Barthelemy was first
settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island
to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish
King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a
trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th
century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under
the administration of Guadeloupe. St. Barthelemy retained its free
port status along with various Swedish appelations such as Swedish
street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of
arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from
Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas
collectivity.

Saint Helena
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting
of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of
Tristan da Cunha.
Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in
1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th
century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's
exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a
port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.
During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer
prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.
Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered
and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the
island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena and
it served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa
Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty
control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena.
During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an
airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa
and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s
the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In
1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces
during the Falklands War, and it remains a critical refueling point
in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.
Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands of
Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan da
Cunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it was
garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue
Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been
designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a
meteorological station on Gough Island.

Saint Kitts and Nevis
First settled by the British in 1623, the
islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in
1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in
1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998,
a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell
short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis continues in its
efforts to try and separate from Saint Kitts.

Saint Lucia
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries,
was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and
early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally
ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its
plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island,
dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was
granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Saint Martin
Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and
claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631
and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the
island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The
Spanish finally relinquished St. Martin to the French and Dutch, who
divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The cultivation of sugar cane
introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the
practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port
in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the
1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of St. Martin voted to secede
from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island
became a French overseas collectivity.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
First settled by the French in the early
17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of
France's once vast North American possessions.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Resistance by native Caribs
prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between
France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the
island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the
Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and
independence in 1979.

Samoa
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa
at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer
the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962,
when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish
independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western"
from its name in 1997.

San Marino
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See
and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest
republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian
stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is
aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the
republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Sao Tome and Principe
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late
15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee
and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave
labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While
independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not
instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free
elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the
various political parties precipitated repeated changes in
leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent
discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased
attention to the small island nation.

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to
Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official
title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi
state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD
(Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian
Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992
Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia
accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while
allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the
liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of
foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a
source of tension between the royal family and the public until all
operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist
attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign
against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has
continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown
prince. To promote increased political participation, the government
held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half
the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King
ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members
of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading
producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the
world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue
economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi
Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign
investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer
depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and
prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Senegal
The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were
merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation
in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined
with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in
1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never
carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of
Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level
separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and
several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict.
Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in
Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until
current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was
reelected in February 2007, but complaints of fraud led opposition
parties to boycott June 2007 legislative polls. Senegal has a long
history of participating in international peacekeeping.

Serbia The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip TITO (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although Communist, TITO's new government and his successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Serbian Republic and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992, but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccessful - campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC kept tight control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UNSC Resolution 1244 in June 1999 authorized the stationing of a NATO-led force (KFOR) in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region's ethnic communities, created a UN interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to foster self-governing institutions, and reserved the issue of Kosovo's final status for an unspecified date in the future. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a constitutional framework that allowed Kosovo to establish institutions of self-government and led to Kosovo's first parliamentary election. FRY elections in September 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president. A broad coalition of democratic reformist parties known as DOS (the Democratic Opposition of Serbia) was subsequently elected to parliament in December 2000 and took control of the government. DOS arrested MILOSEVIC in 2001 and allowed for him to be tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity. (MILOSEVIC died in March 2006 before the completion of his trial.) In 2001, the country's suspension from the UN was lifted. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics with a federal level parliament. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused the international community to open negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 2006. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right to secede from the federation and - following a successful referendum - it declared itself an independent nation on 3 June 2006. Two days later, Serbia declared that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. A new Serbian constitution was approved in October 2006 and adopted the following month. After 15 months of inconclusive negotiations mediated by the UN and four months of further inconclusive negotiations mediated by the US, EU, and Russia, on 17 February 2008, the UNMIK-administered province of Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia.

Seychelles
A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for
the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter.
Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close
with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President
France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in
2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took
over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year
term.

Sierra Leone
Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil
war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths
and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third
of the population). The military, which took over full
responsibility for security following the departure of UN
peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a
guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on
the sideline during the 2007 presidential election, but still look
to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian
UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new
government's priorities include furthering development, creating
jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.

Singapore
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819.
It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years
later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of
the world's most prosperous countries with strong international
trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of
tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the
leading nations of Western Europe.

Slovakia
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close
of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related
Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II,
Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated
Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and
Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs
agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined
both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Slovenia
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918,
the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new
multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World
War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which
though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied
with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes
succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short
10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and
a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a
modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring
of 2004.

Solomon Islands
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon
Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II
occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976
and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government
malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil
society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought
the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the
following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to
restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective
in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Somalia
Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow
its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new
nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre
ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a
degree of stability in the country for a couple of decades. After
the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil,
factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans
declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the
administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag,
and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has
maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a
constitutional democracy, including holding municipal,
parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari,
Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared
autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since
1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides
toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but
has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with
Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag.
Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in
the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN
withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order
still had not been restored. A two-year peace process, led by the
Government of Kenya under the auspices of the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development (IGAD), concluded in October 2004 with the
election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and the formation of an interim
government, known as the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions
(TFIs). The Somalia TFIs include a 275-member parliamentary body,
known as the Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA), a transitional
Prime Minister, Nur "Adde" Hassan HUSSEIN, and a 90-member cabinet.
The TFIs are based on the Transitional Federal Charter, which
outlines a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new
Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government
following national elections. While its institutions remain weak,
the TFG continues to reach out to Somali stakeholders and work with
international donors to help build the governance capacity of the
TFIs and work towards national elections in 2009. In June 2006, a
loose coalition of clerics, business leaders, and Islamic court
militias known as the Council of Islamic Courts (CIC) defeated
powerful Mogadishu warlords and took control of the capital. The
Courts continued to expand militarily throughout much of southern
Somalia and threatened to overthrow the TFG in Baidoa. Ethiopian and
TFG forces, concerned over links between some CIC factions and the
al-Qaida East Africa network and the al-Qaida operatives responsible
for the bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998,
intervened in late December 2006, resulting in the collapse of the
CIC as an organization. However, the TFG continues to face violent
resistance from extremist elements, such as the al-Shabaab militia
previously affiliated with the now-defunct CIC.

South Africa
Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day
South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice
route between the Netherlands and the East, founding the city of
Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in
1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found
their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold
(1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the
subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British
encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902);
however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known,
ruled together under the Union of South Africa. In 1948, the
National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of
apartheid - the separate development of the races. The first
multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and
ushered in black majority rule.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
The islands, which have
large bird and seal populations, lie approximately 1,000 km east of
the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration
since 1908 - except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina
occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th and early
20th century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON
stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross
Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few
companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the
rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in
1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today,
the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey.
Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in
adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing
zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

Southern Ocean
A large body of recent oceanographic research has
shown that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current
that flows from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role
in global ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the
ACC meet and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a
distinct border - the Antarctic Convergence - which fluctuates with
the seasons, but which encompasses a discrete body of water and a
unique ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients,
which promotes marine plant life, and which in turn allows for a
greater abundance of animal life. In the spring of 2000, the
International Hydrographic Organization decided to delimit the
waters within the Convergence as a fifth world ocean - the Southern
Ocean - by combining the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean,
Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the
coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which
coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit and which approximates the
extent of the Antarctic Convergence. As such, the Southern Ocean is
now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific
Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic
Ocean). It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does
not imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary
oceans by the US Government.

Spain
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries
ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent
failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused
the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic
and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II
but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful
transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco
FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the
EU in 1986) have given Spain one of the most dynamic economies in
Europe and made it a global champion of freedom. Continuing
challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism,
illegal immigration, and slowing economic growth.

Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small
islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and
potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their
entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed
by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by
relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a
fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any
formal claim.

Sri Lanka
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th
century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced
in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization
developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C.
to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In
the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom
in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were
controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in
the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796,
became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by
1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed
to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and
Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have
died in the ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two
decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway
brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and
government forces intensified in 2006 and the government regained
control of the Eastern Province in 2007. In January 2008, the
government officially withdrew from the ceasefire, and has begun
engaging the LTTE in the northern portion of the country.

Sudan
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have
dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956.
Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the
remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in
northern economic, political, and social domination of largely
non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in
1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related
effects resulted in more than four million people displaced and,
according to rebel estimates, more than two million deaths over a
period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with
the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern
rebels autonomy for six years. After which, a referendum for
independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict, which
broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced
nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000
deaths. The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation
from the African Union on 31 December 2007. As of early 2008,
peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation,
which has become increasingly regional in scope, and has brought
instability to eastern Chad, and Sudanese incursions into the
Central African Republic. Sudan also has faced large refugee
influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad.
Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of
government support have chronically obstructed the provision of
humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Suriname
First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and
then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became
a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863,
workers were brought in from India and Java. Independence from the
Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian
government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a
socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a
succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when
international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In
1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a
democratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition
- returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since; the coalition
expanded to eight parties in 2005.

Svalbard
First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the
islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and
18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five
years later it officially took over the territory.

Swaziland
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed
by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in
1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King
MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow
political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on
these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in
2006, but political parties remain banned. The African United
Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official
political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down
between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland
recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest
known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Sweden
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not
participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality
was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic
formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare
elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in
2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline over
the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic
vagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the
introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.

Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a
defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other
localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation
secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A
constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the
confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's
sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major
European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the
two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe
over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN
and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties
with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a
UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and
international organizations but retains a strong commitment to
neutrality.

Syria
Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War
I, France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. The
country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a
series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with
Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In
September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab
Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a
member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect,
seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to
the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan
Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held
occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of
President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as
president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -
stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -
were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict
between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on
alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.

Taiwan
In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to
Japan. Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II.
Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million
Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the
1946 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five
decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and
incorporated the local population within the governing structure. In
2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the
Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this
period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic
"Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the
relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of
eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic
reform.

Tajikistan
The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and
1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the
Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely
contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Much of
present-day Sughd province was transferred from the Uzbekistan SSR
to newly formed Tajikistan SSR in 1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a
substantial minority in Sughd province. Tajikistan became
independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and
it is now in the process of strengthening its democracy and
transitioning to a free market economy after its 1992-97 civil war.
There have been no major security incidents in recent years,
although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet
sphere. Attention by the international community in the wake of the
war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development and
security assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability
in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World
Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for
Peace.

Tanzania
Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the
early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of
Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the
first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s.
Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to
two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won
despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Thailand
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th
century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast
Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A
bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In
alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally
following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing separatist
violence in its southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces.

Timor-Leste
The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor
in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century.
Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an
1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the
island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945,
but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in
World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal
on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian
forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July
1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful
campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during
which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives.
On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an
overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for
independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival
of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999,
anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the
Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth
campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400
Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as
refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including
homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and
nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20
September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the
International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the
country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002,
Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.
In late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's
security when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown
of law and order in Dili. At the request of the Government of
Timor-Leste, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force
(ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. In August, the UN
Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in
Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of
over 1,600 personnel. In subsequent months, many of the ISF soldiers
were replaced by UN police officers; approximately 80 ISF officers
remained as of January 2008. From April to June 2007, the Government
of Timor-Leste held presidential and parliamentary elections in a
largely peaceful atmosphere with the support and assistance of UNMIT
and international donors.

Togo
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand
for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multiparty elections
instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated
by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and maintains a
majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in
February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure
GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months
later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first
relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007.
After years of political unrest and fire from international
organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being
re-welcomed into the international community.

Tokelau
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding
island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate
in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in
1925. Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the
islands from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free
association with New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for
approval.

Tonga
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost
its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly
Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became
a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in
1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth
of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Trinidad and Tobago
First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came
under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar
industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834.
Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from
India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well
as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910
added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962.
The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks
largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing.
Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

Tunisia
Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia
culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a
protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following
World War I was finally successful in getting the French to
recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's
first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party
state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic
fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any
other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from
office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup.
BEN ALI is currently serving his fourth consecutive five-year term
as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009.
Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign
relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for
a more open political society.

Turkey
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants
of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who
was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks."
Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging
social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party
rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950
election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful
transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have
multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of
instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980),
which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political
power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the
ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then
Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus
in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since
acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,"
which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984
by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's
Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the
Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives.
After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents
largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK
announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK
increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a
member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the
European Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken many
reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy enabling it to begin
accession membership talks with the European Union.

Turkmenistan
Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the
Persian province of Khurasan; in medieval times Merv (today known as
Mary) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an
important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and
1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved
independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive
hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this
underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were to
be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to
develop alternative petroleum transportation routes to break
Russia's pipeline monopoly. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW
died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its first
multi-candidate presidential electoral process in February 2007.
Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a vice premier under NYYAZOW, emerged as
the country's new president.

Turks and Caicos Islands
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican
colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown
colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas
oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the
islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence
was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands
remain a British overseas territory.

Tuvalu
In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice
Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert
Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate
British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000,
Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv"
for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.

Uganda
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda
grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different
political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the
establishment of a working political community after independence
was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79)
was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla
war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at
least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986
has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During
the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and
legislative elections.

Ukraine
Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state,
Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest
and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels
and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid
the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent
centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was
established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against
the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate
managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the
latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic
territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse
of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a
short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered
and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two
artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million
died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for
some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for
Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR,
democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control and
endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform,
privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest "Orange
Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to
overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new
internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist
slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the
YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a
comeback in parliamentary elections and become prime minister in
August of 2006. An early legislative election, brought on by a
political crisis in the spring of 2007, saw Yuliya TYMOSHENKO, as
head of an "Orange" coalition, installed as a new prime minister in
December 2007.

United Arab Emirates
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast
granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th
century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman,
Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to
form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by
Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of
leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and
its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a
vital role in the affairs of the region.

United Kingdom
As the dominant industrial and maritime power of the
19th century, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland played
a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in
advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire
stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of
the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two
World Wars and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. The
second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK
rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As
one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding
member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global
approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of
its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it
chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the time
being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK.
The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the
Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter
was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process.

United States
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother
country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United
States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the
19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13
as the nation expanded across the North American continent and
acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic
experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in
which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy
of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s,
an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force
lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the
end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most
powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low
unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges All of the following US Pacific island territories except Midway Atoll constitute the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex and as such are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior. Midway Atoll NWR has been included in a Refuge Complex with the Hawaiian Islands NWR and also designated as part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. These remote refuges are the most widespread collection of marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a single country's jurisdiction. They sustain many endemic species including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere. Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Howland Island: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the uninhabited atoll was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano deposits until about 1890. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island, similar to the effort on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The famed American aviatrix Amelia EARHART disappeared while seeking out Howland Island as a refueling stop during her 1937 round-the-world flight; Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was named in her memory. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935 until it was abandoned in 1942 during World War II. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. Johnston and Sand Islands were designated wildlife refuges in 1926. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction, cleanup, and closure of the facility was completed by May 2005. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Air Force are currently discussing future management options; in the interim, Johnston Atoll and the three-mile Naval Defensive Sea around it remain under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the US Air Force. Kingman Reef: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge. Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a National Wildlife Refuge and are the site of the world's largest Laysan albatross colony. Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the Federal government and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Uruguay
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military
stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an
important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by
Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later
and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The
administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century
established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that
established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla
movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led
Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the
military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the
military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian
rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente
Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170
years of political control previously held by the Colorado and
Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among
the freest on the continent.

Uzbekistan
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century.
Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually
suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the
Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain
led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies,
which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain
rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to
gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its
mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism
by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of
human rights and democratization.

Vanuatu
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct
language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding
European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern
accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the
archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New
Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French
Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in
1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Venezuela
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the
collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New
Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the
20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military
strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social
reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since
1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his
"21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills
while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining
regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of
democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized
military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border,
increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the
petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible
mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and
indigenous peoples.

Vietnam
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was
completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887.
Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France
continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho
Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into
the Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and
military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt
to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn
following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North
Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under
Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the
country experienced little economic growth because of conservative
leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi
moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have
committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted
structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce
more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to
experience protests from various groups - such as the Protestant
Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and
the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious
persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to
Vietnamese settlers.

Virgin Islands During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

Wake Island
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station.
An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In
December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held
until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was
developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and
commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's
airstrip has been used by the US military, as well as for emergency
landings. All operations on the island were suspended and all
personnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of super
typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustained
winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A US
Air Force assessment and repair team returned to the island in
September and restored limited function to the airfield and
facilities. The future status of activities on the island will be
determined upon completion of the survey and assessment.

Wallis and Futuna
The Futuna island group was discovered by the
Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the
French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In
1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French
overseas territory.

West Bank
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional
period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September
1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security
and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the
West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status
of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an
intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most
Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU,
UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the
conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties
leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The
proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed
indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not
followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader
Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA
president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed
to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace
process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all
its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in
the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from
four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel
controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A
November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the
Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint
PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance
Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led
government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce
violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between
Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March
2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS
to present a political platform acceptable to the international
community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC
was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of
Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed
travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place
between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and
early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries.
ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007
signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the
formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by
HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza
Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover
of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip.
ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees
formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam
FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for
resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations
until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and
recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government
initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve
conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with
Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some
Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue.
During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland,
ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal
of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.

Western Sahara
Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of
Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of
the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A
guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's
sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized
referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. In April
2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to the
UN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisario
also presented a plan to the UN in 2007. Since June 2007,
representatives from the Government of Morocco and the Polisario
Front have met four times to negotiate the status of Western Sahara.

World
Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating
world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of
vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology,
from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to
the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western
alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living
standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased
concerns about the environment, including loss of forests, shortages
of energy and water, the decline in biological diversity, and air
pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate
emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's
population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2
billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in
1988, and 6 billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued
exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes
(e.g., advances in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even
more lethal weapons of war).

Yemen
North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.
The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern
port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became
South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a
Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of
Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of
hostility between the states. The two countries were formally
unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist
movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and
Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border.

Zambia
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the
[British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by
the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining
spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia
upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper
prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991
brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996
saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001
was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a
legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate
Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an anticorruption
investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the
previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully
prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in
which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable
for USD 41 million. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election
that was deemed free and fair.

Zimbabwe
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South
Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that
favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally
declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and
demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority
in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla
uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as
Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister,
has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has
dominated the country's political system since independence. His
chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an
exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in
widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international
condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure
his reelection. The ruling ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidation
to win a two-thirds majority in the March 2005 parliamentary
election, allowing it to amend the constitution at will and recreate
the Senate, which had been abolished in the late 1980s. In April
2005, Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an
urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of
the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the
opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls
on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store
shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008
contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the
ZANU-PF-led government with significant gains in opposition seats in
parliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the
presidential polls, and may have won an out right majority, but
official results posted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Committee did not
reflect this. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June
2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members
led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive
evidence of vote tampering and ballot-box stuffing resulted in
international condemnation of the process, and calls for the
creation of a power-sharing government have been ignored.

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2030 Airports - with paved runways

Afghanistan total: 12 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Albania total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)

Algeria
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

American Samoa total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Angola
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Anguilla total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Argentina total: 154 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Armenia
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Aruba total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Australia
total: 317
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 138
914 to 1,523 m: 143
under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Austria
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Azerbaijan
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Bahamas, The total: 24 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2007)

Bahrain total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Bangladesh total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Barbados total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Belarus
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Belgium
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Belize
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Benin
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Bermuda
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Bhutan
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Bolivia
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Botswana
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Brazil
total: 718
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 167
914 to 1,523 m: 467
under 914 m: 52 (2007)

British Indian Ocean Territory total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

British Virgin Islands total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Brunei total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Bulgaria
total: 131
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 95 (2007)

Burkina Faso
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Burma
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Burundi total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Cambodia total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Cameroon
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Canada
total: 509
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149
914 to 1,523 m: 248
under 914 m: 78 (2007)

Cape Verde total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Cayman Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Central African Republic total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Chad
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Chile
total: 79
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 19 (2007)

China
total: 403
over 3,047 m: 58
2,438 to 3,047 m: 128
1,524 to 2,437 m: 130
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 67 (2007)

Christmas Island
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Colombia
total: 103
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Comoros total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 26 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Congo, Republic of the total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Cook Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Costa Rica total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)

Croatia
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Cuba
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 31 (2007)

Cyprus
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Czech Republic
total: 45
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Denmark
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Djibouti total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Dominica total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Dominican Republic
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Ecuador
total: 104
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 54 (2007)

Egypt
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (2007)

El Salvador total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Equatorial Guinea total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Eritrea total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)

Estonia
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Ethiopia
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

European Union
total: 1,991
over 3,047m: 110
2,438 to 3,047m: 347
1,524 to 2,437m: 545
914 to 1,523m: 420
under 914m: 569 (2007)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Faroe Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Fiji
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Finland
total: 76
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 15 (2007)

France
total: 292
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 97
914 to 1,523 m: 80
under 914 m: 74 (2007)

French Polynesia
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Gabon
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Gambia, The
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Gaza Strip
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Georgia
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Germany
total: 331
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 52
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 135 (2007)

Ghana
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Gibraltar
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Greece
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Greenland total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Grenada
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Guam
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Guatemala total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Guernsey total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Guinea
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2007)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Guyana
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Haiti
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Honduras total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Hong Kong total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Hungary
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Iceland total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

India
total: 250
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 52
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 84
under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Indonesia
total: 158
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 49
under 914 m: 39 (2007)

Iran
total: 129
over 3,047 m: 40
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Iraq
total: 76
over 3,047 m: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Ireland
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Isle of Man
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Israel
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 6 (2007)

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

Jamaica
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Japan
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Jersey
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Jordan
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Kazakhstan
total: 65
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Kenya
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Kiribati total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)

Korea, North
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Korea, South
total: 68
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Kosovo
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2008)

Kuwait
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Kyrgyzstan total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Laos
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Latvia
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Lebanon
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Lesotho total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Liberia total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Libya
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Lithuania
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Luxembourg
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Macau
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Macedonia total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Madagascar total: 27 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Malawi
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2007)

Malaysia
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Maldives total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Mali
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)

Malta total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Marshall Islands
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Mauritania
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)

Mauritius
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Mayotte
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Mexico
total: 231
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 84
914 to 1,523 m: 77
under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Moldova
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Mongolia total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Montenegro total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Montserrat total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Morocco
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Mozambique
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Namibia
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Nauru
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Nepal
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Netherlands
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

New Caledonia total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

New Zealand total: 41 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Nicaragua total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Niger
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Nigeria
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Niue
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Norfolk Island
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Northern Mariana Islands
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Norway
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Oman
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Pakistan
total: 92
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Palau
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Panama
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Papua New Guinea total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Paracel Islands total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Paraguay total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2007)

Peru
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Philippines
total: 84
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Poland
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Portugal
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Puerto Rico total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Qatar
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Romania
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Russia
total: 601
over 3,047 m: 51
2,438 to 3,047 m: 197
1,524 to 2,437 m: 129
914 to 1,523 m: 102
under 914 m: 122 (2007)

Rwanda
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Saint Barthelemy
total: 1
under 914 m: 1

Saint Helena
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Saint Lucia
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Saint Martin total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Samoa
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Saudi Arabia total: 77 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Senegal total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Serbia
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Seychelles total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Sierra Leone total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Singapore total: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Slovakia
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Slovenia
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Solomon Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Somalia total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

South Africa
total: 146
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 67
under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Spain
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 24 (2007)

Spratly Islands total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Sri Lanka total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2007)

Sudan
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Suriname total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Svalbard
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Swaziland
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Sweden
total: 152
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 38 (2007)

Switzerland
total: 42
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Syria
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Taiwan
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Tajikistan
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Tanzania total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Thailand
total: 65
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 6 (2007)

Timor-Leste total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Togo
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)

Tonga
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Tunisia
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Turkey
total: 90
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Turkmenistan total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Uganda
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Ukraine
total: 193
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 53
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 95 (2007)

United Arab Emirates
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

United Kingdom
total: 310
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 131
914 to 1,523 m: 79
under 914 m: 59 (2007)

United States
total: 5,143
over 3,047 m: 191
2,438 to 3,047 m: 224
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,452
914 to 1,523 m: 2,323
under 914 m: 953 (2007)

Uruguay
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Uzbekistan total: 33 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Vanuatu
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Venezuela total: 128 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Vietnam
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2007)

Virgin Islands total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Wake Island
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Wallis and Futuna
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

West Bank total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Western Sahara total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)

Yemen
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Zambia
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Zimbabwe
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2031 Airports - with unpaved runways

Afghanistan total: 34 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Albania
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Algeria
total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 44
under 914 m: 25 (2007)

Angola
total: 201
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 69 (2007)

Anguilla total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Antarctica total: 27 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (2008)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Argentina total: 1,118 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 44 914 to 1,523 m: 515 under 914 m: 556 (2007)

Armenia total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Australia
total: 144
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 109
under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Austria
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 26 (2007)

Azerbaijan total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Bahamas, The total: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Bangladesh total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Belarus
total: 31
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Belgium
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Belize
total: 40
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Benin
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Bhutan
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Bolivia
total: 1,045
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 57
914 to 1,523 m: 183
under 914 m: 800 (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Botswana
total: 74
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 54
under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Brazil
total: 3,545
1,524 to 2,437 m: 83
914 to 1,523 m: 1,555
under 914 m: 1,907 (2007)

British Virgin Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Brunei
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Bulgaria
total: 83
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 72 (2007)

Burkina Faso
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Burma
total: 61
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 32 (2007)

Burundi total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Cambodia
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Cameroon
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Canada
total: 834
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 356
under 914 m: 410 (2007)

Cayman Islands total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Central African Republic total: 48 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Chad
total: 48
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Chile
total: 279
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 49
under 914 m: 216 (2007)

China
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 26 (2007)

Colombia total: 831 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 216 under 914 m: 580 (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 211
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 99 (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Cook Islands
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Costa Rica total: 115 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 96 (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Croatia
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2007)

Cuba
total: 95
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 71 (2007)

Cyprus
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Czech Republic total: 77 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 50 (2007)

Denmark total: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 60 (2007)

Djibouti
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Dominican Republic
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Ecuador
total: 302
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 268 (2007)

Egypt
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2007)

El Salvador total: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 48 (2007)

Eritrea
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Estonia
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Ethiopia
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 21 (2007)

European Union
total: 1,373
over 3,047m: 2
2,438 to 3,047m: 5
1,524 to 2,437m: 30
914m to 1,523m: 267
under 914m: 1,043 (2007)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Fiji
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Finland
total: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 68 (2007)

France
total: 184
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 108 (2007)

French Polynesia
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Gabon
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Gaza Strip
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Georgia
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Germany
total: 219
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 181 (2007)

Ghana
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Greece
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Greenland total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Guam total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Guatemala total: 390 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 301 (2007)

Guinea
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Guyana
total: 84
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 69 (2007)

Haiti
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Honduras total: 100 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 83 (2007)

Hungary
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Iceland
total: 94
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 63 (2007)

India
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 47 (2007)

Indonesia total: 494 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 462 (2007)

Iran
total: 202
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 145
under 914 m: 46 (2007)

Iraq
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Ireland
total: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Israel
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 20 (2007)

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

Jamaica total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Jan Mayen total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Japan
total: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Jordan total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Kazakhstan total: 32 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Kenya
total: 210
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 113
under 914 m: 85 (2007)

Kiribati total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Korea, North total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Korea, South total: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Kosovo total: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2008)

Kuwait
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Laos
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Latvia total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Lebanon total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Lesotho total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Liberia
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38 (2007)

Libya
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2007)

Lithuania total: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2007)

Luxembourg total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Macedonia total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Madagascar
total: 77
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Malawi
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Malaysia
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 72 (2007)

Maldives
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Mali
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Marshall Islands total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Mauritania total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Mauritius total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Mexico
total: 1,603
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
914 to 1,523 m: 408
under 914 m: 1,131 (2007)

Moldova
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Mongolia
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Montenegro
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Morocco
total: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Mozambique
total: 125
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 79 (2007)

Namibia
total: 116
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Nepal
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 30 (2007)

Netherlands
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

New Caledonia
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 6 (2007)

New Zealand
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 46 (2007)

Nicaragua
total: 152
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 135 (2007)

Niger
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Nigeria
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Northern Mariana Islands
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Norway
total: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 25 (2007)

Oman
total: 130
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Pakistan
total: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 24 (2007)

Palau
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Panama
total: 62
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 50 (2007)

Papua New Guinea
total: 557
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 489 (2007)

Paraguay
total: 825
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 267
under 914 m: 532 (2007)

Peru
total: 183
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 117 (2007)

Philippines total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 99 (2007)

Poland
total: 40
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Portugal total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 21 (2007)

Puerto Rico total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Qatar
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Romania
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Russia
total: 659
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 89
under 914 m: 484 (2007)

Rwanda
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Samoa
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Saudi Arabia total: 136 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Senegal
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Serbia
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 12 (2007)

Seychelles
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Sierra Leone
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Slovakia
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Slovenia
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Solomon Islands
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Somalia
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 7 (2007)

South Africa
total: 582
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 300
under 914 m: 248 (2007)

Spain
total: 58
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 42 (2007)

Spratly Islands total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Sri Lanka total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Sudan
total: 85
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Suriname total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 40 (2007)

Svalbard total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Swaziland
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Sweden
total: 98
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 92 (2007)

Switzerland
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Syria
total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 52 (2007)

Taiwan
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Tajikistan total: 8 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Tanzania
total: 114
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Thailand
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 28 (2007)

Timor-Leste
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Togo
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Tonga
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Tunisia
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Turkey
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Turkmenistan total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Tuvalu
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Uganda
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Ukraine
total: 244
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 217 (2007)

United Arab Emirates total: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

United Kingdom
total: 139
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 113 (2007)

United States
total: 9,804
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 153
914 to 1,523 m: 1,732
under 914 m: 7,912 (2007)

Uruguay
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Uzbekistan
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Vanuatu
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Venezuela total: 262 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 149 (2007)

Vietnam
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Wallis and Futuna total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Western Sahara total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Yemen
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Zambia
total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 64
under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Zimbabwe total: 322 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 152 under 914 m: 166 (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2032 Environment - current issues

Afghanistan
limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate
supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing;
deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for
fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water
pollution

Akrotiri
shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for
loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon
vultures is on the base

Albania
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial
and domestic effluents

Algeria
soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming
practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum
refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the
pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in
particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and
fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water

American Samoa
limited natural fresh water resources; the water
division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past
few years to improve water catchments and pipelines

Andorra
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes
to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste
disposal

Angola
overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable
to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical
rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical
timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of
biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and
siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

Anguilla
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing
demand largely because of poor distribution system

Antarctica
in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the Antarctic
ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square
kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet
light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an
Antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown
to harm one-celled Antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant
areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming

Antigua and Barbuda
water management - a major concern because of
limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the
clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to
run off quickly

Arctic Ocean
endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack

Argentina
environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an
industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation,
desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse
gas targets

Armenia
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy
crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for
firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the
draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a
source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of
Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a
seismically active zone

Aruba
NA

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
illegal killing of protected wildlife by
traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by
non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems

Atlantic Ocean
endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,
sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the
decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes;
municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and
eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico,
Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste
and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and
Mediterranean Sea

Australia
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,
urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due
to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for
agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique
animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast
coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by
increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited
natural fresh water resources

Austria
some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution;
soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air
pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power
stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria
between northern and southern Europe

Azerbaijan
local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron
Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be
the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe
air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil
spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants
used in the production of cotton

Bahamas, The
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Bahrain
desertification resulting from the degradation of limited
arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal
degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation)
resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers,
oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater
resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all
water needs)

Bangladesh
many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface
water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from
the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by
naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of
falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the
country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe
overpopulation

Barbados
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination
of aquifers

Belarus
soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the
country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident
at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

Belgium
the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human
activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,
extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now
resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Belize
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial
effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Benin
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens
wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Bermuda
sustainable development

Bhutan
soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Bolivia
the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the
international demand for tropical timber are contributing to
deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation
methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification;
loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used
for drinking and irrigation

Bosnia and Herzegovina
air pollution from metallurgical plants;
sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and
destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife;
deforestation

Botswana
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Bouvet Island
NA

Brazil
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and
endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the
area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water
pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large
cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper
mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA

British Virgin Islands
limited natural fresh water resources (except
for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the
islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Brunei
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Bulgaria
air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted
from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest
damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil
contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and
industrial wastes

Burkina Faso
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy;
overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

Burma
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;
inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Burundi
soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of
agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land
remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat
loss threatens wildlife populations

Cambodia
illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip
mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand
have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population
does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because
of illegal fishing and overfishing

Cameroon
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Canada
air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting
lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities,
and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest
productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Cape Verde
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used
as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has
threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing

Cayman Islands
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water
supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Central African Republic
tap water is not potable; poaching has
diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great
wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Chad
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal
in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification

Chile
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural
resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage

China
air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates)
from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages,
particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes;
deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land
since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development;
desertification; trade in endangered species

Christmas Island
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Clipperton Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Colombia
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse
of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions

Comoros
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation
on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage

Congo, Republic of the
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
deforestation

Cook Islands
NA

Coral Sea Islands
no permanent fresh water resources

Costa Rica
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of
the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil
erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste
management; air pollution

Cote d'Ivoire
deforestation (most of the country's forests - once
the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water
pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Croatia
air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid
rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and
domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of
infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Cuba
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Cyprus
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments,
seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's
largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution
from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
wildlife habitats from urbanization

Czech Republic
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia
and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid
rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code
should improve domestic pollution

Denmark
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant
emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea;
drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and
pesticides

Dhekelia
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the
spring and autumn

Djibouti
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea
damages coral reefs; deforestation

Ecuador
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically
sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Egypt
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown
sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam;
desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and
marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides,
raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural fresh water
resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water
source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and
natural resources

El Salvador
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;
contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Equatorial Guinea
tap water is not potable; deforestation

Eritrea
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing;
loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Estonia
air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning
power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted
to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less
than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to
water bodies in 2000 was one-20th the level of 1980; in connection
with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution
load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural
and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need
to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations

Ethiopia
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor
management

European Union
NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
deforestation; soil erosion

Finland
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants
contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,
agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

France
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from
industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes,
agricultural runoff

French Polynesia
NA

French Southern and Antarctic Lands introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian Toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen

Gabon
deforestation; poaching

Gambia, The
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
prevalent

Gaza Strip
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage
treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and
contamination of underground water resources

Georgia
air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of
Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable
water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Germany
emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries
contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur
dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea
from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern
Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a
mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15
years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature
preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat
directive

Ghana
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural
activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and
habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Gibraltar
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or
natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for
drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Greece
air pollution; water pollution

Greenland
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the
Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Grenada
NA

Guam
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid
proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Guatemala
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water
pollution

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing,
overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to
environmental damage

Guinea-Bissau
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

Guyana
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial
chemicals; deforestation

Haiti
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land
is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
NA

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
urban population expanding; deforestation results from
logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further
land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled
development and improper land use practices such as farming of
marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the
country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers
and streams, with heavy metals

Hong Kong
air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Hungary
the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management,
energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU
requirements will require large investments

Iceland
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
wastewater treatment

India
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air
pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap
water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing
population is overstraining natural resources

Indian Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
and Red Sea

Indonesia
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes,
sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest
fires

Iran
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle
emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the
Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation
(salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution
from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Iraq
government water control projects have drained most of the
inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting
the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh
Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been
displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses
serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate
supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian
Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and
erosion; desertification

Ireland
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural
runoff

Isle of Man
waste disposal (both household and industrial);
transboundary air pollution

Israel
limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose
serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial
and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and
domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Italy
air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur
dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and
agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate
industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Jamaica
heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by
industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air
pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Jan Mayen
NA

Japan
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;
acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and
threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of
fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these
resources in Asia and elsewhere

Jersey
NA

Jordan
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Kazakhstan
radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with
former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the
country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial
pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that
flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is
drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides
and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind
and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea;
soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination
from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices

Kenya
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation
of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; poaching

Kiribati
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to
heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon
latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

Korea, North
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water;
waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation

Korea, South
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water
pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents;
drift net fishing

Kuwait
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's
largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much
of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Kyrgyzstan
water pollution; many people get their water directly
from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne
diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty
irrigation practices

Laos
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the
population does not have access to potable water

Latvia
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service
industries after the country regained independence; the main
environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality
and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as
well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU
accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full
enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010

Lebanon
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution
in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial
wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Lesotho
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas
results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and
redirects water to South Africa

Liberia
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage

Libya
desertification; limited natural fresh water resources; the
Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in
the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under
the Sahara to coastal cities

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
products and chemicals at military bases

Luxembourg
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of
farmland

Macau
NA

Macedonia
air pollution from metallurgical plants

Madagascar
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island

Malawi
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from
agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of
spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Malaysia
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from
Indonesian forest fires

Maldives
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies;
global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Mali
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate
supplies of potable water; poaching

Malta
limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on
desalination

Marshall Islands
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of
Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing
vessels

Mauritania
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated
by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural
fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only
perennial river; locust infestation

Mauritius
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to
urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted
in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme
southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in
urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;
deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in
the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land
subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and
deforestation national security issues

Micronesia, Federated States of
overfishing, climate change,
pollution

Moldova
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned
pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the
policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and
industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the
burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment

Montenegro
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets,
especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Montserrat
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for
cultivation

Morocco
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting
from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of
vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of
reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Mozambique
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands
have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and
coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant
poaching for ivory is a problem

Namibia
limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;
wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

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

Navassa Island
NA

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

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

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Caledonia
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

New Zealand
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
hard-hit by invasive species

Nicaragua
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

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

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

Niue
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter
loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may
contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of
endangered species conflicts with development

Norway
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely
affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle
emissions

Oman
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited
natural fresh water resources

Pacific Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea
lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in
Philippine Sea and South China Sea

Pakistan
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; most of
the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation;
soil erosion; desertification

Palau
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to
the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing

Panama
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery
resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution
in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Papua New Guinea
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of
growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought

Paracel Islands
NA

Paraguay
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste
disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Peru
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing
of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Philippines
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed
areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers;
coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove
swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

Pitcairn Islands
deforestation (only a small portion of the original
forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Poland
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy
industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist
governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of
sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the
resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from
industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal
of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as
industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but
at substantial cost to business and the government

Portugal
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and
vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Puerto Rico
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Qatar
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Romania
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution
in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
wetlands

Russia
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired
electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial,
municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and
seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from
improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of
sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater
contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management;
abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides

Rwanda
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for
fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

Saint Barthelemy
with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is
in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by
desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported
via water tanker

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
northern region

Saint Martin
fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of
sea water

Saint Pierre and Miquelon recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Samoa
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Saudi Arabia
desertification; depletion of underground water
resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies
has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination
facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Senegal
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Serbia
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities;
water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which
flows into the Danube

Seychelles
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Sierra Leone
rapid population growth pressuring the environment;
overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and
slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil
exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing

Singapore
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water
resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal
problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in
Indonesia

Slovakia
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human
health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Slovenia
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste;
pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals;
forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at
metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Solomon Islands
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding
coral reefs are dead or dying

Somalia
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human
health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

South Africa
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires
extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water
usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff
and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil
erosion; desertification

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
NA

Southern Ocean
increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from
the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary
productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA
of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent
years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more
Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to
affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental
mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong
comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries

Spain
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and
effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality
and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation;
desertification

Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from
mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources
being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste
disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Sudan
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;
periodic drought

Suriname
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of
inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
degradation; soil erosion

Sweden
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North
Sea and the Baltic Sea

Switzerland
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of
agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Syria
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes;
inadequate potable water

Taiwan
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Tajikistan
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of
soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides

Tanzania
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification;
destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent
droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by
illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

Thailand
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from
organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by illegal hunting

Timor-Leste
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion

Togo
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and
the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards
and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban
areas

Tokelau
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing
to emigration to New Zealand

Tonga
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared
for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from
starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting
threatens native sea turtle populations

Trinidad and Tobago
water pollution from agricultural chemicals,
industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;
deforestation; soil erosion

Tunisia
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses
health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh
water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

Turkey
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for
oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Turkmenistan
contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural
chemicals, pesticides; salination, water logging of soil due to poor
irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large
share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to
that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification

Turks and Caicos Islands
limited natural fresh water resources,
private cisterns collect rainwater

Tuvalu
since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not
potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with
storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one
desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion
because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive
clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral
reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is
concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and
their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's
underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to
Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels
should make evacuation necessary

Uganda
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; widespread poaching

Ukraine
inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water
pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast
from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

United Arab Emirates
lack of natural freshwater resources
compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution
from oil spills

United Kingdom
continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met
Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and
intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a
domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the
government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste
disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and recycled or
composted at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015

United States
air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US
and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide
from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of
pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in
much of the western part of the country require careful management;
desertification

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA

Uruguay
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Uzbekistan
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing
concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these
substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and
contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial
wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause
of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil
contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural
chemicals, including DDT

Vanuatu
most of the population does not have access to a reliable
supply of potable water; deforestation

Venezuela
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban
pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation;
urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean
coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining
operations

Vietnam
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute
to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and
overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater
contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban
industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading
environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Virgin Islands
lack of natural freshwater resources

Wake Island
NA

Wallis and Futuna
deforestation (only small portions of the original
forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as
the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests,
the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources

West Bank
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment

Western Sahara
sparse water and lack of arable land

World
large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters,
pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of
vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of
wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion; global warming
becoming a greater concern

Yemen
limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of
potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Zambia
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds;
poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and
large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Zimbabwe
deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and
water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest
concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly
reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste
and heavy metal pollution

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2033 Environment - international agreements

Afghanistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation

Albania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Algeria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Andorra
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Angola
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Antigua and Barbuda
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Argentina
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Armenia
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Australia
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Austria
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Azerbaijan
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bahamas, The
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bahrain
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bangladesh
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Barbados
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Belarus
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Belgium
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Belize
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Benin
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bhutan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Bolivia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation

Bosnia and Herzegovina
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Botswana
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Brazil
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Brunei
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bulgaria
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Burkina Faso
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Burma
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Cambodia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Cameroon
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Canada
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Marine Life Conservation

Cape Verde
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Central African Republic
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Chad
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Chile
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

China
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Colombia
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Comoros
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Congo, Republic of the
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Cook Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Costa Rica
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Cote d'Ivoire
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Croatia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Cuba
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Cyprus
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Czech Republic
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Denmark
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Djibouti
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Dominica
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Dominican Republic
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Ecuador
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Egypt
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

El Salvador
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Equatorial Guinea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Eritrea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Estonia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

European Union
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 82, Tropical Timber 94
signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Faroe Islands
party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the
London Convention and Ship Pollution

Fiji
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Finland
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

France
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Gabon
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Gambia, The
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Georgia
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Germany
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ghana
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Greece
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Grenada
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Guatemala
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Guinea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Guinea-Bissau
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Guyana
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Haiti
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Holy See (Vatican City)
party to: Climate Change
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Honduras
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Hong Kong
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship
Pollution (associate member)

Hungary
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Iceland
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation

India
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Indonesia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Iran
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Iraq
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Ireland
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Israel
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Italy
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Jamaica
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Jordan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Kazakhstan
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Kenya
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Kiribati
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Korea, North
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Korea, South
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Kyrgyzstan
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Laos
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Latvia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Lebanon
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation

Lesotho
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Liberia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Libya
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Liechtenstein
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Lithuania
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Luxembourg
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur
85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Macau
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution
(associate member)

Macedonia
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Madagascar
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Malaysia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands

Maldives
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Mali
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Malta
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Marshall Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Mauritania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Mauritius
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Mexico
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Micronesia, Federated States of
party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Moldova
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Monaco
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Mongolia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Montenegro
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution

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

Mozambique
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Namibia
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Nauru
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Netherlands
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur
85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling

New Zealand
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

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

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

Nigeria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Niue
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Norway
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Oman
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Pakistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Palau
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Panama
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Papua New Guinea
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Paraguay
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Peru
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Philippines
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Poland
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Portugal
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental
Modification

Qatar
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Romania
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Russia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

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

Saint Kitts and Nevis
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Saint Lucia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Samoa
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

San Marino
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Sao Tome and Principe
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Saudi Arabia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Senegal
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Serbia
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Seychelles
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sierra Leone
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Singapore
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Slovakia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Slovenia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Solomon Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Somalia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

South Africa
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Southern Ocean
the Southern Ocean is subject to all international
agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject
to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International
Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees
south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees
west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits
sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Resources (regulates fishing)
note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource
exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front
(Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic
Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold
polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north

Spain
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Sri Lanka
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Sudan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Suriname
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Swaziland
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Sweden
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Switzerland
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur
85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Syria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Taiwan
party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's
international status
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of
Taiwan's international status

Tajikistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tanzania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Timor-Leste
party to: Climate Change, Desertification

Togo
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tonga
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Trinidad and Tobago
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tunisia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Turkey
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Turkmenistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tuvalu
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Ukraine
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds

United Arab Emirates
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

United Kingdom
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

United States
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

Uruguay
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Uzbekistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Vanuatu
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Venezuela
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Vietnam
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Western Sahara
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Yemen
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Zambia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Zimbabwe
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2034 Military expenditures (% of GDP)

Afghanistan
1.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Albania
1.49% of GDP (2005 est.)

Algeria
3.3% of GDP (2006)

Angola
5.7% of GDP (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda
NA

Argentina
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Armenia
6.5% of GDP (FY01)

Australia
2.4% of GDP (2006)

Austria
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Azerbaijan
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Bahamas, The
0.5% of GDP (2006)

Bahrain
4.5% of GDP (2006)

Bangladesh
1.5% of GDP (2006)

Barbados
0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Belarus
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Belgium
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Belize
1.4% of GDP (2006)

Benin
1.7% of GDP (2006)

Bermuda
0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)

Bhutan
1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Bolivia
1.9% of GDP (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
4.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Botswana
3.3% of GDP (2006)

Brazil
2.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Brunei
4.5% of GDP (2006)

Bulgaria
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Burkina Faso
1.2% of GDP (2006)

Burma
2.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Burundi
5.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Cambodia
3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Cameroon
1.3% of GDP (2006)

Canada
1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Cape Verde
0.7% of GDP (2005)

Central African Republic
1.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Chad
4.2% of GDP (2006)

Chile
2.7% of GDP (2006)

China
4.3% of GDP (2006)

Colombia
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Comoros
2.8% of GDP (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
2.5% of GDP (2006)

Congo, Republic of the
3.1% of GDP (2006)

Costa Rica
0.4% of GDP (2006)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.6% of GDP (2005 est)

Croatia
2.39% of GDP (2005 est.)

Cuba
3.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Cyprus
3.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Czech Republic
1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)

Denmark
1.5% of GDP (2006; 1.28% 2007 est.)

Djibouti
3.8% of GDP (2006)

Dominica
NA (2006)

Dominican Republic
0.8% of GDP (2006)

Ecuador
2.8% of GDP (2006)

Egypt
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

El Salvador
5% of GDP (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
0.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Eritrea
6.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Estonia
2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Ethiopia
3% of GDP (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
2.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Finland
2% of GDP (2005 est.)

France
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Gabon
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Gambia, The
0.5% of GDP (2006)

Gaza Strip
NA

Georgia
0.59% of GDP (2005 est.)

Germany
1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Ghana
0.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Greece
4.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Grenada
NA

Guatemala
0.4% of GDP (2006)

Guinea
1.7% of GDP (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Guyana
1.8% of GDP (2006)

Haiti
0.4% of GDP (2006)

Honduras
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
NA

Hungary
1.75% of GDP (2005 est.)

Iceland
0% of GDP (2005 est.)

India
2.5% of GDP (2006)

Indonesia
3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Iran
2.5% of GDP (2006)

Iraq
8.6% of GDP (2006)

Ireland
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Israel
7.3% of GDP (2006)

Italy
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Jamaica
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Japan
0.8% of GDP (2006)

Jordan
8.6% of GDP (2006)

Kazakhstan
0.9% of GDP (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)

Kenya
2.8% of GDP (2006)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
2.7% of GDP (2006)

Kuwait
5.3% of GDP (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Laos
0.5% of GDP (2006)

Latvia
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Lebanon
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Lesotho
2.6% of GDP (2006)

Liberia
1.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Libya
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Lithuania
1.2% of GDP (2006; 1.23% 2007 est.)

Luxembourg
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Macedonia
6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Madagascar
1% of GDP (2006)

Malawi
1.3% of GDP (2006)

Malaysia
2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)

Maldives
5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Mali
1.9% of GDP (2006)

Malta
0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
NA

Mauritania
5.5% of GDP (2006)

Mauritius
0.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Mexico
0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Moldova
0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Mongolia
1.4% of GDP (2006)

Morocco
5% of GDP (2003 est.)

Mozambique
0.8% of GDP (2006)

Namibia
3.7% of GDP (2006)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
1.6% of GDP (2006)

Netherlands
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Nicaragua
0.6% of GDP (2006)

Niger
1.3% of GDP (2006)

Nigeria
1.5% of GDP (2006)

Norway
1.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Oman
11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Pakistan
3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Palau
NA

Panama
1% of GDP (2006)

Papua New Guinea
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Paraguay
1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Peru
1.5% of GDP (2006)

Philippines
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Poland
1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)

Portugal
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Qatar
10% of GDP (2005 est.)

Romania
1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Russia
3.9% of GDP (2005)

Rwanda
2.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
0.8% of GDP (2006)

Saudi Arabia
10% of GDP (2005 est.)

Senegal
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Seychelles
2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
2.3% of GDP (2006)

Singapore
4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Slovakia
1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)

Slovenia
1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Solomon Islands
3% of GDP (2006)

Somalia
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

South Africa
1.7% of GDP (2006)

Spain
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Sri Lanka
2.6% of GDP (2006)

Sudan
3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Suriname
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Swaziland
4.7% of GDP (2006)

Sweden
1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Switzerland
1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Syria
5.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Taiwan
2.2% of GDP (2006)

Tajikistan
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Tanzania
0.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Thailand
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Tonga
0.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
0.3% of GDP (2006)

Tunisia
1.4% of GDP (2006)

Turkey
5.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Turkmenistan
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
2.2% of GDP (2006)

Ukraine
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

United Arab Emirates
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

United Kingdom
2.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

United States
4.06% of GDP (2005 est.)

Uruguay
1.6% of GDP (2006)

Uzbekistan
2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Vietnam
2.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

West Bank
NA

World
roughly 2% of GDP of gross world product (2005 est.)

Yemen
6.6% of GDP (2006)

Zambia
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Zimbabwe
3.8% of GDP (2006)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2038 Electricity - production (kWh)

Afghanistan
839 million kWh (2007 est.)

Albania
2.892 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Algeria
33.12 billion kWh (2006 est.)

American Samoa
180 million kWh (2006 est.)

Andorra
NA kWh

Angola
3.513 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Anguilla
NA kWh

Antigua and Barbuda
105 million kWh (2006 est.)

Argentina
109.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Armenia
5.544 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Aruba
800 million kWh (2006 est.)

Australia
244.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Austria
59.31 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
23.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
2.05 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bahrain
9.233 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
22.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Barbados
1.003 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Belarus
29.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Belgium
82.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Belize
213.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Benin
120 million kWh (2006 est.)

Bermuda
675.6 million kWh (2007 est.)

Bhutan
4.475 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bolivia
5.668 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
12.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Botswana
979 million kWh (2006 est.)

Brazil
437.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied
by the US military

British Virgin Islands
45 million kWh (2006 est.)

Brunei
3.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
43.15 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
611.6 million kWh (2007 est.)

Burma
5.961 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Burundi
87 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cambodia
1.163 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cameroon
3.903 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Canada
612.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
47 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
110 million kWh (2006 est.)

Chad
95 million kWh (2006 est.)

Chile
50.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

China
3.256 trillion kWh (2007)

Colombia
51.83 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Comoros
20 million kWh (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
7.243 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
444 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
30 million kWh (2006 est.)

Costa Rica
8.521 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
5.274 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Croatia
12.41 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cuba
16.97 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Cyprus
4.52 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
82.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Denmark
36.99 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Djibouti
250 million kWh (2006 est.)

Dominica
90 million kWh (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
13.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Ecuador
14.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Egypt
109.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

El Salvador
5.338 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
27 million kWh (2006 est.)

Eritrea
253 million kWh (2006 est.)

Estonia
9.158 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
3.268 billion kWh (2006 est.)

European Union
3.056 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
16 million kWh (2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
295 million kWh (2006 est.)

Fiji
928 million kWh (2007 est.)

Finland
77.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

France
537.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
475 million kWh (2006 est.)

Gabon
1.671 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
200.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
140,000 kWh (2005)

Georgia
7.116 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Germany
594.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ghana
8.204 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
142 million kWh (2006 est.)

Greece
59.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Greenland
305 million kWh (2006 est.)

Grenada
167.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Guam
1.789 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Guatemala
7.643 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Guernsey
NA kWh

Guinea
800 million kWh
note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2006
est.)

Guinea-Bissau
60 million kWh (2006 est.)

Guyana
901 million kWh (2006 est.)

Haiti
549 million kWh (2006 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA kWh

Honduras
5.753 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
36.61 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Hungary
37.66 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Iceland
11.71 billion kWh (2007 est.)

India
665.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Indonesia
125.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iran
189.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iraq
33.53 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ireland
25.77 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Israel
48.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Italy
292.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Jamaica
7.04 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Japan
1.082 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Jordan
10.87 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
74.93 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Kenya
6.264 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kiribati
10 million kWh (2006 est.)

Korea, North
21.72 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Korea, South
412.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Kosovo
3.996 billion kWh (2006)

Kuwait
44.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
15.62 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Laos
1.639 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Latvia
4.734 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Lebanon
8.764 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Lesotho
200 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2006 est.)

Liberia
320 million kWh (2006 est.)

Libya
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Lithuania
11.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
3.01 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Macau
1.454 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Macedonia
6.051 billion kWh (2007)

Madagascar
1.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Malawi
1.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Malaysia
102.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Maldives
230 million kWh (2007 est.)

Mali
505 million kWh (2006 est.)

Malta
2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Mauritania
412.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Mauritius
2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Mayotte
NA kWh

Mexico
243.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
192 million kWh (2002)

Moldova
3.824 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Mongolia
3.078 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Montenegro
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Montserrat
22 million kWh (2006 est.)

Morocco
21.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Mozambique
14.62 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Namibia
1.606 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Nauru
31 million kWh (2006 est.)

Nepal
2.703 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Netherlands
97.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
1.195 billion kWh (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
1.602 billion kWh (2006 est.)

New Zealand
42.41 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
3.012 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Niger
240 million kWh (2006 est.)

Nigeria
22.11 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Niue
4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Norfolk Island
NA kWh

Northern Mariana Islands
NA kWh

Norway
135 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oman
13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Pakistan
93.26 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Panama
5.805 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea
2.875 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Paraguay
70 billion kWh (2007)

Peru
24.92 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Philippines
56.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a
small diesel-powered generator

Poland
149.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Portugal
44.83 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
23.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Qatar
14.41 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Romania
58.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Russia
964.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Rwanda
134 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
130 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
325 million kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
53 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
129 million kWh (2006 est.)

Samoa
109 million kWh (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
18 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Senegal
2.28 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Serbia
33.87 billion kWh (2004)

Seychelles
208 million kWh (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
250 million kWh (2006 est.)

Singapore
38.68 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Slovakia
26.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Slovenia
14.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
70 million kWh (2007 est.)

Somalia
280 million kWh (2006 est.)

South Africa
264 billion kWh (2007)

Spain
287.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
8.317 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Sudan
4.037 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Suriname
1.595 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Swaziland
460 million kWh (2007)

Sweden
143.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Switzerland
64.56 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Syria
34.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Taiwan
216.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
17.4 billion kWh (2007)

Tanzania
2.682 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Thailand
130.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA kWh

Togo
203 million kWh (2006 est.)

Tokelau
NA kWh

Tonga
43 million kWh (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
7.704 billion kWh (2007)

Tunisia
12.65 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Turkey
181.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
12.83 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
10 million kWh (2006 est.)

Uganda
1.161 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Ukraine
182.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
62.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
371 billion kWh (2007 est.)

United States
4.167 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Uruguay
9.2 billion kWh (2007)

Uzbekistan
48.79 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
46 million kWh (2007 est.)

Venezuela
110.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Vietnam
61.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
960 million kWh (2006 est.)

Wake Island
NA kWh

Wallis and Futuna
NA kWh

West Bank
NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East
Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to
Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank;
the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most
Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants

Western Sahara
90 million kWh (2006 est.)

World
18.96 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Yemen
5.017 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Zambia
9.289 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
9.467 billion kWh (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2042 Electricity - consumption (kWh)

Afghanistan
1.088 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Albania
3.607 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Algeria
26.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

American Samoa
167.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Andorra
NA kWh

Angola
3.084 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
97.65 million kWh (2006 est.)

Argentina
97.72 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Armenia
4.539 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Aruba
744 million kWh (2006 est.)

Australia
220 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Austria
62.35 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
27.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
1.793 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Bahrain
8.742 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
21.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Barbados
939.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Belarus
30.43 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Belgium
85.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Belize
193.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Benin
595 million kWh (2006 est.)

Bermuda
619.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Bhutan
528.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

Bolivia
5.092 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
8.501 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Botswana
2.574 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Brazil
402.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA kWh

British Virgin Islands
41.85 million kWh (2006 est.)

Brunei
2.924 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
30.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
509.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Burma
4.289 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Burundi
120.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cambodia
1.178 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cameroon
3.323 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Canada
530 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
43.71 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
102.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Chad
88.35 million kWh (2006 est.)

Chile
45.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

China
2.859 trillion kWh (2006)

Colombia
39.58 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Comoros
18.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
5.158 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
564 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
27.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Costa Rica
7.779 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
3.177 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Croatia
15.57 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cuba
14.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Cyprus
4.151 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
61.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Denmark
34.68 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Djibouti
232.5 million kWh (2006 est.)

Dominica
83.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
11.81 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Ecuador
12.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Egypt
96.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

El Salvador
4.426 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
25.11 million kWh (2006 est.)

Eritrea
216 million kWh (2006 est.)

Estonia
7.331 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
2.941 billion kWh (2006 est.)

European Union
2.858 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
14.88 million kWh (2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
274.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Fiji
1.016 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Finland
86.04 billion kWh (2006 est.)

France
447.3 billion kWh (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
441.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Gabon
1.365 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
143.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
230,000 kWh (2005)

Georgia
6.694 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Germany
549.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Ghana
6.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
142 million kWh (2006 est.)

Greece
55.98 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Greenland
283.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Grenada
144.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Guam
1.664 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Guatemala
6.617 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Guernsey
NA kWh

Guinea
744 million kWh (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
55.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Guyana
747 million kWh (2006 est.)

Haiti
330 million kWh (2006 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA kWh

Honduras
4.233 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
38.02 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Hungary
37.11 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iceland
9.312 billion kWh (2006 est.)

India
517.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Indonesia
110.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iran
149.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iraq
35.84 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ireland
25.67 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Israel
44.74 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Italy
316.3 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Jamaica
6.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Japan
982.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Jersey
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Jordan
9.852 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
61.81 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kenya
5.124 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kiribati
9.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Korea, North
18.18 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Korea, South
368.6 billion kWh (2007)

Kosovo
4.281 billion kWh (2006)

Kuwait
39.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
8.997 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Laos
1.344 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Latvia
6.424 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Lebanon
8.161 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Lesotho
226 million kWh (2006 est.)

Liberia
297.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Libya
20.71 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Lithuania
10.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
6.748 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Macau
2.984 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Macedonia
8.651 billion kWh (2007)

Madagascar
907 million kWh (2006 est.)

Malawi
1.051 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Malaysia
95.98 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Maldives
203.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Mali
469.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Malta
1.85 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Mauritania
383.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Mauritius
2.058 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Mayotte
139.2 million kWh (2005)

Mexico
202 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
178.6 million kWh (2002)

Moldova
5.806 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Monaco
NA kWh

Mongolia
2.638 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Montenegro
18.6 million kWh (2005)

Montserrat
20.46 million kWh (2006 est.)

Morocco
19.58 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Mozambique
9.555 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Namibia
3.194 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Nauru
28.83 million kWh (2006 est.)

Nepal
2.276 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Netherlands
109.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
992 million kWh (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
1.49 billion kWh (2006 est.)

New Zealand
38.93 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
2.413 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Niger
443.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Nigeria
15.85 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Niue
3.72 million kWh (2006 est.)

Norfolk Island
NA kWh

Northern Mariana Islands
NA kWh

Norway
111.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Oman
10.53 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Pakistan
68.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Panama
4.768 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea
2.674 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Paraguay
6 billion kWh (2007)

Peru
22.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Philippines
47.04 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Poland
126.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Portugal
48.02 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
22.17 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Qatar
13.19 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Romania
48.43 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Russia
819.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Rwanda
234.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
7.44 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
120.9 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
289.2 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
49.29 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
120 million kWh (2006 est.)

Samoa
101.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
16.74 million kWh (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
156.8 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Senegal
1.657 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Serbia
NA kWh

Seychelles
193.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
232.5 million kWh (2006 est.)

Singapore
35.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Slovakia
26 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Slovenia
13.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
70 million kWh (2007 est.)

Somalia
260.4 million kWh (2006 est.)

South Africa
241.4 billion kWh (2007)

Spain
254.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
6.884 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Sudan
3.398 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Suriname
1.457 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Swaziland
1.2 billion kWh (2007)

Sweden
133.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Switzerland
58.77 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Syria
34 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Taiwan
208.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
17.9 billion kWh (2007)

Tanzania
2.225 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Thailand
123.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA kWh

Togo
607 million kWh (2006 est.)

Tokelau
NA kWh

Tonga
39.99 million kWh (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
7.083 billion kWh (2007)

Tunisia
10.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Turkey
141.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
9.584 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
9.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Uganda
899.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Ukraine
148.1 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
57.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
348.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United States
3.892 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Uruguay
7.03 billion kWh (2007)

Uzbekistan
42.23 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
39.99 million kWh (2006 est.)

Venezuela
83.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Vietnam
48.08 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
892.8 million kWh (2006 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA kWh

West Bank
NA kWh

Western Sahara
83.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

World
16.88 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Yemen
3.804 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Zambia
8.625 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
11.59 billion kWh (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2043 Electricity - imports (kWh)

Afghanistan
230 million kWh (2007 est.)

Albania
2.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Algeria
382 million kWh (2006 est.)

American Samoa
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Andorra
NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and
France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

Angola
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Argentina
10.27 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Armenia
400.6 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from
Iran (2007 est.)

Aruba
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Australia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Austria
22.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
500 million kWh (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bahrain
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Barbados
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Belarus
10.15 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Belgium
15.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Belize
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Benin
590 million kWh (2006 est.)

Bermuda
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bhutan
11 million kWh (2007 est.)

Bolivia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
3.015 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Botswana
1.959 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Brazil
40.47 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Brunei
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
3.054 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Burma
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Burundi
40 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (2007 est.)

Cambodia
110 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cameroon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Canada
19.66 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Chad
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Chile
1.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)

China
4.771 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Colombia
39.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Comoros
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
411 million kWh (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Croatia
8.374 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cuba
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cyprus
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
10.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Denmark
10.43 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Ecuador
861 million kWh (2006 est.)

Egypt
208 million kWh (2006 est.)

El Salvador
11.08 million kWh (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Eritrea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Estonia
400 million kWh (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

European Union
NA kWh

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Finland
15.42 billion kWh (2007 est.)

France
10.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Gabon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
90,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2005)

Georgia
532 million kWh (2007 est.)

Germany
46.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ghana
629 million kWh (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Greece
5.894 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guam
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guatemala
8.11 million kWh (2007 est.)

Guernsey
0 kWh (2002)

Guinea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Honduras
11.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
10.96 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Hungary
14.68 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 kWh (2007 est.)

India
3.189 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Indonesia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Iran
2.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iraq
2.315 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ireland
1.412 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Israel
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Italy
48.57 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Japan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Jersey
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Jordan
472 million kWh (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
3.665 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Kenya
22.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Korea, North
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Korea, South
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Kuwait
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Laos
367 million kWh (2006 est.)

Latvia
4.671 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Lebanon
929 million kWh (2006 est.)

Lesotho
50 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2007 est.)

Liberia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Libya
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Lithuania
5.846 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
6.847 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Macau
1.683 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Macedonia
2.6 billion kWh (2007)

Madagascar
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Malaysia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Maldives
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mali
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Malta
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mauritania
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mexico
484.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
0 kWh (2002)

Moldova
3.741 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Monaco
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Mongolia
195 million kWh (2007 est.)

Montenegro
0 kWh (2005)

Montserrat
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Morocco
1.998 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Mozambique
9.839 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Namibia
1.948 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South
Africa (2006 est.)

Nauru
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Nepal
380 million kWh (2007 est.)

Netherlands
23.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 kWh (2007 est.)

New Caledonia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

New Zealand
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
63.95 million kWh (2007 est.)

Niger
225 million kWh (2007 est.)

Nigeria
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Niue
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Norway
5.284 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oman
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Pakistan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Panama
8.74 million kWh (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Paraguay
0 kWh (2007)

Peru
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Philippines
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Poland
7.761 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Portugal
9.641 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Qatar
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Romania
1.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Russia
5.67 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Rwanda
130 million kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Senegal
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Serbia
11.23 billion kWh (2004)

Seychelles
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Singapore
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Slovakia
12.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Slovenia
6.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

South Africa
11.32 billion kWh (2007)

Spain
8.773 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Sudan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Suriname
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Swaziland
872 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South
Africa (2007)

Sweden
16.61 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Switzerland
34.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Syria
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Taiwan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
4.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Tanzania
123 million kWh (2006 est.)

Thailand
4.488 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
0 kWh

Togo
505 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2006
est.)

Tonga
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Tunisia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Turkey
863 million kWh (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Uganda
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Ukraine
2.082 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
0 kWh (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
8.613 billion kWh (2007 est.)

United States
51.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Uruguay
788.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
11.44 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Venezuela
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Vietnam
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
0 kWh (2002)

West Bank
NA kWh

Western Sahara
0 kWh (2007 est.)

World
627.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Yemen
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Zambia
68 million kWh (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
2.867 billion kWh (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2044 Electricity - exports (kWh)

Afghanistan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Albania
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Algeria
300 million kWh (2006 est.)

American Samoa
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Andorra
NA kWh

Angola
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Argentina
2.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Armenia
322.6 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to
Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan
(2007 est.)

Aruba
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Australia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Austria
15.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
800 million kWh (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bahrain
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Barbados
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Belarus
5.789 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Belgium
9.035 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Belize
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Benin
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bermuda
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bhutan
3.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Bolivia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
5.123 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Botswana
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Brazil
2.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Brunei
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
7.534 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Burma
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Burundi
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cambodia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cameroon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Canada
50.12 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Chad
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Chile
0 kWh (2007 est.)

China
14.04 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Colombia
876.7 million kWh (2007 est.)

Comoros
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1.799 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
39.55 million kWh (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.066 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Croatia
3.306 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Cuba
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Cyprus
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
26.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Denmark
11.38 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Ecuador
38.53 million kWh (2006 est.)

Egypt
557 million kWh (2006 est.)

El Salvador
8.64 million kWh (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Eritrea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Estonia
3.179 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

European Union
NA kWh

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Finland
2.86 billion kWh (2007 est.)

France
67.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Gabon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
0 kWh (2005)

Georgia
635 million kWh (2007 est.)

Germany
62.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Ghana
755 million kWh (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Greece
269 million kWh (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guam
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guatemala
131.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Guernsey
0 kWh (2002)

Guinea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Honduras
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
4.035 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Hungary
10.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 kWh (2007 est.)

India
378 million kWh (2006 est.)

Indonesia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Iran
2.775 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Iraq
0 kWh (2007)

Ireland
82 million kWh (2007 est.)

Israel
1.844 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Italy
2.64 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Japan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Jordan
13 million kWh (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
3.528 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Kenya
58.3 million kWh (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Korea, North
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Korea, South
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Kuwait
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
2.387 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Laos
547 million kWh (2006 est.)

Latvia
1.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Lebanon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Lesotho
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Liberia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Libya
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Lithuania
7.217 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
2.887 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Macau
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Macedonia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Madagascar
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Malaysia
2.524 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Maldives
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mali
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing
electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2007 est.)

Malta
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mauritania
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mexico
1.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
0 kWh (2002)

Moldova
229 million kWh (2006 est.)

Mongolia
10 million kWh (2007 est.)

Montenegro
0 kWh (2005)

Montserrat
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Morocco
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Mozambique
12.83 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Namibia
40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Nauru
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Nepal
165 million kWh (2007 est.)

Netherlands
5.565 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 kWh (2007 est.)

New Caledonia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

New Zealand
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Niger
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Nigeria
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Niue
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Norway
15.32 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oman
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Pakistan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Panama
124.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Paraguay
64 billion kWh (2007)

Peru
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Philippines
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Poland
13.11 billion kWh (2007)

Portugal
2.153 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Qatar
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Romania
3.362 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Russia
15.81 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Rwanda
10 million kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 kWh (2007)

Saudi Arabia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Senegal
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Serbia
12.05 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Seychelles
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Singapore
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Slovakia
11.85 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Slovenia
5.894 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 kWh (2007 est.)

South Africa
13.77 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Spain
14.52 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Sudan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Suriname
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Swaziland
0 kWh (2007)

Sweden
14.74 billion kWh (2007)

Switzerland
36.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Syria
986 million kWh (2006 est.)

Taiwan
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
4.259 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Tanzania
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Thailand
731 million kWh (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Togo
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Tonga
0 kWh (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Tunisia
135 million kWh (2006 est.)

Turkey
2.576 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
1.34 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Uganda
180 million kWh (2006)

Ukraine
12.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
0 kWh (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
3.398 billion kWh (2007 est.)

United States
20.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Uruguay
995.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
11.52 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Venezuela
542 million kWh (2006 est.)

Vietnam
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
0 kWh (2002)

Western Sahara
0 kWh (2007)

World
655.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Yemen
0 kWh (2007 est.)

Zambia
255 million kWh (2006)

Zimbabwe
34 million kWh (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2046 Population below poverty line (%)

Afghanistan
53% (2003)

Albania
25% (2004 est.)

Algeria
25% (2005 est.)

American Samoa
NA%

Andorra
NA%

Angola
70% (2003 est.)

Anguilla
23% (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda
NA%

Argentina
23.4% (January-June 2007)

Armenia
26.5% (2006 est.)

Aruba
NA%

Australia
NA%

Austria
5.9% (2004)

Azerbaijan
24% (2005 est.)

Bahamas, The
9.3% (2004)

Bahrain
NA%

Bangladesh
45% (2004 est.)

Barbados
NA%

Belarus
27.1% (2003 est.)

Belgium
15.2% (2007 est.)

Belize
33.5% (2002 est.)

Benin
37.4% (2007 est.)

Bermuda
19% (2000)

Bhutan
31.7% (2003)

Bolivia
60% (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
25% (2004 est.)

Botswana
30.3% (2003)

Brazil
31% (2005)

British Virgin Islands
NA%

Brunei
NA%

Bulgaria
14.1% (2003 est.)

Burkina Faso
46.4% (2004)

Burma
32.7% (2007 est.)

Burundi
68% (2002 est.)

Cambodia
35% (2004)

Cameroon
48% (2000 est.)

Canada
10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a
calculation that results in higher figures than found in many
comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line
(2005)

Cape Verde
30% (2000)

Cayman Islands
NA%

Central African Republic
NA%

Chad
80% (2001 est.)

Chile
18.2% (2005)

China
8%
note: 21.5 million rural population live below the official
"absolute poverty" line (approximately $90 per year); and an
additional 35.5 million rural population above that but below the
official "low income" line (approximately $125 per year) (2006 est.)

Colombia
49.2% (2005)

Comoros
60% (2002 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA%

Congo, Republic of the
NA%

Cook Islands
NA%

Costa Rica
16% (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
42% (2006 est.)

Croatia
11% (2003)

Cuba
NA%

Cyprus
NA%

Czech Republic
NA%

Denmark
NA%

Djibouti
42% (2007 est.)

Dominica
30% (2002 est.)

Dominican Republic
42.2% (2004)

Ecuador
38.3% (2006)

Egypt
20% (2005 est.)

El Salvador
30.7% (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
NA%

Eritrea
50% (2004 est.)

Estonia
5% (2003)

Ethiopia
38.7% (FY05/06 est.)

European Union
note - see individual country entries of member states

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA%

Faroe Islands
NA%

Fiji
25.5% (FY90/91)

Finland
NA%

France
6.2% (2004)

French Polynesia
NA%

Gabon
NA%

Gambia, The
NA%

Gaza Strip
80% (2007 est.)

Georgia
31% (2006)

Germany
11% (2001 est.)

Ghana
28.5% (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
NA%

Greece
NA%

Greenland
NA%

Grenada
32% (2000)

Guam
23% (2001 est.)

Guatemala
56.2% (2004 est.)

Guernsey
NA%

Guinea
47% (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
NA%

Guyana
NA%

Haiti
80% (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA%

Honduras
50.7% (2004)

Hong Kong
NA%

Hungary
8.6% (1993 est.)

Iceland
NA%

India
25% (2007 est.)

Indonesia
17.8% (2006)

Iran
18% (2007 est.)

Iraq
NA%

Ireland
7% (2005 est.)

Isle of Man
NA%

Israel
21.6%
note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2005)

Italy
NA%

Jamaica
14.8% (2003 est.)

Japan
NA%

Jersey
NA%

Jordan
14.2% (2002)

Kazakhstan
13.8% (2007)

Kenya
50% (2000 est.)

Kiribati
NA%

Korea, North
NA%

Korea, South
15% (2003 est.)

Kosovo
37% (2007 est.)

Kuwait
NA%

Kyrgyzstan
40% (2004 est.)

Laos
30.7% (2005 est.)

Latvia
NA%

Lebanon
28% (1999 est.)

Lesotho
49% (1999)

Liberia
80% (2000 est.)

Libya
7.4% (2005 est.)

Liechtenstein
NA%

Lithuania
4% (2003)

Luxembourg
NA%

Macau
NA%

Macedonia
29.8% (2006)

Madagascar
50% (2004 est.)

Malawi
53% (2004)

Malaysia
5.1% (2002 est.)

Maldives
21% (2004)

Mali
36.1% (2005 est.)

Malta
NA%

Marshall Islands
NA%

Mauritania
40% (2004 est.)

Mauritius
8% (2006 est.)

Mayotte
NA%

Mexico
13.8% using food-based definition of poverty; asset based
poverty amounted to more than 40% (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of
26.7% (2000)

Moldova
29.5% (2005)

Monaco
NA%

Mongolia
36.1% (2004)

Montenegro
7% (2007 est.)

Montserrat
NA%

Morocco
15% (2007 est.)

Mozambique
70% (2001 est.)

Namibia
the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that
34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per
day

Nauru
NA%

Nepal
30.9% (2004)

Netherlands
10.5% (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
NA%

New Caledonia
NA%

New Zealand
NA%

Nicaragua
48% (2005)

Niger
63% (1993 est.)

Nigeria
70% (2007 est.)

Niue
NA%

Northern Mariana Islands
NA%

Norway
NA%

Oman
NA%

Pakistan
24% (FY05/06 est.)

Palau
NA%

Panama
37% (1999 est.)

Papua New Guinea
37% (2002 est.)

Paraguay
32% (2005 est.)

Peru
44.5% (2006)

Philippines
30% (2003 est.)

Poland
17% (2003 est.)

Portugal
18% (2006)

Puerto Rico
NA%

Qatar
NA%

Romania
25% (2005 est.)

Russia
15.8% (November 2007)

Rwanda
60% (2001 est.)

Saint Helena
NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA%

Saint Lucia
NA%

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA%

Samoa
NA%

San Marino
NA%

Sao Tome and Principe
54% (2004 est.)

Saudi Arabia
NA%

Senegal
54% (2001 est.)

Serbia
6.5% (2007 est.)

Seychelles
NA%

Sierra Leone
70.2% (2004)

Singapore
NA%

Slovakia
21% (2002)

Slovenia
12.9% (2004)

Solomon Islands
NA%

Somalia
NA%

South Africa
50% (2000 est.)

Spain
19.8% (2005)

Sri Lanka
22% (2002 est.)

Sudan
40% (2004 est.)

Suriname
70% (2002 est.)

Swaziland
69% (2006)

Sweden
NA%

Switzerland
NA%

Syria
11.9% (2006 est.)

Taiwan
0.95% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
60% (2007 est.)

Tanzania
36% (2002 est.)

Thailand
10% (2004 est.)

Timor-Leste
42% (2003 est.)

Togo
32% (1989 est.)

Tokelau
NA%

Tonga
24% (FY03/04)

Trinidad and Tobago
17% (2007 est.)

Tunisia
7.4% (2005 est.)

Turkey
20% (2002)

Turkmenistan
30% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA%

Tuvalu
NA%

Uganda
35% (2001 est.)

Ukraine
37.7% (2003)

United Arab Emirates
19.5% (2003)

United Kingdom
14% (2006 est.)

United States
12% (2004 est.)

Uruguay
27.4% of households (2006)

Uzbekistan
33% (2004 est.)

Vanuatu
NA%

Venezuela
37.9% (end 2005 est.)

Vietnam
14.8% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
28.9% (2002)

Wallis and Futuna
NA%

West Bank
46% (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
NA%

Yemen
45.2% (2003)

Zambia
86% (1993)

Zimbabwe
68% (2004)

This page was last updated on 13 November 2008

======================================================================

@2047 Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)

Afghanistan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Albania
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.4% (2004)

Algeria
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)

American Samoa
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Andorra
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Angola
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Anguilla
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Antigua and Barbuda
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Argentina
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 35% (January-March 2007)

Armenia
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)

Aruba
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Australia
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Austria
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)

Azerbaijan
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2001)

Bahamas, The
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: 27% (2000)

Bahrain
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Bangladesh
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 27.9% (2000)

Barbados
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Belarus
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 23.5% (2002)

Belgium
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)

Belize
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Benin
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 29% (2003)

Bermuda
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Bhutan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Bolivia
lowest 10%: 0.3%
highest 10%: 47.2% (2002)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 21.4% (2001)

Botswana
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Brazil
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 44.8% (2004)

British Virgin Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Brunei
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Bulgaria
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.4% (2005)

Burkina Faso
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.2% (2004)

Burma
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Burundi
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)

Cambodia
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 34.8% (2004)

Cameroon
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)

Canada
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)

Cape Verde
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Cayman Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Central African Republic
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

Chad
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Chile
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 45% (2003)

China
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 34.9% (2004)

Colombia
lowest 10%: 7.9%
highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)

Comoros
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Congo, Republic of the
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Cook Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Costa Rica
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 37.4% (2003)

Cote d'Ivoire
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 34% (2002)

Croatia
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)

Cuba
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Cyprus
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Czech Republic
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)

Denmark
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)

Djibouti
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Dominica
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Dominican Republic
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2004)

Ecuador
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 35%
note: data for urban households only (October 2006)

Egypt
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

El Salvador
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2002)

Equatorial Guinea
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Eritrea
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Estonia
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Ethiopia
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 25.5% (2000)

European Union
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (2001 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Faroe Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Fiji
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Finland
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22.6% (2000)

France
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2004)

French Polynesia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Gabon
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Gambia, The
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 37% (1998)

Gaza Strip
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Georgia
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27% (2005)

Germany
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 22.1% (2000)

Ghana
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)

Gibraltar
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Greece
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)

Greenland
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Grenada
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Guam
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Guatemala
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4% (2002)

Guernsey
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Guinea
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 41% (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)

Guyana
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)

Haiti
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (2001)

Honduras
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 42.2% (2003)

Hong Kong
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Hungary
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2002)

Iceland
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

India
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 31.1% (2004)

Indonesia
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

Iran
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 33.7% (1998)

Iraq
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Ireland
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)

Isle of Man
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Israel
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 28.3% (2005)

Italy
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)

Jamaica
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 35.8% (2004)

Japan
lowest 10%: 4.8%
highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)

Jersey
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Jordan
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.6% (2003)

Kazakhstan
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.)

Kenya
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Kiribati
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Korea, North
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Korea, South
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25% (2005 est.)

Kuwait
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Kyrgyzstan
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 24.3% (2003)

Laos
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

Latvia
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.1% (2003)

Lebanon
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Lesotho
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4% (2002 est.)

Liberia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Libya
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Liechtenstein
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Lithuania
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 27.7% (2003)

Luxembourg
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 23.8% (2000)

Macau
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Macedonia
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Madagascar
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (2001)

Malawi
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 31.8% (2004)

Malaysia
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)

Maldives
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Mali
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2001)

Malta
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Marshall Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Mauritania
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

Mauritius
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Mayotte
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Mexico
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 37% (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Moldova
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (2003)

Monaco
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Mongolia
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 24.6% (2002)

Montserrat
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Morocco
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1999)

Mozambique
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 39.4% (2002)

Namibia
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 64.5% (2003)

Nauru
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Nepal
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 40.6% (2004)

Netherlands
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)

Netherlands Antilles
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

New Caledonia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

New Zealand
lowest 10%: %NA
highest 10%: %NA

Nicaragua
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 33.8% (2001)

Niger
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)

Nigeria
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 33.2% (2003)

Niue
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Northern Mariana Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Norway
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23.4% (2000)

Oman
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Pakistan
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 26.3% (2002)

Palau
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Panama
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 43% (2003)

Papua New Guinea
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Paraguay
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 46.1% (2003)

Peru
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 40.9% (2003)

Philippines
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)

Poland
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 27% (2002)

Portugal
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)

Puerto Rico
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Qatar
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Romania
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)

Russia
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 30.4% (September 2007)

Rwanda
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 38.2% (2000)

Saint Helena
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saint Lucia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Samoa
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

San Marino
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Sao Tome and Principe
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saudi Arabia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Senegal
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.4% (2001)

Seychelles
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Sierra Leone
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Singapore
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)

Slovakia
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)

Slovenia
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)

Solomon Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Somalia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

South Africa
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)

Spain
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)

Sri Lanka
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 39.7% (FY03/04)

Sudan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Suriname
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Swaziland
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.7% (2001)

Sweden
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)

Switzerland
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2000)

Syria
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Taiwan
lowest 10%: 6.7%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)

Tajikistan
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2007 est.)

Tanzania
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)

Thailand
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.4% (2002)

Timor-Leste
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Togo
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Tonga
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Trinidad and Tobago
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Tunisia
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)

Turkey
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 34.1% (2003)

Turkmenistan
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)

Turks and Caicos Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Tuvalu
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Uganda
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 37.7% (2002)

Ukraine
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 25.7% (2006)

United Arab Emirates
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

United Kingdom
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1999)

United States
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 30% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 34% (2003)

Uzbekistan
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Vanuatu
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Venezuela
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 35.2% (2003)

Vietnam
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28.9% (2004)

Virgin Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Wallis and Futuna
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

West Bank
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Western Sahara
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

World
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.8% (2002 est.)

Yemen
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)

Zambia
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)

Zimbabwe
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1995)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2048 Labor force - by occupation (%)

Afghanistan
agriculture: 80%
industry: 10%
services: 10% (2004 est.)

Albania
agriculture: 58%
industry: 15%
services: 27% (September 2006 est.)

Algeria
agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public
works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.)

American Samoa
agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)

Andorra
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 20.3%
services: 79.4% (2005)

Angola
agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)

Anguilla
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%,
construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%,
services 29% (2000 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
agriculture: 7%
industry: 11%
services: 82% (1983)

Argentina
agriculture: 1%
industry: 23%
services: 76% (2007 est.)

Armenia
agriculture: 46.2%
industry: 15.6%
services: 38.2% (2006 est.)

Aruba
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair,
followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Australia
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.2%
services: 75.2% (2004 est.)

Austria
agriculture: 3%
industry: 27%
services: 70% (2005 est.)

Azerbaijan
agriculture: 41%
industry: 7%
services: 52% (2001)

Bahamas, The
agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other
services 40% (2005 est.)

Bahrain
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)

Bangladesh
agriculture: 63%
industry: 11%
services: 26% (FY95/96)

Barbados
agriculture: 10%
industry: 15%
services: 75% (1996 est.)

Belarus
agriculture: 14%
industry: 34.7%
services: 51.3% (2003 est.)

Belgium
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.)

Belize
agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 15.2%
services: 62.3% (2005 est.)

Bermuda
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%,
professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%,
sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)

Bhutan
agriculture: 63%
industry: 6%
services: 31% (2004 est.)

Bolivia
agriculture: 40%
industry: 17%
services: 43% (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Botswana
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Brazil
agriculture: 20%
industry: 14%
services: 66% (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands
agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40%
services: 59.4% (2005)

Brunei
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 61.1%
services: 36% (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 33.6%
services: 57.9% (2nd qtr. 2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)

Burma
agriculture: 70%
industry: 7%
services: 23% (2001)

Burundi
agriculture: 93.6%
industry: 2.3%
services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Cambodia
agriculture: 75%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Cameroon
agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17% (2001 est.)

Canada
agriculture 2%, manufacturing 13%, construction 6%, services
76%, other 3% (2006)

Cayman Islands
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 12.6%
services: 86% (1995)

Chad
agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)

Chile
agriculture: 13.6%
industry: 23.4%
services: 63% (2003)

China
agriculture: 43%
industry: 25%
services: 32% (2006 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society
Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage
workers; tourism employs others

Colombia
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 18.7%
services: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Comoros agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Cook Islands
agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)

Costa Rica
agriculture: 14%
industry: 22%
services: 64% (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
agriculture: 68%
industry and services: NA (2007 est.)

Croatia
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 64.5% (2004)

Cuba
agriculture: 20%
industry: 19.4%
services: 60.6% (2005)

Cyprus
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 20.5%
services: 71% (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 37.6%
services: 58.3% (2003)

Denmark
agriculture: 3%
industry: 21%
services: 76% (2004 est.)

Djibouti
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Dominica
agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28% (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic
agriculture: 17%
industry: 24.3%
services: 58.7% (1998 est.)

Ecuador
agriculture: 8%
industry: 24%
services: 68% (2001)

Egypt
agriculture: 32%
industry: 17%
services: 51% (2001 est.)

El Salvador
agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (2006 est.)

Eritrea agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2004 est.)

Estonia
agriculture: 11%
industry: 20%
services: 69% (1999 est.)

Ethiopia
agriculture: 80%
industry: 8%
services: 12% (1985)

European Union agriculture: 4.4% industry: 27.1% services: 67.1% note: the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services (2002 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
agriculture: 95% (mostly
sheepherding and fishing)
industry and services: 5% (1996)

Faroe Islands
agriculture: 33%
industry: 33%
services: 34% (October 2000)

Fiji
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)

Finland
agriculture and forestry 4.4%, industry 18.6%, construction
6%, commerce 16.3%, finance, insurance, and business services 13.9%,
transport and communications 7.6%, public services 33.2% (2004)

France
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 24.4%
services: 71.5% (1999)

French Polynesia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2002)

Gabon
agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25%

Gambia, The
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)

Gaza Strip
agriculture: 12%
industry: 18%
services: 70% (2005)

Georgia
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Germany
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 33.4%
services: 63.8% (1999)

Ghana
agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29% (2005 est.)

Gibraltar
agriculture: negligible
industry: 40%
services: 60% (2001)

Greece
agriculture: 12%
industry: 20%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Grenada
agriculture: 24%
industry: 14%
services: 62% (1999 est.)

Guam
agriculture: 26%
industry: 10%
services: 64% (2004 est.)

Guatemala
agriculture: 50%
industry: 15%
services: 35% (1999 est.)

Guinea
agriculture: 76%
industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)

Guyana
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Haiti
agriculture: 66%
industry: 9%
services: 25% (1995)

Holy See (Vatican City)
note: essentially services with a small
amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards,
and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Honduras
agriculture: 34%
industry: 23%
services: 43% (2003 est.)

Hong Kong
manufacturing 6.5%, construction 2.1%, wholesale and
retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.3%, financing, insurance,
and real estate 20.7%, transport and communications 7.8%, community
and social services 19.5%
note: above data exclude public sector (2007 est.)

Hungary
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 33.3%
services: 61.2% (2003)

Iceland
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 23%
services: 71.8% (2005)

India
agriculture: 60%
industry: 12%
services: 28% (2003)

Indonesia
agriculture: 43.3%
industry: 18%
services: 38.7% (2004 est.)

Iran
agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 45% (June 2007)

Iraq
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Ireland
agriculture: 6%
industry: 27%
services: 67% (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3%, manufacturing
11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and
retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%,
public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%,
entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10% (2001)

Israel
agriculture 18.5%, industry 23.7%, services 50%, other 7.8%
(2002)

Italy
agriculture: 5%
industry: 32%
services: 63% (2001)

Jamaica
agriculture: 17%
industry: 19%
services: 64% (2006)

Japan
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 27.8%
services: 67.7% (2004)

Jordan
agriculture: 5%
industry: 12.5%
services: 82.5% (2001 est.)

Kazakhstan
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 18%
services: 49.8% (2005)

Kenya
agriculture: 75%
industry and services: 25% (2003 est.)

Kiribati agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32% services: 65.3% (2000)

Korea, North agriculture: 37% industry and services: 63% (2004 est.)

Korea, South
agriculture: 7.5%
industry: 17.3%
services: 75.2% (2007)

Kosovo
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: NA
services: NA (2006 est,)

Kuwait
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Kyrgyzstan
agriculture: 55%
industry: 15%
services: 30% (2000 est.)

Laos
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Latvia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2005 est.)

Lebanon
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Lesotho
agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in
subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners
work in South Africa
industry and services: 14% (2002 est.)

Liberia
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)

Libya
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)

Liechtenstein
agriculture: 2%
industry: 47%
services: 51% (31 December 2001)

Lithuania
agriculture: 15.8%
industry: 28.2%
services: 56% (2004)

Luxembourg
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2004 est.)

Macau
manufacturing 11.1%, construction 11.7%, transport and
communications 6.3%, wholesale and retail trade 13.7%, restaurants
and hotels 11.3%, gambling 19.8%, public sector 7.7%, financial
services 2.6%, other services and agriculture 15.7% (2006)

Macedonia agriculture: 19.6% industry: 30.4% services: 50% (September 2007)

Malawi agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Malaysia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 36%
services: 51% (2005 est.)

Maldives
agriculture: 22%
industry: 18%
services: 60% (1995)

Mali
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Malta
agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.)

Marshall Islands
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: 20.9%
services: 57.7% (2000)

Mauritania
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)

Mauritius
agriculture and fishing 9%, construction and industry 30%,
transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 22%,
finance 6%, other services 25% (2007)

Mexico
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2003)

Micronesia, Federated States of agriculture: 0.9% industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)

Moldova
agriculture: 40.7%
industry: 12.1%
services: 47.2% (2005)

Mongolia
agriculture: 39.9%
industry: 11.7%
services: 49.4% (2006)

Montenegro
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Morocco
agriculture: 40%
industry: 15%
services: 45% (2003 est.)

Mozambique
agriculture: 81%
industry: 6%
services: 13% (1997 est.)

Namibia
agriculture: 47%
industry: 20%
services: 33% (1999 est.)

Nauru
note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration,
education, and transportation (1992)

Nepal
agriculture: 76%
industry: 6%
services: 18% (2004 est.)

Netherlands
agriculture: 3%
industry: 21%
services: 76% (2005 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
agriculture: 1%
industry: 20%
services: 79% (2005 est.)

New Caledonia
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002)

New Zealand
agriculture: 7%
industry: 19%
services: 74% (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
agriculture: 29%
industry: 19%
services: 52% (2006 est.)

Niger
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)

Nigeria
agriculture: 70%
industry: 10%
services: 20% (1999 est.)

Niue
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Norfolk Island
agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90%

Northern Mariana Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Norway
agriculture: 4%
industry: 22%
services: 74% (1995)

Oman
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Pakistan
agriculture: 42%
industry: 20%
services: 38% (2004 est.)

Palau
agriculture: 20%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Panama
agriculture: 15%
industry: 18%
services: 67% (2006)

Papua New Guinea
agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2005 est.)

Paraguay
agriculture: 31%
industry: 17%
services: 52% (2007)

Peru
agriculture: 9%
industry: 18%
services: 73% (2001)

Philippines
agriculture: 35%
industry: 15%
services: 50% (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
note: no business community in the usual sense;
some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Poland
agriculture: 16.1%
industry: 29%
services: 54.9% (2002)

Portugal
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
agriculture: 3%
industry: 20%
services: 77% (2000 est.)

Romania
agriculture: 29.7%
industry: 23.2%
services: 47.1% (2006)

Russia
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 28.8%
services: 60.5% (November 2007 est.)

Rwanda agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2000)

Saint Helena
agriculture: 6%
industry: 48%
services: 46% (1987 est.)

Saint Lucia
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)

Saint Martin
85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
agriculture: 18%
industry: 41%
services: 41% (1996 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
agriculture: 26%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (1980 est.)

Samoa
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

San Marino
agriculture: 0.2%
industry: 40.1%
services: 59.7% (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers

Saudi Arabia agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1999 est.)

Senegal agriculture: 77.5% industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)

Serbia
agriculture: 30%
industry: 46%
services: 24% (2002)

Seychelles
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)

Sierra Leone
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Singapore
manufacturing 21%, construction 5%, transportation and
communication 7%, financial, business, and other services 42%, other
25% (2006)

Slovakia
agriculture 5.8%, industry 29.3%, construction 9%, services
55.9% (2003)

Slovenia
agriculture: 2.5%
industry: 36%
services: 61.5% (2007)

Solomon Islands
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)

Somalia agriculture: 71% industry and services: 29% (1975)

South Africa
agriculture: 9%
industry: 26%
services: 65% (2007 est.)

Spain
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 30.1%
services: 64.6% (2004 est.)

Sri Lanka
agriculture: 34.3%
industry: 25.3%
services: 40.4% (30 June 2006 est.)

Sudan
agriculture: 80%
industry: 7%
services: 13% (1998 est.)

Suriname
agriculture: 8%
industry: 14%
services: 78% (2004)

Swaziland
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Sweden
agriculture: 2%
industry: 24%
services: 74% (2000 est.)

Switzerland
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 26.3%
services: 69.1% (1998)

Syria
agriculture: 19.2%
industry: 14.5%
services: 66.3% (2006 est.)

Taiwan
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 36.8%
services: 57.9% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
agriculture: 67.2%
industry: 7.5%
services: 25.3% (2000 est.)

Tanzania agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)

Thailand
agriculture: 49%
industry: 14%
services: 37% (2000 est.)

Timor-Leste
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Togo
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (1998 est.)

Tonga
agriculture: 65%
industry and services: 35% (1997 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
agriculture 4%, manufacturing, mining, and
quarrying 12.9%, construction and utilities 17.5%, services 65.6%
(2006 est.)

Tunisia
agriculture: 55%
industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)

Turkey
agriculture: 35.9%
industry: 22.8%
services: 41.2% (3rd quarter, 2004)

Turkmenistan
agriculture: 48.2%
industry: 14%
services: 37.8% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
note: about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial,
and other services

Tuvalu
note: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the
sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad
(mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Uganda
agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)

Ukraine
agriculture: 25%
industry: 20%
services: 55% (1996)

United Arab Emirates
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2000 est.)

United Kingdom
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 18.2%
services: 80.4% (2006 est.)

United States
farming, forestry, and fishing 0.6%, manufacturing,
extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.6%, managerial,
professional, and technical 35.5%, sales and office 24.8%, other
services 16.5%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2007)

Uruguay
agriculture: 9%
industry: 15%
services: 76% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)

Vanuatu
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)

Venezuela
agriculture: 13%
industry: 23%
services: 64% (1997 est.)

Vietnam
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 18.9%
services: 25.5% (July 2005)

Virgin Islands
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)

West Bank
agriculture: 18%
industry: 15%
services: 67% (2006)

Western Sahara
agriculture: 50%
industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)

World
agriculture: 40.2%
industry: 20.5%
services: 39.4% (2007 est.)

Yemen
note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding;
services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than
one-fourth of the labor force

Zambia
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9% (2004)

Zimbabwe
agriculture: 66%
industry: 10%
services: 24% (1996)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2049 Exports - commodities (%)

Afghanistan
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton,
hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems

Albania
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores,
crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Algeria
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

American Samoa
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)

Andorra
tobacco products, furniture

Angola
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Anguilla
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Antigua and Barbuda
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts,
electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals

Argentina
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles,
corn, wheat

Armenia
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds,
mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Aruba
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles,
machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Australia
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat,
machinery and transport equipment

Austria
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs

Azerbaijan
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Bahamas, The
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum,
chemicals, fruit and vegetables

Bahrain
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Bangladesh
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and
seafood

Barbados
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and
beverages, chemicals, electrical components

Belarus
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals,
metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Belgium
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and
metal products, foodstuffs

Belize
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses,
wood

Benin
cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Bermuda
reexports of pharmaceuticals

Bhutan
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber,
handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices

Bolivia
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum,
zinc ore, tin

Bosnia and Herzegovina
metals, clothing, wood products

Botswana
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Brazil
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee,
autos

British Virgin Islands
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

Brunei
crude oil, natural gas, refined products, clothing

Bulgaria
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and
equipment, fuels

Burkina Faso
cotton, livestock, gold

Burma
natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice,
clothing, jade and gems

Burundi
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Cambodia
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Cameroon
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans,
aluminum, coffee, cotton

Canada
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Cape Verde
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Cayman Islands
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Central African Republic
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Chad
oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic

Chile
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

China
machinery, electrical products, data processing equipment,
apparel, textile, steel, mobile phones

Christmas Island
phosphate

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
copra

Colombia
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel,
bananas, cut flowers

Comoros
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
diamonds, copper, crude oil,
coffee, cobalt

Congo, Republic of the
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa,
coffee, diamonds

Cook Islands
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee;
fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Costa Rica
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants,
sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment

Cote d'Ivoire
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas,
pineapples, palm oil, fish

Croatia
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Cuba
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Cyprus
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, and clothing

Czech Republic
machinery and transport equipment 52%, raw materials
and fuel 9%, chemicals 5% (2003)

Denmark
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy
products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills

Djibouti
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Dominica
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Dominican Republic
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa,
tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Ecuador
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee,
hemp, wood, fish

Egypt
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal
products, chemicals

El Salvador
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp,
textiles, chemicals, electricity

Equatorial Guinea
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Eritrea
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures

Estonia
machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles
14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)

Ethiopia
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

European Union
machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics,
pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, iron and steel,
nonferrous metals, wood pulp and paper products, textiles, meat,
dairy products, fish, alcoholic beverages.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
wool, hides, meat, fish, squid

Faroe Islands
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Fiji
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Finland
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper,
pulp

France
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

French Polynesia
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl,
vanilla, shark meat

Gabon
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Gambia, The
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels,
re-exports

Gaza Strip
citrus, flowers, textiles

Georgia
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and
nuts

Germany
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,
foodstuffs, textiles

Ghana
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,
diamonds, horticulture

Gibraltar
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods
41%, other 8%

Greece
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles

Greenland
fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%) (2001 est.)

Grenada
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Guam
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products

Guatemala
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and
vegetables, cardamom

Guernsey
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other
vegetables

Guinea
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural
products

Guinea-Bissau
cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Guyana
sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum,
timber

Haiti
apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee

Honduras
coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster,
lumber

Hong Kong
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel,
footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones,
printed material

Hungary
machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%,
food products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6%
(2003)

Iceland
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products,
ferrosilicon, diatomite

India
petroleum products, textile goods, gems and jewelry,
engineering goods, chemicals, leather manufactures

Indonesia
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles,
rubber

Iran
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and
nuts, carpets

Iraq
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and
live animals 5%

Ireland
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Isle of Man
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

Israel
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural
products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Italy
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production
machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food,
beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals

Jamaica
alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams,
beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

Japan
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors,
electrical machinery, chemicals

Jersey
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle,
foodstuffs, textiles

Jordan
clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers,
vegetables, manufactures;

Kazakhstan
oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals
5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)

Kenya
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish,
cement

Kiribati
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Korea, North
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures
(including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products

Korea, South
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment,
motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Kosovo
mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather
products, machinery, appliances

Kuwait
oil and refined products, fertilizers

Kyrgyzstan
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium,
natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Laos
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold

Latvia
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs

Lebanon
authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous
consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction
minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers,
paper

Lesotho
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool
and mohair, food and live animals (2000)

Liberia
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Libya
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Liechtenstein
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and
video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared
foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

Lithuania
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery
and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%,
foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Luxembourg
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals,
rubber products, glass

Macau
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and
parts

Macedonia
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous
manufactures, iron and steel

Madagascar
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth,
chromite, petroleum products

Malawi
tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood
products, apparel

Malaysia
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas,
wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Maldives
fish

Mali
cotton, gold, livestock

Malta
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Marshall Islands
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Mauritania
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Mauritius
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish

Mayotte
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts,
coffee, cinnamon

Mexico
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton

Micronesia, Federated States of
fish, garments, bananas, black
pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut

Moldova
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Mongolia
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere,
wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Montserrat
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot
peppers, limes, live plants; cattle

Morocco
clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic
chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including
phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Mozambique
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber;
bulk electricity

Namibia
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle,
processed fish, karakul skins

Nauru
phosphates

Nepal
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Netherlands
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Netherlands Antilles
petroleum products

New Caledonia
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

New Zealand
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish,
machinery

Nicaragua
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold,
peanuts

Niger
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Nigeria
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Niue
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Norfolk Island
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and
Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Northern Mariana Islands
garments

Norway
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment,
metals, chemicals, ships, fish

Oman
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Pakistan
textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice,
leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and
rugs

Palau
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Panama
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Papua New Guinea
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee,
cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Paraguay
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity,
wood, leather

Peru
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products,
coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs

Philippines
semiconductors and electronic products, transport
equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut
oil, fruits

Pitcairn Islands
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Poland
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate
manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%,
food and live animals 7.6% (2003)

Portugal
agricultural products, food products, oil products,
chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and
cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear,
minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools,
vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision

Puerto Rico
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum,
beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Qatar
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers,
steel

Romania
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and
metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels,
chemicals, agricultural products

Russia
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood
products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
military manufactures

Rwanda
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Saint Helena
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna),
coffee, handicrafts

Saint Kitts and Nevis
machinery, food, electronics, beverages,
tobacco

Saint Lucia
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits,
coconut oil

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal
feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro),
arrowroot starch; tennis racquets

Samoa
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer

San Marino
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked
goods, hides, ceramics

Sao Tome and Principe
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Saudi Arabia
petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Senegal
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates,
cotton

Serbia
manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and
transport equipment

Seychelles
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum
products (reexports)

Sierra Leone
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Singapore
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer
goods, chemicals, mineral fuels

Slovakia
vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%,
base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)

Slovenia
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, food

Solomon Islands
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Somalia
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

South Africa
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals,
machinery and equipment

Spain
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
medicines, other consumer goods

Sri Lanka
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds,
rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish

Sudan
oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock,
groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Suriname
alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice,
bananas

Swaziland
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

Sweden
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood,
iron and steel products, chemicals

Switzerland
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural
products

Syria
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and
vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals,
wheat

Taiwan
electronic and electrical products, metals, textiles,
plastics, chemicals, auto parts (2002)

Tajikistan
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil,
textiles

Tanzania
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Thailand
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber,
jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Timor-Leste
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and
vanilla exports

Togo
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Tokelau
stamps, copra, handicrafts

Tonga
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Trinidad and Tobago
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied
natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products,
beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus
fruit, vegetables, flowers

Tunisia
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural
products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons,
electrical equipment

Turkey
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport
equipment

Turkmenistan
gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber

Turks and Caicos Islands
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Tuvalu
copra, fish

Uganda
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers,
horticultural products; gold

Ukraine
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

United Arab Emirates
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried
fish, dates

United Kingdom
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food,
beverages, tobacco

United States
agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%,
industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods
(transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers,
telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles,
medicines) 15.0% (2003)

Uruguay
meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Uzbekistan
cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers,
ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery,
automobiles

Vanuatu
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Venezuela
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals,
agricultural products, basic manufactures

Vietnam
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea,
garments, shoes

Virgin Islands
refined petroleum products

Wallis and Futuna
copra, chemicals, construction materials

West Bank
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Western Sahara
phosphates 62%

World
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and
services
top ten - share of world trade: electrical machinery, including
computers 14.8%; mineral fuels, including oil, coal, gas, and
refined products 14.4%; nuclear reactors, boilers, and parts 14.2%;
cars, trucks, and buses 8.9%; scientific and precision instruments
3.5%; plastics 3.4%; iron and steel 2.7%; organic chemicals 2.6%;
pharmaceutical products 2.6%; diamonds, pearls, and precious stones
1.9% (2006 est.)

Yemen
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Zambia
copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers,
cotton

Zimbabwe
platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys,
textiles/clothing

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2050 Exports - partners (%)

Afghanistan
India 22.8%, Pakistan 21.8%, US 20.5%, Tajikistan 7.2%
(2007)

Albania
Italy 72%, Greece 8.8%, China 2.7% (2007)

Algeria
US 29.4%, Italy 13.8%, Spain 9.6%, Canada 8.4%, France 7.4%,
Netherlands 5% (2007)

American Samoa
Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan
11.2%, NZ 7.1% (2006)

Angola
US 32.1%, China 32%, France 5.9%, Taiwan 5.3%, South Africa
4.5% (2007)

Anguilla
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda
Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore
5.8%, UK 4.9% (2006)

Argentina
Brazil 19.1%, China 9.4%, US 7.9%, Chile 7.6% (2007)

Armenia
Russia 17.5%, Germany 14.7%, Netherlands 13.5%, Belgium
8.7%, Georgia 7.6%, US 6.6%, Switzerland 4.3%, Bulgaria 4.1%,
Ukraine 4% (2007)

Aruba
Panama 29.7%, Colombia 17%, Netherlands Antilles 13.2%, US
11.3%, Venezuela 10.9%, Netherlands 9.2% (2007)

Australia
Japan 18.9%, China 14.2%, South Korea 8%, US 6%, NZ 5.6%,
India 5.5%, UK 4.2% (2007)

Austria
Germany 29.8%, Italy 8.8%, US 4.9%, Switzerland 4.3% (2007)

Azerbaijan
Turkey 17.4%, Italy 15.5%, Russia 8.7%, Iran 7.2%,
Indonesia 6.4%, Israel 6.1%, Georgia 5.7%, US 4.8%, France 4.3%
(2007)

Bahamas, The
US 20.4%, Singapore 15.5%, Spain 14.5%, Poland 14.3%,
Germany 6.6%, Guatemala 5.7%, Switzerland 5.2% (2007)

Bahrain
Saudi Arabia 3.5%, US 2.5%, UAE 2.5% (2007)

Bangladesh
US 23%, Germany 13%, UK 9.1%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4%
(2007)

Barbados
Trinidad and Tobago 15.5%, Jamaica 13.5%, UK 9.4%, US 9.3%,
Brazil 8.3%, Saint Lucia 7.2%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.5%
(2007)

Belarus
Russia 36.5%, Netherlands 17.8%, UK 6.3%, Ukraine 6.1%,
Poland 5%, Latvia 4.1% (2007)

Belgium
Germany 19.5%, France 16.7%, Netherlands 11.9%, UK 7.6%, US
5.7%, Italy 5.2% (2007)

Belize
US 28.7%, UK 16.3%, Thailand 5.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.4%,
Finland 4.2%, Spain 4% (2007)

Benin
China 24.7%, India 8.2%, Niger 6.6%, Togo 5.4%, Nigeria 5.3%,
Belgium 4.6% (2007)

Bermuda
Spain 13.8%, Germany 11.7%, Switzerland 8.8%, Denmark 6.6%,
UK 6% (2007)

Bhutan
India 58.6%, Hong Kong 30.1%, Bangladesh 7.3% (2007)

Bolivia
Brazil 46%, US 9.8%, Japan 7.6%, Argentina 5.8%, South Korea
4.8%, Peru 4.1% (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia 21%, Slovenia 16.5%, Italy 16.1%,
Germany 13.3%, Austria 9.6%, Hungary 5.7% (2007)

Botswana
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern
African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2006)

Brazil
US 16.1%, Argentina 9.2%, China 6.8%, Netherlands 5.6%,
Germany 4.6% (2007)

British Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)

Brunei
Japan 32.8%, Indonesia 24.4%, Australia 13.4%, South Korea
12.2%, US 5.5% (2007)

Bulgaria
Turkey 11.5%, Germany 10.3%, Italy 10.2%, Greece 9.1%,
Belgium 6.2%, Romania 4.9% (2007)

Burkina Faso
China 29.6%, Singapore 15.7%, Thailand 7.2%, Ghana
6.4%, Niger 4.8% (2007)

Burma
Thailand 44.3%, India 14.5%, China 7.1%, Japan 5.7% (2007)

Burundi
Germany 31.3%, Pakistan 6.8%, Belgium 5.8%, Sweden 4.3%,
Rwanda 4.3%, France 4.2%, Sudan 4% (2007)

Cambodia
US 58.1%, Germany 7.3%, UK 5.2%, Canada 4.6%, Vietnam 4.5%
(2007)

Cameroon
Spain 19.8%, Italy 15.7%, France 11.7%, South Korea 9.4%,
Netherlands 6.1%, US 5.7% (2007)

Canada
US 78.9%, UK 2.8%, China 2.1% (2007)

Cape Verde
Spain 37.2%, Portugal 29.9%, Morocco 7%, US 6.6% (2007)

Cayman Islands
mostly US (2006)

Central African Republic
Belgium 22.7%, Indonesia 19.3%, Italy 7.7%,
France 7.1%, Spain 6.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.8%,
China 4.9%, Turkey 4.7% (2007)

Chad
US 89.5%, Japan 3.7%, China 3.4% (2007)

Chile
China 14.8%, US 12.5%, Japan 10.5%, Netherlands 5.8%, South
Korea 5.7%, Italy 5.1%, Brazil 5% (2007)

China
US 19.1%, Hong Kong 15.1%, Japan 8.4%, South Korea 4.6%,
Germany 4% (2007)

Christmas Island
Australia, NZ (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Australia (2006)

Colombia
US 35.4%, Venezuela 17.4%, Ecuador 4.3% (2007)

Comoros
Turkey 38%, France 27.5%, Singapore 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%
(2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Belgium 23.6%, China 21.7%, US
9.8%, Finland 9.1%, Brazil 9.1%, France 6.8%, Zambia 6% (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
US 41%, China 36.5%, Taiwan 3.6% (2007)

Cook Islands
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, NZ 25%, US 8% (2006)

Costa Rica
US 25.7%, China 14.1%, Netherlands 10.9%, UK 6.3%, Mexico
5% (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
Germany 9.7%, Nigeria 9.2%, Netherlands 8.4%, France
7.3%, US 7%, Burkina Faso 4.4% (2007)

Croatia
Italy 19.3%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.9%, Germany 10.2%,
Slovenia 8.4%, Austria 6.2% (2007)

Cuba
China 27.5%, Canada 26.9%, Netherlands 11.1%, Spain 4.7% (2007)

Cyprus
Greece 21.1%, UK 14.3%, Germany 6.6% (2007)

Czech Republic
Germany 30.7%, Slovakia 8.7%, Poland 5.9%, France
5.4%, UK 5.1%, Italy 4.9%, Austria 4.6% (2007)

Denmark
Germany 17.4%, Sweden 14.5%, UK 8%, US 6.1%, Norway 5.7%,
France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8% (2007)

Djibouti
Somalia 66.4%, Ethiopia 21.5%, Yemen 3.4% (2007)

Dominica
China 24.4%, Jamaica 10.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 10.1%,
Guyana 8.5%, UK 8.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.5%, Saint Lucia 4.6%,
Saint Kitts & Nevis 4% (2007)

Dominican Republic
US 66.4%, Belgium 3.7%, Finland 3.2% (2007)

Ecuador
US 41.9%, Peru 8.5%, Chile 4.9%, Russia 4.8%, Colombia 4.7%
(2007)

Egypt
US 9.7%, Italy 9.5%, Spain 7.6%, Syria 5.5%, Saudi Arabia
4.9%, UK 4.2% (2007)

El Salvador
US 51%, Guatemala 13.6%, Honduras 11.2%, Nicaragua 5.5%
(2007)

Equatorial Guinea
US 20.6%, China 18.8%, Spain 13.9%, Taiwan 13.4%,
France 7.5%, Japan 6.5%, Portugal 6.4% (2007)

Eritrea
Italy 34.4%, China 16.2%, Sudan 15.2%, France 9.4%, Saudi
Arabia 5.2%, Australia 4.4% (2007)

Estonia
Finland 17.9%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 11.4%, Russia 8.9%,
Lithuania 5.8%, Germany 5.2%, US 4.1% (2007)

Ethiopia
Germany 8.2%, Saudi Arabia 7%, US 6.9%, Djibouti 6.6%,
China 6.5%, Italy 6.5%, Japan 5.9%, Netherlands 4.8% (2007)

European Union
US 23.3%, Switzerland 7.6%, Russia 5.2%, China 4.8%
(2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5% (2006)

Faroe Islands
Denmark 29.6%, UK 24.5%, Norway 13.3%, Nigeria 10.5%,
Netherlands 6.8% (2007)

Fiji
US 17.3%, UK 11.3%, Australia 10%, Samoa 5.4%, Tonga 4.7%, NZ
4.5%, Japan 4.1% (2007)

Finland
Germany 10.9%, Sweden 10.7%, Russia 10.3%, US 6.4%, UK 5.8%,
Netherlands 5.6% (2007)

France
Germany 14.9%, Spain 9.3%, Italy 8.9%, UK 8.1%, Belgium 7.3%,
US 6.1%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

French Polynesia
France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5%
(2006)

Gabon
US 32.5%, China 15.8%, France 9.4%, Malaysia 6%, Trinidad and
Tobago 5% (2007)

Gambia, The
India 37.7%, China 17.5%, UK 8.7%, France 5.1%, Belgium
4.2% (2007)

Gaza Strip
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)

Georgia
Turkey 13%, US 11.2%, Azerbaijan 6.3%, UK 5.4%, Bulgaria
5.1%, Ukraine 5%, Armenia 4.8%, Turkmenistan 4.5%, Canada 4.2% (2007)

Germany
France 9.7%, US 7.5%, UK 7.3%, Italy 6.7%, Netherlands 6.4%,
Austria 5.4%, Belgium 5.3%, Spain 5% (2007)

Ghana
Netherlands 11%, UK 9%, France 6.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.6%,
Belgium 4.4% (2007)

Gibraltar
UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%,
Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2006)

Greece
Germany 11.6%, Italy 10.8%, Cyprus 6.6%, Bulgaria 6.5%, UK
5.5%, Romania 4.5%, France 4.2%, US 4.2% (2007)

Greenland
Denmark 61.8%, Japan 9.9%, Canada 7.3%, China 5.8% (2007)

Grenada
Jamaica 92.8%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, US 1.2% (2007)

Guam
Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2006)

Guatemala
US 42.2%, El Salvador 9.6%, Honduras 8.6%, Mexico 6.5%,
Costa Rica 4.5% (2007)

Guernsey
UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)

Guinea
Russia 10.8%, Ukraine 9.6%, Spain 8.8%, US 7.5%, Germany
7.4%, South Korea 7.2%, France 7%, Ireland 5.5%, China 5% (2007)

Guinea-Bissau
Brazil 56.2%, India 33.6%, Nigeria 8.3% (2007)

Guyana
Canada 18.7%, US 16.5%, UK 9.1%, Portugal 7.6%, Trinidad and
Tobago 5.2%, France 4.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, Jamaica 4% (2007)

Haiti
US 72.9%, Dominican Republic 8.8%, Canada 3.3% (2007)

Honduras
US 67.2%, El Salvador 4.9%, Guatemala 3.9% (2007)

Hong Kong
China 48.7%, US 13.7%, Japan 4.5% (2007)

Hungary
Germany 28.1%, Italy 5.6%, France 4.7%, Austria 4.6%,
Romania 4.5%, UK 4.5%, Slovakia 4.2%, Poland 4.2% (2007)

Iceland
Netherlands 21.3%, Germany 13.3%, UK 13.2%, Ireland 7.7%, US
7.3%, Spain 4.6%, Japan 4.3% (2007)

India
US 15%, China 8.7%, UAE 8.7%, UK 4.4% (2007)

Indonesia
Japan 20.7%, US 10.2%, Singapore 9.2%, China 8.5%, South
Korea 6.6%, Malaysia 4.5%, India 4.3% (2007)

Iran
China 15%, Japan 14.3%, Turkey 7.4%, South Korea 7.3%, Italy
6.4% (2007)

Iraq
US 36.8%, Italy 12.6%, South Korea 9.5%, Taiwan 6.3%, Spain
5.2%, Canada 4.7%, France 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2007)

Ireland
UK 18.7%, US 17.9%, Belgium 14.5%, Germany 7.4%, France 5.8%
(2007)

Isle of Man
UK (2006)

Israel
US 35%, Belgium 7.5%, Hong Kong 5.8% (2007)

Italy
Germany 12.9%, France 11.4%, Spain 7.4%, US 6.8%, UK 5.8%
(2007)

Jamaica
US 37.2%, Canada 15%, UK 9.7%, Netherlands 9.1% (2007)

Japan
US 20.4%, China 15.3%, South Korea 7.6%, Taiwan 6.3%, Hong
Kong 5.4% (2007)

Jersey
UK (2006)

Jordan
US 22.4%, Iraq 12.9%, India 8.3%, UAE 7.8%, Saudi Arabia
7.5%, Syria 4.9% (2007)

Kazakhstan
China 15.5%, Germany 11.5%, Russia 11.2%, Italy 7.2%,
France 6.7% (2007)

Kenya
Uganda 16.9%, UK 9.3%, Tanzania 8.2%, Netherlands 8.2%, US
6.4%, Pakistan 5.2% (2007)

Kiribati
US 22.8%, Belgium 21.5%, Japan 14.3%, Samoa 7.8%, Australia
7.5%, Malaysia 6.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Denmark 4.6% (2006)

Korea, North
South Korea 32%, China 29%, Thailand 9% (2006)

Korea, South
China 22.1%, US 12.4%, Japan 7.1%, Hong Kong 5% (2007)

Kosovo
Central Europe Free Trade Area (CFTA) 56% (2006)

Kuwait
Japan 19.9%, South Korea 17%, Taiwan 11.2%, Singapore 9.9%,
US 8.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, China 4.4% (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
Russia 20.7%, Switzerland 19.9%, Kazakhstan 18%,
Afghanistan 10.4%, Uzbekistan 7.6%, China 5.5% (2007)

Laos
Thailand 32.7%, Vietnam 14.3%, China 5.9%, South Korea 4.8%
(2007)

Latvia
Lithuania 15.1%, Estonia 13.8%, Russia 13%, Germany 8.3%,
Sweden 7.4%, UK 6.5% (2007)

Lebanon
Syria 25.2%, UAE 11.8%, Switzerland 8.2%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%
(2007)

Lesotho
US 71.5%, Belgium 25.6%, Canada 1.2% (2007)

Liberia
Malaysia 27.5%, Poland 18.5%, Germany 11.5%, US 10.5%, Spain
8.2%, Norway 5.5% (2007)

Libya
Italy 40.5%, Germany 12.2%, US 7.4%, Spain 7.4%, France 6.3%
(2007)

Liechtenstein
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%,
Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2006)

Lithuania
Russia 15%, Latvia 12.9%, Germany 10.5%, Poland 6.3%,
Estonia 5.8%, UK 4.6%, Denmark 4.1%, Belarus 4% (2007)

Luxembourg
Germany 21.1%, France 16.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Italy 7.4%,
UK 7.1%, Netherlands 5.4%, Spain 5% (2007)

Macau
US 40.6%, China 14.8%, Hong Kong 13.1%, Germany 6.4%, UK 4%
(2007)

Macedonia
Serbia and Montenegro 19.2%, Germany 14.5%, Greece 10.4%,
Italy 10.1%, Bulgaria 9.8%, Croatia 5.6%, Belgium 5%, Spain 5% (2007)

Madagascar
France 31.8%, US 26.6%, Germany 6.1%, UK 4.9%, Italy 4.4%
(2007)

Malawi
Germany 11.7%, South Africa 10%, Egypt 9.2%, Zimbabwe 8.2%,
US 7.3%, Russia 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2007)

Malaysia
US 15.6%, Singapore 14.6%, Japan 9.1%, China 8.8%, Thailand
5%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2007)

Maldives
Thailand 28.3%, UK 17.6%, France 8.8%, Sri Lanka 8.6%,
Algeria 8.2%, Japan 6.4%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Mali
China 19.6%, Thailand 10.5%, Brazil 4.6%, France 4.5%,
Indonesia 4.5% (2007)

Malta
Singapore 14.4%, Germany 13.7%, France 12.6%, US 11.3%, UK
10%, Hong Kong 6.1%, Japan 4.9%, Italy 4% (2007)

Marshall Islands
US, Japan, Australia, China (2006)

Mauritania
China 30.5%, France 9.5%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 8.5%, Japan
5.5%, Netherlands 5.3%, Belgium 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7% (2007)

Mauritius
UK 35.1%, France 14.4%, US 7.7%, Madagascar 6.3%, Italy
5.8% (2007)

Mayotte
France 43%, Comoros 36%, Reunion 15% (2006)

Mexico
US 82.2%, Canada 2.4%, Germany 1.5% (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
Japan, US, Guam (2006)

Moldova
Russia 25.3%, Romania 13%, Italy 10%, Ukraine 8.7%, Germany
8.5%, Poland 6.2%, Belarus 4.2% (2007)

Mongolia
China 71.9%, Canada 10.7%, US 4.8% (2007)

Montenegro
Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.3% (2006)

Montserrat
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2006)

Morocco
Spain 21.2%, France 19%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.6%, India 4.2%
(2007)

Mozambique
Italy 19.4%, Belgium 18.4%, Spain 12.5%, South Africa
12.3%, UK 7.3%, China 4.1% (2007)

Namibia
South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2006)

Nauru
South Africa 63.7%, South Korea 7.6%, Canada 6.6% (2006)

Nepal
India 69.3%, US 8.8%, Germany 4.1% (2007)

Netherlands
Germany 24.4%, Belgium 13.6%, UK 9.1%, France 8.5%,
Italy 5.1%, US 4.3% (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
US 18.9%, Mexico 13.3%, Panama 11.4%, Singapore
6.9%, Haiti 6.6%, Bahamas, The 5.3% (2007)

New Caledonia
Japan 20.1%, China 14.5%, Taiwan 14.2%, France 11.6%,
Belgium 10.4%, Spain 8.6%, South Africa 6.9% (2007)

New Zealand
Australia 22%, US 11.5%, Japan 9.2%, China 5.3%, UK 4.6%
(2007)

Nicaragua
US 31.7%, El Salvador 14%, Honduras 9.3%, Costa Rica 7.2%,
Canada 5.8%, Guatemala 5.5%, Mexico 4.8% (2007)

Niger
France 57%, Nigeria 26.4%, Ghana 4.1% (2007)

Nigeria
US 51.6%, Brazil 8.9%, Spain 7.7% (2007)

Niue
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2006)

Norfolk Island
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia,
Europe (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands
US (2006)

Norway
UK 26.3%, Germany 12.3%, Netherlands 10.2%, France 8%, Sweden
6.5%, US 6.2% (2007)

Oman
China 26.8%, South Korea 15.2%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 10.4%,
UAE 7.6%, US 4.3%, Iran 4.1% (2007)

Pakistan
US 18%, UAE 10.4%, Afghanistan 8.4%, China 5.2%, UK 4.7%
(2007)

Palau
US, Japan, Singapore (2006)

Panama
US 35.6%, Netherlands 10.2%, China 6%, Sweden 5.5%, UK 5.4%,
Costa Rica 5.1%, Spain 5% (2007)

Papua New Guinea
Australia 27.3%, Japan 9.5%, China 5.7% (2007)

Paraguay
Argentina 28.1%, Uruguay 15.2%, Brazil 12.7%, Chile 5.9%,
Germany 4.9%, Russia 4.5% (2007)

Peru
US 19.5%, China 12.7%, Canada 7.6%, Japan 7.5%, Chile 5.9%,
Switzerland 4.2%, Spain 4.1% (2007)

Philippines
US 17%, Japan 14.5%, Hong Kong 11.5%, China 11.4%,
Netherlands 8.2%, Singapore 6.2%, Malaysia 5%, Germany 4.3% (2007)

Poland
Germany 25.9%, Italy 6.6%, France 6.1%, UK 5.9%, Czech
Republic 5.5%, Russia 4.6% (2007)

Portugal
Spain 27.1%, Germany 12.9%, France 12.3%, UK 5.9%, US 4.8%,
Angola 4.5%, Italy 4% (2007)

Puerto Rico
US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic
1.4% (2006)

Qatar
Japan 39.9%, South Korea 19.9%, Singapore 9.9%, India 5.1%,
Thailand 4.9%, UAE 4% (2007)

Romania
Italy 17.2%, Germany 16.9%, France 7.7%, Turkey 7%, Hungary
5.6%, UK 4.1% (2007)

Russia
Netherlands 12.2%, Italy 7.8%, Germany 7.5%, Turkey 5.2%,
Belarus 5%, Ukraine 4.7%, China 4.5% (2007)

Rwanda
China 8.9%, Germany 6.8%, US 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.8% (2007)

Saint Helena
Tanzania 37.7%, US 17.4%, Japan 15.2%, UK 8.4%, Nigeria
4.8%, Spain 4.5% (2006)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
US 66.3%, Canada 4.9%, Turkey 3.3% (2007)

Saint Lucia
US 24.5%, France 23.2%, UK 19.3%, Antigua and Barbuda
5%, Dominica 4.9%, Barbados 4.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.1% (2007)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Spain 33.6%, Belgium 21.8%, India 18.3%,
France 9.4%, US 7.5% (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Greece 28.4%, Italy 14.6%, France
12%, UK 7.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, Spain 4.6%, Germany 4.3%,
Saint Lucia 4.2% (2007)

Samoa
Australia 48.1%, American Samoa 30%, Taiwan 8% (2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
Netherlands 23.7%, Belgium 23.7%, France
12.9%, US 5.9%, Portugal 4.1% (2007)

Saudi Arabia
US 17.1%, Japan 16.3%, South Korea 9.7%, China 8.1%,
Taiwan 4.7%, Singapore 4% (2007)

Senegal
Mali 18.9%, France 9.1%, Italy 5.9%, India 5.7%, Gambia, The
5.2% (2007)

Seychelles
UK 23.7%, France 19.8%, Mauritius 10%, Japan 8.3%, Italy
5.7%, Spain 5.1% (2007)

Sierra Leone
Belgium 49.3%, US 20.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, Canada 4.1%
(2007)

Singapore
Malaysia 12.9%, Hong Kong 10.5%, Indonesia 9.8%, China
9.7%, US 8.9%, Japan 4.8%, Thailand 4.1% (2007)

Slovakia
Germany 21.4%, Czech Republic 12.6%, France 6.7%, Italy
6.4%, Poland 6.2%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5.8%, UK 4.8% (2007)

Slovenia
Germany 18.7%, Italy 12.5%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7.5%,
France 5.9%, Russia 4.4% (2007)

Solomon Islands
China 50.8%, South Korea 7%, Thailand 6.5%, Japan
5.7%, Philippines 4.3% (2007)

Somalia
UAE 50.7%, Yemen 21%, Oman 6.1% (2007)

South Africa
US 11.9%, Japan 11.1%, Germany 8%, UK 7.7%, China 6.6%,
Netherlands 4.5% (2007)

Spain
France 18.8%, Germany 10.8%, Portugal 8.6%, Italy 8.5%, UK
7.6%, US 4.2% (2007)

Sri Lanka
US 25.5%, UK 13.2%, India 6.7%, Germany 5.7%, Italy 5.1%
(2007)

Sudan
China 82.1%, Japan 8.4%, UAE 2.5% (2007)

Suriname
Canada 26.8%, Norway 20.2%, Belgium 9.2%, US 8.9%, UAE
7.9%, France 7.2% (2007)

Swaziland
South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2%
(2006)

Sweden
Germany 10.4%, Norway 9.4%, US 7.6%, Denmark 7.4%, UK 7.1%,
Finland 6.4%, Netherlands 5.1%, France 5%, Belgium 4.6% (2007)

Switzerland
Germany 20.3%, US 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.4%, UK 5.1%
(2007)

Syria
Iraq 30%, Lebanon 10%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 8%, Egypt 5.5%,
Saudi Arabia 5.2%, France 4.9% (2007)

Taiwan
China 32.6%, US 12.9%, Hong Kong 8.6%, Japan 6.4%, Singapore
5% (2007)

Tajikistan
Netherlands 38.9%, Turkey 32.5%, Russia 6.6%, Uzbekistan
5.9%, Iran 5.1% (2007)

Tanzania
China 10.3%, India 9.7%, Netherlands 6.5%, Germany 6.3%,
UAE 4.9% (2007)

Thailand
US 12.6%, Japan 11.9%, China 9.7%, Singapore 6.3%, Hong
Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 5.1% (2007)

Timor-Leste
US, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Indonesia (2006)

Togo
Ghana 16.8%, Burkina Faso 14.5%, Germany 9.2%, Benin 9.1%,
Netherlands 5.9%, Mali 5.8%, India 4.7% (2007)

Tokelau
New Zealand (2006)

Tonga
US 36.7%, Japan 21.6%, NZ 10.1%, Fiji 5.8%, Samoa 4.9% (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
US 57.5%, Jamaica 6.5%, Spain 3.9% (2007)

Tunisia
France 31.3%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.5%, Spain 5.5%, Libya
5.5% (2007)

Turkey
Germany 11.2%, UK 8.1%, Italy 7%, France 5.6%, Russia 4.4%,
Spain 4.3% (2007)

Turkmenistan
Ukraine 51.3%, Iran 18.5%, Turkey 5% (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
US, UK (2006)

Tuvalu
Germany 60.5%, Italy 20.1%, Fiji 6.9% (2006)

Uganda
Netherlands 10.2%, Belgium 9.8%, Germany 7.9%, France 7.2%,
Rwanda 5.6% (2007)

Ukraine
Russia 23.3%, Turkey 7.9%, Italy 5.8% (2007)

United Arab Emirates
Japan 23.6%, South Korea 9.2%, Thailand 5%,
India 4.8% (2007)

United Kingdom
US 14.2%, Germany 11.1%, France 8.1%, Ireland 8%,
Netherlands 6.8%, Belgium 5.3%, Spain 4.5%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

United States
Canada 21.4%, Mexico 11.7%, China 5.6%, Japan 5.4%, UK
4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2007)

Uruguay
Brazil 15.5%, US 9.4%, Argentina 8.4%, Mexico 6.6%, China
6.1%, Germany 4.8% (2007)

Uzbekistan
Russia 22.4%, Poland 10.4%, Turkey 9.4%, Kazakhstan 6.1%,
Hungary 6%, China 5.6%, Ukraine 4.8%, Bangladesh 4.3% (2007)

Vanuatu
Thailand 58.3%, India 18.5%, Japan 11.3% (2007)

Venezuela
US 42.7%, Netherlands Antilles 8%, China 3.1% (2007)

Vietnam
US 20.8%, Japan 12.5%, Australia 7.3%, China 6.9%, Singapore
4.5% (2007)

Virgin Islands
US, Puerto Rico (2006)

Wallis and Futuna
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)

West Bank
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006)

Western Sahara
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so
trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)

World
US 13.7%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 4.6%, UK 4.5%,
Japan 4.1% (2007)

Yemen
China 23.3%, India 20.4%, Thailand 19.1%, Japan 7.2%, UAE 5%,
US 4.2% (2007)

Zambia
Switzerland 41.8%, South Africa 12%, Thailand 5.9%,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 5.3%, Egypt 5%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%,
China 4.1% (2007)

Zimbabwe
South Africa 33.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.3%,
Japan 8.1%, Botswana 7.4%, Netherlands 5.2%, China 5.2%, Italy 4.1%,
Zambia 4.1% (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2051 Administrative divisions

Afghanistan
34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan,
Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni,
Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost,
Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika,
Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan,
Wardak, Zabul

Albania
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres,
Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane,
Vlore

Algeria
48 provinces (wilayat, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla,
Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida,
Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa,
El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel,
Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila,
Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi
Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret,
Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen

American Samoa
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern,
Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

Andorra
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la
Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant
Julia de Loria

Angola
18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo,
Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul,
Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje,
Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda
6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint
Peter, Saint Philip

Argentina
23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1
autonomous city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Capital Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes,
Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones,
Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe,
Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del
Atlantico Sur, Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

Armenia
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Aruba
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Australia
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital
Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Austria
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),
Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),
Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Azerbaijan
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities
(saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar
respublika)
rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu,
Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda
Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,
Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,
Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,
Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,
Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,
Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax
Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,
Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,
Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar
Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab
Rayonu
cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran
Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit
Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari
autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi

Bahamas, The
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat
Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green
Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long
Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and
Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador
and Rum Cay

Bahrain
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah,
Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Bangladesh
6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
Rajshahi, Sylhet

Barbados
11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

Belarus
6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1
municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna,
Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers

Belgium
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders*
region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg,
Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant),
West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces):
Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of
government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a
complex division of responsibilities

Belize
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek,
Toledo

Benin
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Bermuda
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton,
Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys,
Smith's, Southampton, Warwick

Bhutan
20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang,
Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar,
Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Bolivia
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa
Cruz, Tarija

Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 first-order administrative divisions and 1
internationally supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko
Distrikt)*, the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika
Srpska; note - Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an
administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
the district remains under international supervision

Botswana
9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*,
Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*,
Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Brazil
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal
district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia,
Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato
Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana,
Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande
do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe,
Tocantins

British Virgin Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait,
Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Bulgaria
28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad,
Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech,
Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,
Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Burkina Faso
45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba,
Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo,
Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga,
Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga,
Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Burma
7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi
ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)
divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi,
Yangon
states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan

Burundi
17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale,
Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo,
Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Cambodia
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4
municipalities* (krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,
Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu
(Sihanoukville)

Cameroon
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord,
Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Canada
10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Cape Verde
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa
Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira
Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe,
Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Cayman Islands
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town,
Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Central African Republic
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques,
singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou,
Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere,
Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Chad
18 regions (regions, singular - region); Batha,
Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem,
Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est,
Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile, Ville de
N'Djamena, Wadi Fira

Chile
15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General
Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota,
Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins,
Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule,
Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

China
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous
regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi,
singular and plural)
provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei,
Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,
Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan,
Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)
autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang Uygur,
Xizang (Tibet)
municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries
for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Colombia
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and
1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,
Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare,
Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare,
Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander,
Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander,
Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Comoros
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore, Anjouan,
Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli, Moroni*, Mutsamudu*

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu note: according to the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the current administrative divisions will be subdivided into 26 new provinces by 2009

Congo, Republic of the
10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1
commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou,
Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Cook Islands
none

Costa Rica
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela,
Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Cote d'Ivoire
19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele,
Dix-Huit Montagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes,
Marahoue, Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes,
Sud-Bandama, Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan

Croatia
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city*
(grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska,
Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria),
Karlovacka, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka, Krapinsko-Zagorska,
Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska, Osjecko-Baranjska,
Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska,
Sibensko-Kninska, Sisacko-Moslavacka, Splitsko-Dalmatinska
(Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska, Viroviticko-Podravska,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka

Cuba
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla
de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,
Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Cyprus
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,
Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions
include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts
of Lefkosia (Nicosia)

Czech Republic
13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital
city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South
Moravia), Karlovarsky, Kralovehradecky, Liberecky, Moravskoslezsky
(Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky, Pardubicky, Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha
(Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky, Vysocina, Zlinsky

Denmark
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular -
region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities
into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007

Djibouti
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta,
Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

Dominica
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint
John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint
Paul, Saint Peter

Dominican Republic
31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia)
and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabon,
Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato
Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria
Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,
Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, San Cristobal,
San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez,
Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Ecuador
24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay,
Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas,
Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi,
Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena,
Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua,
Zamora-Chinchipe

Egypt
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad
Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al
Fayyum (El Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al
Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia),
Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid (New
Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf
(Beni Suef), Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina'
(South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina
(Qena), Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj (Sohag)

El Salvador
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,
La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,
Sonsonate, Usulutan

Equatorial Guinea
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia);
Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral,
Wele-Nzas

Eritrea
6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub
(Southern), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka,
Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)

Estonia
15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa
(Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide),
Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere),
Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa
(Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa
(Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note: counties have the administrative center name following in
parentheses

Ethiopia
9 ethnically based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and
2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular -
astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara),
Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples),
Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali),
Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations,
Nationalities and Peoples)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Faroe Islands
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 34 municipalities

Fiji
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern,
Rotuma*, Western

Finland
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen
Laani (Southern Finland), Ita-Suomen Laani (Eastern Finland),
Lansi-Suomen Laani (Western Finland), Lappi (Lapland), Oulun Laani

France
26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,
Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy),
Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica),
Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie
(Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin,
Lorraine, Martinique, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la
Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur,
Reunion, Rhone-Alpes
note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseas
regions (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and
Reunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4
overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)

French Polynesia
none (overseas lands of France); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel
des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du
Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent

French Southern and Antarctic Lands none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Gabon
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie,
Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Gambia, The
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower
River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Georgia
9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i),
and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom
respublika)
regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti,
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti,
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli
city: Tbilisi
autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri
Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika
(Bat'umi)
note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are
shown in parentheses

Germany
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg,
Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania),
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North
Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland,
Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt),
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen,
and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten,
singular - Freistaat)

Ghana
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater
Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous
region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania,
Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios,
Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos,
Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa,
Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani,
Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia,
Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai,
Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

Greenland
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu
(Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Grenada
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite
Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,
Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Guam
none (territory of the US)

Guatemala
22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso,
Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,
Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa
Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Guernsey
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint
Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint
Saviour, Torteval, Vale

Guinea
33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla,
Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka,
Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane,
Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma,
Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri,
Telimele, Tougue, Yomou

Guinea-Bissau
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata,
Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note -
Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Guyana
10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica,
East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara,
Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper
Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Haiti
10 departments (departements, singular - departement);
Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest,
Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Holy See (Vatican City)
none

Honduras
18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,
Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La
Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Hong Kong
none (special administrative region of China)

Hungary
19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 urban counties
(singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)
counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,
Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy,
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala
urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor,
Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa,
Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg
capital city: Budapest

Iceland
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland
Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir,
Vesturland

India
28 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar
Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*,
Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa,
Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal

Indonesia
30 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2
special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah
istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus
ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya**,
Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat,
Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Kepulauan
Bangka Belitung, Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Nusa
Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Papua, Papua Barat (Irian Jaya
Barat), Riau, Sulawesi Barat, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah,
Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan,
Sumatera Utara, Yogyakarta*
note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on
1 January 2001, the 465 regencies and municipalities have become the
key administrative units responsible for providing most government
services

Iran
30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e
Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,
Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e
Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan,
Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan,
Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Iraq
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1
region*; Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf,
Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar,
Diyala, Karbala', Kurdistan Regional Government*, Maysan, Ninawa,
Salah ad Din, Wasit

Ireland
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin,
Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick,
Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo,
Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Isle of Man
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions
as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities
each with its own elections

Israel
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa,
Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Italy
15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous
regions* (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); Abruzzo,
Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia
Giulia*, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,
Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Sardegna* (Sardinia),
Sicilia*, Toscana (Tuscany), Trentino-Alto Adige* (Trentino-South
Tyrol), Umbria, Valle d'Aosta* (Aosta Valley), Veneto (Venetia)

Jamaica
14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester,
Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth,
Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were
amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as
the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation

Japan
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui,
Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo,
Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi,
Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara,
Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga,
Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama,
Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Jersey
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,
Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,
Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

Jordan
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al
'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az
Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba

Kazakhstan
14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities*
(qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola
Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys
Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy
(Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy,
Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys
Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy
(Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of
Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would
lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the
Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr
(Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the
lease to 2050

Kenya
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi
Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Kiribati
3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands;
note - in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,
Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21
island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang,
Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton,
Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,
Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)

Korea, North
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4
municipalities (si, singular and plural)
provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong),
Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae),
Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan),
Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
municipalities: Kaesong-si (Kaesong), Najin Sonbong-si
(Najin-Sonbong), Namp'o-si (Namp'o), P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)

Korea, South
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7
metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural)
provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo
(South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong),
Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do,
Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang)
metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inch'on),
Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan),
Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi
(Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)

Kosovo
30 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna in Albanian;
opstine, singular - opstina in Serbian); Decan (Decani), Dragash
(Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove
(Dakovica), Gllogoc/Drenas (Glogovac), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Istog
(Istok), Kacanik, Kamenice/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina),
Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo),
Mitrovice (Mitrovica), Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Peje
(Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec
(Orahovac), Shtime (Stimlje), Shterpce (Strpce), Skenderaj (Srbica),
Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin
Potok, Zvecan

Kuwait
6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi,
Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir

Kyrgyzstan
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city*
(shaar); Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek),
Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty,
Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Laos
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city*
(nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai,
Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*,
Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Latvia
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*:
Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons,
Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons,
Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons,
Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas
Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons,
Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons,
Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras
Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Lebanon
8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakar,
Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa, Beyrouth, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban,
Nabatiye

Lesotho
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru,
Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Liberia
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape
Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado,
Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Libya
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya,
Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25
municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Liechtenstein
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers,
Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg,
Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Lithuania
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus,
Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages,
Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

Luxembourg
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Macau
none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia
84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom
(Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo,
Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje),
Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debarca,
Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi
Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko,
Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo,
Kisela Voda (Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka,
Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska
Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino,
Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica,
Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj
(Skopje), Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica,
Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo,
Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste,
Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality

Madagascar
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana,
Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Malawi
28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu,
Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga
(Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu,
Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima,
Thyolo, Zomba

Malaysia
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah,
Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau
Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal
territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala
Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Maldives
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital
city*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu,
Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*
(Male), Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Mali
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,
Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Malta
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local
councils carry out administrative orders

Marshall Islands
33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk,
Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat,
Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap,
Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang,
Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

Mauritania
12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital
district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol,
Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*,
Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Mauritius
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black
River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka,
Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,
Rodrigues*, Savanne

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal
district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja
California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza,
Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo,
Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon,
Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi,
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave,
Yucatan, Zacatecas

Micronesia, Federated States of
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae
(Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Moldova
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,
Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,
Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

Monaco
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters
(quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine,
Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Mongolia
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1
municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy,
Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon,
Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Montenegro
21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina);
Andrijevica, Bar, Berana, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad,
Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja,
Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Montserrat
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Morocco
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha,
Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es
Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz,
Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer,
Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al
Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political
status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government;
portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco
claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely
within Western Sahara

Mozambique
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city
(cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de
Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

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

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

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

Netherlands
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie);
Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen,
Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North
Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland
(South Holland)

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

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

New Zealand
16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty,
Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland,
Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

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

Niger
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital
district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi,
Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

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

Niue
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions
as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the
second order

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Northern Mariana Islands
none (commonwealth in political union with
the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at
the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Norway
19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder,
Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland,
Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Oman
5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*,
Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*

Pakistan
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**;
Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital
Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir
and Northern Areas

Palau
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel,
Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang,
Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Panama
11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1
territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca
Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos,
Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas

Papua New Guinea
20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu,
Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang,
Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern,
Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New
Britain

Paraguay
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and
1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,
Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,
Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Peru
25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province*
(provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua,
Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

Philippines
81 provinces and 136 chartered cities
provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay,
Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu,
Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat
Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur,
Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La
Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain
Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,
Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga,
Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani,
Shariff Kabunsuan, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern
Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur,
Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur,
Zamboanga Sibugay
chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago,
Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan, Baybay, Bayugan,
Bislig, Bogo, Borongan, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan, Cadiz,
Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Carcar,
Catbalogan, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao,
Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, El Salvador,
Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Guihulngan, Himamaylan, Iligan,
Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal,
La Carlota, Lamitan, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao,
Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos,
Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Marikina, Masbate, Mati,
Meycauayan, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga (Camarines Sur), Naga (Cebu),
Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan,
Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon,
Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos
(in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in
Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa
Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tabuk,
Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in
Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Occidental), Tanauan, Tandag, Tangub,
Tanjay, Tarlac, Tayabas, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,
Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga (2007)

Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland
16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo);
Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie
(Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie, Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz),
Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie,
Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania),
Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie
(Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie
(West Pomerania)

Portugal
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2
autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma);
Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco,
Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*,
Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real,
Viseu

Puerto Rico
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular
- municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas
Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,
Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,
Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,
Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,
Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,
Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las
Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,
Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,
Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San
German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa
Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,
Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Qatar
10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad
Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar
Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Romania
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*
(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi,
Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,
Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Russia
46 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics
(respublik, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh
okrugov, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (krayev, singular -
kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous
oblast (avtonomnaya oblast')
oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod,
Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga,
Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk,
Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk,
Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin
(Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk
(Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk,
Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'
republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan
(Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya
(Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas),
Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista),
Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk),
Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola),
Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya]
(Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi
(Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy),
Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm', Primorskiy (Vladivostok),
Stavropol', Zabaykal'skiy (Chita)
federal cities: Moscow (Moskva), Saint Petersburg (Sankt-Peterburg)
autonomous oblast: Yevrey [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Rwanda
4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in
Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French
- ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord
(Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)

Saint Helena
1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*,
Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

Saint Kitts and Nevis
14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint
Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland,
Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree,
Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown,
Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle
Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Saint Lucia
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin,
Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
none (territorial overseas collectivity of
France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint
Pierre, Miquelon at the second order

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Samoa
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga,
Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga,
Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

San Marino
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello);
Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano,
Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Sao Tome and Principe
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995

Saudi Arabia
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah,
Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad,
Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah,
Najran, Tabuk

Senegal
11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel,
Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda,
Thies, Ziguinchor

Serbia
161 municipalities (opcstine, singular - opcstina)
Serbia Proper: Beograd: Barajevo, Cukavica, Grocka, Lazarevac,
Mladnovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski
Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zrezdara;
Borski Okrug: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevski Okrug:
Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste,
Zabari, Zagubica; Jablanicki Okrug: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane,
Leskovac, Medvedja, Vlasotince; Kolubarski Okrug: Lajkovac, Ljig,
Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo; Macvanski Okrug: Bogatic, Koceljeva,
Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Mali Zvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci;
Moravicki Okrug: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani;
Nisavski Okrug: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis,
Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinjski Okrug: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo,
Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladicin Han, Vranje; Pirotski Okrug:
Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavski Okrug:
Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravski Okrug:
Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rckovac, Svilajnac; Rasinski
Okrug: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin;
Raski Okrug: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja;
Sumadijski Okrug: Arandjelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo,
Raca, Topola; Toplicki Okrug: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje,
Zitoradja; Zajecarski Okrug: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja,
Zalecar; Zlatiborski Okrug: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cajetina,
Kosjeric, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice
Vojvodina Autonomous Province: Juzno-Backi Okrug: Backi Petrovac,
Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Temerin, Titel, Zabalj; Juzno
Banatski Okrug: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo,
Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; Severno-Backi Okrug: Backa Topola, Mali
Idjos, Subotica; Severno-Banatski Okrug: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza,
Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta; Srednje-Banatski Okrug: Nova Crnja,
Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Sremski Okrug: Indjija,
Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova;
Zapadno-Backi Okrug: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor

Seychelles
23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau,
Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne,
Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on
Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont
Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint
Louis, Takamaka

Sierra Leone
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern,
Western*

Singapore
none

Slovakia
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky,
Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky,
Zilinsky

Slovenia
182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )
Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke,
Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica,
Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno,
Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca,
Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec,
Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale,
Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja
Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina,
Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina,
Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice,
Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*,
Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart,
Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska
Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk,
Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na
Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce,
Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje,
Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica,
Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka,
Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci,
Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na
Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska
Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic,
Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju,
Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*,
Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob
Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse,
Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij,
Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic,
Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej,
Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica,
Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica,
Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: the Government of Slovenia has reported 210 municipalities

Solomon Islands
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central,
Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell
and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Somalia
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,
Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe,
Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha
Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

South Africa
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West,
Western Cape

Spain
17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular -
comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas,
singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares
(Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria,
Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna (Catalonia), Comunidad
Valenciana (Valencian Community), Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja,
Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small
islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central
government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively
referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)

Sri Lanka
8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North
Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
note: in October 2006, a Sri Lankan Supreme Court ruling voided a
presidential directive merging the North and Eastern Provinces; many
have defended the merger as a prerequisite for a negotiated
settlement to the ethnic conflict; a parliamentary decision on the
issue is pending

Sudan
25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper
Nile), Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazirah
(El Gezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahdah
(Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile),
Ash Shamaliyah (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb al
Istiwa'iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr
al Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern
Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei),
Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal
(Northern Bahr al Ghazal), Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shamal
Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyah (Eastern
Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)

Suriname
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Swaziland
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Sweden
21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas,
Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar,
Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane,
Sodermanlands, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,
Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands

Switzerland
26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French;
cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton
in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden,
Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus,
Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt
Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri,
Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Syria
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al
Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az
Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Taiwan
includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby
and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 18
counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities (shih,
singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities (chuan-shih,
singular and plural)
note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while a
modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Taipei has
adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its
boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization
systems; names for administrative divisions that follow are taken
from the Taiwan Yearbook 2007 published by the Government
Information Office in Taipei.
counties: Changhua, Chiayi [county], Hsinchu, Hualien, Kaohsiung
[county], Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung,
Taichung, Tainan, Taipei [county], Taitung, Taoyuan, Yilan, and
Yunlin
municipalities: Chiayi [city], Hsinchu, Keelung, Taichung, Tainan
special municipalities: Kaohsiung [city], Taipei [city]

Tajikistan
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1
autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon
(Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon*
[Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Tanzania
26 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera,
Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara,
Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga,
Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North,
Zanzibar Urban/West

Thailand
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat
Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum,
Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin,
Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep
Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong
Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon
Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan,
Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani,
Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,
Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi
Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut
Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,
Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon
Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Timor-Leste
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau,
Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los
Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno),
Viqueque

Togo
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara,
Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes

Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Trinidad and Tobago
9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3
borough corporations, 1 ward
regional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin,
Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San
Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco
city corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernando
borough corporations: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
ward: Tobago

Tunisia
24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous
(Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah),
Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn),
Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba
(Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul
(Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana
(Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar),
Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Turkey
81 provinces (iller, singular - ili); Adana, Adiyaman,
Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan,
Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol,
Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli,
Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,
Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel (Mersin), Igdir,
Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman,
Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir,
Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus,
Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa,
Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond),
Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Turkmenistan
5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1
independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty
(Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary
Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Turks and Caicos Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu
none

Uganda
56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo,
Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole,
Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu,
Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum,
Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge,
Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit,
Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri,
Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
note: as of a July 2005, 13 new districts were reportedly added
bringing the total up to 69; the new districts are Amolatar, Amuria,
Budaka, Butaleja, Ibanda, Kaabong, Kabingo, Kaliro, Kiruhura,
Koboko, Manafwa, Mityana, Nakaseke; a total of ten more districts
are in the process of being added

Ukraine
24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous
republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista,
singular - misto) with oblast status**; Cherkasy, Chernihiv,
Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'),
Dnipropetrovs'k, Donets'k, Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kharkiv, Kherson,
Khmel'nyts'kyy, Kirovohrad, Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhans'k, L'viv,
Mykolayiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol'**, Sumy, Ternopil',
Vinnytsya, Volyn' (Luts'k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhya,
Zhytomyr
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

United Arab Emirates
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu
Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah),
Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn)

United Kingdom
England: 34 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and
1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan counties, 46
unitary authorities
two-tier counties: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire,
Cheshire, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon,
Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire,
Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland,
Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire,
Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Worcestershire
London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and
Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing,
Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey,
Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and
Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London,
Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton,
Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
metropolitan counties: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury,
Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees,
Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North
Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport,
Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral,
Wolverhampton
unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset, Blackburn with
Darwen, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove,
City of Bristol, Darlington, Derby, East Riding of Yorkshire,
Halton, Hartlepool, County of Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, City of
Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton
Keynes, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Somerset,
Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading,
Redcar and Cleveland, Rutland, Slough, South Gloucestershire,
Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent,
Swindon, Telford and Wrekin, Thurrock, Torbay, Warrington, West
Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, York
Northern Ireland: 26 district council areas
district council areas: Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney,
Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine,
Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne,
Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne,
Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane
Scotland: 32 unitary authorities
unitary authorities: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and
Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East
Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City
of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow
City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire,
Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The
Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian
Wales: 22 unitary authorities
unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent; Bridgend; Caerphilly; Cardiff;
Carmarthenshire; Ceredigion; Conwy; Denbighshire; Flintshire;
Gwynedd; Isle of Anglesey; Merthyr Tydfil; Monmouthshire; Neath Port
Talbot; Newport; Pembrokeshire; Powys; Rhondda, Cynon, Taff;
Swansea; The Vale of Glamorgan; Torfaen; Wrexham

United States
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of
Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Uruguay
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida,
Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera,
Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Uzbekistan
12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1
autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon
Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati,
Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),
Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan]* (Nukus), Samarqand
Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati
(Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati
(Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Vanuatu
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Venezuela
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital
district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency**
(dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas,
Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**,
Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas,
Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas,
Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Vietnam
59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5
municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)
provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba
Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh
Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai,
Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong,
Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai
Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh
Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang
Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh,
Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen
Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh

Virgin Islands
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John,
Saint Thomas

Wallis and Futuna
none (overseas territory of France); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are three kingdoms at the second order named
Alo, Sigave, Wallis

Western Sahara
none (under de facto control of Morocco)

World
266 nations, dependent areas, and other entities

Yemen
19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan,
'Adan, Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al
Mahwit, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib,
Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz
note: for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city of
Sanaa is treated as an additional governorate

Zambia
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,
Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Zimbabwe
8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status;
Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland
East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland
South, Midlands

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2052 Agriculture - products

Afghanistan
opium, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, sheepskins,
lambskins

Albania
wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets,
grapes; meat, dairy products

Algeria
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep,
cattle

American Samoa
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit,
yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock

Andorra
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables;
sheep

Angola
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc
(tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest
products; fish

Anguilla
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Antigua and Barbuda
cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts,
cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

Argentina
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco,
peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock

Armenia
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Aruba
aloes; livestock; fish

Australia
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

Austria
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products,
cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Azerbaijan
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea,
tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Bahamas, The
citrus, vegetables; poultry

Bahrain
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Bangladesh
rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco,
pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Barbados
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Belarus
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Belgium
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef,
veal, pork, milk

Belize
bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments

Benin
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil,
peanuts, cashews; livestock

Bermuda
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey

Bhutan
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products,
eggs

Bolivia
soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice,
potatoes; timber

Bosnia and Herzegovina
wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Botswana
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers,
groundnuts

Brazil
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa,
citrus; beef

British Virgin Islands
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Brunei
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle,
goats, eggs

Bulgaria
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley,
sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock

Burkina Faso
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet,
corn, rice; livestock

Burma
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood;
fish and fish products

Burundi
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas,
manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Cambodia
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca

Cameroon
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains,
root starches; livestock; timber

Canada
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy
products; forest products; fish

Cape Verde
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee,
peanuts; fish

Cayman Islands
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Central African Republic
timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc
(tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Chad
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc
(tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Chile
grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches,
garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

China
rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley,
apples, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Colombia
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn,
sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp

Comoros
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra,
coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Congo, Republic of the
cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn,
peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Cook Islands
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws,
bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

Costa Rica
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants,
sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber

Cote d'Ivoire
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn,
rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Croatia
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa,
clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy
products

Cuba
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Cyprus
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables;
poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese

Czech Republic
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs,
poultry

Denmark
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products;
fish

Djibouti
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Dominica
bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa;
forest and fishery potential not exploited

Dominican Republic
sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice,
beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef,
eggs

Ecuador
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),
plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy
products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Egypt
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle,
water buffalo, sheep, goats

El Salvador
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton,
sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp

Equatorial Guinea
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

Eritrea
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, sisal;
livestock, goats; fish

Estonia
potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Ethiopia
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane,
potatoes, qat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish

European Union
wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes;
dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry; fish

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep,
dairy products; fish, squid

Faroe Islands
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Fiji
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Finland
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

France
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef,
dairy products; fish

French Polynesia
fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits,
coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products

Gabon
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a
tropical softwood); fish

Gambia, The
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava
(tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Gaza Strip
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Georgia
citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Germany
potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages;
cattle, pigs, poultry

Ghana
cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts,
bananas; timber

Gibraltar
none

Greece
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine,
tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Greenland
forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep,
reindeer; fish

Grenada
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,
sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Guam
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Guatemala
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle,
sheep, pigs, chickens

Guernsey
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant,
fruit; Guernsey cattle

Guinea
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Guinea-Bissau
rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts,
peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Guyana
sugarcane, rice, shrimp, fish, vegetable oils; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products

Haiti
coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

Honduras
bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp, tilapia,
lobster; corn, African palm

Hong Kong
fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Hungary
wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs,
cattle, poultry, dairy products

Iceland
potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, dairy products; fish

India
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;
cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish

Indonesia
rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee,
palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs

Iran
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, sugar cane, fruits,
nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Iraq
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep,
poultry

Ireland
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy
products

Isle of Man
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Israel
citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Italy
fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans,
grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish

Jamaica
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees,
vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks

Japan
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy
products, eggs; fish

Jersey
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Jordan
citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives; sheep, poultry, stone
fruits, strawberries, dairy

Kazakhstan
grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock

Kenya
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy
products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Kiribati
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Korea, North
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs,
pork, eggs

Korea, South
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle,
pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Kosovo
NA

Kuwait
practically no crops; fish

Kyrgyzstan
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and
berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

Laos
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Latvia
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk,
eggs; fish

Lebanon
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes,
olives, tobacco; sheep, goats

Lesotho
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Liberia
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil,
sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Libya
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,
soybeans; cattle

Liechtenstein
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy
products

Lithuania
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef,
milk, eggs; fish

Luxembourg
wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits;
dairy products, livestock products

Macau
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable
growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the
catch is exported to Hong Kong

Macedonia
grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs

Madagascar
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava
(tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Malawi
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava
(tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah
- subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak -
rubber, pepper, timber

Maldives
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Mali
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep,
goats

Malta
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes,
citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Marshall Islands
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit,
fruits; pigs, chickens

Mauritania
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep

Mauritius
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle,
goats; fish

Mayotte
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra, fish,
livestock

Mexico
corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit,
tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Micronesia, Federated States of
black pepper, tropical fruits and
vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava),
betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish

Moldova
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower
seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Monaco
none

Mongolia
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats,
cattle, camels, horses

Montenegro
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes;
sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible

Montserrat
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers;
livestock products

Morocco
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Mozambique
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca),
corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes,
sunflowers; beef, poultry

Namibia
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Nauru
coconuts

Nepal
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water
buffalo meat

Netherlands
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables;
livestock

Netherlands Antilles
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical
fruit

New Caledonia
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

New Zealand
dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley,
potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish

Nicaragua
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco,
sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products;
shrimp, lobsters

Niger
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca),
rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

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

Niue
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals,
vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Northern Mariana Islands
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Norway
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Oman
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Pakistan
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk,
beef, mutton, eggs

Palau
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

Panama
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables;
livestock; shrimp

Papua New Guinea
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish,
poultry, pork

Paraguay
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Peru
asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn,
plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products;
fish, guinea pigs

Philippines
sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas,
pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Pitcairn Islands
honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables;
goats, chickens, fish

Poland
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork,
dairy

Portugal
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle,
goats, swine, poultry, dairy products; fish

Puerto Rico
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas;
livestock products, chickens

Qatar
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Romania
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes,
grapes; eggs, sheep

Russia
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef,
milk

Rwanda
coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Saint Helena
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish,
lobster (on Tristan da Cunha); livestock

Saint Kitts and Nevis
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas;
fish

Saint Lucia
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs;
fish

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes,
spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Samoa
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

San Marino
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef,
cheese, hides

Sao Tome and Principe
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra,
cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Saudi Arabia
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton,
chickens, eggs, milk

Senegal
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes,
green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Serbia
wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, raspberries, beef,
pork, milk

Seychelles
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava
(tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna

Sierra Leone
rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts;
poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Singapore
rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs;
fish, ornamental fish

Slovakia
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle,
poultry; forest products

Slovenia
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle,
sheep, poultry

Solomon Islands
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes,
vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

Somalia
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes,
sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

South Africa
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef,
poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Spain
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus;
beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Sri Lanka
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea,
rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Sudan
cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum
arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet
potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock

Suriname
paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains,
peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products

Swaziland
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus,
pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Sweden
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk

Switzerland
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Syria
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar
beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk

Taiwan
rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef,
milk; fish

Tajikistan
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep,
goats

Tanzania
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made
from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat,
cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Thailand
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts,
soybeans

Timor-Leste
coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans,
cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Togo
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans,
rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Tokelau
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs,
poultry, goats; fish

Tonga
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa,
coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Trinidad and Tobago
cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Tunisia
olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar
beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products

Turkey
tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus;
livestock

Turkmenistan
cotton, grain; livestock

Turks and Caicos Islands corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

Tuvalu
coconuts; fish

Uganda
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes,
corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Ukraine
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk

United Arab Emirates
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs,
dairy products; fish

United Kingdom
cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle,
sheep, poultry; fish

United States
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton;
beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

Uruguay
rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish;
forestry

Uzbekistan
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Vanuatu
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits,
vegetables; beef; fish

Venezuela
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables,
coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Vietnam
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans,
cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood

Virgin Islands
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Wallis and Futuna
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

West Bank
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Western Sahara
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases);
camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish

Yemen
grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairy
products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish

Zambia
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables,
flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee;
cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides

Zimbabwe
corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts;
sheep, goats, pigs

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2053 Airports

Afghanistan
46 (2007)

Albania
11 (2007)

Algeria
150 (2007)

American Samoa
3 (2007)

Angola
232 (2007)

Anguilla
3 (2007)

Antarctica
27 (2008)

Antigua and Barbuda
3 (2007)

Argentina
1,272 (2007)

Armenia
12 (2007)

Aruba
1 (2007)

Australia
461 (2007)

Austria
55 (2007)

Azerbaijan
35 (2007)

Bahamas, The
62 (2007)

Bahrain
3 (2007)

Bangladesh
16 (2007)

Barbados
1 (2007)

Belarus
67 (2007)

Belgium
43 (2007)

Belize
44 (2007)

Benin
5 (2007)

Bermuda
1 (2007)

Bhutan
2 (2007)

Bolivia
1,061 (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
28 (2007)

Botswana
85 (2007)

Brazil
4,263 (2007)

British Indian Ocean Territory
1 (2007)

British Virgin Islands
3 (2007)

Brunei
2 (2007)

Bulgaria
214 (2007)

Burkina Faso
33 (2007)

Burma
86 (2007)

Burundi
8 (2007)

Cambodia
17 (2007)

Cameroon
45 (2007)

Canada
1,343 (2007)

Cape Verde
8 (2007)

Cayman Islands
3 (2007)

Central African Republic
51 (2007)

Chad
55 (2007)

Chile
358 (2007)

China
467 (2007)

Christmas Island
1 (2007)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
1 (2007)

Colombia
934 (2007)

Comoros
4 (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
237 (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
31 (2007)

Cook Islands
9 (2007)

Costa Rica
151 (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
34 (2007)

Croatia
68 (2007)

Cuba
165 (2007)

Cyprus
16 (2007)

Czech Republic
122 (2007)

Denmark
91 (2007)

Djibouti
13 (2007)

Dominica
2 (2007)

Dominican Republic
34 (2007)

Ecuador
406 (2007)

Egypt
88 (2007)

El Salvador
65 (2007)

Equatorial Guinea
5 (2007)

Eritrea
18 (2007)

Estonia
19 (2007)

Ethiopia
84 (2007)

European Union
3,393 (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
6 (2007)

Faroe Islands
1 (2007)

Fiji
28 (2007)

Finland
148 (2007)

France
476 (2007)

French Polynesia
54 (2007)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
4 (one each on Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the
Iles Eparses district) (2006)

Gabon
53 (2007)

Gambia, The
1 (2007)

Gaza Strip
2 (2007)

Georgia
23 (2007)

Germany
550 (2007)

Ghana
12 (2007)

Gibraltar
1 (2007)

Greece
81 (2007)

Greenland
14 (2007)

Grenada
3 (2007)

Guam
5 (2007)

Guatemala
402 (2007)

Guernsey
2 (2007)

Guinea
16 (2007)

Guinea-Bissau
27 (2007)

Guyana
93 (2007)

Haiti
14 (2007)

Honduras
112 (2007)

Hong Kong
2 (2007)

Hungary
46 (2007)

Iceland
99 (2007)

India
346 (2007)

Indonesia
652 (2007)

Iran
331 (2007)

Iraq
110 (2007)

Ireland
34 (2007)

Isle of Man
1 (2007)

Israel
53 (2007)

Italy
132 (2007)

Jamaica
34 (2007)

Jan Mayen
1 (2007)

Japan
176 (2007)

Jersey
1 (2007)

Jordan
17 (2007)

Kazakhstan
97 (2007)

Kenya
225 (2007)

Kiribati
19 (2007)

Korea, North
77 (2007)

Korea, South
105 (2007)

Kosovo
10 (2008)

Kuwait
7 (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
30 (2007)

Laos
42 (2007)

Latvia
42 (2007)

Lebanon
7 (2007)

Lesotho
28 (2007)

Liberia
53 (2007)

Libya
141 (2007)

Lithuania
87 (2007)

Luxembourg
2 (2007)

Macau
1 (2007)

Macedonia
17 (2007)

Madagascar
104 (2007)

Malawi
39 (2007)

Malaysia
116 (2007)

Maldives
5 (2007)

Mali
29 (2007)

Malta
1 (2007)

Marshall Islands
15 (2007)

Mauritania
25 (2007)

Mauritius
5 (2007)

Mayotte
1 (2007)

Mexico
1,834 (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
6 (2007)

Moldova
10 (2007)

Mongolia
44 (2007)

Montenegro
5 (2007)

Montserrat
2 (2007)

Morocco
60 (2007)

Mozambique
147 (2007)

Namibia
137 (2007)

Nauru
1 (2007)

Nepal
47 (2007)

Netherlands
27 (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
5 (2007)

New Caledonia
25 (2007)

New Zealand
121 (2007)

Nicaragua
163 (2007)

Niger
28 (2007)

Nigeria
70 (2007)

Niue
1 (2007)

Norfolk Island
1 (2007)

Northern Mariana Islands
5 (2007)

Norway
98 (2007)

Oman
137 (2007)

Pakistan
146 (2007)

Palau
3 (2007)

Panama
116 (2007)

Papua New Guinea
578 (2007)

Paracel Islands
1 (2007)

Paraguay
838 (2007)

Peru
237 (2007)

Philippines
255 (2007)

Poland
123 (2007)

Portugal
66 (2007)

Puerto Rico
29 (2007)

Qatar
5 (2007)

Romania
61 (2007)

Russia
1,260 (2007)

Rwanda
9 (2007)

Saint Barthelemy
1

Saint Helena
1 (2007)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
2 (2007)

Saint Lucia
2 (2007)

Saint Martin
1

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
2 (2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6 (2007)

Samoa
4 (2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
2 (2007)

Saudi Arabia
213 (2007)

Senegal
20 (2007)

Serbia
39 (2007)

Seychelles
15 (2007)

Sierra Leone
10 (2007)

Singapore
8 (2007)

Slovakia
35 (2007)

Slovenia
14 (2007)

Solomon Islands
35 (2007)

Somalia
67 (2007)

South Africa
728 (2007)

Spain
154 (2007)

Spratly Islands
3 (2007)

Sri Lanka
18 (2007)

Sudan
101 (2007)

Suriname
50 (2007)

Svalbard
4 (2007)

Swaziland
18 (2007)

Sweden
250 (2007)

Switzerland
65 (2007)

Syria
90 (2007)

Taiwan
41 (2007)

Tajikistan
26 (2007)

Tanzania
124 (2007)

Thailand
106 (2007)

Timor-Leste
8 (2007)

Togo
9 (2007)

Tonga
6 (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
6 (2007)

Tunisia
30 (2007)

Turkey
117 (2007)

Turkmenistan
28 (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
8 (2007)

Tuvalu
1 (2007)

Uganda
32 (2007)

Ukraine
437 (2007)

United Arab Emirates
39 (2007)

United Kingdom
449 (2007)

United States
14,947 (2007)

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker Island: one
abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and
unusable
Howland Island: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred
NOONAN; the aviators left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island but
were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Johnston Atoll: one closed and not maintained
Kingman Reef: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii
and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937
and 1938
Midway Islands: 3 - one operational (2,409 m paved); no fuel for
sale except emergencies
Palmyra Atoll: 1 - 1,846 m unpaved runway; privately owned (2008)

Uruguay
60 (2007)

Uzbekistan
54 (2007)

Vanuatu
31 (2007)

Venezuela
390 (2007)

Vietnam
44 (2007)

Virgin Islands
2 (2007)

Wake Island
1 (2007)

Wallis and Futuna
2 (2007)

West Bank
3 (2007)

Western Sahara
9 (2007)

World
total airports - 49,024
top ten by passengers: Atlanta - 84,846,639; Chicago - 77,028,134;
London - 67,530,197; Tokyo - 65,810,672; Los Angeles - 61,041,066;
Dallas/Fort Worth - 60,226,138; Paris - 56,849,567; Frankfurt -
52,810,683; Beijing - 48,654,770; Denver - 47,325,016
top ten by cargo (metric tons): Memphis - 3,692,081; Hong Kong -
3,609,780; Anchorage - 2,691,395; Seoul - 2,336,572; Tokyo -
2,280,830; Shanghai - 2,168,122; Paris - 2,130,724; Frankfurt -
2,127,646; Louisville (US) - 1,983,032; Singapore - 1,931,881 (2006)

Yemen
50 (2007)

Zambia
107 (2007)

Zimbabwe
341 (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2054 Birth rate (births/1,000 population)

Afghanistan
45.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Albania
15.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Algeria
17.03 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

American Samoa
23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Andorra
10.59 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Angola
44.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Anguilla
13.11 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
16.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Argentina
18.11 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Armenia
12.53 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Aruba
12.81 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Australia
12.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Austria
8.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
17.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
17.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bahrain
17.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
28.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Barbados
12.48 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belarus
9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belgium
10.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belize
27.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Benin
39.8 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bermuda
11.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bhutan
20.56 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bolivia
22.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
8.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Botswana
22.96 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Brazil
18.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
14.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Brunei
18.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
9.58 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
44.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burma
17.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burundi
41.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cambodia
25.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cameroon
34.59 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Canada
10.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
23.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
12.43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
33.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Chad
41.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Chile
14.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

China
13.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
19.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Comoros
35.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
41.76 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
16.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
17.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
32.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Croatia
9.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cuba
11.27 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cyprus
12.56 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
8.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Denmark
10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Djibouti
38.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Dominica
15.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
22.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ecuador
21.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Egypt
22.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

El Salvador
25.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
37.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Eritrea
34.94 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Estonia
10.28 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
43.97 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

European Union
10.25 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
13.25 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Fiji
22.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Finland
10.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

France
12.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
16.16 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gabon
35.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
38.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
37.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Georgia
10.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Germany
8.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ghana
29.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Greece
9.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Greenland
14.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Grenada
21.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guam
18.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guatemala
28.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guernsey
8.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guinea
37.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
36.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guyana
17.85 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Haiti
35.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Honduras
26.93 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
7.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Hungary
9.59 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iceland
13.5 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

India
22.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Indonesia
19.24 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iran
16.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iraq
30.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ireland
14.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
10.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Israel
20.02 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Italy
8.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jamaica
20.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Japan
7.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jersey
8.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jordan
20.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
16.44 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kenya
37.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kiribati
30.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Korea, North
14.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Korea, South
9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kuwait
21.9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
23.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Laos
34.46 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Latvia
9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lebanon
17.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lesotho
24.41 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Liberia
42.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Libya
25.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
9.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lithuania
9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
11.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Macau
8.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Macedonia
12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Madagascar
38.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malawi
41.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malaysia
22.44 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Maldives
14.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mali
49.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malta
10.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
31.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mauritania
40.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mauritius
14.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mayotte
39.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mexico
20.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Moldova
11.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Monaco
9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mongolia
21.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Montenegro
11.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Montserrat
12.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Morocco
21.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mozambique
38.21 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Namibia
23.19 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nauru
24.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nepal
29.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Netherlands
10.53 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
14.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
17.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

New Zealand
14.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
23.7 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Niger
49.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nigeria
37.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Niue
NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
19.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Norway
11.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Oman
35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Pakistan
28.35 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Palau
17.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Panama
20.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
28.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Paraguay
28.47 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Peru
19.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Philippines
26.42 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Poland
10.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Portugal
10.45 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
12.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Qatar
15.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Romania
10.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Russia
11.03 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Rwanda
39.97 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
11.45 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
17.73 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
15.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
12.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Samoa
28.2 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

San Marino
9.74 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
39.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
28.85 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Senegal
36.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Seychelles
15.6 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
45.08 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Singapore
8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Slovakia
10.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Slovenia
8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
28.48 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Somalia
44.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

South Africa
20.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Spain
9.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
16.63 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sudan
34.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Suriname
17.02 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Svalbard
NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
26.6 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sweden
10.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Switzerland
9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Syria
26.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Taiwan
8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
27.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tanzania
35.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Thailand
13.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
26.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Togo
36.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tokelau
NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
21.81 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
13.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tunisia
15.5 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turkey
16.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
25.07 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
22.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uganda
48.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ukraine
9.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
16.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
10.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United States
14.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uruguay
14.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
17.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
21.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Venezuela
20.92 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Vietnam
16.47 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
12.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
25.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
39.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

World
20.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Yemen
42.42 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Zambia
40.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
31.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2055 Military branches

Afghanistan
Afghan Armed Forces: Afghan National Army (ANA, includes
Afghan National Army Air Corps) (2008)

Albania
Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air
Defense Command, General Staff Headquarters (includes Logistics
Command, Training and Doctrine Command) (2007)

Algeria
National Popular Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian
National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force
(2005)

Andorra
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Angola
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra,
MdG), Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2007)

Argentina
Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine
Republic (Armada Republica; includes naval aviation and naval
infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2008)

Armenia
Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense
Force (NKSDF), Air Force and Air Defense (2008)

Aruba
no regular indigenous military forces; the Netherlands
maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious
combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2008)

Australia
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal
Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations
Command (2006)

Austria
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Azerbaijan
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2008)

Bahamas, The
Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air
Wing (2007)

Bahrain
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air
Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard

Bangladesh
Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh
Navy, Bangladesh Air Force (Bangladesh Biman Bahini, BAF) (2008)

Barbados
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados
Coast Guard (2007)

Belarus
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force
(2008)

Belgium
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval
Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2008)

Belize
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing, BDF Volunteer
Guard (2007)

Benin
Benin Armed Forces (FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy
(Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People's Air Force (Force
Aerienne Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)

Bermuda
Bermuda Regiment (2008)

Bhutan
Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan
Police) (2008)

Bolivia
Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano),
Bolivian Navy (Armada Boliviana; includes marines), Bolivian Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2008)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces (OSBiH):
Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Air and Air Defense Forces of Bosnia
and Herzegovina (Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana, ZPO) (2007)

Botswana
Botswana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Air Wing (2008)

Brazil
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB),
includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)),
Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2008)

Brunei
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces,
Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja
Brunei) (2008)

Bulgaria
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces,
Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2008)

Burkina Faso
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de
Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie (2008)

Burma
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force
(Tatmadaw Lay) (2008)

Burundi
National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN):
Army (includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), Gendarmerie (2008)

Cambodia
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal
Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2008)

Cameroon
Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval
infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2008)

Canada
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command
(MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security)
(2008)

Cape Verde
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast
Guard (includes maritime air wing) (2007)

Cayman Islands
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands
Police Force (2007)

Central African Republic
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees
Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces, General Directorate of
Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), Military Air Service, National Police
(2008)

Chad
Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad,
ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT),
Gendarmerie (2008)

Chile
Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes
naval air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine
Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,
FACh), Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2008)

China
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes
marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces),
and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed
Police (PAP); PLA Reserve Force (2008)

Colombia
National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada
Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de
Marina, Colmar), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
de Colombia, FAC) (2008)

Comoros
National Development Army (AND): Comoran Security Force;
Comoran Federal Police (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Armed Forces of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique
du Congo, FARDC): Army, National Navy (La Marine Nationale),
Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC) (2008)

Congo, Republic of the
Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees
Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air
Congolaise), Gendarmerie, Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP)
(2008)

Cook Islands
no regular military forces; National Police Department
(2007)

Costa Rica
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security,
Government, and Police (2008)

Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire Defense and Security Forces (FDSC):
Army, Navy, Air Force (2006)

Croatia
Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage
Republike Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly
subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena
Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air
Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ), Joint Education and
Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports
each of the three Croatian military forces (2008)

Cuba
Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias,
FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER; includes Territorial Militia Troops,
MTT), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR;
includes Marine Corps), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force
(DAAFAR), Youth Labor Army (EJT) (2008)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki
Forea, EF; includes air and naval elements); northern Cyprus:
Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK) (2007)

Czech Republic
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces
Command (includes Army and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces
Command (2008)

Denmark
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish
Fleet, Island Command Greenland, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard
(2008)

Djibouti
Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Dominica
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police
Force (includes Coast Guard) (2008)

Dominican Republic
Army, Navy, Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana,
FAD) (2007)

Ecuador
Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast
Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)

Egypt
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

El Salvador
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
National Guard (Guardia Nacional (Army), with
Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2008)

Eritrea
Eritrean Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (2008)

Estonia
Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti
Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2008)

Ethiopia
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces,
Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) (2008)
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the
secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
no regular military forces

Faroe Islands
no regular military forces

Fiji
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval
Forces (2008)

Finland
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal
Defense Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)

France
Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army
Light Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air), Air
Force (Armee de l'Air, includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
(2008)

French Polynesia
no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and
National Police Force (2007)

Gabon
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Gambia, The
Office of the Chief of Defense: Gambian National Army
(National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2008)

Gaza Strip
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian
Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are,
however, public security forces (2008)

Georgia
Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy (includes coast
guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard (2008)

Germany
Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy
(Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe),
Central Medical Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2008)

Ghana
Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2007)

Gibraltar
Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Greece
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy
(Ellinikos Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki
Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2007)

Greenland
no regular military forces

Grenada
no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force
(includes Coast Guard) (2007)

Guatemala
Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

Guinea
Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Guineenne, includes
Marines), Air Force, Presidential Guard (2008)

Guinea-Bissau
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy,
Air Force; paramilitary force

Guyana
Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Coast Guard, Air Corps)
(2007)

Haiti
no regular military forces - small Coast Guard; the regular
Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been
demobilized but still exist on paper unless they are
constitutionally abolished (2007)

Holy See (Vatican City)
Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia
Svizzera Pontificia) (2007)

Honduras
Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2008)

Hong Kong
no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison
of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the
PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are
under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in
Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou
Military Region (2007)

Hungary
Ground Forces, Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Legiero, ML)
(2008)

Iceland
no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police (2008)

India
Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu
Sena), Coast Guard (2008)

Indonesia
Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI):
Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut
(TNI-AL); includes marines, naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan
Udara (TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan
Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2008)

Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground
Forces, Navy, Air Force of the Military of the Islamic Republic of
Iran (Niru-ye Hava'i-ye Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran; includes
air defense); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e
Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Qods Force
(special operations), and Basij Force (Popular Mobilization Army);
Law Enforcement Forces (2008)

Iraq
Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special
Operations Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former
Iraqi Coastal Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air
Corps) (2005)

Ireland
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes
Naval Service and Air Corps (Aer-Chor na h-Eireann)) (2008)

Israel
Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Forces (INF),
Israel Air Force (IAF) (2007)

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

Jamaica
Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing
(2007)

Japan
Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force
(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,
MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, ASDF) (2008)

Jordan
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force,
Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya, RJAF), Special Operations
Command (Socom); Public Security Directorate (normally falls under
Ministry of Interior, but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis)
(2008)

Kazakhstan
Ground Forces, Naval Force, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Republican Guard

Kenya
Kenyan Army, Kenyan Navy, Kenyan Air Force (2008)

Kiribati
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited);
Police Force (2008)

Korea, North
North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air
Force; civil security forces (2005)

Korea, South
Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps),
Air Force (2008)

Kuwait
Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)

Laos
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA;
includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2008)

Latvia
National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Ground
Forces, Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas
Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Border
Guard, Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2008)

Lebanon
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army (includes Navy), Air Force
(2008)

Lesotho
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2008)

Liberia
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Libya
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan
Arab Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia
al-Libyya, LAAF) (2008)

Liechtenstein
no regular military forces (constitutionally
prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police
(Landespolizei, LP) (2008)

Lithuania
Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air
Forces, National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)

Luxembourg
Army (2007)

Macau
no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of
China (2008)

Macedonia
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational
Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno
Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2007)

Madagascar
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development
Force, and Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie

Malawi
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval
Detachment) (2007)

Malaysia
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM):
Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy
(Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force
(Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2008)

Maldives
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Quick Reaction
Force, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2007)

Mali
Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force
Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)

Malta
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime
elements) (2007)

Marshall Islands
no regular military forces; under the 1983 Compact
of Free Association, the US has full authority and responsibility
for security and defense of the Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands
Police (2008)

Mauritania
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of
Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)

Mauritius
no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special
Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2008)

Mexico
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa
Nacional, Sedena): Army (Ejercito, includes Mexican Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM)); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria
de Marina, Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes
Naval Air Force (FAN) and naval infantry) (2008)

Micronesia, Federated States of
no regular military forces

Moldova
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and
Air Defense Forces (2008)

Monaco
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs
ceremonial duties

Mongolia
Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air
Force; there is no navy (2008)

Montenegro
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy
(serves as Coast Guard), Air Force (2008)

Montserrat
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force
(2008)

Morocco
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal
Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal
Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya;
Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008)

Mozambique
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army,
Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force
(Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

Namibia
Namibian Defense Force: Army, Navy, Air Wing (2008)

Nauru
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2008)

Nepal
Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force (2008)

Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes
Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force
(Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2008)

Netherlands Antilles
no regular military forces; National Guard
(2008)

New Caledonia
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed
Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

New Zealand
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army,
Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2008)

Nicaragua
National Army of Nicaragua (ENN; includes Navy, Air Force)
(2008)

Niger
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,
Niger Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2008)

Nigeria
Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2008)

Niue
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Norway
Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige
Norske Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2007)

Oman
Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of
Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2008)

Pakistan
Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines and
Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya)
(2008)

Palau
no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2008)

Panama
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Forces or PPF
includes the Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Maritime
Service (NMS), and National Air Service (NAS) (2008)

Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes
Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2008)

Paraguay
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval
Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2008)

Peru
Army of Peru (Ejercito Peruano), Navy of Peru (Marina de Guerra
del Peru, MGP (includes naval air, naval infantry, and Coast
Guard)), Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2008)

Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2008)

Poland
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (includes Navy (Marynarka
Wojenna, MW)), Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej
Polskiej, SPRP) (2008)

Portugal
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portugues), Portuguese Navy
(Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force
(Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2008)

Puerto Rico
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary
National Guard, Police Force

Qatar
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN),
Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2007)

Romania
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele
Aeriene Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2008)

Russia
Ground Forces (SV), Navy (VMF), Air Forces
(Voyenno-Vozdushniye Sily, VVS); Airborne Troops (VDV), Strategic
Rocket Troops (Raketnyye Voyska Strategicheskogo Naznacheniya,
RVSN), and Space Troops (KV) are independent "combat arms," not
subordinate to any of the three branches; Russian Ground Forces
include the following combat arms: motorized-rifle troops, tank
troops, missile and artillery troops, air defense of ground troops
(2008)

Rwanda
Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes
Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force

Saint Lucia
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police
Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
no regular military forces; Royal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard (2007)

Samoa
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)

San Marino
no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force
(Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited
police support functions (2008)

Sao Tome and Principe
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP):
Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao
Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard (2007)

Saudi Arabia
Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Senegal
Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air
Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2008)

Serbia
Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces Command
(includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the
Danube), Joint Operations Command, Air and Air Defense Forces
Command (2008)

Seychelles
Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes
Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Sierra Leone
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army
(includes Navy (Maritime Wing), Air Wing) (2008)

Singapore
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes
Air Defense) (2008)

Slovakia
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily
Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces
(Vzdusne Sily) (2008)

Slovenia
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Solomon Islands
no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police
Force (2008)

Somalia
no national-level armed forces (2008)

South Africa
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South
African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force
(SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Military Intelligence, Military
Health Services (2008)

Spain
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy
(Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force
(Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2007)

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2008)

Sudan
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Land Forces, Navy, Air Force,
Popular Defense Forces; Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA): Land
Forces (2008)

Suriname
National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Naval Wing,
Air Wing) (2007)

Svalbard
no regular military forces

Swaziland
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force
(includes air wing) (2008)

Sweden
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal
Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)

Switzerland
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force
(Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2007)

Syria
Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy,
Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Forces (includes Air Defense
Command) (2008)

Taiwan
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command

Tajikistan
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Force
(2008)

Tanzania
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la
Tanzania, JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air
Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)

Thailand
Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes Royal
Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap Agard Thai, RTAF)
(2008)

Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de
Timor-L'este, Falintil (FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2008)

Togo
Togolese Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du
Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, FAT), National
Gendarmerie (2008)

Tonga
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval
Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2008)

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF):
Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, Coast Guard, Air Guard (2008)

Tunisia
Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)

Turkey
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Turk Kara
Kuvvetleri, TKK), Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK;
includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava
Kuvvetleri, THK) (2008)

Turkmenistan
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2007)

Tuvalu
no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2008)

Uganda
Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine
Unit), Air Force (2007)

Ukraine
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani
Syly), Air Defense Forces (2002)

United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy
(includes Marines), Air Force and Air Defense, National Coast Guard
(2008)

United Kingdom
Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air
Force

United States
US Army, US Navy (includes Marine Corps), US Air
Force, US Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime
by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to
the Department of the Navy (2008)

Uruguay
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito), Navy (Armada
Nacional; includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in
wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008)

Uzbekistan
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Vanuatu
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF),
Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW))
(2008)

Venezuela
National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacionale, FAN):
Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces
(Fuerzas Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or
National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

Vietnam
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN)
(includes People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard),
Air and Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense
Command), People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force,
Self-Defense Forces (2005)

Yemen
Army (includes Republican Guard), Navy (includes Marines),
Yemen Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya;
includes Air Defense Force) (2008)

Zambia
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambian Army, Zambian
Air Force, National Service (2008)

Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army
(ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Zimbabwe Republic Police (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2056 Budget

Afghanistan
revenues: $715 million
expenditures: $2.6 billion
note: Afghanistan has also received $273 million from the
Reconstruction Trust Fund and $63 million from the Law and Order
Trust Fund (2007 est.)

Albania
revenues: $2.782 billion
expenditures: $3.155 billion (2007 est.)

Algeria
revenues: $57.03 billion
expenditures: $40.53 billion (2007 est.)

American Samoa
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63%
in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million (FY96/97)

Andorra
revenues: $333.5 million
expenditures: $386.6 million (2005)

Angola
revenues: $20.18 billion
expenditures: $15.53 billion (2007 est.)

Anguilla
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million (2000 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
revenues: $123.7 million
expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)

Argentina
revenues: $48.99 billion
expenditures: $61.23 billion (2007 est.)

Armenia
revenues: $1.666 billion
expenditures: $1.735 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2007 est.)

Aruba
revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)

Australia
revenues: $321.9 billion
expenditures: $315.8 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
revenues: $177.5 billion
expenditures: $179.9 billion (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
revenues: $6.755 billion
expenditures: $8.572 billion (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
revenues: $1.03 billion
expenditures: $1.03 billion (FY04/05)

Bahrain
revenues: $5.418 billion
expenditures: $4.968 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
revenues: $7.01 billion
expenditures: $9.464 billion (2007 est.)

Barbados
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million (2000 est.)

Belarus
revenues: $20.75 billion
expenditures: $20.87 billion (2007 est.)

Belgium
revenues: $220.1 billion
expenditures: $221 billion (2007 est.)

Belize
revenues: $307 million
expenditures: $344 million (2007 est.)

Benin
revenues: $959.2 million
expenditures: $1.211 billion (2007 est.)

Bermuda
revenues: $738 million
expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)

Bhutan
revenues: $272 million
expenditures: $350 million
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures (2005)

Bolivia
revenues: $5.723 billion
expenditures: $5.495 billion (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
revenues: $7.094 billion
expenditures: $7.137 billion (2007 est.)

Botswana
revenues: $4.741 billion
expenditures: $3.816 billion (2007 est.)

Brazil
revenues: $244 billion
expenditures: $219.9 billion (FY07)

British Virgin Islands
revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)

Brunei
revenues: $3.765 billion
expenditures: $4.815 billion (2004 est.)

Bulgaria
revenues: $16.84 billion
expenditures: $15.35 billion (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
revenues: $1.415 billion
expenditures: $1.847 billion (2007 est.)

Burma
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA (2007 est.)

Burundi
revenues: $264.2 million
expenditures: $335.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2007 est.)

Cambodia
revenues: $1.015 billion
expenditures: $1.168 billion (2007 est.)

Cameroon
revenues: $4.179 billion
expenditures: $3.297 billion (2007 est.)

Canada
revenues: $569.3 billion
expenditures: $556.2 billion (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
revenues: $436.1 million
expenditures: $449.7 million (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)

Central African Republic
revenues: $250 million
expenditures: $273 million (2007 est.)

Chad
revenues: $1.864 billion
expenditures: $1.749 billion (2007 est.)

Chile
revenues: $44.96 billion
expenditures: $30.51 billion (2007 est.)

China
revenues: $674.3 billion
expenditures: $651.6 billion (2007 est.)

Christmas Island
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Colombia
revenues: $63.69 billion
expenditures: $64.96 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2007 est.)

Comoros
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $2 billion (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
revenues: $3.295 billion
expenditures: $2.444 billion (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)

Costa Rica
revenues: $3.976 billion
expenditures: $3.808 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
revenues: $3.884 billion
expenditures: $4.106 billion (2007 est.)

Croatia
revenues: $22.56 billion
expenditures: $23.92 billion (2007 est.)

Cuba
revenues: $41.84 billion
expenditures: $43.9 billion (2007 est.)

Cyprus
revenues:: $9.996 billion
expenditures:: $9.304 billion (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
revenues: $72.1 billion
expenditures: $74.98 billion (2007 est.)

Denmark
revenues: $170.6 billion
expenditures: $156.8 billion (2007 est.)

Djibouti
revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million (1999 est.)

Dominica
revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million (2001)

Dominican Republic
revenues: $7.423 billion
expenditures: $7.259 billion (2007 est.)

Ecuador
revenues: $13.46 billion
expenditures: planned $11.96 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
revenues: $35.05 billion
expenditures: $44.83 billion (2007 est.)

El Salvador
revenues: $3.659 billion
expenditures: $3.709 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
revenues: $4.963 billion
expenditures: $2.494 billion (2007 est.)

Eritrea
revenues: $234.6 million
expenditures: $471.4 million (2007 est.)

Estonia
revenues: $7.854 billion
expenditures: $7.171 billion (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
revenues: $3.231 billion
expenditures: $3.785 billion (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million (FY98/99 est.)

Faroe Islands
revenues: $588 million
expenditures: $623 million (2005)

Fiji
revenues: $1.363 billion
expenditures: $1.376 billion (2006)

Finland
revenues: $62.02 billion
expenditures: $58.16 billion (2007)

France
revenues: $1.287 trillion
expenditures: $1.356 trillion (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
revenues: $865 million
expenditures: $644.1 million (1999)

Gabon
revenues: $3.536 billion
expenditures: $2.347 billion (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
revenues: $181.1 million
expenditures: $163.4 million (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
revenues: $1.149 billion
expenditures: $2.31 billion
note: includes West Bank (2006)

Georgia
revenues: $3.68 billion
expenditures: $3.08 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
revenues: $1.454 trillion
expenditures: $1.453 trillion (2007 est.)

Ghana
revenues: $4.262 billion
expenditures: $5.481 billion (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
revenues: $455.1 million
expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)

Greece
revenues: $115.2 billion
expenditures: $124.1 billion (2007 est.)

Greenland
revenues: $1.36 billion
expenditures: $1.27 billion (2005)

Grenada
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)

Guam
revenues: $319.6 million
expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)

Guatemala
revenues: $4.38 billion
expenditures: $4.872 billion (2007 est.)

Guernsey
revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)

Guinea
revenues: $347.1 million
expenditures: $742.7 million (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Guyana
revenues: $446.2 million
expenditures: $531.2 million (2007 est.)

Haiti
revenues: $815.9 million
expenditures: $802.2 million (2007 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
revenues: $310 million
expenditures: $307 million (2006)

Honduras
revenues: $2.344 billion
expenditures: $2.631 billion; including capital expenditures of $106
million (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
revenues: $36.9 billion
expenditures: $29.4 billion (FY07-08 est.)

Hungary
revenues: $64 billion
expenditures: $71.87 billion (2007 est.)

Iceland
revenues: $9.64 billion
expenditures: $8.602 billion (2007 est.)

India
revenues: $141.2 billion
expenditures: $172.6 billion (2007 est.)

Indonesia
revenues: $79.56 billion
expenditures: $84.87 billion (2007 est.)

Iran
revenues: $104 billion
expenditures: $101 billion (2008 est.)

Iraq
revenues: $42.3 billion
expenditures: $48.4 billion (FY08 est.)

Ireland
revenues: $93.22 billion
expenditures: $92.46 billion (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
revenues: $965 million
expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)

Israel
revenues: $53.6 billion
expenditures: $53.63 billion (2007 est.)

Italy
revenues: $991.2 billion
expenditures: $1.031 trillion (2007 est.)

Jamaica
revenues: $3.716 billion
expenditures: $4.261 billion (2007 est.)

Japan
revenues: $1.462 trillion
expenditures: $1.567 trillion (2007 est.)

Jersey
revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005)

Jordan
revenues: $5.117 billion
expenditures: $6.468 billion (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
revenues: $23.58 billion
expenditures: $25.33 billion (2007 est.)

Kenya
revenues: $5.924 billion
expenditures: $6.878 billion (2007 est.)

Kiribati
revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures: $59.71 million (FY05)

Korea, North
revenues: $2.88 billion $NA
expenditures: $2.98 billion $NA

Korea, South
revenues: $262.2 billion
expenditures: $225.8 billion (2007 est.)

Kosovo
revenues: $1.364 billion
expenditures: $1.008 billion (2007 est.)

Kuwait
revenues: $85.28 billion
expenditures: $37.77 billion (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
revenues: $964.6 million
expenditures: $961.1 million (2007 est.)

Laos
revenues: $473.1 million
expenditures: $647.2 million (2007 est.)

Latvia
revenues: $10.47 billion
expenditures: $10.29 billion (2007 est.)

Lebanon
revenues: $6.178 billion
expenditures: $8.35 billion (2007 est.)

Lesotho
revenues: $779.9 million
expenditures: $696.9 million (2007 est.)

Liberia
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Libya
revenues: $39.88 billion
expenditures: $19.48 billion (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)

Lithuania
revenues: $13.28 billion
expenditures: $13.75 billion (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
revenues: $19.78 billion
expenditures: $18.9 billion (2007 est.)

Macau
revenues: $4.6 billion
expenditures: $3.4 billion (2006)

Macedonia
revenues: $2.508 billion
expenditures: $2.487 billion (2007 est.)

Madagascar
revenues: $1.319 billion
expenditures: $1.629 billion (2007 est.)

Malawi
revenues: $1.128 billion
expenditures: $1.185 billion (2007 est.)

Malaysia
revenues: $40.69 billion
expenditures: $46.7 billion (2007 est.)

Maldives
revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)
expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)

Mali
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.8 billion (2006 est.)

Malta
revenues: $3.485 billion
expenditures: $3.554 billion (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million (1999)

Mauritania
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million (2002 est.)

Mauritius
revenues: $1.344 billion
expenditures: $1.773 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2007 est.)

Mayotte
revenues: $420 million
expenditures: $394 million (2005)

Mexico
revenues: $227.5 billion
expenditures: $227.2 billion (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
revenues: $127.3 million ($69
million less grants)
expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.)

Moldova
revenues: $1.83 billion
expenditures: $1.841 billion (2007 est.)

Monaco
revenues: $863 million
expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)

Mongolia
revenues: $1.58 billion
expenditures: $1.497 billion (2007)

Montenegro
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Montserrat
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)

Morocco
revenues: $20.49 billion
expenditures: $21.85 billion (2007 est.)

Mozambique
revenues: $2.302 billion
expenditures: $2.63 billion (2007 est.)

Namibia
revenues: $2.765 billion
expenditures: $2.515 billion (2007 est.)

Nauru
revenues: $13.5 million
expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)

Nepal
revenues: $1.153 billion
expenditures: $1.927 billion (FY06/07)

Netherlands
revenues: $359.5 billion
expenditures: $356.5 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
revenues: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)

New Caledonia
revenues: $996 million
expenditures: $1.072 billion (2001 est.)

New Zealand
revenues: $58.31 billion
expenditures: $53.5 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
revenues: $1.115 billion
expenditures: $1.291 billion (2007 est.)

Niger
revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign
sources)
expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)

Nigeria
revenues: $19.43 billion
expenditures: $20.36 billion (2007 est.)

Niue
revenues: $15.07 million
expenditures: $16.33 million (FY0405)

Norfolk Island
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)

Northern Mariana Islands
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)

Norway
revenues: $226.3 billion
expenditures: $158.7 billion (2007 est.)

Oman
revenues: $14.02 billion
expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)

Pakistan
revenues: $18.25 billion
expenditures: $24.69 billion (2007 est.)

Palau
revenues: $72.07 million
expenditures: $72.43 million (FY04/05 est.)

Panama
revenues: $5.505 billion
expenditures: $4.822 billion (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
revenues: $2.363 billion
expenditures: $2.21 billion (2007 est.)

Paraguay
revenues: $2.159 billion
expenditures: $2.042 billion (2007 est.)

Peru
revenues: $32.54 billion
expenditures: $29.15 billion (2007 est.)

Philippines
revenues: $24.63 billion
expenditures: $24.9 billion (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million (FY04/05)

Poland
revenues: $85.39 billion
expenditures: $91.16 billion (2007 est.)

Portugal
revenues: $96.01 billion
expenditures: $101.9 billion (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)

Qatar
revenues: $27.12 billion
expenditures: $22.55 billion (2007 est.)

Romania
revenues: $52.13 billion
expenditures: $56.01 billion (2007 est.)

Russia
revenues: $299 billion
expenditures: $262 billion (2007 est.)

Rwanda
revenues: $801.8 million
expenditures: $878.3 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2007 est.)

Saint Helena
revenues: $13.09 million
expenditures: $32.16 million
note: revenue data reflect locally raised revenues only; the budget
deficit is resolved by grant aid from the United Kingdom (FY06/07
est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million (2003 est.)

Saint Lucia
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million (1996 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million (2000 est.)

Samoa
revenues: $171.3 million
expenditures: $78.1 million (FY04/05 est.)

San Marino
revenues: $709.6 million
expenditures: $672.3 million (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe
revenues: $63.21 million
expenditures: $54.94 million (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
revenues: $163 billion
expenditures: $118.3 billion (2007 est.)

Senegal
revenues: $2.614 billion
expenditures: $3.036 billion (2007 est.)

Serbia
revenues: $9.6 billion
expenditures: $9.8 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
revenues: $372.3 million
expenditures: $362.2 million (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $351 million (2000 est.)

Singapore
revenues: $27 billion
expenditures: $21.5 billion (2007 est.)

Slovakia
revenues: $34.34 billion
expenditures: $35.99 billion (2007 est.)

Slovenia
revenues: $19.17 billion
expenditures: $19.04 billion (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
revenues: $49.7 million
expenditures: $75.1 million (2003)

Somalia
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

South Africa
revenues: $83.47 billion
expenditures: $82.02 billion (2007 est.)

Spain
revenues: $588.5 billion
expenditures: $556.5 billion (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
revenues: $5.384 billion
expenditures: $7.608 billion (2007 est.)

Sudan
revenues: $9.201 billion
expenditures: $10.62 billion (2007 est.)

Suriname
revenues: $392.6 million
expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)

Svalbard
revenues: $25.07 million
expenditures: $NA (2004 est.)

Swaziland
revenues: $1.13 billion
expenditures: $1.143 billion (2007 est.)

Sweden
revenues: $249.1 billion
expenditures: $233.5 billion (2007 est.)

Switzerland
revenues: $150.6 billion
expenditures: $141.5 billion (2007 est.)

Syria
revenues: $8.393 billion
expenditures: $11.21 billion (2007 est.)

Taiwan
revenues: $76.2 billion
expenditures: $75.65 billion (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
revenues: $712.1 million
expenditures: $674.5 million (2007 est.)

Tanzania
revenues: $3.561 billion
expenditures: $3.594 billion (2007 est.)

Thailand
revenues: $44.14 billion
expenditures: $49.83 billion (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
revenues: $733 million
expenditures: $309 million
note: the government passed a transitional budget to cover the
latter half of 2007 and has moved the fiscal cycle to a calendar
year, starting with the budget they passed for 2008 (FY06/07 est.)

Togo
revenues: $466.8 million
expenditures: $514.7 million (2007 est.)

Tokelau
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)

Tonga
revenues: $80.48 million
expenditures: $109.8 million (FY07/08)

Trinidad and Tobago
revenues: $6.332 billion
expenditures: $5.969 billion (2007 est.)

Tunisia
revenues: $8.466 billion
expenditures: $9.475 billion (2007 est.)

Turkey
revenues: $145.5 billion
expenditures: $156.1 billion (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
revenues: $1.664 billion
expenditures: $1.624 billion (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)

Tuvalu
revenues: $21.54 million
expenditures: $23.05 million (2006)

Uganda
revenues: $2.211 billion
expenditures: $2.443 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2007 est.)

Ukraine
revenues: $43.54 billion
expenditures: $45.06 billion; note - this is the planned,
consolidated budget (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
revenues: $68.27 billion
expenditures: $38.06 billion (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
revenues: $1.154 trillion
expenditures: $1.239 trillion (2007 est.)

United States
revenues: $2.568 trillion
expenditures: $2.73 trillion (2007 est.)

Uruguay
revenues: $6.701 billion
expenditures: $6.807 billion (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
revenues: $6.478 billion
expenditures: $6.5 billion (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
revenues: $78.7 million
expenditures: $72.23 million (2005)

Venezuela
revenues: $65.83 billion
expenditures: $58.9 billion (2007 est.)

Vietnam
revenues: $18.62 billion
expenditures: $19.71 billion (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Wallis and Futuna
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)

West Bank
revenues: $1.149 billion
expenditures: $2.31 billion
note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)

Western Sahara
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Yemen
revenues: $7.576 billion
expenditures: $8.391 billion (2007 est.)

Zambia
revenues: $2.655 billion
expenditures: $2.8 billion (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
revenues: $2.442 billion
expenditures: $3.017 billion (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2057 Capital

Afghanistan
name: Kabul
geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Akrotiri
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for
Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Albania
name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Algeria
name: Algiers
geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

American Samoa
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Andorra
name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Angola
name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Anguilla
name: The Valley
geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Antigua and Barbuda
name: Saint John's
geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Argentina
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 40 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
third Saturday in March; note - a new policy of daylight saving time
was initiated by the government on 30 December 2007

Armenia
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Aruba
name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Australia
name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last
Sunday in March
note: Australia is divided into three time zones

Austria
name: Vienna
geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Azerbaijan
name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Bahamas, The
name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November

Bahrain
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Bangladesh
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Barbados
name: Bridgetown
geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Belarus
name: Minsk
geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Belgium
name: Brussels
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Belize
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Benin
name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (seat of government)

Bermuda
name: Hamilton
geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 47 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November

Bhutan
name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Bolivia
name: La Paz (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sucre (constitutional capital)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
name: Sarajevo
geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Botswana
name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Brazil
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into four time zones, including one for the
Fernando de Noronha Islands

British Virgin Islands
name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Brunei
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Bulgaria
name: Sofia
geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Burkina Faso
name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Burma
name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates: 16 48 N, 96 09 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital

Burundi
name: Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 22 S, 29 21 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cambodia
name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cameroon
name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Canada
name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 42 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: Canada is divided into six time zones

Cape Verde
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cayman Islands
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Central African Republic
name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Chad
name: N'Djamena
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Chile
name: Santiago
geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March

China
name: Beijing
geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: despite its size, all of China falls within one time zone

Christmas Island
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Colombia
name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Comoros
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 19 S, 15 18 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Congo, Republic of the
name: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cook Islands
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Costa Rica
name: San Jose
geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Cote d'Ivoire
name: Yamoussoukro
geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 17 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since
1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the
US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Croatia
name: Zagreb
geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Cuba
name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Cyprus
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Czech Republic
name: Prague
geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Denmark
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to the North Atlantic
components

Dhekelia
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for
Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Djibouti
name: Djibouti
geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Dominica
name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Dominican Republic
name: Santo Domingo
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Ecuador
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Egypt
name: Cairo
geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last
Thursday in September

El Salvador
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Equatorial Guinea
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Eritrea
name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Estonia
name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Ethiopia
name: Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

European Union
name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France),
Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, Belgium,
the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France,
and the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in
Luxembourg

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
third Sunday in April

Faroe Islands
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Fiji
name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Finland
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

France
name: Paris
geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas
departments, collectivities, or territories

French Polynesia
name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Gabon
name: Libreville
geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Gambia, The
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Georgia
name: T'bilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 47 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Germany
name: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Ghana
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Gibraltar
name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Greece
name: Athens
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Greenland
name: Nuuk (Godthab)
geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Greenland is divided into four time zones

Grenada
name: Saint George's
geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guam
name: Hagatna (Agana)
geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guatemala
name: Guatemala
geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last
Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009

Guernsey
name: Saint Peter Port
geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Guinea
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 33 N, 13 42 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guinea-Bissau
name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guyana
name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Haiti
name: Port-au-Prince
geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Holy See (Vatican City)
name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Honduras
name: Tegucigalpa
geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November

Hungary
name: Budapest
geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Iceland
name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

India
name: New Delhi
geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Indonesia
name: Jakarta
geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones

Iran
name: Tehran
geographic coordinates: 35 40 N, 51 25 E
time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Iraq
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 23 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 1 October

Ireland
name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Isle of Man
name: Douglas
geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W
time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Israel
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the
Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel
Aviv

Italy
name: Rome
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Jamaica
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Japan
name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Jersey
name: Saint Helier
geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Jordan
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last
Friday in September

Kazakhstan
name: Astana
geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones

Kenya
name: Nairobi
geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Kiribati
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 19 N, 172 58 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Korea, North
name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Korea, South
name: Seoul
geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Kosovo
name: Pristina (Prishtine)
geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Kuwait
name: Kuwait
geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Kyrgyzstan
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Laos
name: Vientiane
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Latvia
name: Riga
geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Lebanon
name: Beirut
geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Lesotho
name: Maseru
geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Liberia
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Libya
name: Tripoli
geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Liechtenstein
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Lithuania
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Luxembourg
name: Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Macedonia
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Madagascar
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Malawi
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Malaysia
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;
Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Maldives
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mali
name: Bamako
geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Malta
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Marshall Islands
name: Majuro
geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mauritania
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mauritius
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mayotte
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 46 S, 45 13 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mexico
name: Mexico (Distrito Federal)
geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Mexico is divided into three time zones

Micronesia, Federated States of
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Moldova
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
note: pronounced kee-shee-now
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Monaco
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Mongolia
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Montenegro
name: Podgorica
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Montserrat
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the
Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat

Morocco
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mozambique
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Namibia
name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
first Sunday in April

Nauru
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Nepal
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)

Netherlands
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply
to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components

Netherlands Antilles
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

New Caledonia
name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

New Zealand
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in March
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham
Island

Nicaragua
name: Managua
geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Niger
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Nigeria
name: Abuja
geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Niue
name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Norfolk Island
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Northern Mariana Islands
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Norway
name: Oslo
geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Oman
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Pakistan
name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Palau
name: Melekeok
geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Panama
name: Panama
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Papua New Guinea
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Paraguay
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Peru
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Philippines
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Pitcairn Islands
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Poland
name: Warsaw
geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Portugal
name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Puerto Rico
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Qatar
name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Romania
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Russia
name: Moscow
geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Russia is divided into 11 time zones

Rwanda
name: Kigali
geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Barthelemy
name: Gustavia
geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during
Standard Time)

Saint Helena
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Lucia
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Martin
name: Marigot
geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during
Standard Time)
daylight savings: +1 hour

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
name: Saint-Pierre
geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Samoa
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 44 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

San Marino
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Sao Tome and Principe
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saudi Arabia
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Senegal
name: Dakar
geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Serbia
name: Belgrade (Beograd)
geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Seychelles
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Sierra Leone
name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Singapore
name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Slovakia
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Slovenia
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Solomon Islands
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Somalia
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

South Africa
name: Pretoria (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial
capital)

Spain
name: Madrid
geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Spain is divided into two time zones including the Canary
Islands

Sri Lanka
name: Colombo
geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Sudan
name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Suriname
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Svalbard
name: Longyearbyen
geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Swaziland
name: Mbabane
geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

Sweden
name: Stockholm
geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Switzerland
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Syria
name: Damascus
geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September

Taiwan
name: Taipei
geographic coordinates: 25 03 N, 121 30 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tajikistan
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tanzania
name: Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is
planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets
there on a regular basis

Thailand
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Timor-Leste
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Togo
name: Lome
geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tokelau
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tonga
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Trinidad and Tobago
name: Port-of-Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tunisia
name: Tunis
geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Turkey
name: Ankara
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Turkmenistan
name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Turks and Caicos Islands
name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Tuvalu
name: Funafuti
geographic coordinates: 8 30 S, 179 12 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: administrative offices are located in Vaiaku Village on
Fongafale Islet

Uganda
name: Kampala
geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 25 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Ukraine
name: Kyiv (Kiev)
geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

United Arab Emirates
name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

United Kingdom
name: London
geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 10 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its overseas
dependencies or territories

United States
name: Washington, DC
geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: the 50 United States cover six time zones

Uruguay
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March

Uzbekistan
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Vanuatu
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Venezuela
name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference: UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)

Vietnam
name: Hanoi
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Virgin Islands
name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Wallis and Futuna
name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Western Sahara
none
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Yemen
name: Sanaa
geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Zambia
name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Zimbabwe
name: Harare
geographic coordinates: 17 50 S, 31 03 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2058 Imports - commodities (%)

Afghanistan
capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products

Albania
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Algeria
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

American Samoa
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum
products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)

Andorra
consumer goods, food, electricity

Angola
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Anguilla
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Antigua and Barbuda
food and live animals, machinery and transport
equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil

Argentina
machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas,
organic chemicals, plastics

Armenia
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs,
diamonds

Aruba
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and
reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Australia
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and
petroleum products

Austria
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs

Azerbaijan
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs,
metals, chemicals

Bahamas, The
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures,
chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals

Bahrain
crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Bangladesh
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel,
textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement

Barbados
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction
materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Belarus
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, metals

Belgium
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds,
pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Belize
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Benin
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Bermuda
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment,
construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Bhutan
fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics, rice

Bolivia
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft
parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans

Bosnia and Herzegovina
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels,
foodstuffs

Botswana
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport
equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper
products, metal and metal products

Brazil
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical
products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

British Virgin Islands
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs,
machinery

Brunei
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals

Bulgaria
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and
plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Burkina Faso
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Burma
fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery,
transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food
products, edible oil

Burundi
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Cambodia
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction
materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Cameroon
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel,
food

Canada
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Cape Verde
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment,
fuels

Cayman Islands
foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Central African Republic
food, textiles, petroleum products,
machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals

Chad
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles

Chile
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and
telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles,
natural gas

China
machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, LED
screens, data processing equipment, optical and medical equipment,
organic chemicals, steel, copper

Christmas Island
consumer goods

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
foodstuffs

Colombia
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer
goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Comoros
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, cement, transport equipment

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
foodstuffs, mining and other
machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Congo, Republic of the
capital equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs

Cook Islands
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Costa Rica
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment,
petroleum, construction materials

Cote d'Ivoire
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Croatia
machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals,
fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs

Cuba
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Cyprus
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods,
machinery, transport equipment

Czech Republic
machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials
and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003)

Denmark
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures
for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Djibouti
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum
products

Dominica
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Dominican Republic
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics,
chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Ecuador
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable
consumer goods

Egypt
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products,
fuels

El Salvador
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels,
foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Equatorial Guinea
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Eritrea
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Estonia
machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%,
textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)

Ethiopia
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

European Union
machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil,
chemicals, textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
fuel, food and drink, building
materials, clothing

Faroe Islands
consumer goods 36%, raw materials and
semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels,
fish, salt (1999)

Fiji
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
petroleum products, food, chemicals

Finland
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and
fabrics, grains

France
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft,
plastics, chemicals

French Polynesia
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Gabon
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials

Gambia, The
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport
equipment

Gaza Strip
food, consumer goods, construction materials

Georgia
fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods,
pharmaceuticals

Germany
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Ghana
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Gibraltar
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Greece
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Greenland
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
food, petroleum products

Grenada
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Guam
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Guatemala
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction
materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity

Guernsey
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Guinea
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Guinea-Bissau
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment,
petroleum products

Guyana
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Haiti
food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
fuels, raw materials

Honduras
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw
materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs

Hong Kong
raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods,
capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Hungary
machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%,
fuels and electricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0%
(2003)

Iceland
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
textiles

India
crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals

Indonesia
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Iran
industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods,
foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services

Iraq
food, medicine, manufactures

Ireland
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment,
chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Isle of Man
timber, fertilizers, fish

Israel
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough
diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods

Italy
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy
products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;
food, beverages, and tobacco

Jamaica
food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel,
parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport
equipment, construction materials

Japan
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, raw materials

Jersey
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Jordan
crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,
manufactured goods

Kazakhstan
machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Kenya
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products,
motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Kiribati
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous
manufactured goods, fuel

Korea, North
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment,
textiles, grain

Korea, South
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Kosovo
foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and
electrical equipment

Kuwait
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Kyrgyzstan
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs

Laos
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Latvia
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Lebanon
petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat
and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco,
electrical machinery

Lesotho
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines,
petroleum products

Liberia
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Libya
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment,
consumer products

Liechtenstein
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products,
machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Lithuania
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport
equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Luxembourg
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Macau
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils

Macedonia
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels,
food products

Madagascar
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Malawi
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment

Malaysia
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics,
vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Maldives
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing,
intermediate and capital goods

Mali
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles

Malta
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco

Marshall Islands
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels,
beverages and tobacco

Mauritania
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital
goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Mauritius
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum products, chemicals

Mayotte
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment,
metals, chemicals

Mexico
metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural
machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair
parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

Micronesia, Federated States of
food, manufactured goods, machinery
and equipment, beverages

Moldova
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals, textiles

Mongolia
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products,
industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Montserrat
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs,
manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Morocco
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications
equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Mozambique
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal
products, foodstuffs, textiles

Namibia
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and
equipment, chemicals

Nauru
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Nepal
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Netherlands
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels,
foodstuffs, clothing

Netherlands Antilles
crude petroleum, food, manufactures

New Caledonia
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

New Zealand
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft,
petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

Nicaragua
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials,
petroleum products

Niger
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Nigeria
machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured
goods, food and live animals

Niue
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Norway
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Oman
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants

Pakistan
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics,
transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron
and steel, tea

Palau
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Panama
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Papua New Guinea
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured
goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Paraguay
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts

Peru
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery,
vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper

Philippines
electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and
transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains,
chemicals, plastic

Pitcairn Islands
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour,
sugar, other foodstuffs

Poland
machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate
manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels,
lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)

Portugal
agricultural products, food products, oil products,
chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and
cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear,
minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools,
vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and
related devices, household goods, passenger cars new and used, and
wine products

Puerto Rico
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food,
fish, petroleum products

Qatar
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Romania
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals,
textile and products, metals, agricultural products

Russia
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat,
sugar, semifinished metal products

Rwanda
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum
products, cement and construction material

Saint Helena
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed,
building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Saint Kitts and Nevis
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Saint Lucia
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and
transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Saint Martin
crude petroleum, food, manufactured items

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical
equipment, machinery, building materials

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
foodstuffs, machinery and
equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Samoa
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs

San Marino
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Sao Tome and Principe
machinery and electrical equipment, food
products, petroleum products

Saudi Arabia
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor
vehicles, textiles

Senegal
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Seychelles
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products,
chemicals

Sierra Leone
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and
lubricants, chemicals

Singapore
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals,
foodstuffs

Slovakia
machinery and transport equipment 41.1%, intermediate
manufactured goods 19.3%, fuels 12.3%, chemicals 9.8%, miscellaneous
manufactured goods 10.2% (2003)

Slovenia
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food

Solomon Islands
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods,
fuels, chemicals

Somalia
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, qat

South Africa
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products,
scientific instruments, foodstuffs

Spain
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments

Sri Lanka
textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs,
machinery and transportation equipment

Sudan
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport
equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Suriname
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer
goods

Swaziland
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Sweden
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor
vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing

Switzerland
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural
products, textiles

Syria
machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery,
food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical
products, plastics, yarn, paper

Taiwan
electronic and electrical products, machinery, petroleum,
precision instruments, organic chemicals, metals (2002)

Tajikistan
electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide,
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Tanzania
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment,
industrial raw materials, crude oil

Thailand
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials,
consumer goods, fuels

Timor-Leste
food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Togo
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Tokelau
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Tonga
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Trinidad and Tobago
mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery,
transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals,
grain

Tunisia
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals,
foodstuffs

Turkey
machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport
equipment

Turkmenistan
machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Turks and Caicos Islands food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Tuvalu
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Uganda
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies;
cereals

Ukraine
energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

United Arab Emirates machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

United Kingdom
manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

United States
agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9%
(crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications
equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power
machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines,
furniture, toys) (2003)

Uruguay
crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery,
chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics

Uzbekistan
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous
and non-ferrous metals

Vanuatu
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Venezuela
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport
equipment, construction materials

Vietnam
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer,
steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Virgin Islands
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building
materials

Wallis and Futuna
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer
goods

West Bank
food, consumer goods, construction materials

Western Sahara
fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs

World
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and
services
top ten - share of world trade: see listing for exports

Yemen
food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Zambia
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products,
electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing

Zimbabwe
machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures,
chemicals, fuels

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2059 Climate

Afghanistan
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Akrotiri
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool
winters

Albania
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry
summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Algeria
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers
along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high
plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in
summer

American Samoa
tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds;
annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to
April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature
variation

Andorra
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Angola
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool,
dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Anguilla
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Antarctica
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation,
and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West
Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has
the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January
along the coast and average slightly below freezing

Antigua and Barbuda
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature
variation

Arctic Ocean
polar climate characterized by persistent cold and
relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized
by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and
clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and
foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

Argentina
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in
southwest

Armenia
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Aruba
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
tropical

Atlantic Ocean
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast
of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent
from August to November

Australia
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north

Austria
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent
rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate
summers with occasional showers

Azerbaijan
dry, semiarid steppe

Bahamas, The
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Bahrain
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Bangladesh
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid
summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Barbados
tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Belarus
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between
continental and maritime

Belgium
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Belize
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November);
dry season (February to May)

Benin
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Bermuda
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter

Bhutan
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas

Bolivia
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Bosnia and Herzegovina
hot summers and cold winters; areas of high
elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild,
rainy winters along coast

Botswana
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Bouvet Island
antarctic

Brazil
mostly tropical, but temperate in south

British Indian Ocean Territory
tropical marine; hot, humid,
moderated by trade winds

British Virgin Islands
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by
trade winds

Brunei
tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Bulgaria
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Burkina Faso
tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Burma
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest
monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild
temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)

Burundi
equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude
variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual
temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade
but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m;
average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February
to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to
August and December to January)

Cambodia
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry
season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Cameroon
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid
and hot in north

Canada
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in
north

Cape Verde
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and
very erratic

Cayman Islands
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October)
and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Central African Republic
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot,
wet summers

Chad
tropical in south, desert in north

Chile
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region;
cool and damp in south

China
extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Christmas Island
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and
dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Clipperton Island
tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees
C, wet season (May to October)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
tropical with high humidity, moderated by
the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year

Colombia
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Comoros
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)

Congo, Republic of the
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry
season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity;
particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Cook Islands
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry
season from April to November and a more humid season from December
to March

Coral Sea Islands
tropical

Costa Rica
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April);
rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

Cote d'Ivoire
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to
May), hot and wet (June to October)

Croatia
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate
predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry
summers along coast

Cuba
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to
April); rainy season (May to October)

Cyprus
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool
winters

Czech Republic
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Denmark
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool
summers

Dhekelia
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool
winters

Djibouti
desert; torrid, dry

Dominica
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Dominican Republic
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature
variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Ecuador
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher
elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Egypt
desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

El Salvador
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Equatorial Guinea
tropical; always hot, humid

Eritrea
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter
in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest
June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands

Estonia
maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Ethiopia
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

European Union
cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to
temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Faroe Islands
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy,
windy

Fiji
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Finland
cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild
because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

France
metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers,
but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional
strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation
Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds;
moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable
to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average
Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)

French Polynesia
tropical, but moderate

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul:
oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity
Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy
Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy
Iles Eparses: tropical

Gabon
tropical; always hot, humid

Gambia, The
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler,
dry season (November to May)

Gaza Strip
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Georgia
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Germany
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers;
occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind

Ghana
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast;
hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Gibraltar
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Greece
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Greenland
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Grenada
tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Guam
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season
(July to December); little seasonal temperature variation

Guatemala
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Guernsey
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
days are overcast

Guinea
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to
November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May)
with northeasterly harmattan winds

Guinea-Bissau
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type
rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season
(December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Guyana
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two
rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)

Haiti
tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
antarctic

Holy See (Vatican City)
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to
May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Honduras
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Hong Kong
subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Hungary
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Iceland
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy
winters; damp, cool summers

India
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Indian Ocean
northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest
monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June
and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and
January/February in the southern Indian Ocean

Indonesia
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Iran
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Iraq
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless
summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish
borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that
melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in
central and southern Iraq

Ireland
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild
winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
time

Isle of Man
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about
one-third of the time

Israel
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Italy
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in
south

Jamaica
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Jan Mayen
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Japan
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Jersey
temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Jordan
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

Kazakhstan
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and
semiarid

Kenya
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Kiribati
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Korea, North
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Korea, South
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Kosovo
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns;
Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation;
maximum rainfall between October and December

Kuwait
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Kyrgyzstan
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical
in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Laos
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
(December to April)

Latvia
maritime; wet, moderate winters

Lebanon
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Lesotho
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Liberia
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to
cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Libya
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Liechtenstein
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow
or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Lithuania
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet,
moderate winters and summers

Luxembourg
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Macau
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Macedonia
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters
with heavy snowfall

Madagascar
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Malawi
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May
to November)

Malaysia
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast
(October to February) monsoons

Maldives
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Mali
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy,
humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to
February)

Malta
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Marshall Islands
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to
November; islands border typhoon belt

Mauritania
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Mauritius
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry
winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Mayotte
tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)

Mexico
varies from tropical to desert

Micronesia, Federated States of tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Moldova
moderate winters, warm summers

Monaco
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Mongolia
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature
ranges)

Montenegro
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and
relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland

Montserrat
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Morocco
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Mozambique
tropical to subtropical

Namibia
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

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

Navassa Island
marine, tropical

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

Netherlands
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Netherlands Antilles
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

New Caledonia
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

New Zealand
temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Nicaragua
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Niger
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Nigeria
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in
north

Niue
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Norfolk Island
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature
variation

Northern Mariana Islands
tropical marine; moderated by northeast
trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season
December to June, rainy season July to October

Norway
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current;
colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers;
rainy year-round on west coast

Oman
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Pacific Ocean
planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind
patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade
winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by
seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south
of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central
America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much
less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same
latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is
monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when
moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry
season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian
landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike
southeast and east Asia from May to December

Pakistan
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in
north

Palau
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Panama
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season
(May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Papua New Guinea
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March),
southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature
variation

Paracel Islands
tropical

Paraguay
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the
eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Peru
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate
to frigid in Andes

Philippines
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)

Pitcairn Islands
tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast
trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Poland
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with
frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers

Portugal
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and
drier in south

Puerto Rico
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature
variation

Qatar
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Romania
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog;
sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Russia
ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in
much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in
the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to
frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool
along Arctic coast

Rwanda
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to
January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Saint Barthelemy
tropical, with practically no variation in
temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

Saint Helena
Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade
winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes;
little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Saint Lucia
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season
January to April, rainy season May to August

Saint Martin
temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low
humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers;
July-Novemeber is the hurricane season

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
cold and wet, with much mist and fog;
spring and autumn are windy

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
tropical; little seasonal
temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Samoa
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to
October)

San Marino
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Sao Tome and Principe
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season
(October to May)

Saudi Arabia
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Senegal
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has
strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by
hot, dry, harmattan wind

Serbia
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot,
humid summers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts,
continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with
heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)

Seychelles
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast
monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest
monsoon (March to May)

Sierra Leone
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to
December); winter dry season (December to April)

Singapore
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons
- Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon
(June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early
evening thunderstorms

Slovakia
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Slovenia
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate
with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and
valleys to the east

Solomon Islands
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and
weather

Somalia
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to
February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south;
southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in
the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili)
between monsoons

South Africa
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny
days, cool nights

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
variable, with mostly
westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of
calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

Southern Ocean
sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius
to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the
continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature
contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about
latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average
winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward
to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees
south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures
well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense
persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline
ice-free throughout the winter

Spain
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and
cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy
and cool along coast

Spratly Islands
tropical

Sri Lanka
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March);
southwest monsoon (June to October)

Sudan
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies
by region (April to November)

Suriname
tropical; moderated by trade winds

Svalbard
arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most
of the year

Swaziland
varies from tropical to near temperate

Sweden
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly
cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Switzerland
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy,
rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with
occasional showers

Syria
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and
mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather
with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus

Taiwan
tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June
to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Tajikistan
midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters;
semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Tanzania
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Thailand
tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
southern isthmus always hot and humid

Timor-Leste
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Togo
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Tokelau
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Tonga
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to
May), cool season (May to December)

Trinidad and Tobago
tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Tunisia
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers; desert in south

Turkey
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher
in interior

Turkmenistan
subtropical desert

Turks and Caicos Islands
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds;
sunny and relatively dry

Tuvalu
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Uganda
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to
February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Ukraine
temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern
Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest
in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from
cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm
across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

United Arab Emirates
desert; cooler in eastern mountains

United Kingdom
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds
over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are
overcast

United States
mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida,
arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the
Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low
winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in
January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes
of the Rocky Mountains

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning
sun
Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropical, but generally dry;
consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature
variation
Midway Islands: subtropical with cool, moist winters (December to
February) and warm, dry summers (May to October); moderated by
prevailing easterly winds; most of the 1,067 mm (42 in) of annual
rainfall occurs during the winter
Palmyra Atoll: equatorial, hot; located within the low pressure area
of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and
southeast trade winds meet, it is extremely wet with between
4,000-5,000 mm (160-200 in) of rainfall each year

Uruguay
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Uzbekistan
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild
winters; semiarid grassland in east

Vanuatu
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to
October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected
by cyclones from December to April

Venezuela
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Vietnam
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season
(May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

Virgin Islands
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds,
relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation;
rainy season September to November

Wake Island
tropical

Wallis and Futuna
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April);
cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year
(80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C

West Bank
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with
altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Western Sahara
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air
currents produce fog and heavy dew

World
a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates -
bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones - that
separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates

Yemen
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in
western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot,
dry, harsh desert in east

Zambia
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
April)

Zimbabwe
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to
March)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2060 Coastline (km)

Afghanistan
0 km (landlocked)

Akrotiri
56.3 km

Albania
362 km

Algeria
998 km

American Samoa
116 km

Andorra
0 km (landlocked)

Angola
1,600 km

Anguilla
61 km

Antarctica
17,968 km

Antigua and Barbuda
153 km

Arctic Ocean
45,389 km

Argentina
4,989 km

Armenia
0 km (landlocked)

Aruba
68.5 km

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
74.1 km

Atlantic Ocean
111,866 km

Australia
25,760 km

Austria
0 km (landlocked)

Azerbaijan
0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian
Sea (713 km)

Bahamas, The
3,542 km

Bahrain
161 km

Bangladesh
580 km

Barbados
97 km

Belarus
0 km (landlocked)

Belgium
66.5 km

Belize
386 km

Benin
121 km

Bermuda
103 km

Bhutan
0 km (landlocked)

Bolivia
0 km (landlocked)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
20 km

Botswana
0 km (landlocked)

Bouvet Island
29.6 km

Brazil
7,491 km

British Indian Ocean Territory
698 km

British Virgin Islands
80 km

Brunei
161 km

Bulgaria
354 km

Burkina Faso
0 km (landlocked)

Burma
1,930 km

Burundi
0 km (landlocked)

Cambodia
443 km

Cameroon
402 km

Canada
202,080 km

Cape Verde
965 km

Cayman Islands
160 km

Central African Republic
0 km (landlocked)

Chad
0 km (landlocked)

Chile
6,435 km

China
14,500 km

Christmas Island
138.9 km

Clipperton Island
11.1 km

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
26 km

Colombia
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448
km)

Comoros
340 km

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
37 km

Congo, Republic of the
169 km

Cook Islands
120 km

Coral Sea Islands
3,095 km

Costa Rica
1,290 km

Cote d'Ivoire
515 km

Croatia
5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)

Cuba
3,735 km

Cyprus
648 km

Czech Republic
0 km (landlocked)

Denmark
7,314 km

Dhekelia
27.5 km

Djibouti
314 km

Dominica
148 km

Dominican Republic
1,288 km

Ecuador
2,237 km

Egypt
2,450 km

El Salvador
307 km

Equatorial Guinea
296 km

Eritrea
2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea
1,083 km)

Estonia
3,794 km

Ethiopia
0 km (landlocked)

European Union
65,992.9 km

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
1,288 km

Faroe Islands
1,117 km

Fiji
1,129 km

Finland
1,250 km

France total: 4,668 km metropolitan France: 3,427 km

French Polynesia
2,525 km

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul): 28 km
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul):
Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22.2 km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 24.1 km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 3.7 km

Gabon
885 km

Gambia, The
80 km

Gaza Strip
40 km

Georgia
310 km

Germany
2,389 km

Ghana
539 km

Gibraltar
12 km

Greece
13,676 km

Greenland
44,087 km

Grenada
121 km

Guam
125.5 km

Guatemala
400 km

Guernsey
50 km

Guinea
320 km

Guinea-Bissau
350 km

Guyana
459 km

Haiti
1,771 km

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
101.9 km

Holy See (Vatican City)
0 km (landlocked)

Honduras
820 km

Hong Kong
733 km

Hungary
0 km (landlocked)

Iceland
4,970 km

India
7,000 km

Indian Ocean
66,526 km

Indonesia
54,716 km

Iran
2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Iraq
58 km

Ireland
1,448 km

Isle of Man
160 km

Israel
273 km

Italy
7,600 km

Jamaica
1,022 km

Jan Mayen
124.1 km

Japan
29,751 km

Jersey
70 km

Jordan
26 km

Kazakhstan
0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral
Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian
Sea (1,894 km)

Kenya
536 km

Kiribati
1,143 km

Korea, North
2,495 km

Korea, South
2,413 km

Kosovo
0 km (landlocked)

Kuwait
499 km

Kyrgyzstan
0 km (landlocked)

Laos
0 km (landlocked)

Latvia
498 km

Lebanon
225 km

Lesotho
0 km (landlocked)

Liberia
579 km

Libya
1,770 km

Liechtenstein
0 km (doubly landlocked)

Lithuania
90 km

Luxembourg
0 km (landlocked)

Macau
41 km

Macedonia
0 km (landlocked)

Madagascar
4,828 km

Malawi
0 km (landlocked)

Malaysia
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607
km)

Maldives
644 km

Mali
0 km (landlocked)

Malta
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Marshall Islands
370.4 km

Mauritania
754 km

Mauritius
177 km

Mayotte
185.2 km

Mexico
9,330 km

Micronesia, Federated States of
6,112 km

Moldova
0 km (landlocked)

Monaco
4.1 km

Mongolia
0 km (landlocked)

Montenegro
293.5 km

Montserrat
40 km

Morocco
1,835 km

Mozambique
2,470 km

Namibia
1,572 km

Nauru
30 km

Navassa Island
8 km

Nepal
0 km (landlocked)

Netherlands
451 km

Netherlands Antilles
364 km

New Caledonia
2,254 km

New Zealand
15,134 km

Nicaragua
910 km

Niger
0 km (landlocked)

Nigeria
853 km

Niue
64 km

Norfolk Island
32 km

Northern Mariana Islands
1,482 km

Norway
25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long
fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km;
length of island coastlines 58,133 km)

Oman
2,092 km

Pacific Ocean
135,663 km

Pakistan
1,046 km

Palau
1,519 km

Panama
2,490 km

Papua New Guinea
5,152 km

Paracel Islands
518 km

Paraguay
0 km (landlocked)

Peru
2,414 km

Philippines
36,289 km

Pitcairn Islands
51 km

Poland
440 km

Portugal
1,793 km

Puerto Rico
501 km

Qatar
563 km

Romania
225 km

Russia
37,653 km

Rwanda
0 km (landlocked)

Saint Helena
Saint Helena: 60 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha: 40 km

Saint Kitts and Nevis
135 km

Saint Lucia
158 km

Saint Martin
58.9 km (for entire island)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
120 km

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
84 km

Samoa
403 km

San Marino
0 km (landlocked)

Sao Tome and Principe
209 km

Saudi Arabia
2,640 km

Senegal
531 km

Serbia
0 km (landlocked)

Seychelles
491 km

Sierra Leone
402 km

Singapore
193 km

Slovakia
0 km (landlocked)

Slovenia
46.6 km

Solomon Islands
5,313 km

Somalia
3,025 km

South Africa
2,798 km

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
NA km

Southern Ocean
17,968 km

Spain
4,964 km

Spratly Islands
926 km

Sri Lanka
1,340 km

Sudan
853 km

Suriname
386 km

Svalbard
3,587 km

Swaziland
0 km (landlocked)

Sweden
3,218 km

Switzerland
0 km (landlocked)

Syria
193 km

Taiwan
1,566.3 km

Tajikistan
0 km (landlocked)

Tanzania
1,424 km

Thailand
3,219 km

Timor-Leste
706 km

Togo
56 km

Tokelau
101 km

Tonga
419 km

Trinidad and Tobago
362 km

Tunisia
1,148 km

Turkey
7,200 km

Turkmenistan
0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea
(1,768 km)

Turks and Caicos Islands
389 km

Tuvalu
24 km

Uganda
0 km (landlocked)

Ukraine
2,782 km

United Arab Emirates
1,318 km

United Kingdom
12,429 km

United States
19,924 km

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker Island: 4.8 km
Howland Island: 6.4 km
Jarvis Island: 8 km
Johnston Atoll: 34 km
Kingman Reef: 3 km
Midway Islands: 15 km
Palmyra Atoll: 14.5 km

Uruguay
660 km

Uzbekistan
0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the
southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Vanuatu
2,528 km

Venezuela
2,800 km

Vietnam
3,444 km (excludes islands)

Virgin Islands
188 km

Wake Island
19.3 km

Wallis and Futuna
129 km

West Bank
0 km (landlocked)

Western Sahara
1,110 km

World
356,000 km
note: 94 nations and other entities are islands that border no other
countries, they include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and
Barbuda, Aruba, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Baker Island, Barbados, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean
Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands,
Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,
Comoros, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica,
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Greenland, Grenada,
Guam, Guernsey, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Howland Island,
Iceland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island,
Jersey, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar,
Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte,
Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru,
Navassa Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Paracel Islands,
Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint
Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao
Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka,
Svalbard, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos
Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Wallis and
Futuna, Taiwan

Yemen
1,906 km

Zambia
0 km (landlocked)

Zimbabwe
0 km (landlocked)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2061 Imports - partners (%)

Afghanistan
Pakistan 36.8%, US 11%, India 5%, Germany 4.2% (2007)

Albania
Italy 27.6%, Greece 14.8%, Turkey 7.4%, China 6.8%, Germany
5.6%, Switzerland 5%, Russia 4.2% (2007)

Algeria
France 18.7%, China 9%, Italy 8.5%, Spain 6%, US 5.5%,
Germany 5.3%, Russia 4.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2007)

American Samoa
Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2006)

Angola
Portugal 19.7%, US 10.9%, China 10.5%, Brazil 10.3%, South
Africa 6.6%, France 6.3%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4.3% (2007)

Anguilla
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda
US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore
12.7%, Spain 6.5% (2006)

Argentina
Brazil 34.6%, US 12.6%, China 12%, Germany 5% (2007)

Armenia
Russia 15.1%, Ukraine 7.7%, Kazakhstan 7.4%, Germany 6.8%,
China 6%, France 4.6%, US 4.5%, Iraq 4.3% (2007)

Aruba
US 54.6%, Netherlands 12%, UK 4.7% (2007)

Australia
China 15.5%, US 12.8%, Japan 9.6%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany
5.2%, UK 4.3%, Thailand 4.2% (2007)

Austria
Germany 45.5%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4.3%
(2007)

Azerbaijan
Russia 17.6%, Turkey 10.9%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 8.2%,
UK 7.2%, Japan 5.2%, China 4.9%, US 4.7% (2007)

Bahamas, The
US 26.7%, South Korea 14.1%, Japan 13.5%, Italy 7.5%,
Singapore 5.2%, Venezuela 4.5%, Spain 4.3% (2007)

Bahrain
Saudi Arabia 37.7%, Japan 7.2%, US 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, UK
4.5%, UAE 4.2%, China 4.1% (2007)

Bangladesh
China 15%, India 14.3%, Kuwait 8.3%, Singapore 6.2%, Hong
Kong 4.2% (2007)

Barbados
US 30.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 27.6%, UK 6.5% (2007)

Belarus
Russia 59.9%, Germany 7.6%, Ukraine 5.4% (2007)

Belgium
Germany 17.7%, Netherlands 17.6%, France 11.2%, UK 6.2%, US
5.4%, Ireland 4.9%, China 4.1% (2007)

Belize
US 31.2%, Mexico 13.6%, Cuba 8.5%, Guatemala 8%, Russia 4.6%
(2007)

Benin
China 44.5%, France 8.2%, US 6.5%, Thailand 6.3%, Malaysia
4.8% (2007)

Bermuda
South Korea 36.4%, US 15.7%, Germany 13.2%, Italy 11.8%
(2007)

Bhutan
India 74.5%, Japan 7.4%, Sweden 3.2% (2007)

Bolivia
Brazil 29.9%, Argentina 16.2%, Chile 10.5%, US 9.8%, Peru
8.1% (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia 24.7%, Slovenia 13.3%, Germany 13.1%,
Italy 10.4%, Austria 7%, Turkey 6.5%, Hungary 5.4% (2007)

Botswana
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%,
Zimbabwe 4% (2006)

Brazil
US 15.7%, China 10.5%, Argentina 8.6%, Germany 7.2%, Nigeria
4.4% (2007)

British Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)

Brunei
UK 46.4%, Singapore 19.5%, Malaysia 11.3% (2007)

Bulgaria
Russia 12.3%, Germany 12.3%, Italy 8.7%, Ukraine 7.2%,
Turkey 6.9%, Greece 6.2%, Romania 4.5%, Austria 4.3% (2007)

Burkina Faso
Cote d'Ivoire 25.8%, France 20.6%, Togo 7.1% (2007)

Burma
China 33.7%, Thailand 19.1%, Singapore 15.5%, South Korea
5.8%, Indonesia 5.2%, Malaysia 4.2% (2007)

Burundi
Saudi Arabia 17%, Kenya 11.4%, Belgium 8.7%, France 6.1%,
Uganda 5.4%, Germany 5.4%, India 4.8%, Pakistan 4.2% (2007)

Cambodia
Thailand 23.1%, Vietnam 16.9%, China 15%, Hong Kong 10.4%,
Singapore 7.5%, Taiwan 7.2%, South Korea 4.8% (2007)

Cameroon
France 23.4%, Nigeria 12.8%, China 9%, Belgium 5.8%, US 4%
(2007)

Canada
US 54.1%, China 9.4%, Mexico 4.2% (2007)

Cape Verde
Portugal 40.7%, Netherlands 10.9%, France 6.5%, Spain
5.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9%, Brazil 4.7%, Italy 4.7% (2007)

Cayman Islands
US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)

Central African Republic
France 16.6%, Netherlands 13%, Cameroon
9.7%, US 6.3% (2007)

Chad
France 20.4%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.9%, China 10%, Germany
7.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2007)

Chile
US 16.7%, China 11.2%, Brazil 10.3%, Argentina 9.9% (2007)

China
Japan 14%, South Korea 10.9%, Taiwan 10.5%, US 7.3%, Germany
4.7% (2007)

Christmas Island
principally Australia (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Australia (2006)

Colombia
US 26.2%, China 10.1%, Mexico 9.3%, Brazil 7.3%, Venezuela
4.2% (2007)

Comoros
France 18.2%, UAE 10.8%, South Africa 8.5%, Pakistan 7.2%,
Kenya 5.7%, China 5.4%, India 5% (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
South Africa 22.5%, Belgium 10.3%,
Zambia 8.9%, Zimbabwe 7.5%, France 6.8%, Kenya 6.3%, US 4.1%, Cote
d'Ivoire 4.1% (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
France 18.1%, South Korea 14.7%, China 12.6%,
Italy 10.3%, India 4.7%, US 4.2% (2007)

Cook Islands
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6% (2006)

Costa Rica
US 41%, Mexico 6.1%, Venezuela 5.7%, Japan 5.4%, China
5.1%, Brazil 4.3% (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
Nigeria 31.1%, France 16.7%, China 7.3% (2007)

Croatia
Italy 16.1%, Germany 14.4%, Russia 10.1%, China 6.2%,
Slovenia 6%, Austria 5.3% (2007)

Cuba
Venezuela 29.6%, China 13.4%, Spain 10.4%, Canada 6%, US 5.1%
(2007)

Cyprus
Greece 17.7%, Italy 10.2%, UK 9.6%, Germany 9.4%, Israel
6.5%, France 5.4%, China 5.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Czech Republic
Germany 31.8%, Netherlands 6.7%, Slovakia 6.4%,
Poland 6.3%, Austria 5.1%, China 5.1%, Russia 4.5%, Italy 4.4%,
France 4.1% (2007)

Denmark
Germany 21.6%, Sweden 14.4%, Netherlands 7.1%, Norway 6%,
China 5.4%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.1%, France 4% (2007)

Djibouti
Saudi Arabia 21%, India 18.1%, China 9.4%, Ethiopia 4.7%,
Malaysia 4.6%, Japan 4.2% (2007)

Dominica
US 24.1%, China 21.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.2%, Japan
11.1% (2007)

Dominican Republic
US 46%, Venezuela 8.1%, Mexico 5.9%, Colombia
4.7% (2007)

Ecuador
US 23.7%, Colombia 10.3%, China 7.6%, Brazil 5.3%, Japan
4.3% (2007)

Egypt
US 11.7%, China 9.7%, Italy 6.4%, Germany 6.3%, Saudi Arabia
4.7%, Russia 4.3% (2007)

El Salvador
US 35.7%, Mexico 9.8%, Guatemala 8.5%, China 4.7% (2007)

Equatorial Guinea
US 19.6%, Spain 13.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.9%, France
9.6%, China 7.7%, Italy 6.6%, UK 6.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Eritrea
Saudi Arabia 19.1%, Italy 15.1%, China 11.1%, Turkey 8.3%,
Germany 7.2%, Ukraine 5.1% (2007)

Estonia
Finland 15.9%, Germany 12.8%, Sweden 10.1%, Russia 10%,
Latvia 7.6%, Lithuania 6.9%, Poland 4.5% (2007)

Ethiopia
Saudi Arabia 17%, China 15.9%, India 7.8%, Italy 5.1% (2007)

European Union
US 13.8%, China 13.4%, Russia 8.2%, Japan 6.2% (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands
8.5% (2006)

Faroe Islands
Denmark 51.9%, Norway 21.6%, Sweden 5%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Fiji
Singapore 30.4%, Australia 21.6%, NZ 17.7%, China 4.5% (2007)

Finland
Germany 15.8%, Russia 14%, Sweden 13.7%, Netherlands 6.8%,
China 5.5%, UK 4.9% (2007)

France
Germany 18.9%, Belgium 11.4%, Italy 8.4%, Spain 7.1%,
Netherlands 7%, UK 5.6%, US 4.4%, China 4% (2007)

French Polynesia
France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6%
(2006)

Gabon
France 27.7%, US 19.1%, Belgium 5.4%, Netherlands 4.7%, China
4.1% (2007)

Gambia, The
China 23.7%, Senegal 11.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.3%, Brazil
8%, Netherlands 5.2% (2007)

Gaza Strip
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)

Georgia
Turkey 14%, Russia 12.3%, Ukraine 8.5%, Azerbaijan 7.3%,
Germany 6.8%, US 5%, Bulgaria 4.6% (2007)

Germany
Netherlands 12%, France 8.6%, Belgium 7.8%, China 6.2%,
Italy 5.8%, UK 5.6%, US 4.5%, Austria 4.4% (2007)

Ghana
Nigeria 15.1%, China 14.9%, UK 5.2%, US 5.1% (2007)

Gibraltar
Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%,
Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2006)

Greece
Germany 12.9%, Italy 11.7%, Russia 5.6%, France 5.6%, China
5%, Netherlands 5% (2007)

Greenland
Denmark 68.1%, Sweden 19.3%, Canada 2.5% (2007)

Grenada
Trinidad and Tobago 36.5%, US 23.3%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Guam
Singapore 50%, South Korea 21.4%, Japan 14%, Hong Kong 4.6%
(2006)

Guatemala
US 34.9%, Mexico 9.9%, China 6.8%, El Salvador 4.6%, Costa
Rica 4.1% (2007)

Guernsey
UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)

Guinea
China 10%, France 7%, Netherlands 6.3% (2007)

Guinea-Bissau
Portugal 21.7%, Senegal 16.8%, France 6%, Pakistan
4.7% (2007)

Guyana
Trinidad and Tobago 26.2%, US 20.5%, Cuba 7.2%, China 7.1%,
UK 5.4% (2007)

Haiti
US 41.2%, Netherlands Antilles 14.9%, China 4.7%, Brazil 4.4%
(2007)

Honduras
US 52.4%, Guatemala 7.1%, El Salvador 5.2%, Mexico 4.5%,
Costa Rica 4.2% (2007)

Hong Kong
China 46.3%, Japan 10%, Taiwan 7.1%, Singapore 6.8%, US
4.9%, South Korea 4.2% (2007)

Hungary
Germany 26.6%, China 7.8%, Russia 6.9%, Austria 6.1%, Italy
4.5%, France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Iceland
US 13.7%, Germany 12.2%, Sweden 10.2%, Denmark 7.5%,
Netherlands 5.7%, UK 5.4%, China 5.1%, Norway 4.6% (2007)

India
China 10.6%, US 7.8%, Germany 4.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2007)

Indonesia
Singapore 13.2%, China 11.5%, Japan 8.8%, Malaysia 8.6%,
US 6.4%, Thailand 5.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.5%, South Korea 4.3%,
Australia 4% (2007)

Iran
China 14.2%, Germany 9.6%, UAE 9.1%, South Korea 6.3%, Russia
5.7%, Italy 5% (2007)

Iraq
Syria 30.5%, Turkey 19.8%, US 11.1%, Jordan 5%, China 4.8%
(2007)

Ireland
UK 38.3%, US 11.3%, Germany 9.7%, Netherlands 5%, France
4.2% (2007)

Isle of Man
UK (2006)

Israel
US 13.9%, Belgium 7.9%, Germany 6.2%, China 6.1%, Switzerland
5.1%, UK 4.7%, Italy 4.1% (2007)

Italy
Germany 16.9%, France 9%, China 5.9%, Netherlands 5.5%,
Belgium 4.3%, Spain 4.2% (2007)

Jamaica
US 37.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.5%, Grenada 9.7%, Venezuela
8.3%, Brazil 4.2% (2007)

Japan
China 20.5%, US 11.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, UAE 5.2%, Australia
5%, South Korea 4.4%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)

Jersey
UK (2006)

Jordan
Saudi Arabia 21%, China 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, US 4.7%, Egypt
4.4% (2007)

Kazakhstan
Russia 35.4%, China 22.1%, Germany 8% (2007)

Kenya
UAE 11.4%, China 9.9%, India 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South
Africa 6.9%, US 6.2%, Japan 5.9%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Kiribati
Australia 33%, Fiji 27.1%, Japan 18.1%, NZ 6.9% (2006)

Korea, North
China 27%, South Korea 16%, Thailand 9%, Russia 7%
(2006)

Korea, South
China 17.7%, Japan 15.8%, US 10.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%
(2007)

Kosovo
EU 35%, Macedonia 15%, Serbia 13%, Turkey 8% (2006)

Kuwait
US 12.7%, Japan 8.5%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.8%, South Korea
6.6%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Italy 5.8%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
Russia 40.5%, China 14.7%, Kazakhstan 12.9%, Uzbekistan
5% (2007)

Laos
Thailand 68.5%, China 9.3%, Vietnam 5.5% (2007)

Latvia
Germany 15.1%, Lithuania 13.8%, Russia 8.7%, Estonia 8%,
Poland 6.9%, Finland 5.1%, Sweden 4.9% (2007)

Lebanon
Syria 12.1%, Italy 8.5%, France 8.3%, US 7%, China 5.9%,
Germany 5.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.8% (2007)

Lesotho
China 30%, Hong Kong 29.6%, India 10%, South Korea 6.6%,
Germany 6.4%, Pakistan 4.6% (2007)

Liberia
South Korea 31.4%, Singapore 22.1%, Japan 14.9%, China 10.1%
(2007)

Libya
Italy 18.9%, Germany 7.7%, China 7.3%, Tunisia 6.8%, France
5.7%, Turkey 5.4%, US 4.3% (2007)

Liechtenstein
EU, Switzerland (2006)

Lithuania
Russia 18%, Germany 15%, Poland 10.6%, Latvia 5.5%,
Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Luxembourg
Belgium 27.4%, Germany 23.8%, China 17.1%, France 9.2%,
Netherlands 5% (2007)

Macau
China 42.6%, Hong Kong 10.1%, Japan 9%, US 5.6%, Germany 4.4%,
France 4.2% (2007)

Macedonia
Germany 13.2%, Greece 12.9%, Bulgaria 9.6%, Serbia and
Montenegro 7.7%, Turkey 6.6%, Italy 6.3%, Slovenia 5% (2007)

Madagascar
France 13.6%, China 13%, Iran 8.1%, South Africa 6.4%,
Hong Kong 4.9%, Mauritius 4.8% (2007)

Malawi
South Africa 36.1%, India 8.5%, Tanzania 6.1%, US 6.1%, China
4.9% (2007)

Malaysia
Japan 13%, China 12.9%, Singapore 11.5%, US 10.8%, Taiwan
5.7%, Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 4.9%, Germany 4.6%, Indonesia 4.2%
(2007)

Maldives
Canada 35.2%, Singapore 15%, UAE 10.2%, India 7.4%,
Malaysia 7.1% (2007)

Mali
France 12.9%, Senegal 12.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.9%, China 4.9%
(2007)

Malta
Italy 26%, UK 15%, France 9.5%, Germany 8.8%, Singapore 5.2%
(2007)

Marshall Islands
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China,
Philippines (2006)

Mauritania
France 16.5%, China 8.1%, Spain 6.7%, US 6.1%, Belgium
5.8%, Brazil 5.7% (2007)

Mauritius
India 21.2%, China 11.4%, France 10.7%, South Africa 7.4%
(2007)

Mayotte
France 49%, Seychelles 8.8%, China 4.1% (2006)

Mexico
US 49.6%, China 10.5%, Japan 5.8%, South Korea 4.5% (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)

Moldova
Russia 20.5%, Ukraine 15.8%, Romania 15%, Germany 8.7%,
Italy 5.7%, Poland 4.1% (2007)

Mongolia
China 32%, Russia 29.4%, South Korea 7.9%, Japan 7.2% (2007)

Montenegro
Greece 10.2%, Italy 10.2%, Germany 9.6%, Bosnia and
Herzegovina 9.2% (2006)

Montserrat
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2006)

Morocco
France 16.1%, Spain 13.6%, China 7.3%, Italy 6.7%, Saudi
Arabia 6.4%, Germany 5.9%, US 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Mozambique
South Africa 36.7%, Australia 8.5%, China 4.6% (2007)

Namibia
South Africa 85.2%, US (2006)

Nauru
South Korea 43.8%, Australia 36.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.3%
(2006)

Nepal
India 58.9%, China 13.6%, Japan 1.6% (2007)

Netherlands
Germany 17.7%, China 10.5%, Belgium 9.3%, US 7.3%, UK
5.8%, Russia 5.1%, France 4.4% (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
Venezuela 59.1%, US 17.7%, Brazil 7.1% (2007)

New Caledonia
France 36.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Australia 12.1%, NZ
5.2%, Germany 4.6% (2007)

New Zealand
Australia 20.7%, China 13.4%, US 9.7%, Japan 9.5%,
Singapore 4.9%, Germany 4.7% (2007)

Nicaragua
US 22.5%, Mexico 13.5%, Costa Rica 8.4%, Venezuela 6.4%,
Guatemala 6.2%, El Salvador 4.8% (2007)

Niger
France 15.9%, French Polynesia 8.8%, Nigeria 8.6%, Belgium
8.6%, US 6.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.6% (2007)

Nigeria
China 10.6%, Netherlands 7.9%, US 7.8%, South Korea 6.6%, UK
5.7%, France 4.3%, Brazil 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2007)

Niue
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2006)

Norfolk Island
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia,
Europe (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands
US, Japan (2006)

Norway
Sweden 14.7%, Germany 13.6%, UK 6.9%, Denmark 6.4%, China
6.1%, US 4.8%, Canada 4.3% (2007)

Oman
UAE 19.3%, Japan 17.6%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, India 4.1% (2007)

Pakistan
China 16.2%, Saudi Arabia 10.9%, UAE 10.1%, US 5.7%, Kuwait
4.9%, Japan 4.4% (2007)

Palau
US, Singapore, Japan, South Korea (2006)

Panama
US 32.8%, Netherlands Antilles 7.6%, China 5.6%, Japan 5.1%,
Costa Rica 5.1%, South Korea 4.1% (2007)

Papua New Guinea
Australia 51.3%, Singapore 11.6%, China 7.9%, Japan
5.7% (2007)

Paraguay
Brazil 30.4%, US 22.8%, Argentina 14.4%, China 8.6% (2007)

Peru
US 20.5%, China 10.8%, Brazil 9%, Ecuador 6.1%, Argentina 5.6%,
Chile 5%, Colombia 4.8% (2007)

Philippines
US 14.1%, Japan 12.3%, Singapore 11.2%, Taiwan 7.3%,
China 7.2%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, South Korea 5.9%, Malaysia 4.1%,
Thailand 4.1% (2007)

Poland
Germany 29%, Russia 8.7%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 5.7%,
France 5.1%, China 4.2% (2007)

Portugal
Spain 29.5%, Germany 12.9%, France 8.4%, Italy 5.2%,
Netherlands 4.6% (2007)

Puerto Rico
US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2006)

Qatar
US 13.3%, Italy 10.8%, Japan 8.9%, France 7.9%, Germany 7.3%,
UK 5.7%, South Korea 5.6%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.3% (2007)

Romania
Germany 17.2%, Italy 12.8%, Hungary 6.9%, Russia 6.3%,
France 6.2%, Turkey 5.4%, Austria 4.8% (2007)

Russia
Germany 13.3%, China 12.2%, Ukraine 6.7%, Japan 6.4%, US
4.8%, Belarus 4.4%, South Korea 4.4%, Italy 4.3% (2007)

Rwanda
Kenya 19.6%, Uganda 6.9%, Germany 6.2%, Belgium 5.9%, China
5% (2007)

Saint Helena
UK 53.5%, South Africa 14.3%, Spain 10.3%, Tanzania
8.5%, US 4.6% (2006)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
US 47.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.3%, UK 5.6%
(2007)

Saint Lucia
Brazil 63.6%, US 10.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.2% (2007)

Saint Martin
US, Mexico (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
France 51.3%, Canada 31.8%, Belgium 4.1%
(2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Singapore 15.9%, Trinidad and
Tobago 14.9%, Italy 13.3%, US 13%, China 5% (2007)

Samoa
NZ 22.1%, Fiji 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Australia 7.9%, Japan
6.8%, Indonesia 5.4%, US 5.3% (2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
Portugal 62.2%, US 11.6%, Gabon 4.5% (2007)

Saudi Arabia
US 12.6%, China 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, Japan 8.1%, Italy
5%, South Korea 4.9%, UK 4.5% (2007)

Senegal
France 22.2%, Netherlands 10%, China 7.4%, UK 6.2%, Thailand
5.2%, Belgium 4.5% (2007)

Seychelles
Saudi Arabia 17.6%, Germany 10.8%, France 8.1%, Spain
7.6%, South Africa 6.4%, Singapore 5.8% (2007)

Sierra Leone
Cote d'Ivoire 10%, China 10%, US 9.5%, UK 6.2%,
Netherlands 5.1%, India 4.7% (2007)

Singapore
Malaysia 13.1%, US 12.5%, China 12.1%, Japan 8.2%, Taiwan
5.9%, Indonesia 5.6%, South Korea 4.9% (2007)

Slovakia
Germany 22.1%, Czech Republic 17.3%, Russia 9.2%, Hungary
6.7%, Austria 5.1%, Poland 4.9%, South Korea 4.7% (2007)

Slovenia
Germany 18.1%, Italy 17.1%, Austria 11.7%, France 5%,
Croatia 4.6% (2007)

Solomon Islands
Singapore 28.2%, Australia 25.4%, Japan 4.6%, NZ
4.5%, Fiji 4% (2007)

Somalia
Djibouti 34.4%, India 9.1%, Kenya 9%, Oman 6%, UAE 5.6%,
Yemen 5.5% (2007)

South Africa
Germany 10.9%, China 10%, Spain 8.2%, US 7.2%, Japan
6.1%, UK 4.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.2% (2007)

Spain
Germany 15.7%, France 12.7%, Italy 8.4%, China 5.8%, UK 4.8%,
Netherlands 4.6% (2007)

Sri Lanka
India 23.1%, Singapore 9.9%, China 8.2%, Iran 7.5%, Hong
Kong 6.4% (2007)

Sudan
China 27.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, India 6.3%, Egypt 5.6%, UAE
5.5%, Japan 4.2% (2007)

Suriname
US 27%, Netherlands 17.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.3%, China
5.9%, Japan 5.1% (2007)

Swaziland
South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9% (2006)

Sweden
Germany 18.4%, Denmark 9.2%, Norway 8.3%, UK 6.8%, Finland
6.1%, Netherlands 5.8%, France 5%, China 4.3%, Belgium 4.1% (2007)

Switzerland
Germany 32.6%, Italy 10.8%, France 9.5%, US 5.8%,
Netherlands 4.6%, Austria 4.2%, UK 4.2% (2007)

Syria
Saudi Arabia 12%, China 8.7%, Egypt 6.2%, Italy 6%, UAE 5.9%,
Ukraine 4.8%, Russia 4.8%, Germany 4.7%, Iran 4.3% (2007)

Taiwan
Japan 22.7%, US 13.3%, China 11.2%, South Korea 6.6%, Saudi
Arabia 4.8%, Singapore 4.6% (2007)

Tajikistan
Russia 32.1%, Kazakhstan 13.1%, China 10.8%, Uzbekistan
8.4% (2007)

Tanzania
China 12%, Kenya 8%, South Africa 7.7%, India 6.9%, UAE
5.9% (2007)

Thailand
Japan 20.3%, China 11.6%, US 6.8%, Malaysia 6.2%, UAE 4.9%,
Singapore 4.5%, Taiwan 4.1% (2007)

Togo
China 36.3%, Estonia 9.6%, US 7.6%, Netherlands 7.3%, France 7%
(2007)

Tokelau
New Zealand (2006)

Tonga
Fiji 32.5%, NZ 27.5%, US 9%, Australia 7.4%, China 5% (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
US 28.2%, Brazil 11%, Venezuela 8.2%, Colombia
5.4%, Gabon 4.9%, China 4.2% (2007)

Tunisia
France 23.8%, Italy 21.9%, Germany 9.7%, Spain 5%, Libya
4.4% (2007)

Turkey
Russia 13.8%, Germany 10.3%, China 7.8%, Italy 5.9%, US 4.8%,
France 4.6% (2007)

Turkmenistan
UAE 14.3%, Russia 11.6%, Turkey 10.3%, China 9.1%,
Ukraine 8.7%, Iran 7%, Germany 6.5%, US 5.6% (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
US, UK (2006)

Tuvalu
Fiji 46.1%, Japan 18.9%, China 18.2%, Australia 7.7%, NZ 4.1%
(2006)

Uganda
Kenya 31.8%, China 7.8%, UAE 7.7%, South Africa 5.9%, India
5.2%, Japan 4.8% (2007)

Ukraine
Russia 23.9%, Germany 11.8%, China 8.5%, Poland 8.1%,
Turkmenistan 5.4% (2007)

United Arab Emirates
China 12.8%, India 10%, US 8.7%, Japan 6.1%,
Germany 5.9%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.6% (2007)

United Kingdom
Germany 14.2%, US 8.6%, China 7.3%, Netherlands 7.3%,
France 6.9%, Belgium 4.7%, Norway 4.7%, Italy 4.2% (2007)

United States
China 16.9%, Canada 15.7%, Mexico 10.6%, Japan 7.4%,
Germany 4.8% (2007)

Uruguay
Brazil 19.1%, Argentina 17.9%, US 9.5%, China 9.1%, Paraguay
7.7%, Nigeria 4.7% (2007)

Uzbekistan
Russia 30.1%, China 13.3%, South Korea 13%, Germany 6.3%,
Kazakhstan 6.2%, Ukraine 4% (2007)

Vanuatu
Australia 20.7%, Singapore 11.8%, NZ 11.2%, Norway 8.5%, US
8.3%, Fiji 8.1%, China 7.2%, New Caledonia 4.5% (2007)

Venezuela
US 26.6%, Colombia 13.5%, Brazil 9.5%, China 6.7%, Mexico
5.2%, Panama 5% (2007)

Vietnam
China 19.9%, Singapore 12.1%, Taiwan 11%, Japan 9.9%, South
Korea 8.5%, Thailand 6% (2007)

Virgin Islands
US, Puerto Rico (2006)

Wallis and Futuna
France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2006)

West Bank
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006)

Western Sahara
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so
trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)

World
China 10.7%, Germany 9.23%, US 8.28%, Japan 5.14%, France
3.99% (2007)

Yemen
UAE 15.1%, China 11.6%, US 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 7.1%, Kuwait
5.3%, Germany 4.8% (2007)

Zambia
South Africa 47.4%, UAE 6.3%, China 6%, India 4.1%, UK 4%
(2007)

Zimbabwe
South Africa 50.7%, China 8.4%, US 4.5%, Botswana 4.3%
(2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2062 Economic aid - donor

Australia
ODA, $2.123 billion (2006)

Austria
ODA, $1.498 billion (2006)

Belgium
ODA, $1.978 billion (2006)

Canada
ODA, $3.9 billion (2007)

Cyprus
$25.9 million (2006)

Denmark
ODA, $2.236 billion (2006)

Finland
ODA, $1.023 billion (2007)

France
ODA, $10.6 billion (2006)

Germany
ODA, $10.44 billion (2006)

Greece
$424 million (2006)

Iceland
$6.7 million (2004)

Ireland
ODA, $1.022 billion (2006)

Italy
ODA, $3.641 billion (2006)

Japan
ODA, $11.19 billion (2006)

Korea, South
ODA, $455.3 million (2006)

Luxembourg
ODA, $291 million (2006)

Netherlands
ODA, $5.452 billion (2006)

New Zealand
ODA, $259 million (2006)

Norway
ODA, $2.954 billion (2006)

Portugal
ODA, $396 million (2006)

Saudi Arabia
since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480
million in budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, supported
Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and
Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab League
funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance
over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007;
pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1
billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133
million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and
$153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief;
pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and
deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an
additional $1.1 billion in early 2007

Spain
ODA, $3.814 billion (2006)

Sweden
ODA, $3.955 billion (2006)

Switzerland
ODA, $1.646 billion (2006)

United Arab Emirates
since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund
for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries
(2004)

United Kingdom
ODA, $12.46 billion (2006)

United States
ODA, $23.53 billion (2006)

This page was last updated on 13 November 2008

======================================================================

@2063 Constitution

Afghanistan
new constitution drafted 14 December 2003-4 January
2004; signed 16 January 2004

Akrotiri
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in
Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960, functions as a basic legal
document

Albania
adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998;
promulgated 28 November 1998

Algeria
8 September 1963; revised 19 November 1976, effective 22
November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, 28
November 1996, and 12 November 2008

American Samoa
ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967

Andorra
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991,
approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993

Angola
adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992

Anguilla
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Antigua and Barbuda
1 November 1981

Argentina
1 May 1853; amended many times starting in 1860

Armenia
adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments
adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

Aruba
1 January 1986

Australia
9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Austria
1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; note - during the
period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative)
constitution in place

Azerbaijan
adopted 12 November 1995

Bahamas, The
10 July 1973

Bahrain
adopted 14 February 2002

Bangladesh
4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972; suspended
following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986; amended
many times

Barbados
30 November 1966

Belarus
15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November
1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became
effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing
presidential term limits

Belgium
7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to
create a federal state

Belize
21 September 1981

Benin
adopted by referendum 2 December 1990

Bermuda
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003

Bhutan
ratified 23 July 2008

Bolivia
2 February 1967; revised in August 1994; possible referendum
on new constitution to be held in 2008

Bosnia and Herzegovina
the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995
in Paris, included a new constitution now in force; note - each of
the entities also has its own constitution

Botswana
March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Brazil
5 October 1988

British Virgin Islands
13 June 2007

Brunei
29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of
Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1
January 1984)

Bulgaria
adopted 12 July 1991

Burkina Faso
2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991
formally adopted; last amended January 2002

Burma
30 May 2008

Burundi
28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum

Cambodia
promulgated 21 September 1993

Cameroon
20 May 1972 approved by referendum, adopted 2 June 1972;
revised January 1996

Canada
made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial
decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution
consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a
federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April
1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from
Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments

Cape Verde
25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995
substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision
created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)

Cayman Islands
1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994

Central African Republic
ratified by popular referendum 5 December
2004; effective 27 December 2004

Chad
passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum
removed constitutional term limits

Chile
11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989,
1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

China
most recent promulgation 4 December 1982

Christmas Island
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as
amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23
November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

Colombia
5 July 1991; amended many times

Comoros
23 December 2001

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
18 February 2006

Congo, Republic of the
approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Cook Islands
4 August 1965

Costa Rica
7 November 1949

Cote d'Ivoire
approved by referendum 23 July 2000

Croatia
adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

Cuba
24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002

Cyprus
16 August 1960
note: from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer
participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for
a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974
Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC)" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence
in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5
May 1985, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any country
other than Turkey

Czech Republic
ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

Denmark
5 June 1953 constitution allowed for a unicameral
legislature and a female chief of state

Dhekelia
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in
Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960, functions as a basic legal
document

Djibouti
multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September
1992

Dominica
3 November 1978

Dominican Republic
28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002

Ecuador
10 August 1998

Egypt
11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26
March 2007

El Salvador
20 December 1983

Equatorial Guinea
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991;
amended January 1995

Eritrea
a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was
replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet
implemented

Estonia
adopted 28 June 1992

Ethiopia
ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995

European Union
based on a series of treaties: the Treaty of Paris,
which set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951;
the Treaties of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community
(EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957;
the Single European Act in 1986; the Treaty on European Union
(Maastricht) in 1992; the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997; and the
Treaty of Nice in 2003; note - a new draft Constitutional Treaty,
signed on 29 October 2004 in Rome, gave member states two years for
ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum
before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006; defeat in
French and Dutch referenda in May-June 2005 dealt a severe setback
to the ratification process; in June 2007, the European Council
agreed on a clear and concise mandate for an Intergovernmental
Conference to form a political agreement and put it into legal form;
this agreement, known as the Reform Treaty, would have served as a
constitution and was presented to the European Council in October
2007 for individual country ratification; it was rejected by Irish
voters in June 2008, again stalling the ratification process

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Faroe Islands
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Fiji
enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make
multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

Finland
1 March 2000

France
adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October
1958
note: amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to
comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1997 Amsterdam
Treaty, 2003 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in
1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to
a five-year term; amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional
treaty compatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that
the decision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by
referendum

French Polynesia
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Gabon
adopted 14 March 1991

Gambia, The
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective
16 January 1997

Georgia
adopted 24 August 1995

Germany
23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the
united Germany 3 October 1990

Ghana
approved 28 April 1992

Gibraltar
5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007

Greece
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

Greenland
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Grenada
19 December 1973

Guam
Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950

Guatemala
31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended
25 May 1993 by former President Jorge SERRANO; reinstated 5 June
1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993

Guernsey
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Guinea
23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Guinea-Bissau
16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26
February 1993, 9 June 1993, and in 1996

Guyana
6 October 1980

Haiti
approved March 1987; suspended June 1988 with most articles
reinstated March 1989; constitutional government ousted in a
military coup in September 1991, although in October 1991, military
government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to
constitutional rule in October 1994; constitution, while technically
in force between 2004-2006, was not enforced; returned to
constitutional rule in May 2006

Holy See (Vatican City)
new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN
PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces
the first Fundamental Law of 1929)

Honduras
11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many
times

Hong Kong
Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National
People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"

Hungary
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April
1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals
and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and
also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997
amendment streamlined the judicial system

Iceland
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times

India
26 January 1950; amended many times

Indonesia
August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and
Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959; series of
amendments concluded in 2002

Iran
2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the
presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Iraq
ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the
Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum )

Ireland
adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Isle of Man
unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of
1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution

Israel
no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),
the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli
citizenship law; note - since May 2003 the Constitution, Law, and
Justice Committee of the Knesset has been working on a draft
constitution

Italy
passed 11 December 1947, effective 1 January 1948; amended
many times

Jamaica
6 August 1962

Japan
3 May 1947

Jersey
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Jordan
1 January 1952; amended many times

Kazakhstan
first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January
1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995

Kenya
12 December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with
amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2001; note - a
new draft constitution was defeated by popular referendum in 2005

Kiribati
12 July 1979

Korea, North
adopted 1948; completely revised 27 December 1972,
revised again in April 1992, and September 1998

Korea, South
17 July 1948; note - amended or rewritten nine times;
current constitution approved on 29 October 1987

Kosovo
ratified 9 April 2008; effective 15 June 2008

Kuwait
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Kyrgyzstan
adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by
President Askar AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2
February 2003 significantly expanded the powers of the president at
the expense of the legislature; during large-scale demonstrations in
November 2006, President BAKIEV and the opposition negotiated a new
constitution granting greater powers to the parliament and the
government; amendments added on 30 December 2006 redistributed some
power back to the president, but both November and December 2006
versions were annulled in September 2007, and a new version was
approved by referendum on 21 October 2007; the BAKIEV-initiated
referendum was criticized by Western observers for voting
irregularities, particularly ballot stuffing

Laos
promulgated 14 August 1991

Latvia
15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law
of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21
August 1991; multiple amendments since

Lebanon
23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently
Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of
October 1989

Lesotho
2 April 1993

Liberia
6 January 1986

Libya
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow
of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced
the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in
December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the
Establishment of the People's Authority

Liechtenstein
5 October 1921

Lithuania
adopted 25 October 1992

Luxembourg
17 October 1868; occasional revisions

Macau
Basic Law, approved on 31 March 1993 by China's National
People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Macedonia
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991;
amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments
strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to
the judiciary

Madagascar
19 August 1992 by national referendum

Malawi
18 May 1994

Malaysia
31 August 1957 (amended many times, latest in 2007)

Maldives
new constitution ratified 7 August 2008

Mali
adopted 12 January 1992

Malta
1964 constitution; amended many times

Marshall Islands
1 May 1979

Mauritania
12 July 1991

Mauritius
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Mayotte
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Mexico
5 February 1917

Micronesia, Federated States of
10 May 1979

Moldova
new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August
1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979

Monaco
17 December 1962

Mongolia
12 February 1992

Montenegro
19 October 2007 (approved by the Assembly)

Montserrat
effective 19 December 1989

Morocco
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create
bicameral legislature) September 1996

Mozambique
30 November 1990

Namibia
ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990

Nauru
29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968 (Constitution Day)

Nepal
9 November 1990; note - a new interim constitution was
promulgated in January 2007; the November 2006 peace agreement calls
for the election of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new permanent
constitution

Netherlands
adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002

Netherlands Antilles
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
Netherlands, as amended

New Caledonia
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

New Zealand
consists of a series of legal documents, including
certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The
Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter;
adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987

Nicaragua
9 January 1987; reforms in 1995, 2000, and 2005

Niger
new constitution adopted 18 July 1999

Nigeria
new constitution adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999

Niue
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island Act of 1979, as amended in 2005

Northern Mariana Islands
Constitution of the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant
Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986

Norway
17 May 1814; amended many times

Oman
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal
decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a
constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal
succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from
holding interests in companies doing business with the government,
establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil
liberties for Omani citizens

Pakistan
12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored 30 December
1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored in stages in 2002; amended
31 December 2003; suspended 3 November 2007; restored on 15 December
2007

Palau
1 January 1981

Panama
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and
2004

Papua New Guinea
16 September 1975

Paraguay
promulgated 20 June 1992

Peru
29 December 1993

Philippines
2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Pitcairn Islands
30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional
reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance
of 1964

Poland
adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by
national referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997

Portugal
adopted 2 April 1976; note - subsequent revisions of the
Constitution placed the military under strict civilian control,
trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a
stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; as well, they allowed for the
privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned
communications media

Puerto Rico
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July
1952; effective 25 July 1952

Qatar
ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by
the Amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Romania
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Russia
adopted 12 December 1993

Rwanda
new constitution passed by referendum 26 May 2003

Saint Barthelemy
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Saint Helena
1 January 1989

Saint Kitts and Nevis
19 September 1983

Saint Lucia
22 February 1979

Saint Martin
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
27 October 1979

Samoa
1 January 1962

San Marino
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the
functions of a constitution

Sao Tome and Principe
approved March 1990, effective 10 September
1990

Saudi Arabia
governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was
promulgated by royal decree in 1992

Senegal
adopted 7 January 2001

Serbia
adopted 8 November 2006; effective 10 November 2006

Seychelles
18 June 1993

Sierra Leone
1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Singapore
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State
of Singapore Constitution)

Slovakia
ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993;
changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president;
amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU
membership

Slovenia
adopted 23 December 1991

Solomon Islands
7 July 1978

Somalia
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as
the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

South Africa
10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified
by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then
President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 4
February 1997

Spain
approved by legislature 31 October 1978; passed by referendum
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Sri Lanka
adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

Sudan
constitution implemented on 30 June 1998, partially suspended
12 December 1999 by President BASHIR; under the CPA, Interim
National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution of Southern
Sudan signed December 2005

Suriname
ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987

Swaziland
signed by the King in July 2005 went into effect on 8
February 2006

Sweden
1 January 1975

Switzerland
revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal
Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999,
officially entered into force 1 January 2000

Syria
13 March 1973

Taiwan
25 December 1947; amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000,
2005
note: constitution adopted on 25 December 1946; went into effect on
25 December 1947

Tajikistan
6 November 1994

Tanzania
25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Thailand
constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL) on 24
August 2007

Timor-Leste
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Togo
multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the
Republic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Tokelau
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended
in 1970

Tonga
4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

Trinidad and Tobago
1 August 1976

Tunisia
1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

Turkey
7 November 1982

Turkmenistan
adopted 18 May 1992

Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order
2006 (effective 9 August 2006)

Tuvalu
1 October 1978

Uganda
8 October 1995; in 2005 the constitution was amended removing
presidential term limits and legalizing a multiparty political system

Ukraine
adopted 28 June 1996

United Arab Emirates
2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996

United Kingdom
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

United States
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Uruguay
27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27
June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980;
two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989
and 7 January 1997

Uzbekistan
adopted 8 December 1992

Vanuatu
30 July 1980

Venezuela
30 December 1999

Vietnam
15 April 1992

Virgin Islands
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Wallis and Futuna
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Yemen
16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

Zambia
24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential
term limits

Zimbabwe
21 December 1979

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2064 Economic aid - recipient

Afghanistan $2.775 billion (2005)

Albania ODA: $318.7 million note: top donors were Italy, EU, Germany (2005 est.)

Algeria
$370.6 million (2005 est.)

American Samoa
important financial support from the US, more than
$40 million in 1994

Andorra
$0

Angola
$441.8 million (2005)

Anguilla
$9 million (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
$7.23 million (2005)

Argentina
$99.66 million (2005)

Armenia
ODA, $180 million (2007)

Aruba
$11.3 million (2004)

Azerbaijan
ODA, $223.4 million (2005 est.)

Bahamas, The
$4.78 million (2004)

Bahrain
$103.9 million (2004)

Bangladesh
$1.321 billion (2005)

Barbados
$2.07 million (2005)

Belarus
$53.76 million (2005)

Belize
$12.91 million (2005)

Benin
$374.7 million (2006)

Bermuda
$90,000 (2004)

Bhutan
$941.2 million; note - substantial aid from India (2006)

Bolivia
$582.9 million (2005 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$546.1 million (2005 est.)

Botswana
$70.89 million (2005)

Brazil
$191.9 million (2005)

British Virgin Islands
$NA

Brunei
$770,000 (2004)

Bulgaria
$742 million (2005-06 est.)

Burkina Faso
$659.6 million (2005)

Burma
$144.7 million (2005 est.)

Burundi
$365 million (2005)

Cambodia
$698.2 million pledged in grants and concession loans for
2007 by international donors (2007)

Cameroon
$413.8 million (2005)

Cape Verde
$160.6 million (2005)

Cayman Islands
$390,000 (2004)

Central African Republic
ODA, $95.29 million; note - traditional
budget subsidies from France (2005 est.)

Chad
ODA, $379.8 million (2005)

Chile
$0 (2006)

China
$1.641 billion (FY07)

Christmas Island
$NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
$NA

Colombia
$511.1 million (2005)

Comoros
$25.23 million (2005 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$1.828 billion (2005)

Congo, Republic of the
$1.449 billion (2005)

Cook Islands
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish
the greater part (1995)

Costa Rica
$29.51 million (2005)

Cote d'Ivoire
ODA, $60 million (2007 est.)

Croatia
ODA, $125.4 million (2005)

Cuba
$87.8 million (2005 est.)

Cyprus
$15 million (2006)

Czech Republic
$278.7 million in available EU structural adjustment
and cohesion funds (2004)

Djibouti
$78.6 million (2005)

Dominica
$15.17 million (2005 est.)

Dominican Republic
$76.99 million (2005)

Ecuador
$209.5 million (2005)

Egypt
ODA, $925.9 million (2005)

El Salvador
$267.6 million of which $55 million from US (2005)

Equatorial Guinea
$39 million (2005)

Eritrea
$355.2 million (2005)

Estonia
$135.5 million (2004)

Ethiopia
$1.6 billion (FY05/06)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$0 (1997 est.)

Faroe Islands
$105 million; note - annual subsidy from Denmark (2005)

Fiji
$63.96 million (2005)

French Polynesia
$579.8 million (2004)

Gabon
$53.87 million (2005)

Gambia, The
$58.15 million (2005)

Gaza Strip
$1.4 billion; (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Georgia
ODA, $309.8 million (2005 est.)

Ghana
$1.316 billion in loans and grants (2007)

Gibraltar
$NA

Greece
$8 billion annually from EU (2000-06); Greece will receive
about $3.8 billion per year between 2007-13 under the EU's Community
Support Funds IV

Greenland
$512 million; note - subsidy from Denmark (2005)

Grenada
$44.87 million (2005)

Guam
Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal
Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under
the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury,
rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by
military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam (2001 est.)

Guatemala
$253.6 million (2005 est.)

Guernsey
$NA

Guinea
$182.1 million (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
$79.12 million (2005)

Guyana
$136.8 million (2005)

Haiti
$515 million (2005 est.)

Honduras
$680.8 million (2005)

Hong Kong
$6.95 million (2004)

Hungary
$302.6 million (2004)

India
$1.724 billion (2005)

Indonesia
ODA, $2.524 billion (2006 est.)
note: Indonesia ended 2006 with $67 billion in official foreign debt
(about 25% of GDP), with Japan ($25 billion), the World Bank ($8.5
billion) and the Asian Development Bank ($8.4 billion) as the
largest creditors; about $6 billion in grant assistance was pledged
to rebuild Aceh after the December 2004 tsunami; President YUDHOYONO
disbanded the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) donor forum in
January 2007

Iran
$104 million (2005 est.)

Iraq
$21.65 billion (2005)

Isle of Man
$NA

Israel
$240 million from US (FY06)

Jamaica
$35.74 million (2005)

Jordan
ODA, $752 million (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
$229.2 million (2005)

Kenya
$768.3 million (2005)

Kiribati
$27.84 million largely from UK and Japan (2005)

Korea, North
$372 million
note: approximately 65,000 metric tons in food aid through the World
Food Program appeals in 2007, plus additional aid from bilateral
donors and non-governmental organizations (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$68.07 million (2004)

Kosovo
$324 million (2007)

Kuwait
$2.6 million (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
$268.5 million from the US (2005)

Laos
$379 million (2006 est.)

Latvia
$162 million (2004)

Lebanon
of the $7.6 billion in grants and loans pledged to Lebanon
at the Paris III conference in January 2007, Beirut as of
mid-December 2007 had signed agreements for $3 billion, including $1
billion in project financing, $750 million in direct budget support,
$750 million in private sector credit, and $285 million in in-kind
aid; about $500 million of the $1.7 billion pledged for direct
budget support has been disbursed to Lebanon; donors in August 2006
also pledged nearly $1.8 billion in aid to help Lebanon recover from
the 2006 Israel-Hizballah war; during the conflict, Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait provided $1.5 billion in concessional loans to the Lebanese
central bank to maintain confidence in the Lebanese currency. (2005)

Lesotho
$68.82 million (2005)

Liberia
$236.2 million (2005)

Libya
ODA, $24.44 million (2005 est.)

Lithuania
$249.7 million (2004)

Macau
$13.7 million (2004)

Macedonia
$230.3 million (2005)

Madagascar
$929.2 million (2005)

Malawi
$575.3 million (2005)

Malaysia
$31.6 million (2005)

Maldives
$66.83 million (2005)

Mali
$691.5 million (2005)

Malta
$6.19 million (2004)

Marshall Islands
$56.56 million (2005)

Mauritania
$190.4 million (2005)

Mauritius
$31.93 million (2005)

Mayotte
$201.3 million; note - extensive French financial assistance
(2005)

Mexico
$189.4 million (2005)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$106.4 million (2005)

Moldova
$191.8 million (2005)

Monaco
$NA

Mongolia
$159.5 million (2006)

Montenegro
$NA

Montserrat
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for
spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)

Morocco
ODA, $651.8 million (2005)

Mozambique
$1.286 billion (2005)

Namibia
ODA, $123.4 million (2005 est.)

Nauru
$20 million mostly from Australia (2005)

Nepal
$427.9 million (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
$21.32 million (2004)

New Caledonia
$524.3 million annual subsidy from France (2004)

Nicaragua
$471 million (2006 est.)

Niger
$515.4 million (2005)

Nigeria
$6.437 billion (2005)

Niue
$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Norfolk Island
$NA

Northern Mariana Islands
extensive funding from US

Oman
$30.68 million (2005)

Pakistan
$1.666 billion (2005)

Palau
$23.46 million (2005)

Panama
$19.54 million (2005)

Papua New Guinea
$266.1 million (2005)

Paraguay
$51.09 million (2005)

Peru
$397.8 million (2005)

Philippines
ODA, $451.4 million in commitments (2006)

Pitcairn Islands
$3.465 million (2004)

Poland
$1.524 billion in available EU structural adjustment and
cohesion funds (2004)

Puerto Rico
$NA

Qatar
$2.18 million (2004)

Romania
$914.3 million (2004)

Russia
$982.7 million in FY06 from US, including $847 million in
non-proliferation subsidies

Rwanda
$576 million (2005)

Saint Helena
$29.56 million obtained in a grant from the United
Kingdom (FY06/07)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$3.52 million (2005)

Saint Lucia
$11.06 million (2005)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
approximately $60 million in annual grants
from France

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$4.89 million (1995); note - EU
$34.5 million (2005)

Samoa
$43.95 million (2005)

San Marino
$NA

Sao Tome and Principe
$31.9 million in December 2000 under the
Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) program (2005)

Saudi Arabia
$26.29 million (2005)

Senegal
$477 million (2007 est.)

Serbia
$2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro
(disbursements to follow over several years; some aid pledged by EU
and US has been placed on hold because of lack of cooperation by
Serbia in handing over General Ratko MLADIC to the criminal court in
The Hague)

Seychelles
$18.81 million (2005)

Sierra Leone
$343.4 million (2005 est.)

Singapore
$0 (2007)

Slovakia
$235 million in available EU structural adjustment and
cohesion funds (2004)

Slovenia
ODA, $484 million (2004-06)

Solomon Islands
$198.2 million annually, mainly from Australia (2005
est.)

Somalia
$236.4 million (2005 est.)

South Africa
$700 million (2005)

Sri Lanka
$1.189 billion (2005)

Sudan
$1.829 billion (2005)

Suriname
$43.97 million (2005)

Svalbard
$8.2 million from Norway (1998)

Swaziland
$46.03 million (2005)

Syria
$213 million (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
$241.4 million from US (2005)

Tanzania
$1.505 billion (2005)

Thailand
$171.1 million (2005)

Timor-Leste
$184.7 million (2005 est.)

Togo
ODA, $86.71 million (2005 est.)

Tonga
$31.75 million (2005)

Trinidad and Tobago
$200,000 (2007 est.)

Tunisia
$376.5 million (2005)

Turkey
ODA, $464 million (2005)

Turkmenistan
$28.25 million from the US (2005)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$4.1 million (1997)

Tuvalu $10.49 million note: includes distributions from the Tuvalu Trust Fund (2006)

Uganda
$1.198 billion (2005)

Ukraine
$409.6 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2
billion (2005)

United Arab Emirates
$5.36 million (2004)

Uruguay
$14.62 million (2005)

Uzbekistan
$172.3 million from the US (2005)

Vanuatu
$39.48 million (2005)

Venezuela
$48.66 million (2005)

Vietnam
$5.4 billion in credits and grants pledged by the 2007
Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi (2007)

Virgin Islands
$NA

Wallis and Futuna
assistance from France, $NA

West Bank
$1.4 billion; (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
ODA, $106.4 billion (2005)

Yemen
$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)

Zambia
$504 million (2007)

Zimbabwe
$367.7 million (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 13 November 2008

======================================================================

@2065 Currency (code)

Afghanistan
afghani (AFA)

Akrotiri
euro (EUR) adopted 1 January 2008; note - the Cypriot pound
(CYP) formerly used

Albania
lek (ALL)
note: the plural of lek is leke

Algeria
Algerian dinar (DZD)

American Samoa
US dollar (USD)

Andorra
euro (EUR)

Angola
kwanza (AOA)

Anguilla
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Antigua and Barbuda
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Argentina
Argentine peso (ARS)

Armenia
dram (AMD)

Aruba
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Australia
Australian dollar (AUD)

Austria
euro (EUR)

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani manat (AZN)

Bahamas, The
Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Bahrain
Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Bangladesh
taka (BDT)

Barbados
Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Belarus
Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)

Belgium
euro (EUR)

Belize
Belizean dollar (BZD)

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

Bermuda
Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Bhutan
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

Bolivia
boliviano (BOB)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) (BAM)

Botswana
pula (BWP)

Brazil
real (BRL)

British Indian Ocean Territory
US Dollar (USD)

British Virgin Islands
US dollar (USD)

Brunei
Bruneian dollar (BND)

Bulgaria
lev (BGN)

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

Burma
kyat (MMK)

Burundi
Burundi franc (BIF)

Cambodia
riel (KHR)

Cameroon
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Canada
Canadian dollar (CAD)

Cape Verde
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Cayman Islands
Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Central African Republic
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central
African States

Chad
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Chile
Chilean peso (CLP)

China
Renminbi (RMB); note - also referred to by the unit yuan (CNY)

Christmas Island
Australian dollar (AUD)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Australian dollar (AUD)

Colombia
Colombian peso (COP)

Comoros
Comoran franc (KMF)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congolese franc (CDF)

Congo, Republic of the
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF);
note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African
States

Cook Islands
NZ dollar (NZD)

Costa Rica
Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Cote d'Ivoire
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note -
responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Croatia
kuna (HRK)

Cuba
Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)

Cyprus
Cypriot pound (CYP); euro (EUR) after 1 January 2008

Czech Republic
Czech koruna (CZK)

Denmark
Danish krone (DKK)

Dhekelia
euro (EUR) adopted 1 January 2008; note - the Cypriot pound
(CYP) formerly used

Djibouti
Djiboutian franc (DJF)

Dominica
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Dominican Republic
Dominican peso (DOP)

Ecuador
US dollar (USD)

Egypt
Egyptian pound (EGP)

El Salvador
US dollar (USD)

Equatorial Guinea
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note
- responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Eritrea
nakfa (ERN)

Estonia
Estonian kroon (EEK)

Ethiopia
birr (ETB)

European Union
euro, British pound, Bulgarian lev, Czech koruna,
Danish krone, Estonian kroon, Hungarian forint, Latvian lat,
Lithuanian litas, Polish zloty, Romanian leu, Slovak koruna, Swedish
krona

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Falkland pound (FKP)

Faroe Islands
Danish krone (DKK)

Fiji
Fijian dollar (FJD)

Finland
euro (EUR)

France
euro (EUR)

French Polynesia
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Gabon
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Gambia, The
dalasi (GMD)

Gaza Strip
new Israeli shekel (ILS)

Georgia
lari (GEL)

Germany
euro (EUR)

Ghana
Ghana cedi (GHC)

Gibraltar
Gibraltar pound (GIP)

Greece
euro (EUR)

Greenland
Danish krone (DKK)

Grenada
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Guam
US dollar (USD)

Guatemala
quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed

Guernsey
Guernsey pound
note: the British pound is also legal tender

Guinea
Guinean franc (GNF)

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

Guyana
Guyanese dollar (GYD)

Haiti
gourde (HTG)

Holy See (Vatican City)
euro (EUR)

Honduras
lempira (HNL)

Hong Kong
Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Hungary
forint (HUF)

Iceland
Icelandic krona (ISK)

India
Indian rupee (INR)

Indonesia
Indonesian rupiah (IDR)

Iran
Iranian rial (IRR)

Iraq
New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004

Ireland
euro (EUR)

Isle of Man
Isle of Man pound (IMP), also known as the Manx pound
note: the British pound is also legal tender, but change is given in
IMP

Israel
new Israeli shekel (ILS); note - NIS is the currency
abbreviation; ILS is the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) code for the NIS

Italy
euro (EUR)

Jamaica
Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Japan
yen (JPY)

Jersey
Jersey pound
note: the British pound is also legal tender

Jordan
Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Kazakhstan
tenge (KZT)

Kenya
Kenyan shilling (KES)

Kiribati
Australian dollar (AUD)

Korea, North
North Korean won (KPW)

Korea, South
South Korean won (KRW)

Kosovo
euro (EUR); Serbian Dinar (RSD) is also in circulation

Kuwait
Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Kyrgyzstan
som (KGS)

Laos
kip (LAK)

Latvia
lat (LVL)

Lebanon
Lebanese pound (LBP)

Lesotho
loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)

Liberia
Liberian dollar (LRD)

Libya
Libyan dinar (LYD)

Liechtenstein
Swiss franc (CHF)

Lithuania
litas (LTL)

Luxembourg
euro (EUR)

Macau
pataca (MOP)

Macedonia
Macedonian denar (MKD)

Madagascar
ariary (MGA)

Malawi
Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Malaysia
ringgit (MYR)

Maldives
rufiyaa (MVR)

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

Malta
euro (EUR) as of 1 January 2008; Maltese lira (MTL) before then

Marshall Islands
US dollar (USD)

Mauritania
ouguiya (MRO)

Mauritius
Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Mayotte
euro (EUR)

Mexico
Mexican peso (MXN)

Micronesia, Federated States of
US dollar (USD)

Moldova
Moldovan leu (MDL)

Monaco
euro (EUR)

Mongolia
togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Montenegro
euro (EUR)

Montserrat
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Morocco
Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Mozambique
metical (MZM)

Namibia
Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)

Nauru
Australian dollar (AUD)

Nepal
Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Netherlands
euro (EUR)

Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

New Caledonia
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

New Zealand
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Nicaragua
gold cordoba (NIO)

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

Nigeria
naira (NGN)

Niue
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Norfolk Island
Australian dollar (AUD)

Northern Mariana Islands
US dollar (USD)

Norway
Norwegian krone (NOK)

Oman
Omani rial (OMR)

Pakistan
Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Palau
US dollar (USD)

Panama
balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Papua New Guinea
kina (PGK)

Paraguay
guarani (PYG)

Peru
nuevo sol (PEN)

Philippines
Philippine peso (PHP)

Pitcairn Islands
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Poland
zloty (PLN)

Portugal
euro (EUR)

Puerto Rico
US dollar (USD)

Qatar
Qatari rial (QAR)

Romania
"new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was
phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000
ROL = 1 RON

Russia
Russian ruble (RUB)

Rwanda
Rwandan franc (RWF)

Saint Barthelemy
euro (EUR); note - US dollar (USD) widely used

Saint Helena
Saint Helenian pound (SHP)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Saint Lucia
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Saint Martin
euro (EUR); note - US dollar (USD) widely used

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
euro (EUR)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Samoa
tala (SAT)

San Marino
euro (EUR)

Sao Tome and Principe
dobra (STD)

Saudi Arabia
Saudi riyal (SAR)

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

Serbia
Serbian dinar (RSD)

Seychelles
Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Sierra Leone
leone (SLL)

Singapore
Singapore dollar (SGD)

Slovakia
Slovak koruna (SKK)

Slovenia
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 2007, the euro became Slovenia's currency; both
the tolar and the euro were in circulation from 1 January until 15
January 2007

Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)

Somalia
Somali shilling (SOS)

South Africa
rand (ZAR)

Spain
euro (EUR)

Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Sudan
Sudanese pounds (SDG)

Suriname
Surinam dollar (SRD)

Svalbard
Norwegian krone (NOK)

Swaziland
lilangeni (SZL)

Sweden
Swedish krona (SEK)

Switzerland
Swiss franc (CHF)

Syria
Syrian pound (SYP)

Taiwan
New Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Tajikistan
somoni (TJS)

Tanzania
Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Thailand
baht (THB)

Timor-Leste
US dollar (USD)

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

Tokelau
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Tonga
pa'anga (TOP)

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Tunisia
Tunisian dinar (TND)

Turkey
Turkish lira (TRY); old Turkish lira (TRL) before 1 January
2005

Turkmenistan
Turkmen manat (TMM)

Turks and Caicos Islands
US dollar (USD)

Tuvalu
Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan
dollar

Uganda
Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Ukraine
hryvnia (UAH)

United Arab Emirates
Emirati dirham (AED)

United Kingdom
British pound (GBP)

United States
US dollar (USD)

Uruguay
Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Uzbekistan
soum (UZS)

Vanuatu
vatu (VUV)

Venezuela
bolivar (VEB)

Vietnam
dong (VND)

Virgin Islands
US dollar (USD)

Wallis and Futuna
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

West Bank
new Israeli shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Western Sahara
Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Yemen
Yemeni rial (YER)

Zambia
Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2066 Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)

Afghanistan
19.56 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Albania
5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Algeria
4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

American Samoa
4.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Andorra
5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Angola
24.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Anguilla
4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Argentina
7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Armenia
8.34 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Aruba
7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Australia
6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Austria
9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bahrain
4.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Barbados
8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belarus
13.92 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belgium
10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belize
5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Benin
9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bermuda
7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bhutan
7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bolivia
7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
8.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Botswana
14.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Brazil
6.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
4.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Brunei
3.28 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
14.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
13.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burma
9.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burundi
12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cambodia
8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cameroon
12.41 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Canada
7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
18.04 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Chad
16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Chile
5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

China
7.03 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Comoros
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 11.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
12.28 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
11.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Croatia
11.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cuba
7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cyprus
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
10.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Denmark
10.25 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Djibouti
19.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Dominica
8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ecuador
4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Egypt
5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

El Salvador
5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Eritrea
8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Estonia
13.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

European Union
10.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Fiji
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Finland
10 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

France
8.48 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
4.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gabon
12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
3.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Georgia
9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Germany
10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ghana
9.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
9.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Greece
10.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Greenland
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Grenada
6.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guam
4.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guatemala
5.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guernsey
10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guinea
11.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
16.05 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guyana
8.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Haiti
10.15 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Honduras
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Hungary
12.99 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iceland
6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

India
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Indonesia
6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iran
5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iraq
5.14 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ireland
7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Israel
5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Italy
10.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jamaica
6.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Japan
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jersey
9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jordan
2.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
9.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kenya
10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kiribati
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Korea, North
7.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Korea, South
5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kuwait
2.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Laos
11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Latvia
13.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lebanon
6.06 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lesotho
22.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Liberia
21.45 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Libya
3.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lithuania
11.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
8.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Macau
3.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Macedonia
8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Madagascar
8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malawi
17.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malaysia
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Maldives
3.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mali
16.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malta
8.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
4.57 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mauritania
11.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mauritius
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mayotte
7.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mexico
4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Moldova
10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Monaco
12.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mongolia
6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Montenegro
8.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Montserrat
8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Morocco
5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mozambique
20.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Namibia
14.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nauru
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nepal
8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Netherlands
8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

New Zealand
7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Niger
20.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nigeria
16.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Niue
NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
2.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Norway
9.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Oman
3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Pakistan
7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Palau
6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Panama
4.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Paraguay
4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Peru
6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Philippines
5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Poland
9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Portugal
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
7.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Qatar
2.47 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Romania
11.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Russia
16.06 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Rwanda
14.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
6.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Samoa
5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

San Marino
8.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
2.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Senegal
10.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Seychelles
6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
22.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Singapore
4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Slovakia
9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Slovenia
10.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Somalia
15.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

South Africa
16.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Spain
9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sudan
13.64 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Suriname
5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Svalbard
NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
30.7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sweden
10.24 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Switzerland
8.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Syria
4.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Taiwan
6.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tanzania
12.92 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Thailand
7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Togo
9.48 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tokelau
NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
10.93 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tunisia
5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turkey
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
6.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uganda
12.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ukraine
15.93 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
2.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
10.05 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United States
8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uruguay
9.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Venezuela
5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Vietnam
6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
3.7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

World
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Yemen
7.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Zambia
21.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
17.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2068 Dependent areas

Australia
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos
(Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald
Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island

France
Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and
Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint
Martin, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia
has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since
1999, a unique status falling between that of an independent country
and a French overseas department

Netherlands
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

New Zealand
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Norway
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

United Kingdom
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,
Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the
South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

United States
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island,
Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa
Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a
political relationship with all four political units: the Northern
Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US
(effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands
signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21
October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact
of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau
concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1
October 1994)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2070 Disputes - international

Afghanistan
Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border
with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to foreign
terrorists and other illegal activities

Albania
the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the
rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the
peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian
groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania,"
but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals; the mass
emigration of unemployed Albanians remains a problem for developed
countries, chiefly Greece and Italy

Algeria
Algeria, and many other states, rejects Moroccan
administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in
Algeria, represents the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; Algeria's
border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each
nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling;
Algeria remains concerned about armed bandits operating throughout
the Sahel who sometimes destabilize southern Algerian towns; dormant
disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected
on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a
claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco

American Samoa
Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American
Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft
independence constitution

Andorra
none

Angola
Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan
exclave from exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006
ceasefire and peace agreement

Anguilla
none

Antarctica
the Antarctic Treaty freezes, and most states do not
recognize, the land and maritime territorial claims made by
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the
United Kingdom (some overlapping) for three-fourths of the
continent; the US and Russia reserve the right to make claims; no
claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150
degrees west; the International Whaling Commission created a
sancturary around the entire continent to deter catches by countries
claiming to conduct scientific whaling; Australia has established a
similar preserve in the waters around its territorial claim

Antigua and Barbuda
none

Arctic Ocean
the littoral states are engaged in various stages of
demonstrating the limits of their continental shelves beyond 200
nautical miles from their declared baselines in accordance with
Article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea; record summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has
restimulated interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor
exploration

Argentina
Argentina continues to assert its claims to the
UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia,
and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly
occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to
seek settlement by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially
overlaps UK and Chilean claims; unruly region at convergence of
Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering,
smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising
for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and
Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim
River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in 2006,
Argentina went to the ICJ to protest, on environmental grounds, the
construction of two pulp mills in Uruguay on the Uruguay River,
which forms the boundary; both parties presented their pleadings in
2007 with Argentina's reply in January and Uruguay's rejoinder in
July 2008; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and
Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited
boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de
Hielo Sur)

Armenia
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in
Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied
16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly
ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia;
about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in
Azerbaijan into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks
transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border
with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic
Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater
autonomy; Armenians continue to emigrate, primarily to Russia,
seeking employment

Aruba
none

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
as the closest Australian territory to
Indonesia, these islands became the target of human traffickers for
the landing of illegal immigrants; in 2001, the Australian
government removed these islands from the Australian Migration Zone
making illegal arrivals ineligible for temporary visas and entry
into Australia

Atlantic Ocean
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

Australia
Timor-Leste and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the
disputed portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split
hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development
Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Timor-Leste
hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia in
the Timor Sea; regional states continue to express concern over
Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime
identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to
Antarctica; in 2004 Australia submitted its claims to Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental
margins covering over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its
seabed roughly thirty percent more than its claimed exclusive
economic zone; since 2003, Australia has led the Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to maintain civil and
political order and reinforce regional security

Austria
while threats of international legal action never
materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the
newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008,
demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the
EU unless Prague closes its nuclear power plant in Temelin,
bordering Austria

Azerbaijan
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in
Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied
16% of Azerbaijan; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were
driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic
Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia
to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute;
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified Caspian seabed
delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to
insist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's
hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue
with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in
the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to
discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Bahamas, The
disagrees with the US on the alignment the northern
axis of a potential maritime boundary; continues to monitor and
interdict drug dealers and Haitian and Cuban refugees in Bahamian
waters

Bahrain
none

Bangladesh
discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small
section of river boundary, exchange territory for 51 small
Bangladeshi exclaves in India and 111 small Indian exclaves in
Bangladesh, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border
trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the
porous border; Bangladesh protests India's fencing and walling off
high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; a joint
Bangladesh-India boundary commission resurveyed and reconstructed 92
missing pillars in 2007; dispute with India over New Moore/South
Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime
boundary delimitation; after 21 years, Bangladesh resumes talks with
Burma on delimiting a maritime boundary

Barbados
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006
Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime
boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and
Tobago's exclusive economic zone; joins other Caribbean states to
counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human
habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental
shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Belarus
Boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania in 2006; 1997
boundary delimitation treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing
border security

Belgium
none

Belize
OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and
Confidence Building Measures saw cooperation in repatriation of
Guatemalan squatters and other areas, but Guatemalan land and
maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea remain unresolved;
the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in
lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting
in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region;
Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its
constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the
Differendum

Benin
in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two
villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005
ICJ decision; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with
Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen
villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival
cross-border gang clashes; talks continue between Benin and Togo on
funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River

Bermuda
none

Bhutan
Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland
separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and
China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment
to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial
cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's
northwest and along the Chumbi salient

Bolivia
Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore
the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile offers
instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile
for Bolivian natural gas and other commodities; an accord placed the
long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on
the Río Mamoré, under Bolivian administration in 1958, but
sovereignty remains in dispute

Bosnia and Herzegovina
sections along the Drina River remain in
dispute between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia; discussions
continue with Croatia on several small disputed sections of the
boundary related to maritime access that hinder final ratification
of the 1999 border agreement

Botswana
Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands
of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and political persecution;
Namibia has long supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections
to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the
Zambezi River at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing
the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary

Bouvet Island
none

Brazil
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay
borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal
narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations;
uncontested boundary dispute with Uruguay over Isla Brasilera at the
confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada rivers, that form a
tripoint with Argentina; the Itaipú Dam reservoir covers over a once
contested section of Brazil-Paraguay boundary west of Guaira Falls
on the Rio Parana; an accord placed the long-disputed Isla
Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré,
under Bolivian administration in 1958, but sovereignty remains in
dispute

British Indian Ocean Territory
Mauritius claims the Chagos
Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants
of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing
chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to
repatriation; in May 2007, the UK Court of Appeals upheld the May
2006 High Court of London judgment reversing the UK government's
2004 Orders of Council that banned habitation on the islands; a
small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006;
repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of
Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in
the chain

British Virgin Islands
none

Brunei
Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their
offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon
exploration, and renounce any territorial claims on land; Brunei
established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa
Reef in the southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public
territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on
the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in
the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of
conduct" desired by several of the disputants

Bulgaria
none

Burkina Faso
in September 2007, Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over
two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from
2005 ICJ decision; in recent years citizens and rogue security
forces rob and harass local populations on both sides of the
poorly-defined Burkina Faso-Niger border; despite the presence of
over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic
conflict continues to spread into neighboring states who can no
longer send their migrant workers to work in Ivorian cocoa
plantations

Burma
over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic
groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries;
Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic refugees, asylum
seekers, and rebels, as well as illegal cross-border activities from
Burma; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing
the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River near the border with Burma;
citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China is
reconsidering construction of 13 dams on the Salween River but
energy-starved Burma with backing from Thailand remains intent on
building five hydro-electric dams downstream, despite identical
regional and international protests; India seeks cooperation from
Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists, such as the United
Liberation Front of Assam, from hiding in remote Burmese Uplands;
after 21 years, Bangladesh resumes talks with Burma on delimiting a
maritime boundary in January 2008

Burundi
Burundi and Rwanda dispute sections of border on the
Akanyaru/Kanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers, which have
changed course since the 1960s, when the boundary was delimited;
cross-border conflicts among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups,
associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government
forces persist in the Great Lakes region

Cambodia
Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with
missing boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into
Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by
unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand
accuses Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah
Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as
part of a planned UN World Heritage site

Cameroon
Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ
ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences,
including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded
sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full
phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008;
Cameroon and Nigeria agree on maritime delimitation in March 2008;
sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an
island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon
have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the
delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and
Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Canada
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon
Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of
Maine including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock;
Canada, the US, and other countries dispute the status of the
Northwest Passage; US works closely with Canada to intensify
security measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal
movement of people, transport, and commodities across the
international border; sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans
Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and
Greenland; commencing the collection of technical evidence for
submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles
from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article
76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea

Cape Verde
none

Cayman Islands
none

Central African Republic
periodic skirmishes over water and grazing
rights among related pastoral populations along the border with
southern Sudan persist

Chad
since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military
have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad;
Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict,
reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry;
Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and
Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify
the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and
Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Chile
Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore
the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered
instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile
to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru's
unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary
with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring
Peru, in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile
to the ICJ; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic
Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; the
joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in
2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the
inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)

China continuing talks and confidence-building measures work toward reducing tensions over Kashmir that nonetheless remains militarized with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, and other matters; China claims most of India's Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes due to cartographic discrepancies; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Seas, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" eased tensions in the Spratly's but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly's and in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; China and Taiwan continue to reject both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared equidistance line in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privations and oppression, by building a fence along portions of the border and imprisoning North Koreans deported by China; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary is expected to be completed by the end of 2008, while the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries agreements in the Gulf of Tonkin, ratified in June 2004, have been implemented; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, remains intent on building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests; Chinese and Hong Kong authorities met in March 2008 to resolve ownership and use of lands recovered in Shenzhen River channelization, including 96-hectare Lok Ma Chau Loop; Hong Kong developing plans to reduce 2,000 out of 2,800 hectares of its restricted Closed Area by 2010

Christmas Island
none

Clipperton Island
none

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none

Colombia
in December 2007, ICJ allocates San Andres, Providencia,
and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but does
not rule on 82°W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua;
managed dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and
paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have
caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries;
Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various
claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank

Comoros
claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's
and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the
Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in
to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels
who seized it in 2001

Congo, Democratic Republic of the heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers; members of Uganda's Lords Resistance Army forces continue to seek refuge in Congo's Garamba National Park as peace talks with the Uganda government evolve; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area; Uganda and DROC dispute Rukwanzi island in Lake Albert and other areas on the Semliki River with hydrocarbon potential; boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda river claimed by Zambia near the DROC village of Pweto

Congo, Republic of the
the location of the boundary in the broad
Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite
except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Cook Islands
none

Coral Sea Islands
none

Costa Rica
the ICJ has given Costa Rica until January 2008 to reply
and Nicaragua until July 2008 to rejoin before rendering its
decision on the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa
Rican vessels on the Río San Juan over which Nicaragua retains
sovereignty

Cote d'Ivoire
despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI)
in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict still leaves displaced
hundreds of thousands of Ivorians in and out of the country as well
as driven out migrants from neighboring states who worked in Ivorian
cocoa plantations; the March 2007 peace deal between Ivorian rebels
and the government brought significant numbers of rebels out of
hiding in neighboring states

Croatia
dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several
small disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access
that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; the
Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would
have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and
several villages to Croatia, remains un-ratified and in dispute;
Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic
zone in the Adriatic; as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia
imposed a hard border Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in
December 2007

Cuba
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease

Cyprus
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto
autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot
Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the
1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in
Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and
south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still
divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis
communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot
Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with
Lebanon in March 2007

Czech Republic
while threats of international legal action never
materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the
popular Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding
that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless
Prague closes its controversial Soviet-style nuclear plant in
Temelin, bordering Austria

Denmark
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that
the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese
continue to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty
dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between
Ellesmere Island and Greenland

Djibouti
Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with
"Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to
various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008
restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link

Dominica
Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge
Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other
island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human
habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Dominican Republic
Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the
Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican
Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find
better work

Ecuador
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate
across Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also
cross to escape the violence in their home country

Egypt
while Sudan retains claim to the Hala'ib Triangle north of the
1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, both states withdrew
their military presence in the 1990s and Egypt has invested in and
effectively administers the area; Egypt no longer shows its
administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps;
Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008
highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border

El Salvador
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the
delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El
Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the
parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS)
survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised
a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of
Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador
continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ
decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca

Equatorial Guinea
in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement
of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf
of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over
an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined
maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final delimitation;
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty
dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a
maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Eritrea
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002
Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision
but, neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the
November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to
Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide
Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six
months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions on its operations and
reduced force of 17,000; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern
Sudanese rebel groups

Estonia
Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border
agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's
appending prepared a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet
occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands better
accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian
citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary
based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now
divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within
Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external
border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with
Russia

Ethiopia
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision,
but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the
November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to
Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide
Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six
months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions on its operations and
reduced force of 17,000; the undemarcated former British
administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to
rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo
region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed
Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland"
secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to
landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered
efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia

European Union
as a political union, the EU has no border disputes
with neighboring countries, but Estonia has no land boundary
agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime
boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime
disputes with Morocco and with the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set
up a Schengen area - consisting of 22 EU member states that have
signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements or
"acquis" (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the
harmonization of border controls in Europe; these agreements became
incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty
of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and
Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the
Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), and Switzerland
since 2008 bringing the total current membership to 25; the UK
(since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in only some aspects
of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal
matters; nine of the 12 new member states that joined the EU since
2004 joined Schengen on 21 December 2007; of the three remaining EU
states, Cyprus is expected to join by 2009, while Romania and
Bulgaria continue to enhance their border security systems

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Argentina, which claims the
islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in
1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK
continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

Faroe Islands
because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources
have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full
independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland
dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf
extends beyond 200 nm

Fiji
none

Finland
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia
and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish
Government asserts no territorial demands

France
Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India,
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros
claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial
dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of
French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica
(Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands,
east of New Caledonia

French Polynesia
none

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
French claim to "Adelie Land" in
Antarctica is not recognized by the US
Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Madagascar
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Mauritius

Gabon
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the
sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser
islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich
Corisco Bay

Gambia, The
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms
smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern
Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west
African states

Gaza Strip
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with
current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement
- permanent status to be determined through further negotiation;
Israel removed settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip
in August 2005

Georgia
Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common
border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime
boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as
the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in
Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a
peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; Meshkheti Turks scattered
throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia;
boundary with Armenia remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups
in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the
Georgian government; Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to discuss the
alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Germany
none

Ghana
Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked
in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Gibraltar
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by
referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the
government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks
between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant
Gibraltar even greater autonomy

Greece
Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their
complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the
Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of
the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of
unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed
countries, chiefly Greece and Italy

Greenland
managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans
Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and
Greenland

Grenada
none

Guam
none

Guatemala
annual ministerial meetings under the OAS-initiated
Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building
Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in
Belize and the Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency created under
the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international
boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests
of Belize's border region; Mexico must deal with thousands of
impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the
porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Guernsey
none

Guinea
conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in
neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in
domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of
the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the
Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued
occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied
since 1998

Guinea-Bissau
in 2006, political instability within Senegal's
Casamance region resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees,
cross-border raids, and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau

Guyana
all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by
Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana
has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims
before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with
Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of
land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute
over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration
under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of
the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Haiti
since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite
efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the
Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
none

Holy See (Vatican City)
none

Honduras
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the
delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El
Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the
parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS)
survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised
a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of
Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El
Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the
ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the
Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its
constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays
should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean
under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum; memorials
and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999
and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over
the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western
Caribbean Sea - final public hearings are scheduled for 2007

Hong Kong
none

Hungary
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working
group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's
failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros
hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the
strict Schengen border rules

Iceland
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that
the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

India
since China and India launched a security and foreign policy
dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute
over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear
proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to
Pakistan, and other matters continue; various talks and
confidence-building measures have cautiously begun to defuse
tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005
earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of
the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with
portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin),
India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern
Areas); India and Pakistan have maintained the 2004 cease fire in
Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in
the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the
highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar
Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the
larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its
tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949;
India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to
China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a
maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of
the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann
of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its
Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; discussions with Bangladesh
remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, to
exchange territory for 51 Bangladeshi exclaves in India and 111
Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, to allocate divided villages, and to
stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of
terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's
attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the border; dispute
with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the
Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; India seeks
cooperation from Bhutan and Burma to keep Indian Nagaland and Assam
separatists from hiding in remote areas along the borders; Joint
Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary
sections, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source
of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to
keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border
activities from Nepal

Indian Ocean
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

Indonesia
Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of
establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of
its neighbors; Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved
all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on
maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the
uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and
alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees from
Timor-Leste who left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse
repatriation; a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled
some parts of their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain;
ICJ's award of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left
the sovereignty of Unarang rock and the maritime boundary in the
Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea in dispute; the ICJ decision
has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a
presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore
continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary
agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam
Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants
create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a
problem in the Malacca Strait; maritime delimitation talks continue
with Palau; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore
Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve
to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain
catches

Iran
Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries
to the Helmand River in periods of drought; Iraq's lack of a
maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the
mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute
Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Iran
stands alone among littoral states in insisting upon a division of
the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors

Iraq
coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and
cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled
the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and
Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey;
Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction
disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf;
Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in
Iraq

Ireland
Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that
the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Isle of Man
none

Israel
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current
status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement -
permanent status to be determined through further negotiation;
Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier
along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel
withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four
settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is
Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan
Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce
Supervision Organization (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem monitor
ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated
incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the
region

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

Jamaica
none

Jan Mayen
none

Japan
the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu,
Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as
the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril
Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by
Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to
signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities;
Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do)
occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both
Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto
(Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic
zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon
prospecting

Jersey
none

Jordan
approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in
Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan; 2004
Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary
delimitation with Kazakhstan; field demarcation of the boundaries
with Turkmenistan commenced in 2005, and with Uzbekistan in 2004;
demarcation is scheduled to get underway with Russia in 2007;
demarcation with China was completed in 2002; creation of a seabed
boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under
discussion; equidistant seabed treaties have been ratified with
Azerbaijan and Russia in the Caspian Sea, but no resolution has been
made on dividing the water column among any of the littoral states

Kenya
Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's
north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to
almost a quarter of a million refugees, including Ugandans who flee
across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's
Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan
and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border,
which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that
separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi
Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times

Kiribati
none

Korea, North
risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of
thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine,
economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China
dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers;
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone
has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents
in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern
Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South
Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks
(Tok-do/Take-shima)

Korea, South
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide
Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953;
periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the
Northern Limiting Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime
boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks
(Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954

Kosovo
Serbia with several other states protest the US and other
states' recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and
independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities
along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of
Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers
under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo
between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in
Kosovo; Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary
in September 2008

Kuwait
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime
boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the
Persian Gulf

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary
delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay
completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km
of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around
enclaves and other areas

Laos
Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to
check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of
demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the
Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's
construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels

Latvia
Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to
Latvian insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration
referencing Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses;
Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in
Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with
Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification
documentation in preparation; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the
strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Lebanon
lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the
boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with
several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a
Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly
2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place
since 1978

Lesotho
none

Liberia
although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance
of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January
2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire,
Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing
turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN
forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict
continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send
their migrant workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban
Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber

Libya
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern
Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a
currently dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou
region reside in southern Libya

Liechtenstein
none

Lithuania
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their
boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty
ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania
operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling
from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still
conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a
non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian
parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with
Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as
of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was
complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation

Luxembourg
none

Macau
none

Macedonia
Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their
boundary in September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of
the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Madagascar
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands,
and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)

Malawi
disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake
Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Malaysia
Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands
together with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the
South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is
not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties;
Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the
national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on
conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands;
disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore,
Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime
boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the
ICJ will hold public hearings in response to the Memorials and
Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over
sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks
and South Ledge; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also
claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime
boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich
Celebes Sea in dispute; separatist violence in Thailand's
predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close
and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities;
Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in
northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to
resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume
hydrocarbon exploration and renounce any territorial claims on land;
piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Maldives
none

Mali
none

Malta
none

Marshall Islands
claims US territory of Wake Island

Mauritania
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

Mauritius
Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered
British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who
reside chiefly in Mauritius; claims French-administered Tromelin
Island

Mayotte
claimed by Comoros

Mexico
abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US
border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing
arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor
and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities
across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of
impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the
porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Micronesia, Federated States of
none

Moldova
Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor
the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision

Monaco
none

Mongolia
none

Montenegro
none

Montserrat
none

Morocco
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty
remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in
effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have
failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals;
Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,
Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de
Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions
have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation,
setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction,
since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of
a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the
primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North
Africa

Mozambique
none

Namibia
concerns from international experts and local populations
over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement
scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa
Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South
Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River;
Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to,
plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi
River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly
delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Nauru
none

Navassa Island
claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

Nepal
joint border commission continues to work on contested
sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer
dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted
a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents
and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese
Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in
southeastern Nepal since 1990

Netherlands
none

Netherlands Antilles
none

New Caledonia
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia
claimed by France and Vanuatu

New Zealand
asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)

Nicaragua
memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties
in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and
Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial
claims in the western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are
scheduled for 2007; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras
advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in
the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific;
legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border
with Costa Rica

Niger
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute
in the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including
tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and
Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify
the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and
Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Nigeria
Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ
ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences,
including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes
sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of
Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues;
the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial
Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but
imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a
sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an
island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in
implementation; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad
Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also
includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Niue
none

Norfolk Island
none

Northern Mariana Islands
none

Norway
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud
Land and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, Russia and Norway
continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and
Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within
the Svalbard Treaty zone

Oman
boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in
2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al
Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made
public

Pacific Ocean
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

Pakistan
various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously
have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the
October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains
the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial
dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China
(Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir
and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and
Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers
since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic
Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained
their 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on
defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan
protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and
construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and
Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the
Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for
discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek
technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary
at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps
continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; by
2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan
refugees leaving slightly more than a million, many of whom remain
at their own choosing; Pakistan has proposed and Afghanistan
protests construction of a fence and laying of mines along portions
of their porous border; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal
areas to monitor and control the border with Afghanistan and to stem
terrorist or other illegal activities

Palau
maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines,
Indonesia

Panama
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate
within the remote border region with Panama

Papua New Guinea
relies on assistance from Australia to keep out
illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including
goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and
secessionists

Paracel Islands
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

Paraguay
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay
borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal
narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Peru
Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral
legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime
boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines
which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia
have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim
to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through
Chile along the Peruvian border

Philippines
Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the
Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands,
also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has
eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally
binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in
March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,
and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant
claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the
Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of
attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime
delimitation negotiations continue with Palau

Pitcairn Islands
none

Poland
as a member state that forms part of the EU's external
border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to
restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders
with Belarus and Ukraine

Portugal
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the
territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the
1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Puerto Rico
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the
Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year
looking for work

Qatar
none

Romania
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and
Romania until June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute
submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor
(Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania
also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the
Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

Russia
China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at
the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance
with the 2004 Agreement, ending their centuries-long border
disputes; the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu,
Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the
"Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kurils,"
occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia,
and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing
a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Russia and
Georgia agree on delimiting all but small, strategic segments of the
land boundary and the maritime boundary; OSCE observers monitor
volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and
the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia
signed equidistance boundaries in the Caspian seabed but the
littoral states have no consensus on dividing the water column;
Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea
and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits
within the Svalbard Treaty zone; various groups in Finland advocate
restoration of Karelia (Kareliya) and other areas ceded to the
Soviet Union following the Second World War but the Finnish
Government asserts no territorial demands; in May 2005, Russia
recalled its signatures to the 1996 border agreements with Estonia
(1996) and Latvia (1997), when the two Baltic states announced
issuance of unilateral declarations referencing Soviet occupation
and ensuing territorial losses; Russia demands better treatment of
ethnic Russians in Estonia and Latvia; Estonian citizen groups
continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920
Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu
people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; Lithuania and
Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance
with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and
by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime
for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave
into Russia, while still conforming, as an EU member state with an
EU external border, where strict Schengen border rules apply;
preparations for the demarcation delimitation of land boundary with
Ukraine have commenced; the dispute over the boundary between Russia
and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains
unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going
expert-level discussions; Kazakhstan and Russia boundary
delimitation was ratified on November 2005 and field demarcation
should commence in 2007; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990
Bering Sea Maritime Boundary Agreement with the US

Rwanda
fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political
rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes
region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a
decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation,
and efforts by local governments to create civil societies;
nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African
states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in
2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional
courts investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda
border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of
the border remains in place

Saint Helena
none

Saint Kitts and Nevis
joins other Caribbean states to counter
Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a
criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its
EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean
Sea

Saint Lucia
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's
claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under
UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf
over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
none

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Samoa
none

San Marino
none

Sao Tome and Principe
none

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled
security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border
with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran

Senegal
The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist
violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their
countries from Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively
accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict;
2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape
armed confrontations along the border

Serbia
Serbia with several other states protest the U.S. and other
states' recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and
independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities
along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of
Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers
under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo
between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in
Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

Seychelles
together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos
Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

Sierra Leone
as domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups,
rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone gradually abate, the number of refugees in
border areas has begun to slowly dwindle; UN Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone
since 1999; Sierra Leone considers excessive Guinea's definition of
the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the
Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation of
these lands including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998

Singapore
disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh
water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works,
bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and
Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public
hearings as a consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials
filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra
Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge;
Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their
1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north
of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca
Strait

Slovakia
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working
group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary
over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros
hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the
strict Schengen border rules

Slovenia
the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement,
which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to
Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in
dispute; Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive
economic zone in the Adriatic; as a member state that forms part of
the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict
Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through
southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with
Croatia

Solomon Islands
since 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to the
Solomon Islands (RAMSI), consisting of police, military, and
civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in
reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while
reinforcing regional stability and security

Somalia
Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed
Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland"
secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera to landlocked
Ethiopia and have established commercial ties with other regional
states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international
support in their secessionist aspirations and overlapping border
claims; the undemarcated former British administrative line has
little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within
Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works
hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from
spreading south across the border, which has long been open to
nomadic pastoralists

South Africa
South Africa has placed military along the border to
apprehend the thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing economic dysfunction
and political persecution; as of January 2007, South Africa also
supports large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (33,000), Somalia (20,000), Burundi
(6,500), and other states in Africa (26,000); managed dispute with
Namibia over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; in
2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of
Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Argentina, which claims
the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force
in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force

Southern Ocean
Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica
entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK
assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in
the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in
extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersea
ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or
maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves
(the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal
claims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and
150 degrees west

Spain
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by
referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared
sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks
between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant
Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over
the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de
Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and
surrounding waters; Morocco serves as the primary launching site of
illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not
recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based
on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and
the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Spratly Islands
all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China,
Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the
Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone
that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has
not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,"
which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code
of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the
Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine
seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

Sri Lanka
none

Sudan
the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel
militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of
the neighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda
provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which
includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by
Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, in
turn, hosted about 116,000 Eritreans, 20,000 Chadians, and smaller
numbers of Ethiopians, Ugandans, Central Africans, and Congolese as
refugees; in February 2006, Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to
repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and 6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses
Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate
the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and
ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan; the boundary that separates Kenya
and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which
Kenya has administered since colonial times; while Sudan claims to
administer the Hala'ib Triangle north of the 1899 Treaty boundary
along the 22nd Parallel; both states withdrew their military
presence in the 1990s, and Egypt has invested in and effectively
administers the area; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese
residents over water and grazing rights persist among related
pastoral populations along the border with the Central African
Republic

Suriname
area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and
Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a
triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a
historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration
to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of
the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Svalbard
despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their
maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights
beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone

Swaziland
in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts
of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa

Sweden
none

Switzerland
none

Syria
Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong
UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone
since 1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the
boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with
several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shaba'a
farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation
settles border dispute with Jordan; approximately two million Iraqis
have fled the conflict in Iraq with the majority taking refuge in
Syria and Jordan

Taiwan
involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia,
Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands;
the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code
of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands
are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003,
China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims
to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and
Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East
China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting

Tajikistan
in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence
demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of
2002; talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove
minefields; disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with
Kyrgyzstan

Tanzania
Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees,
more than any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the international
community's efforts at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the
boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River
remain dormant

Thailand
separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim
southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia
to stem terrorist activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced
border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue
on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over
several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border
committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic
rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of
2006, over 116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum
seekers from Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of
historic boundary with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims
Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access
to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in
1962; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing
the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in
2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt
construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through
China, Burma, and Thailand

Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved
all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on
maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the
uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and
alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees who
left Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse
repatriation; Australia and Timor-Leste agreed in 2005 to defer the
disputed portion of the boundary for 50 years and to split
hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development
Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty

Togo
in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint
commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006 14,000
Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who
fled there in 2005

Tokelau
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in
its 2006 draft constitution

Tonga
none

Trinidad and Tobago
in April 2006, the Permanent Court of
Arbitration issued a decision that delimited a maritime boundary
with Trinidad and Tobago and compelled Barbados to enter a fishing
agreement that limited Barbadian fishermen's catches of flying fish
in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados
and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international
arbitration under UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of
Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into
Barbadian waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention to include
itself in the arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela
maritime boundary may extend into its waters as well

Tunisia
none

Turkey
complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece
in the Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Syria
and Iraq protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper
Euphrates waters; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of
Kurds in Iraq; border with Armenia remains closed over
Nagorno-Karabakh

Turkmenistan
cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field
demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005, but
Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran,
and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate
the sea's waters and seabed

Turks and Caicos Islands have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

Tuvalu
none

Uganda
Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic
groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces
that extend across its borders; Uganda hosts 209,860 Sudanese,
27,560 Congolese, and 19,710 Rwandan refugees, while Ugandan
refugees as well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek
shelter in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's
Garamba National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages
across the border

Ukraine
1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains
un-ratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation
and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with
Russia is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the
dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the
Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December
2003 framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions;
Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit
of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria
Region, which remains under OSCE supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine
until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin,
in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered
Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary;
Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the
Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

United Arab Emirates
boundary agreement was signed and ratified with
Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula
and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed
maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE
dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

United Kingdom
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by
referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between
the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal
participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproves
of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and
Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean
Territory), and its former inhabitants since their eviction in 1965;
most Chagossians reside in Mauritius, and in 2001 were granted UK
citizenship, where some have since resettled; in May 2006, the High
Court of London reversed the UK Government's 2004 orders of council
that banned habitation on the islands; UK rejects sovereignty talks
requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands
(Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;
territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory)
overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim;
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

United States
the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures
and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico,
to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and
commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in
recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has
ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990
Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian
Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at
Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the
disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; The Bahamas and US have
not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at
Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US
abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in
Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not
recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims
Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among
the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
none

Uruguay
in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin
construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms
the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether
Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with
potential environmental implications to both countries; uncontested
dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and
Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina

Uzbekistan
prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan
and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya
river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan
commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with
Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas

Vanuatu
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by
Vanuatu and France

Venezuela
claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in
Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has
expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that
Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into
their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary
activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an
estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities
along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands
recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby
claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest
Venezuela's full effect claim

Vietnam
southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to
check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese
squatters and armed encroachments along border; an estimated 300,000
Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime
boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the
sovereignty of offshore islands; demarcation of the China-Vietnam
boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary
delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004,
implementation has been delayed; China occupies the Paracel Islands
also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute with
China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei over the
Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally
binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants;
Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the
Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China,
the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine
seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

Virgin Islands
none

Wake Island
claimed by Marshall Islands

Wallis and Futuna
none

West Bank
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current
status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement -
permanent status to be determined through further negotiation;
Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier
along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel
withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August
2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce
Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem,
monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated
incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the
region

Western Sahara
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose
sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has
remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN
Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts
to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected
all brokered proposals; several states have extended diplomatic
relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by
the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others recognize
Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; most of the approximately
102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria

World
stretching over 250,000 km, the world's 322 international land
boundaries separate 194 independent states and 70 dependencies,
areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities;
ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states
into separate political entities as much as history, physical
terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes
arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed
limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones;
overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the
potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have
agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments;
boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in
intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized;
undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to
encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration,
and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical
and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource
competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible
for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement
of the estimated 6.6 million people and cross-border displacements
of 8.6 million refugees around the world as of early 2006; just over
one million refugees were repatriated in the same period; other
sources of contention include access to water and mineral
(especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land;
armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed
forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities
that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations,
leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees,
hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradation

Yemen
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security
barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to
stem illegal cross-border activities

Zambia
in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between
Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River,
thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited,
Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; 42,250 Congolese refugees in
Zambia are offered voluntary repatriation in November 2006, most of
whom are expected to return in the next two years; Angolan refugees
too have been repatriating but 26,450 still remain with 90,000
others from other neighboring states in 2006

Zimbabwe
Botswana built electric fences and South Africa has placed
military along the border to stem the flow of thousands of
Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape political persecution;
Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to,
plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi
River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly
delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2075 Ethnic groups (%)

Afghanistan
Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%,
Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%

Albania
Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb,
Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.)
note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from
1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

Algeria
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the
minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the
mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are also
Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural
heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for
autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has
offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools

American Samoa
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white
1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)

Andorra
Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other
6% (1998)

Angola
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed
European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Anguilla
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%,
other 1.5% (2001 census)

Antigua and Barbuda
black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9%
(2001 census)

Argentina
white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed
white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white
groups 3%

Armenia
Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3%
(2001 census)

Aruba
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

Australia
white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Austria
Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians,
Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or
unspecified 2.4% (2001 census)

Azerbaijan
Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%,
other 3.9% (1999 census)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region

Bahamas, The
black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%

Bahrain
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)

Bangladesh
Bengali 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups,
non-Bengali Muslims) (1998)

Barbados
black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%

Belarus
Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian
2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)

Belgium
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Belize
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other
9.7% (2000 census)

Benin
Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and
related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%,
Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and
related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9%
(2002 census)

Bermuda
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%,
unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)

Bhutan
Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of
several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Bolivia
Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry)
30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, Croat 14.3%, other
0.6% (2000)
note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid
confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam

Botswana
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other,
including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Brazil
white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black
6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified
0.7% (2000 census)

British Virgin Islands
black 83.4%, white 7%, mixed 5.4%, Indian
3.4%, other 0.8% (1991 census)

Brunei
Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1%
(2004 est.)

Bulgaria
Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including
Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)

Burkina Faso
Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes
Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)

Burma
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian
2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Burundi
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%,
Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Cambodia
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Cameroon
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%,
Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other
African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Canada
British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European
15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed
background 26%

Cape Verde
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Cayman Islands
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of
various ethnic groups 20%

Central African Republic
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%,
Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Chad
Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%,
Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha
4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)

Chile
white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous
groups 0.6% (2002 census)

China
Han Chinese 91.5%, Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uyghur, Tujia,
Yi, Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, and other
nationalities 8.5% (2000 census)

Christmas Island
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Europeans, Cocos Malays

Colombia
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed
black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Comoros
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
over 200 African ethnic groups of
which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba,
Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about
45% of the population

Congo, Republic of the
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%,
Europeans and other 3%

Cook Islands
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island
Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)

Costa Rica
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%,
Chinese 1%, other 1%

Cote d'Ivoire
Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes
16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000
Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)

Croatia
Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak,
Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

Cuba
white 65.1%, mulatto and mestizo 24.8%, black 10.1% (2002
census)

Cyprus
Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Czech Republic
Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4%
(2001 census)

Denmark
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian,
Somali

Djibouti
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab,
Ethiopian, and Italian)

Dominica
black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%,
other 0.7% (2001 census)

Dominican Republic
mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Ecuador
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%,
Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Egypt
Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)

El Salvador
mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

Equatorial Guinea
Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%,
Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)

Eritrea
Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea
coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%

Estonia
Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian
1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

Ethiopia
Oromo 32.1%, Amara 30.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%,
Guragie 4.3%, Sidama 3.5%, Welaita 2.4%, other 15.4% (1994 census)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
British

Faroe Islands
Scandinavian

Fiji
Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian
admixture), Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other
Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)

Finland
Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma
(Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)

France
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African,
Indochinese, Basque minorities
overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese,
Amerindian

French Polynesia
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
metropolitan French 4%

Gabon
Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang,
Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000,
including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

Gambia, The
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola
10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)

Gaza Strip
Palestinian Arab

Georgia
Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%,
other 2.5% (2002 census)

Germany
German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of
Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)

Ghana
Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan
4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%,
other 7.8% (2000 census)

Gibraltar
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German,
North Africans

Greece
population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001
census)
note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect
data on ethnicity

Greenland
Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish
and others 12% (2000)

Grenada
black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East
Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian

Guam
Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%,
white 6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%,
mixed 9.8% (2000 census)

Guatemala
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish
called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam
7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%,
other 0.1% (2001 census)

Guernsey
UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from
other European countries

Guinea
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%

Guinea-Bissau
African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca
14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Guyana
East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%,
Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census)

Haiti
black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Holy See (Vatican City)
Italians, Swiss, other

Honduras
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%,
black 2%, white 1%

Hong Kong
Chinese 95%, Filipino 1.6%, Indonesian 1.3%, other 2.1%
(2006 census)

Hungary
Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001
census)

Iceland
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%,
population of foreign origin 6%

India
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)

Indonesia
Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau
2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, other or
unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)

Iran
Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%,
Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%

Iraq
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%

Ireland
Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed
1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Isle of Man
Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons

Israel
Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born
22.6%, Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly
Arab) (2004)

Italy
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and
Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
Greek-Italians in the south)

Jamaica
black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)

Japan
Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%
note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan
in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil
(2004)

Jersey
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white
6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)

Jordan
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Kazakhstan
Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek
2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)

Kenya
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii
6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and
Arab) 1%

Kiribati
Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

Korea, North
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese
community and a few ethnic Japanese

Korea, South
homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Kosovo
Albanians 88%, Serbs 7%, other 5% (Bosniak, Gorani, Roma,
Turk, Ashkali, Egyptian)

Kuwait
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%,
other 7%

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%,
Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)

Laos
Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic
groups) 26% (2005 census)

Latvia
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian
2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)

Lebanon
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but
rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be
called Phoenicians

Lesotho
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,

Liberia
indigenous African 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru,
Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella,
Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5%
(descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Libya
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese,
Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)

Liechtenstein
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)

Lithuania
Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or
unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)

Luxembourg
Luxembourger 63.1%, Portuguese 13.3%, French 4.5%,
Italian 4.3%, German 2.3%, other EU 7.3%, other 5.2% (2000 census)

Macau
Chinese 94.3%, other 5.7% (includes Macanese (mixed Portuguese
and Asian ancestry)) (2006 census)

Macedonia
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma
(Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Madagascar
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers
(mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry -
Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian,
Creole, Comoran

Malawi
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni,
Ngonde, Asian, European

Malaysia
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%,
others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Maldives
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Mali
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,
Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Malta
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians
with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Marshall Islands
Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2%
(2006)

Mauritania
mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

Mauritius
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,
Franco-Mauritian 2%

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly
Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Micronesia, Federated States of
Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%,
Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%,
Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)

Moldova
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%,
Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

Monaco
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Mongolia
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%,
other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Montenegro
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%,
other (Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)

Montserrat
black, white

Morocco
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Mozambique
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and
others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

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

Nauru
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European
8%

Nepal
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%,
Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other
32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)

Netherlands
Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%,
Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands Antilles & Aruba 0.8%, other
4.8% (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib
Amerindian, white, East Asian)

New Caledonia
Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian
9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu
1.1%, other 5.2% (1996 census)

New Zealand
European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander
4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

Nicaragua
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black
9%, Amerindian 5%

Niger
Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%,
Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

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

Niue
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%,
Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)

Norfolk Island
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New
Zealander, Polynesian

Northern Mariana Islands
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%,
Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

Norway
Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European
3.6%, other 2% (2007 estimate)

Oman
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African

Pakistan
Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%,
Sariaki 8.38%, Muhagirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%

Palau
Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures)
69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%,
Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%
(2000 census)

Panama
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and
mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Papua New Guinea
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Paraguay
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

Peru
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white
15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Philippines
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%,
Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%,
other 25.3% (2000 census)

Pitcairn Islands
descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their
Tahitian wives

Poland
Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%,
other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)

Portugal
homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African
descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less
than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal

Puerto Rico
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%,
Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed 4.2%, other 6.7% (2000 census)

Qatar
Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Romania
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%,
German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)

Russia
Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%,
Chuvash 1.1%, other or unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)

Rwanda
Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%

Saint Barthelemy
white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo
(French-East Asia)

Saint Helena
African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%

Saint Kitts and Nevis
predominantly black; some British, Portuguese,
and Lebanese

Saint Lucia
black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or
unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)

Saint Martin
creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo
(French-East Asia), white, East Indian

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian
6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%

Samoa
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian
blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)

San Marino
Sammarinese, Italian

Sao Tome and Principe
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan
slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract
laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children
of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Saudi Arabia
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Senegal
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka
3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Serbia
Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs
1.1%, Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)

Seychelles
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Sierra Leone
20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%,
other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves
who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century),
refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of
Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Singapore
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000
census)

Slovakia
Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%,
Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Slovenia
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or
unspecified 12% (2002 census)

Solomon Islands
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%,
other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

Somalia
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs
30,000)

South Africa
black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%,
Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census)

Spain
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Sri Lanka
Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%,
Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census
provisional data)

Sudan
black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Suriname
Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their
ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the
19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%,
"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in
the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior)
10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%

Svalbard
Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3%
(1998)

Swaziland
African 97%, European 3%

Sweden
indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami
minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns,
Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

Switzerland
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other
6%

Syria
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Taiwan
Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%,
indigenous 2%

Tajikistan
Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%,
other 2.6% (2000 census)

Tanzania
mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting
of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European,
and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African

Thailand
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Timor-Leste
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese
minority

Togo
African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina,
and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

Tokelau
Polynesian

Tonga
Polynesian, Europeans

Trinidad and Tobago
Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed
20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)

Tunisia
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Turkey
Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)

Turkmenistan
Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)

Turks and Caicos Islands
black 90%, mixed, European, or North
American 10%

Tuvalu
Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Uganda
Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%,
Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%,
Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6% (2002 census)

Ukraine
Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan
0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian
0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)

United Arab Emirates
Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South
Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians)
8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)

United Kingdom
white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh
4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani
1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

United States
white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian
and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander
0.18%, two or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US
Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American
descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican
origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group
(white, black, Asian, etc.); about 15.1% of the total US population
is Hispanic

Uruguay
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically
nonexistent)

Uzbekistan
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak
2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

Vanuatu
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

Venezuela
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African,
indigenous people

Vietnam
Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome
1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)

Virgin Islands
black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%,
mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

Wallis and Futuna
Polynesian

West Bank
Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

Western Sahara
Arab, Berber

Yemen
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans

Zambia
African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

Zimbabwe
African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and
Asian 1%, white less than 1%

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2076 Exchange rates

Afghanistan
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - NA (2007), 46 (2006),
47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)

Akrotiri
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.46019 (2006),
0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Albania
leke (ALL) per US dollar - 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006),
102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003)

Algeria
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 69.9 (2007), 72.647
(2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003)

American Samoa
the US dollar is used

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

Angola
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6
(2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003)

Anguilla
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007),
2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Antigua and Barbuda
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7
(2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Argentina
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.1105 (2007),
3.0543 (2006), 2.9037 (2005), 2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003)

Armenia
drams (AMD) per US dollar - 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006),
457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003)

Aruba
Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79
(2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)

Australia
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007),
1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

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

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8581 (2007),
0.8934 (2006), 4,727.1 (2005), 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003)
note: on 1 January 2006 Azerbaijan revalued its currency, with 5,000
old manats equal to 1 new manat

Bahamas, The
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2007), 1
(2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003)

Bahrain
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2007), 0.376
(2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003)

Bangladesh
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006),
64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004), 58.15 (2003)

Barbados
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2
(2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Belarus
Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2,145 (2007),
2,144.6 (2006), 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004), 2,051.27 (2003)

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

Belize
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2
(2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Benin
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Bermuda
Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate
pegged to the US dollar)

Bhutan
ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.279 (2006),
44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003)
note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee

Bolivia
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 7.8616 (2007), 8.0159
(2006), 8.0661 (2005), 7.9363 (2004), 7.6592 (2003)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar -
1.4419 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004), 1.7329
(2003)
note: the convertible mark is pegged to the euro

Botswana
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006),
5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003)

Brazil
reals (BRL) per US dollar - 1.85 (2007 est.), 2.1761 (2006),
2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003)

British Virgin Islands
the US dollar is used

Brunei
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886
(2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)

Bulgaria
leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006),
1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003)

Burkina Faso
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004),
581.2 (2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Burma
kyats (MMK) per US dollar - 1,296 (2007), 1,280 (2006), 5.761
(2005), 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003)
note: unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US
dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by yearend 2005, the
unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar; data shown for
2003-05 are official exchange rates

Burundi
Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,065 (2007), 1,030
(2006), 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91 (2004), 1,082.62 (2003)

Cambodia
riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006),
4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003)

Cameroon
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar
- 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)

Canada
Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334
(2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003)

Cape Verde
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 81.235 (2007),
87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003)

Cayman Islands
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007),
0.8496 (2006)

Central African Republic
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs
(XAF) per US dollar - 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005),
528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Chad
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar -
480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)

Chile
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 526.25 (2007), 530.29
(2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003)

China
Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar - 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006),
8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.277 (2003)

Christmas Island
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137
(2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419
(2003)

Colombia
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 2,013.8 (2007),
2,358.6 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003)

Comoros
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8
(2006), 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677
Comoran francs per euro

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congolese francs (CDF) per US
dollar - NA (2007), 464.69 (2006), 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004),
405.34 (2003)

Congo, Republic of the
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF)
per US dollar - 483.6 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29
(2004), 581.2 (2003)

Cook Islands
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408
(2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Costa Rica
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 519.53 (2007),
511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003)

Cote d'Ivoire
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004),
581.2 (2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Croatia
kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 5.3735 (2007), 5.8625 (2006),
5.9473 (2005), 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003)

Cuba
Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 0.9259 (2007), 0.9231 (2006)
note: Cuba has two currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP)
and the convertible peso (CUC); in April 2005 the official exchange
rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC (0.93 CUC per $1),
both for individuals and enterprises; individuals can buy 24 Cuban
pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban pesos for each CUC
bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1
ratio.

Cyprus
Cypriot pounds (CYP) per US dollar -: 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586
(2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Czech Republic
koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 20.53 (2007), 22.596
(2006), 23.957 (2005), 25.7 (2004), 28.209 (2003)

Denmark
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468
(2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Dhekelia
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.46019 (2006),
0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003)

Djibouti
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007),
174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)

Dominica
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007),
2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Dominican Republic
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 33.113
(2007), 33.406 (2006), 30.409 (2005), 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003)

Ecuador
the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000

Egypt
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.67 (2007), 5.725
(2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509 (2003)

El Salvador
the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

Equatorial Guinea
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per
US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29
(2004), 581.2 (2003)

Eritrea
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.5 (2007), 15.4 (2006), 14.5
(2005), 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003)
note: the official exchange rate is 15 nakfa to the dollar

Estonia
krooni (EEK) per US dollar - 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006),
12.584 (2005), 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003)
note: the krooni is pegged to the euro

Ethiopia
birr (ETB) per US dollar - 8.96 (2007), 8.69 (2006), 8.68
(2005), 8.6356 (2004), 8.5997 (2003)
note: since 24 October 2001, exchange rates are determined on a
daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank

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

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Falkland pounds (FKP) per US
dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004),
0.6125 (2003)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Faroe Islands
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007),
5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Fiji
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006),
1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)

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

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

French Polynesia
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US
dollar - 87.59 (2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004),
105.66 (2003)
note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro

Gabon
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar -
481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)

Gambia, The
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27.79 (2007), 28.066
(2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2003)

Gaza Strip
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007),
4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)

Georgia
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127
(2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003)

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

Ghana
cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006),
9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003)
note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis
equal to 1 new cedis

Gibraltar
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007),
0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

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

Greenland
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468
(2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Grenada
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7
(2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Guam
the US dollar is used

Guatemala
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026
(2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003)

Guernsey
Guernsey pound 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005),
0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Guinea
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350
(2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003)

Guinea-Bissau
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004),
581.2 (2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Guyana
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 201.89 (2007), 200.28
(2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (2004), 193.88 (2003)

Haiti
gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 37.138 (2007), 40.232 (2006),
40.449 (2005), 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003)

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

Honduras
lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 18.9 (2007), 18.895 (2006),
18.92 (2005), 18.206 (2004), 17.345 (2003)

Hong Kong
Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.802 (2007),
7.7678 (2006), 7.7773 (2005), 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003)

Hungary
forints (HUF) per US dollar - 186.16 (2007), 210.39 (2006),
199.58 (2005), 202.75 (2004), 224.31 (2003)

Iceland
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 63.391 (2007), 70.195
(2006), 62.982 (2005), 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003)

India
Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.3
(2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003)

Indonesia
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 9,056 (2007 est.),
9,159.3 (2006), 9,704.7 (2005), 8,938.9 (2004), 8,577.1 (2003)

Iran
Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar - 9,407.5 (2007), 9,227.1
(2006), 8,964 (2005), 8,614 (2004), 8,193.9 (2003)
note: Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regime
since unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002

Iraq
New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,255 (2007), 1,466
(2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)

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

Isle of Man
Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418
(2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Israel
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565
(2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)

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

Jamaica
Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 69.034 (2007), 65.768
(2006), 62.51 (2005), 61.197 (2004), 57.741 (2003)

Japan
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22
(2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003)

Jersey
Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006),
0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Jordan
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2007), 0.709
(2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003)

Kazakhstan
tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 122.55 (2007), 126.09 (2006),
132.88 (2005), 136.04 (2004), 149.58 (2003)

Kenya
Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 68.309 (2007), 72.101
(2006), 75.554 (2005), 79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003)

Kiribati
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007),
1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Korea, North
North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar - 140 (2007), 141
(2006), 170 (December 2004), market: North Korean won per US dollar
- 2,500-3,000 (December 2006)

Korea, South
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 929.2 (2007),
954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003)

Kosovo
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007)

Kuwait
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2844 (2007), 0.29
(2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003)

Kyrgyzstan
soms (KGS) per US dollar - 37.746 (2007), 40.149 (2006),
41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003)

Laos
kips (LAK) per US dollar - 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820
(2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003)

Latvia
lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5162 (2007), 0.5597 (2006),
0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003)

Lebanon
Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2007),
1,507.5 (2006), 1,507.5 (2005), 1,507.5 (2004), 1,507.5 (2003)

Lesotho
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006),
6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Liberia
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 59.43
(2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)

Libya
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108
(2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003)

Liechtenstein
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007),
1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)

Lithuania
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006),
2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003)

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

Macau
patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8.011 (2007), 8.0015 (2006),
8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003)

Macedonia
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 44.732 (2007),
48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003)

Madagascar
Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - 1,880 (2007),
2,161.4 (2006), 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003)

Malawi
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 141.12 (2007), 135.96
(2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003)

Malaysia
ringgits (MYR) per US dollar - 3.46 (2007), 3.6683 (2006),
3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003)

Maldives
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 12.8 (2006), 12.8
(2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003)

Mali
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Malta
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6795 (January 2008), Maltese
liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005),
0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)

Marshall Islands
the US dollar is used

Mauritania
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006),
267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)

Mauritius
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 31.798 (2007),
31.656 (2006), 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003)

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

Mexico
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 10.8 (2007), 10.899
(2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004), 10.789 (2003)

Micronesia, Federated States of
the US dollar is used

Moldova
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.177 (2007), 13.131
(2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003)

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

Mongolia
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,170 (2007), 1,179.6
(2006), 1,205 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003)

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

Montserrat
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007),
2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Morocco
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722
(2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003)

Mozambique
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 26.264 (2007), 25.4
(2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782 (2003)
note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old
meticais equal to 1 new meticais

Namibia
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.18 (2007), 6.7649
(2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Nauru
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285
(2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Nepal
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 72.446
(2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003)

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

Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US
dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79
(2003)

New Caledonia
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US
dollar - 87.59 (2007), 95.025 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004),
105.66 (2003)

New Zealand
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007),
1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Nicaragua
gold cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 18.457 (2007), 17.582
(2006), 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003)

Niger
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Nigeria
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006),
132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004), 129.22 (2003)

Niue
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408
(2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Norfolk Island
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137
(2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Northern Mariana Islands
the US dollar is used

Norway
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.8396 (2007), 6.4117
(2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003)

Oman
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006),
0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003)

Pakistan
Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar - 60.6295 (2007),
60.35 (2006), 59.515 (2005), 58.258 (2004), 57.752 (2003)

Palau
the US dollar is used

Panama
balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1
(2004), 1 (2003)

Papua New Guinea
kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.03 (2007), 3.0643
(2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003)

Paraguay
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006),
6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003)

Peru
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 3.1731 (2007), 3.2742 (2006),
3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003)

Philippines
Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 46.148 (2007),
51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003)

Pitcairn Islands
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811
(2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Poland
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006),
3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004), 3.8891 (2003)
note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty

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

Puerto Rico
the US dollar is used

Qatar
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006),
3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003)

Romania
lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3
(2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003)

Russia
Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar - 25.659 (2007), 27.19
(2006), 28.284 (2005), 28.814 (2004), 30.692 (2003)

Rwanda
Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 585 (2007), 560 (2006),
610 (2005), 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003)

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

Saint Helena
Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.4993
(2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound

Saint Kitts and Nevis
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Saint Lucia
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007),
2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

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

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US
dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Samoa
tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103
(2005), 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)

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

Sao Tome and Principe
dobras (STD) per US dollar - 13,700 (2007),
12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003)

Saudi Arabia
Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.745 (2007), 3.745
(2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003)

Senegal
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Serbia
Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 54.5 (2007), 59.98 (2006)

Seychelles
Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 6.5 (2007), 5.5
(2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003)

Sierra Leone
leones (SLL) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2,961.7 (2006),
2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003)

Singapore
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.507 (2007),
1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)

Slovakia
Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 24.919 (2007), 29.611
(2006), 31.018 (2005), 32.257 (2004), 36.773 (2003)

Slovenia
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), tolars per US
dollar - 190.85 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003)
note: Slovenia adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2007

Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - NA
(2007), 7.3447 (2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003)

Somalia
Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1,438.3
(2006) official rate; the unofficial black market rate was about
23,000 shillings per dollar as of February 2007
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own
currency, the Somaliland shilling

South Africa
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006),
6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

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

Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 110.78 (2007),
103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004), 96.521 (2003)

Sudan
Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 2.06 (2007), 2.172
(2006), 2.4361 (2005), 2.5791 (2004), 2.6098 (2003)
note: in October 2007 Sudan redenominated its currency by
transforming 100 units of Sudanese dinar into one unit of Sudanese
pound

Suriname
Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 2.745 (2007),
2.745 (2006), 2.7317 (2005), 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003)
note: in January 2004, the government replaced the guilder with the
Surinamese dollar, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket

Svalbard
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.8396 (2007),
6.4117 (2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003)

Swaziland
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593
(2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)

Sweden
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731
(2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003)

Switzerland
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539
(2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)

Syria
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 50.0085 (2007), 51.689
(2006), 50 (2005), 48.5 (2004), 52.8 (2003)
note: data for 2004-06 are the public sector rate; data for 2002-03
are the parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut; the official rate
for repaying loans was 11.25 Syrian pounds per US dollars during
2004-06,

Taiwan
New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar - 32.84 (2007), 32.534
(2006), 31.71 (2005), 34.418 (2004), 34.575 (2003)

Tajikistan
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 3.4418 (2007),
3.3 (2006), 3.1166 (2005), 2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003)

Tanzania
Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,255 (2007),
1,251.9 (2006), 1,128.93 (2005), 1,089.33 (2004), 1,038.42 (2003)

Thailand
baht per US dollar - 33.599 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22
(2005), 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003)

Timor-Leste
the US dollar is used

Togo
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Tokelau
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007),
1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Tonga
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96
(2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar
- 6.3275 (2007), 6.3107 (2006), 6.2842 (2005), 6.299 (2004), 6.2951
(2003)

Tunisia
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.2776 (2007), 1.331
(2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003)

Turkey
Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar - 1.319 (2007), 1.4286
(2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.4255 (2004), 1.5009 (2003)
note: on 1 January 2005 the old Turkish lira (TRL) was converted to
new Turkish lira (TRY) at a rate of 1,000,000 old to 1 new Turkish
lira

Turkmenistan
Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar - 6,250 (2007)
official rate
note: the commercial rate was 19,800 Turkemen manat per US$ (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
the US dollar is used

Tuvalu
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419
(2003)

Uganda
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 1,685.8 (2007),
1,834.9 (2006), 1,780.7 (2005), 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003)

Ukraine
hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar - 5.05 (2007), 5.05 (2006),
5.1247 (2005), 5.3192 (2004), 5.3327 (2003)

United Arab Emirates
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673
(2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003)
note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002

United Kingdom
British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007),
0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)

United States
British pounds per US dollar: 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418
(2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118
(2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003)
Japanese yen per US dollar: 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006) 110.22
(2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003)
euros per US dollar: 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005),
0.8054 (2004), 0.8860 (2003)
Chinese yuan per US dollar: 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005),
8.2768 (2004), 8.2770 (2003)

Uruguay
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 23.947 (2007), 24.048
(2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003)

Uzbekistan
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,263.8 (2007),
1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003)

Vanuatu
vatu (VUV) per US dollar - NA (2007), 111.93 (2006), NA
(2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)

Venezuela
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006),
2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003)
note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000
old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar

Vietnam
dong (VND) per US dollar - 16,119 (2007), 15,983 (2006),
15,746 (2005), NA (2004), 15,510 (2003)

Virgin Islands
the US dollar is used

Wallis and Futuna
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per
US dollar - NA (2007), 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004),
105.66 (2003)

West Bank
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007),
4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)

Western Sahara
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007),
8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003)

Yemen
Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 199.14 (2007), 197.18
(2006), 192.67 (2005), 184.78 (2004), 183.45 (2003)

Zambia
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 3,990.2 (2007), 3,601.5
(2006), 4,463.5 (2005), 4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003)

Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar - 30,000 (2007),
162.07 (2006), 77.965 (2005), 5.729 (2004), 0.824 (2003)
note: these are official exchange rates; non-official rates vary
significantly

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2077 Executive branch

Afghanistan
chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); Vice Presidents
Ahmad Zia MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; former King ZAHIR Shah held the honorific, "Father of
the Country," and presided symbolically over certain occasions but
lacked any governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary;
King ZAHIR Shah died on 23 July 2007
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia
MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004)
cabinet: 25 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministers
are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
elections: the president and two vice presidents are elected by
direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if no
candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of
voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a
second round; a president can only be elected for two terms;
election last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote -
Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANUNI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ
11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda
JALAL 1.2%

Akrotiri
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY
(since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of
Defense
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is
appointed by the monarch

Albania
chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since
24 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September
2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election rounds
held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; People's Assembly
vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority (84 votes) required):
Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes

Algeria
chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28
April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 23 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a third term under 2008 amendment to constitution);
election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for
second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS
6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%

American Samoa
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US
(since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20
January 2001)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and
lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for
four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4
and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of
vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5%

Andorra
chief of state: French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007); represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002) and
Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May
2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since 30 July 2003)
head of government: Executive Council President Albert PINTAT
SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive
Council president
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year
term; election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held in April-May
2009)
election results: Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote - NA

Angola
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by
MPLA on 26 September 2008
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year
term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under
the 1992 constitution; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in
1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for
reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September
1992 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI
40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held
because SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the
civil war resumed leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the
president

Anguilla
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Andrew N. GEORGE (since 10 July 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March
2000)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the
elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
chief minister by the governor

Antigua and Barbuda
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Louisse LAKE-TACK
(since 17 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24
March 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on
the advice of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the
monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general

Argentina
chief of state: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER
(since 10 December 2007); Vice President Julio COBOS (since 10
December 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since
10 December 2007); Vice President Julio COBOS (since 10 December
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 28 October 2007 (next election to be held in 2011)
election results: Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER elected president;
percent of vote - Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER 45%, Elisa CARRIO
23%, Roberto LAVAGNA 17%, Alberto Rodriguez SAA 8%

Armenia
chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February 2008
(next to be held February 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the
prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National
Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote
- Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur
BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%

Aruba
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30
April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since
11 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30
October 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for
a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime
minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last
held in 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent
of legislative vote - NA

Australia
chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since
5 September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3 December
2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3 December 2007)
cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament,
candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to
serve as government ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of
a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor
general

Austria
chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July
2004)
head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2
December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2
December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year
term (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held
25 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2010); chancellor formally
chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties
forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the
president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote -
Heinz FISCHER 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER 47.6%
note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP

Azerbaijan
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November
2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and
confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 October 2008
(next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first deputy
prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the
National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote
- Ilham ALIYEV 88.7%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates
with smaller percentages
note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair
conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet
international standards

Bahamas, The
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor General Arthur D. HANNA (since 1
February 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister
recommends the deputy prime minister

Bahrain
chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March
1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the
monarch, born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
(since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman
al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch

Bangladesh
chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6
September 2002)
note: the country has a caretaker government until a general
election is held; Iajuddin AHMED remains as President and Minister
of Defense, and all other Cabinet portfolios are held by Caretaker
Advisers (CAs); the Chief CA, Fakhruddin AHMED, is roughly
equivalent to a prime minister
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election scheduled for 16
September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only
presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next
election NA); following legislative elections, the leader of the
party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister
by the president
election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared president-elect by the
Election Commission; he ran unopposed as president; percent of
National Parliament vote - NA

Barbados
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS
(since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister David THOMPSON (since 16 January
2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister
recommends the deputy prime minister

Belarus
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20
July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergey SIDORSKIY (since 19
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since
December 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the
1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999,
however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a
November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001;
an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and
allowed the president to run in a third election, which was held on
19 March 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent
of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 82.6%, Aleksandr MILINKEVICH 6%,
Aleksandr KOZULIN 2.3%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

Belgium
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir
Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Yves LETERME (20 March 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister
by the monarch and then approved by parliament

Belize
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since 8 February
2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister
recommends the deputy prime minister

Benin
chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April
2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006
(next to be held in March 2011)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of
vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%

Bermuda
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)
head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006);
Deputy Premier Paula COX
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
premier by the governor

Bhutan
chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14
December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the
throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him
head of government: Prime Minister Jigme THINLEY (since 9 April 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the
monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed,
five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council
(Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July
1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch
with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly occurred
in March 2008; the leader of the majority party is nominated as the
prime minister

Bolivia
chief of state: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22
January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January
2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22
January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January
2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 18
December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma elected president; percent
of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 53.7%; Jorge Fernando QUIROGA
Ramirez 28.6%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 7.8%; Michiaki NAGATANI
Morishit 6.5%; Felipe QUISPE Huanca 2.2%; Guildo ANGULA Cabrera 0.7%

Bosnia and Herzegovina
chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency
Nebojsa RADMANOVIC (chairman since 6 November 2008; presidency
member since 1 October 2006 - Serb); other members of the
three-member presidency rotating (every eight months): Haris
SILAJDZIC (presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Bosniak); and
Zeljko KOMSIC (presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Croat)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola
SPIRIC (since 11 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;
approved by the National House of Representatives
elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one
Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for four years);
the chairmanship rotates every eight months and resumes where it
left off following each national election; election last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); the chairman of the Council
of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the
National House of Representatives
election results: percent of vote - Nebojsa RADMANOVIC with 53.3% of
the votes for the Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC received 39.6% of the
votes for the Croat seat; Haris SILAJDZIC received 62.8% of the
votes for the Bosniak seat
note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Borjana
KRISTO (since 21 February 2007); Vice Presidents Spomenka MICIC
(since NA 2007) and Mirsad KEBO (since NA 2007); President of the
Republika Srpska: Rajko KUSMANOVIC (since 28 December 2007)

Botswana
chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1
April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April
2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004
(next to be held in October 2009); vice president appointed by the
president
election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 52%

Brazil
chief of state: President Luiz Inacio "LULA" DA SILVA (since
1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Luiz Inacio "LULA" DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 1
October 2006 with runoff 29 October 2006 (next to be held 3 October
2010 and, if necessary, 31 October 2010)
election results: Luiz Inacio "LULA" DA SILVA (PT) reelected
president - 60.83%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 39.17%

British Indian Ocean Territory
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Colin ROBERTS (since July 2008);
Administrator Joanne YEADON (since December 2007); note - both
reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding
British Forces on Diego Garcia
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and
administrator appointed by the monarch

British Virgin Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April
2006)
head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the House of Assembly
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
premier by the governor

Brunei
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL
Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah
(since 5 October 1967)
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by
the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a
Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on
religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the
monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of
Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the
succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Bulgaria
chief of state: President Georgi PARVANOV (since 22 January
2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August
2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, and
Emel ETEM (since 16 August 2005) and Meglena PLUGCHIEVA (since 25
April 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011);
chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by
the president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime
ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the
National Assembly
election results: Georgi PARVANOV reelected president; percent of
vote - Georgi PARVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Sergei STANISHEV
elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67

Burkina Faso
chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15
October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Tertius ZONGO (since 4 June 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 November 2005
(next to be held in 2010); in April 2000, the constitution was
amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years,
enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of
popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA
4.9%

Burma
chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister, Lt. Gen THEIN SEIN (since 24
October 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by SPDC; military junta assumed power
18 September 1988 under name State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC)
elections: none

Burundi
chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August
2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November
2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9
February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August
2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November
2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9
February 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted
in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected
by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidents
nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament
election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the
parliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in
February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by
a two-thirds majority of the legislature

Cambodia
chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)
[co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]; Permanent Deputy Prime
Minister MEN SAM AN (since 25 September 2008); Deputy Prime
Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, TEA BANH, HOR
NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); BIN CHHIN (since 5
September 2007); KEAT CHHON, YIM CHHAI LY (since 25 September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in
practice named by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;
following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or
majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the
National Assembly and appointed by the king

Cameroon
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted
by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004
(next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -
Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga
Haman ADJI 3.7%

Canada
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February
2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year
term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of
Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor
general

Cape Verde
chief of state: President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22
March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1
February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006
(next to be held in February 2011); prime minister nominated by the
National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

Cayman Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)
head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS
(since 18 May 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of
Government Business

Central African Republic
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE
(since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since
22 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13
March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister
appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%

Chad
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4
December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Youssof Saleh ABBAS (since 16
April 2008)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year
term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the
two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second
round of voting; last held 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire
KOUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%,
Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum
altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and
permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection

Chile
chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11
March 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11
March 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year
term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held
15 January 2006 (next to be held in December 2009)
election results: Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent
of vote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique
46.5%

China
chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003);
Vice President XI Jinping (since 15 March 2008)
head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003);
Executive Vice Premier LI Keqiang (17 March 2008), Vice Premier HUI
Liangyu (since 17 March 2003), Vice Premier ZHANG Deijiang (since 17
March 2008), and Vice Premier WANG Qishan (since 17 March 2008)
cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress (NPC)
elections: president and vice president elected by National People's
Congress for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held 15-17 March 2008 (next to be held in mid-March
2013); premier nominated by president, confirmed by National
People's Congress
election results: HU Jintao elected president by National People's
Congress with a total of 2,963 votes; XI Jinping elected vice
president with a total of 2,919 votes

Christmas Island
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30
January 2006)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia

Colombia
chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7
August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August
2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest
parties that supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC,
and CR - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for
a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28
May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president;
percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%,
Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%

Comoros
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006)
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency
rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three
main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to
be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president;
note - the post of prime minister has been vacant since May 2002
election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of
vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed
DJAANFAMI 13.7%

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
chief of state: President Joseph
KABILA (since 17 January 2001); note - following the assassination
of his father, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency which he
retained through the 2003-06 transition; he was subsequently elected
president in October 2006
head of government: Prime Minister Adolphe MUZITO (since 10 October
2008)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution the president is elected by
popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held 30 July 2006 and 29 October 2006 (next to be
held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joseph KABILA elected president; percent of vote
(second round) - Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42%
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA,
following the latter's assassination in January 2001; negotiations
with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional
government in July 2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and
29 October 2006 confirming Joseph KABILA as president

Congo, Republic of the
chief of state: President Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in
which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA);
head of government: Prime Minister Isidore MVOUBA (since 7 January
2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next
to be held in 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%

Cook Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New
Zealand High Commissioner Brian DONNELLY (since 21 February 2008),
representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December
2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is
appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

Coral Sea Islands
administered from Canberra by the Australian
Attorney-General's Department

Costa Rica
chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8
May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006);
Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May
2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006);
Second Vice President (vacant)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5
February 2006 (next to be held in February 2010)
election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of
vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%,
Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%

Cote d'Ivoire
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26
October 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Guillaume SORO (since 4 April
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
under the current power-sharing agreement the prime minister and the
president share the authority to appoint ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be
held 30 November 2008; elections were to be held in 2005 but have
been repeatedly postponed by the government; the UN Security Council
has extended the government's mandate); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote
- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other
2.2%

Croatia
chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18
February 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December
2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December
2003) and Damir POLANCEC (since 15 February 2005), Djurdja ADLESIC
(since 12 January 2008), Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the parliamentary Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 16 January 2005
(next to be held in January 2010); the leader of the majority party
or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly
election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote
- Stjepan MESIC 66%, Jadranka KOSOR 34% in the second round

Cuba
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon
MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon
MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the
31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its
behalf when it is not in session
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National
Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 24 February
2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura elected
vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%

Cyprus
chief of state: President Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28
February 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant;
under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish
Cypriot
head of government: President Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28
February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 17 and 24 February 2008 (next to be held in
February 2013)
election results: Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS elected president; percent of
vote (first round) - Ioannis KASOULIDIS 33.5%, Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS
33.3%, Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 31.8%; (second round) Dimitris
CHRISTOFIAS 53.4%, Ioannis KASOULIDIS 46.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of the "TRNC", 24 April
2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results -
Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is
"TRNC prime minister" and heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet)
in coalition with "Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister"
Turgay AVCI

Czech Republic
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 9 January
2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007),
Martin BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Alexandr VONDRA (since 9
January 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); last successful election held 15
February 2008 (after earlier elections held 8 and 9 February 2008
were inconclusive; next election to be held in February 2013); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaclav KLAUS reelected president on 15 February
2008; Vaclav KLAUS 141 votes, Jan SVEJNAR 111 votes (third round;
combined votes of both chambers of parliament)

Denmark
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born
26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27
November 2001)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Dhekelia
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY
(since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of
Defense
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is
appointed by the monarch

Djibouti
chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May
1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4
March 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2005 (next
to be held by April 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%

Dominica
chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since
October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8
January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held
in October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of
legislative vote - NA%

Dominican Republic
chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna
(since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro
(since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16
August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16
August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second
consecutive term); election last held 16 May 2008 (next to be held
in May 2012)
election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ reelected president; percent of
vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable ARISTY less
than 5%

Ecuador
chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15
January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January
2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15
January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve
consecutive terms); election last held 15 October 2006 with a runoff
election on 26 November 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
election results: Rafael CORREA Delgado elected president; percent
of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 56.7%; Alvaro NOBOA 43.3%

Egypt
chief of state: President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14
October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no
term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a
constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a
multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated
by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a
national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September
1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7
September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011
election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote
- Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

El Salvador
chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez
(since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez DE ESCOBAR
(since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1
June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez DE ESCOBAR (since 1
June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 21
March 2004 (next to be held in March 2009)
election results: Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president;
percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL
35.6%, Hector SILVA 3.9%, other 2.8%

Equatorial Guinea
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized
power in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Ignacio Milan TANG (since 8 July
2008);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be
held in December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers
appointed by the president
election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;
percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino
Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud

Eritrea
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June
1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993)
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority;
members appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); the most recent and
only election held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the
National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in December
2001 as anticipated)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%, other 5%

Estonia
chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9
October 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure
two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the
Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between
the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election
last held 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011);
prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23
September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received
174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left
blank or invalid

Ethiopia
chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8
October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 9 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2013);
prime minister designated by the party in power following
legislative elections
election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of
vote by the House of People's Representatives - 79%

European Union
chief of union: President of the European Commission
Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since 22 November 2004)
cabinet: European Commission (composed of 27 members, one from each
member country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policy
areas)
elections: the president of the European Commission is designated by
member governments and is confirmed by the European Parliament;
working from member state recommendations, the Commission president
then assembles a "college" of Commission members; the European
Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; the
last confirmation process was held 18 November 2004 (next to be held
in 2009)
election results: European Parliament approved the European
Commission by an approval vote of 449 to 149 with 82 abstentions
note: the European Council brings together heads of state and
government and the president of the European Commission and meets at
least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the
major political issues relating to European integration and to issue
general policy guidelines

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006);
Chief Executive Dr. Tim THOROGOOD (since 3 January 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch

Faroe Islands
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since
14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS,
chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 24
September 2008)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held
19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)
election results: Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN elected prime minister;
percent of parliamentary vote - NA

Fiji
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda
(since 18 July 2000); note - ILOILOVATU was reaffirmed as president
by the Great Council of Chiefs in a statement issued on 22 December,
and reappointed by the coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA in
January 2007
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime
minister, he has been confined to his home island; the president
appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under
the military regime
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - coup
leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister
appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president
by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA

Finland
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June
2003); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the
majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament
must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17
April 2007
election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli
NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA
(VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held
29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN
reelected prime minister; election results 121-71
note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP

France
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the
suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held
22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held spring 2012); prime
minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed
by the president
election results: Nicolas SARKOZY wins the election; First Round:
percent of vote - Nicolas SARKOZY 31.18%, Segolene ROYAL 25.87%,
Francois BAYROU 18.57%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.44%, others 13.94%;
Second Round: SARKOZY 53.1% and ROYAL 46.9%

French Polynesia
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe
COLRAT (since 7 July 2008)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG
(since 15 April 2008); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony
GEROS (since 9 May 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly
are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no
term limits)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
chief of state: President
Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Senior
Administrator Rollon MOUCHEL-BLAISOT (16 October 2008)

Gabon
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2
December 1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20
January 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be
held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected;
percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%

Gambia, The
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since
18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the
Junta; Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa
SALLAH 6.0%

Georgia
chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25
January 2004); the president is both the chief of state and head of
government for the power ministries: state security (includes
interior) and defense
head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January
2004); Prime Minister Grigol MGALOBLISHVILI (since 1 November 2008);
the president is both the chief of state and head of government for
the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and
defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of
government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008
(next to be held January 2013)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent
of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%,
Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%

Germany
chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by
the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the
Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the
state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next scheduled
for 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the
Federal Assembly for a four-year term; Bundestag vote for Chancellor
last held 22 November 2005 (next will follow the national elections
to be held by autumn 2009)
election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604
votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN;
Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to
202 with 12 abstentions

Ghana
chief of state: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January
2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January
2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject
to approval by Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held 7 December 2008)
election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in
election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 52.4%, John ATTA-MILLS 44.6%

Gibraltar
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected
members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the
chief minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
chief minister by the governor

Greece
chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos (Kostas) KARAMANLIS
(since 7 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005
(next to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek
Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president
appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election
to become prime minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of
parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300

Greenland
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14
January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since
April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December
2002)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament
(Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed
by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the
leader of the majority party);
election results: Hans ENOKSEN reelected prime minister
note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit

Grenada
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27
November 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general

Guam
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January
2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president
and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and
Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant
governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year
term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term
before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to
be held in November 2010)
election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael
W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA

Guatemala
chief of state: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since
14 January 2008); Vice President Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January
2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14
January 2008); Vice President Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 September
2007; runoff held 4 November 2007 (next to be held September 2011)
election results: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros elected president; percent
of vote - Alvaro COLOM Caballeros 52.8%, Otto PEREZ Molina 47.2%

Guernsey
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28
October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008)
cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation
election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of
vote of the States of Deliberation NA

Guinea
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military
government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23
May 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes
cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003
(next to be held in December 2010); the prime minister is appointed
by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote
- Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%

Guinea-Bissau
chief of state: President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA
(since 1 October 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos CORREIA (since 5 August
2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 24 July 2005 (next to be held
in 2010); prime minister appointed by the president after
consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malam Bacai SANHA
47.6%

Guyana
chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August
1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President
Janet JAGAN and was reelected in 2001, and again in 2006
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992,
except for a period as chief of state after the death of President
Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party
list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every
five years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006
(next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of
vote 54.6%

Haiti
chief of state: President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Michele PIERRE-LOUIS (since 5
September 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 February
2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president, ratified by the National Assembly
election results: Rene PREVAL elected president; percent of vote -
Rene PREVAL 51%

Holy See (Vatican City)
chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19
April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE
(since 15 September 2006)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of
the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

Honduras
chief of state: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since
27 January 2006); Vice President Elvin Ernesto SANTOS Ordonez (since
27 January 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since 27
January 2006); Vice President Elvin Ernesto SANTOS Ordonez (since 27
January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2009)
election results: Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales elected president -
49.8%, Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa 46.1%, other 4.1%

Hong Kong
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15
March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of 15 official members and 16
non-official members
elections: chief executive elected for five-year term by 800-member
electoral committee; last held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held in
2012)
election results: Donald TSANG elected chief executive receiving
84.1% of the vote of the election committee; Alan LEONG received
15.9%

Hungary
chief of state: President Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29
September 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers prime minister elected by the National
Assembly on the recommendation of the president; other ministers
proposed by the prime minister and appointed and relieved of their
duties by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6-7
June 2005 (next to be held by June 2010); prime minister elected by
the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president;
election last held 29 September 2004
election results: Laszlo SOLYOM elected president by a simple
majority in the third round of voting, 185 to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANY
elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 197 to 12
note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of
legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the
third round

Iceland
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1
August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Geir H. HAARDE (since 7 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected by
popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last
held 26 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008); following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON
12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%

India
chief of state: President Pratibha PATIL (since 25 July 2007);
Vice President Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of
the states for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held
21 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012); vice president elected
by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last
held 12 August 2002 (next to be held August 2007); prime minister
chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following
legislative elections; election last held April - May 2004 (next to
be held May 2009)
election results: Pratibha PATIL elected president; percent of vote
- 65.8%; Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT - 34.2%

Indonesia
chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since
20 October 2004); Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20
October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20
October 2004); Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president were elected for five-year
terms (eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry;
last held 20 September 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president
receiving 60.6% of vote; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri received 39.4%

Iran
chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4
June 1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August
2005); First Vice President Parviz DAVUDI (since 11 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are
three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a
popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of
the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if
deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the
Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkise-Maslahat-e-Nezam) exerts
supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative
branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the
Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been used to advise
national religious leaders on matters of national policy; in 2005
the Council's powers were expanded to act as a supervisory body for
the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the Constitution or
Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye Negaban-e
Qanun-e Assassi) determines whether proposed legislation is both
constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates for
suitability, and supervises national elections
elections: Supreme Leader is appointed for life by the Assembly of
Experts; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term and third nonconsecutive term); last
held 17 June 2005 with a two-candidate runoff on 24 June 2005 (next
presidential election slated for 12 June 2009)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of
vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI 36%

Iraq
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005);
Vice Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22
April 2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the
Presidency Council)
head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May
2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Barham SALIH (since 20 May 2006)and
Rafi al-ISSAWI (since 19 July 2008)
cabinet: 34 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus
Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI and Deputy Prime Ministers Barham
SALIH and Rafi al-ISSAWI
elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of
Representatives

Ireland
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997
(next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to
a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004
presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the
House of Representatives and appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the
Progressive Democrats, and independent members of Parliament

Isle of Man
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K.
HADDACKS (since 17 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch for a five-year term; the chief minister is elected
by the Tynwald; election last held 14 December 2006 (next to be held
in December 2008)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief
minister by the Tynwald

Israel
chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Ehud OLMERT (since May 2006);
Deputy Prime Minister Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI; note - Prime Minister
OLMERT resigned on 17 September 2008, but will serve as acting prime
minister until a new government is formed
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the
Knesset
elections: president is largely a ceremonial role and is elected by
the Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last
held 13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called
earlier); following legislative elections, the president assigns a
Knesset member - traditionally the leader of the largest party - the
task of forming a governing coalition
note: government coalition - Kadima, Labor Party, GIL (Pensioners),
and SHAS
election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in
first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21;
PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)

Italy
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (referred to in
Italy as the president of the Council of Ministers) (since 8 May
2008) note - in Italy the prime minister is referred to as the
president of the Council of Ministers
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
approved by the president
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 10 May 2006
(next to be held in May 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president and confirmed by parliament
election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth
round of voting; electoral college vote - 543

Jamaica
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Kenneth O. HALL (since 15 February
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Bruce GOLDING (since 11 September
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is
appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime
minister is recommended by the prime minister

Japan
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 24 September 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires
that prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following
legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of
majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime
minister; monarch is hereditary

Jersey
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December
2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

Jordan
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999);
Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II, is
considered to be first in line to inherit the throne
head of government: Prime Minister Nader al-DAHABI (since 25
November 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch

Kazakhstan
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV
(chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected
president 1 December 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January
2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 27 August
2007) and Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 4 December 2005 (next to be
held in 2012); prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A.
TUYAKBAI 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAIMENOV 1.6%
note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 that
extended his term of office and expanded his presidential powers:
only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss
the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities

Kenya
chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December
2002); Vice President Stephene Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January
2008);
head of government: Prime Minister Raila Amolo ODINGA (since 17
April 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest
number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must
also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven
provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held 27
December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote -
Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%

Kiribati
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003);
Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO
cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Parliament
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential
candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete
in a general election; president is elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 17
October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by
the president
election results: Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%

Korea, North
chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note -
on 3 September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA)
reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA
reelected KIM Yong Nam president of its Presidium also with
responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic
credentials
head of government: Premier KIM Yong Il (since 11 April 2007); Vice
Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun (since 3
September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003), THAE Jong Su
(since 16 October 2007)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's
Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
elections: last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September
2008)
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees
for positions and ran unopposed

Korea, South
chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25
February 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister HAN Seung-soo (since 29 February
2008)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held on in
December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent
of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
on prime minister's recommendation
election results: ROH Moo-hyun elected president on 19 December
2002; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang
(GNP) 46.6%; others 4.5%; LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19
December 2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG
Dong-young (UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others
10.1%

Kosovo
chief of state: President Fatmir SEJDIU (since 10 February
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January
2008)
cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly
elections: the president is elected for a five-year term by the
Kosovo Assembly; election last held 9 January 2008 (next to be held
by in 2013); the prime minister is elected by the Kosovo Assembly
election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president; first round:
Fatmir SEDIU 62, Naim MALOKU 37; second round: Fatmir SEDIU 61, Naim
MALOKU 37; and Hashim THACI elected to be prime minister by the
Assembly

Kuwait
chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since
29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
head of government: Prime Minister NASIR MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah
(since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR Mubarak
al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers
MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006) and
Faysal al-HAJJI (since 5 April 2007); note - the Amir accepted the
resignation of the prime minister and cabinet on 1 December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the Amir
elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime ministers

Kyrgyzstan
chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIEV (since 14
August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Igor CHUDINOV (since 24 December
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and
security, appointed solely by the president
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected by popular vote for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 July 2005
(next scheduled for 2010); prime minister nominated by the
parliamentary party holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such
party exists, the president selects the party that will nominate a
prime minister
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected president; percent of
vote - Kurmanbek BAKIEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other
candidates 7.5%

Laos
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8
June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June
2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May
2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT
Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27
March 2001)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National
Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly
for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held
in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by
National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG
Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote -
100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of
National Assembly vote - 97%

Latvia
chief of state: President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since 20 December
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 31 May 2007 (next
to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president,
confirmed by Parliament
election results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary
vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39

Lebanon
chief of state: President Michel SULAYMAN (as of 25 May 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Fuad SINIORA (since 30 June
2005); Deputy Prime Minister Elias MURR (since April 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 25 May
2008 (next to be held in 2014); the prime minister and deputy prime
minister appointed by the president in consultation with the
National Assembly
election results: Michel SULAYMAN elected president; National
Assembly vote - 118 for, 6 abstentions, 3 invalidated

Lesotho
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996);
note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November
1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: according to the constitution, the leader of the majority
party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the
monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution that
came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a
"living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative
powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to
depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession,
or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not
of mature age

Liberia
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16
January 2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16
January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 November 2005
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF elected president; percent
of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 59.6%, George WEAH
40.4%

Libya
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held March 2006 (next to be held NA)
election results: NA

Liechtenstein
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November
1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince
ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August
2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince
to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government (Prime Minister) Otmar HASLER
(since 5 April 2001); Deputy Head of Government (Deputy Prime
Minister) Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is
usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the
leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually
appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a
coalition government

Lithuania
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrius KUBILIUS (since 27
November 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004
(next to be held in June 2009); prime minister appointed by the
president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote
- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; Andrius KUBILIUS
approved by Parliament 89-27 with 16 abstentions

Luxembourg
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000);
Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 20
January 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following popular elections to
the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister
by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the
monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Macau
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March
2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,
three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, and
one pro-Beijing educator
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last
held 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes;
three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent

Macedonia
chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSh/DPA, and several
small parties
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 April
and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime minister
elected by the Assembly following legislative elections
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on
second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,
Sasko KEDEV 37.3%

Madagascar
chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May
2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Charles RABEMANANJARA (25 January
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held in December 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean
LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%,
Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia
RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%

Malawi
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next
to be held in May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 35.9%, John TEMBO 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe
CHAKUAMBA 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI 2.5%

Malaysia
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin
(since 13 December 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since
31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul
Razak (since 7 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers
of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held on 3
November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality
of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler
note: position of paramount ruler is primarily ceremonial; in
practice, selection is based on principle of rotation among rulers
of states

Maldives
chief of state: President Mohamed NASHEED (since 11
November 2008); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mohamed NASHEED (since 11 November
2008); Vice President (vacant)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution, the president is elected by
direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term); election last held 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be
held in 2013)
election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote
- NASHEED 54.25%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.75%; note - NASHEED is
expected to assume office on 11 November 2008

Mali
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June
2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007
(next to be held in April 2012); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent
of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%,
other 9.6%

Malta
chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a
five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister
election results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House of
Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

Marshall Islands
chief of state: President Litokwa TOMEING (since 7
January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Litokwa TOMEING (since 7 January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
the legislature
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its members
for a four-year term; election last held 7 January 2008 (next to be
held in 2012)
election results: Litokwa TOMEING elected president; TOMEING
received 18 votes to 15 for incumbent Kessai Hesa NOTE

Mauritania
chief of state: Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ who led a
coup that deposed the democratically elected President Sidi Ould
Cheikh ABDELLAHI on 6 August 2008
head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF
(since 14 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11
March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on
25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh
ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2%

Mauritius
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7
October 2003); Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25
February 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5
July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election
last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president,
responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by
unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%

Mayotte
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May
2007); represented by Prefect Denis ROBIN (since 28 July 2008)
head of government: President of the General Council Said Omar OILI
(since 8 April 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term;
next election to be held in 2010

Mexico
chief of state: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa
(since 1 December 2006); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa
(since 1 December 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of
attorney general requires consent of the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single six-year
term; election last held on 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012)
election results: Felipe CALDERON elected president; percent of vote
- Felipe CALDERON 35.89%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR 35.31%,
Roberto MADRAZO 22.26%, other 6.54%

Micronesia, Federated States of
chief of state: President Emanuel
MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May
2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice
President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the
eight executive departments
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for
a second term); election last held 11 May 2007 (next to be held May
2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish
popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of
Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of
Congress vote - NA

Moldova
chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April
2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Zinaida GRECEANII (since 31 March
2008); First Deputy Prime Minister Igor DODON (since 31 March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next
to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the
president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from
designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of
confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and
entire cabinet; prime minister designated 21 March 2008; cabinet
received a vote of confidence 31 March 2008
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president;
parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Zinaida
GRECEANII designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of
confidence - 56 of 101

Monaco
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June
2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed
by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates
presented by the French Government

Mongolia
chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since 22 November
2007); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 27
September 2008); Vice Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6
December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22
May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of
vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN 20.05%,
Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT 12.59%;
Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
56 to 10

Montenegro
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 29
February 2008)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 April 2008 (next
to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted
by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip
VUJANOVIC 51.89%, Andrija MANDIC 19.55%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.64%,
Srdan MILIC 11.92%

Montserrat
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July
2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the
finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister

Morocco
chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19
September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch following legislative elections

Mozambique
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2
February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004
(next to be held in December 2009); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote
- Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%

Namibia
chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21
March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004
(next to be held in November 2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of
vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA
5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

Nauru
chief of state: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December
2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December
2007); note - President Ludwig SCOTTY defeated in a no confidence
vote in parliament on 19 December 2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: NA

Nepal
chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (as of 23 July
2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (as of 23 July 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (as of 18
August 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev GAUTAM
cabinet: selected by the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament; term NA; election last
held 21 July 2008
election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the
Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008;
Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282

Netherlands
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980);
Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the
monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22
July 2002); Deputy Prime Ministers Wouter BOS (since 22 February
2007) and Andre ROUVOET (since 22 February 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy
prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir
apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet
on legislative and administrative policy

Netherlands Antilles
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the
Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General
Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26
March 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
by the Staten; election last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held
by 2010)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP-St. M, UPB, WIPM Saba,
DP-St. E

New Caledonia
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007); represented by High Commissioner Yves DASSONVILLE (since
9 November 2007)
head of government: President of the Government Harold MARTIN (since
7 August 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the
Territorial Congress
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a
five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 7 August
2007 when Harold MARTIN was elected following the resignation of
Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU as president on 24 July 2007 (next to be held
in 2012)

New Zealand
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23
August 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November
2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime
minister appointed by the governor general

Nicaragua
chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10
January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January
2007); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10
January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term so
long as it is not consecutive); election last held 5 November 2006
(next to be held by November 2011)
election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra elected president - 38.07%,
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE 29%, Jose RIZO 26.21%, Edmundo JARQUIN 6.44%

Niger
chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December
1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Seyni OUMAROU (since 3 June
2007); appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round of election last held 4
December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

Nigeria
chief of state: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May
2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 21 April 2007 (next
to be held in April 2011)
election results: Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of
vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku
ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%

Niue
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by
New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000)
head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 18
June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in
Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5

Norfolk Island
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Acting Administrator Owen WALSH (since October
2007)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the administrator
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia

Northern Mariana Islands
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of
the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY
(since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January
2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January
2006)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal
departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members
include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads
appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican
presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms
(eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005
(next to be held in November 2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER
27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 17.99%

Norway
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20
July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17
October 2005)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
parliament
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch with the approval of the parliament

Oman
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary

Pakistan
chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 6
September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI (since 25
March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the
prime minister
elections: the president is elected by secret ballot through an
Electoral College comprising the members of the Senate, National
Assembly, and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term;
election last held on 6 September 2008 (next to be held not later
than 2013); note - any person who is a Muslim and not less than 45
years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the
National Assembly can contest the presidential election; the prime
minister is selected by the National Assembly; election last held on
24 March 2008
election results: ZARDARI elected; ZARDARI 481 votes, SIDDIQUI 153
votes, HUSSAIN 44 votes; GILANI elected prime minister; GILANI 264
votes, Pervaiz ELAHI 42 votes; several abstentions

Palau
chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since
19 January 2001); Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001); Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005)
cabinet: NA
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defeats Elias Camsek CHIN
(49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice president

Panama
chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1
September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1
September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since
1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1
September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1
September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since
1 September 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate
reelection; president and vice presidents must sit out two
additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for
reelection); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held on 3 May
2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice
president
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent
of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany
30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party),
PP (Popular Party)

Papua New Guinea
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE
(since 29 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2
August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Puka TEMU (since 29 August 2007)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by governor general on
recommendation of prime minister
elections: monarch is hereditary; governor general nominated by
parliament and appointed by chief of state; following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition
usually is appointed prime minister by governor general

Paraguay
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez
(since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15
August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 20
April 2008 (next to be held April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president;
percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR
30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%

Peru
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice
President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice
President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Yehude SIMON Munaro (since 14 October 2008)
does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and
congressional elections held 9 April 2006 with runoff election held
4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election;
percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%

Philippines
chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since
20 January 2001); note - president is both chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20
January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO)
elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year
term; election last held on 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent
of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three
others 23%

Pitcairn Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand
and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands George FERGUSSON
(since April 2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since
September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the
Island Council
head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006);
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1
January 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner
appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a
three-year term; election last held December 2004 (next to be held
in December 2007)
election results: Jay WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the
Island Council

Poland
chief of state: President Lech KACZYNSKI (since 23 December
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November
2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November
2007) and Grzegorz SCHETYNA (since 16 November 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and
the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and
the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 9 and 23 October
2005 (next to be held in the fall 2010); prime minister and deputy
prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results: Lech KACZYNSKI elected president; percent of
popular vote - Lech KACZYNSKI 54%, Donald Tusk 46%

Portugal
chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9
March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de
Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of
vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto
Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%

Puerto Rico
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US
(since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20
January 2001)
head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January
2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican presidential primary elections; governor elected by
popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last
held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the
vote, he will take office on 2 January 2009

Qatar
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al-Thani (since 27 June
1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin
Hamad Al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad
bin Khalifa Al-Thani, fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir
Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also
holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces
head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir
Al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin
Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member
Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative
powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the
first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Romania
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December
2004); note - President Traian BASESCU was suspended by vote of
parliament on 19 April 2007, but resumed his duties on 23 May 2007
after a popular referendum confirmed that his impeachment should not
stand
head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29
December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004
with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004
(next to be held in November-December 2009); prime minister
appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian
NASTASE 48.77%

Russia
chief of state: President Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV
(since 7 May 2008)
head of government: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 8
May 2008); First Deputy Premiers Igor Ivanovich SHUVALOV and Viktor
Alekseyevich ZUBKOV (since 12 May 2008); Deputy Premiers Sergey
Borisovich IVANOV (since 12 May 2008), Dmitriy Nikolayevich KOZAK
(since 14 October 2008), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 24
September 2007), Igor Ivanovich SECHIN (since 12 May 2008), Sergey
Semenovich SOBYANIN (since 12 May 2008), Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004), and Dmitry Nikolayevich KOZAK (since 14
October 2008)
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of
the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other
individuals; all are appointed by the president
note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 2 March 2008 (next
to be held in March 2012); note - no vice president; if the
president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill
health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier serves as acting
president until a new presidential election is held, which must be
within three months; premier appointed by the president with the
approval of the Duma
election results: Dmitriy MEDVEDEV elected president; percent of
vote - Dmitry MEDVEDEV 70.2%, Gennady ZYUGANOV 17.7%, Vladimir
ZHIRINOVSKY 9.4%, Andrey BOGDONOV 1.3%

Rwanda
chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); elections last held 25 August 2003
(next to be held in 2010)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct
popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%,
Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%

Saint Barthelemy
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March
2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno
MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory,
economic, social, and cultural council
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the
Territorial Council on 16 July 2007

Saint Helena
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952)
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Andrew GURR
(since 11 November 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, three
ex-officio officers, and five elected members of the Legislative
Council
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the
monarch

Saint Kitts and Nevis
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville
SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general

Saint Lucia
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since
September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9
September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office Friday, 7
September 2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general

Saint Martin
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May
2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Frantz
GUMBS (since 7 August 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory
economic, social, and cultural council
election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Frantz GUMBS elected president by the Territorial
Council on 7 August 2008

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY
(since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Jean-Pierre BERCOT
(since 28 July 2008)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Stephane
ARTANO (since 21 February 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is
elected by the members of the council

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir
Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29
March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Samoa
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of
state on the prime minister's advice
elections: chief of state is elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 June
2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by
the Legislative Assembly

San Marino
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Ernesto
BENEDETTINI and Captain Regent Assunta MELONI (for the period 1
October-31 March 2009)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Fiorenzo STOLFI (since 27 July 2006)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in
September 2007 (next to be held in March 2008); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held 27 July 2006 (next
to be held by 2011)
election results: Ernesto BENEDETTINI and Assunta MELONI elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Fiorenzo STOLFI
elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs;
percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent
(co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over
meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress
of State), which has 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and
General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of
state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some
prime ministerial roles

Sao Tome and Principe
chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES
(since 3 September 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22
June 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next
to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National
Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of
vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%

Saudi Arabia
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin
Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown
Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch,
born 5 January 1928); note - the monarch is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz
Al Saud (since 1 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four
years and includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance
Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future
Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after
Crown Prince Sultan becomes king

Senegal
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou SOUMARE (since 19
June 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last
held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Abdoulaye WADE reelected president in the first
round of voting; percent of vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa
SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other
9.7%

Serbia
chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirko CVETKOVIC (since 7 July
2008)
cabinet: Federal Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013); prime minister elected by the Assembly
election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second round
of voting; Boris TADIC received 51.2% of the vote and Tomislav
NIKOLIC 48.8%

Seychelles
chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14
April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent
of vote - James MICHEL 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%, Philippe
BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in which President
James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president
after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004

Sierra Leone
chief of state: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17
September 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September
2007)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 August 2007 and
8 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: second round results; percent of vote - Ernest Bai
KOROMA 54.6%, Solomon BEREWA 45.4%

Singapore
chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September
1999)
note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal
communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August
2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004);
Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime
Ministers Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004) and WONG Kan
Seng (since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term;
appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August
2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or
leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by
president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN appointed president in
August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified
three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held

Slovakia
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 July 2006);
Deputy Prime Ministers Dusan CAPLOVIC, Robert KALINAK, Stefan
HARABIN, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 April and 17
April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009); following National
Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of
a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC elected president in runoff;
percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 59.9%, Vladimir MECIAR 40.1%

Slovenia
chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December
2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 21 October and 11
November 2007 (next to be held in the fall of 2012); following
National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime
minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly;
election last held on 9 November 2004 (next National Assembly
elections to be held in October 2008)
election results: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote -
Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Janez JANSA elected prime
minister by National Assembly vote - 57 to 27 in 2004

Solomon Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Derek SIKUA (since 20 December
2007); note - Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE defeated in a no
confidence vote in parliament on 13 December 2007; SIKUA elected on
20 December 2007
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members
of Parliament
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years
(eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime
minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the
prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Somalia
chief of state: Transitional Federal President Abdullahi
YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a transitional governing
entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs
relocated to Somalia in June 2004
head of government: Prime Minister Nur "Adde" HASSAN Hussein (since
24 November 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the former leader of the
semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by
the Transitional Federal Assembly

South Africa
chief of state: President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 25
September 2008); Executive Deputy President Baleka MBETE (since 25
September 2008); note - Thabo MBEKI resigned as president effective
25 September 2008; the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 25 September
2008); Executive Deputy President Baleka MBETE (since 25 September
2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
25 September 2008 (next to be held in April 2009); note - Kgalema
MOTLANTHE is serving out the term of Thabo MBEKI
election results: Kgalema MOTLANTHE elected president; National
Assembly vote - Kgalema MOTLANTHE 269, Joe SEREMANE 50, other 41;
note - Thabo MBEKI resigned as president effective 25 September
2008, Kgalema MOTLANTHE is serving the remainder of his term

Spain
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975);
Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister
equivalent) Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004);
First Vice President (and Minister of the Presidency) Maria Teresa
FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA (since 18 April 2004) and Second Vice President
(and Minister of Economy and Finance) Pedro SOLBES Mira (since 18
April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are
non-binding
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually proposed president by the monarch and
elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 and 11
April 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); vice presidents
appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO reelected President
of the Government; percent of National Assembly vote - 46.94%

Sri Lanka
chief of state: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 19
November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government; Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November
2005) holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister
head of government: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November
2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 November 2005
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA elected president; percent of
vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 50.3%, Ranil WICKREMESINGHE 48.4%, other
1.3%

Sudan
chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since
16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August
2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16
October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August
2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the
National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front
or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet
elections: election last held 13-23 December 2000; next to be held
no later than July 2009 under terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement
election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president;
percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar
Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combined
vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular
opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of
guarantees for a free and fair election
note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary
Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served
concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister,
and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed
president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for
the first time in March 1996

Suriname
chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since
12 August 2000); Vice President Ramdien SARDJOE (since 3 August
2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12
August 2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National
Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United
People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and
regional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); election
last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN reelected president;
percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR
35.4%, other 1.7%; note - after two votes in the parliament failed
to secure a two-thirds majority for a candidate, the vote then went
to a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005

Svalbard
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January
1991)
head of government: Governor Per SEFLAND (since 1 October 2005);
Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since 2003)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice

Swaziland
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since
16 October 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly

Sweden
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September
1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree,
daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5
October 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the prime minister is elected by the parliament; election
last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)
election results: Fredrik REINFELDT elected prime minister with 175
out of 349 votes

Switzerland
chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1
January 2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January
2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government representing the Federal Council; the Federal Council is
the formal chief of state and head of government whose council
members, rotating in one-year terms as federal president, represent
the Council
head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January
2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2008)
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal
Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a
one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last
held on 12 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2008)
election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of
Federal Assembly vote - 80.0%; Hans-Rudolf MERZ elected vice
president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 86.5%

Syria
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000);
Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees
foreign policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)
oversees cultural policy
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah
al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second
seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May
2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice
presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of
vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%

Taiwan
chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008);
Vice President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIO
Chao-shiuan (since 20 May 2008); Vice Premier (Vice President of
Executive Yuan) Paul CHIU (CHANG-hsiung) (since 20 May 2008)
cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president on
recommendation of premier)
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 22 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012);
premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the premier
election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president on 22 March 2008;
percent of vote - MA Ying-jeou 58.45%, Frank HSIEH 41.55%; MA
Ying-jeou takes office on 20 May 2008

Tajikistan
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6
November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19
November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 6.2%, other 14.5%

Tanzania
chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001)
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid KARUME was reelected to
that office on 30 October 2005
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December
2010); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote
- Jakaya KIKWETE 80.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 11.7%, Freeman MBOWE 5.9%

Thailand
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet or (BHUMIBOL
Adulyadej) (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled
ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
OLARN Cahipravat (since 24 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SOMPONG Amornwiwat (since 24
September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: monarch is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution,
prime minister is designated from among members of House of
Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority
coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king; prime
minister is limited to two 4-year terms

Timor-Leste
chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May
2007); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is
able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national
elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8
August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre
GUSMAO; Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007
with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following
elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority
coalition as prime minister
election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%

Togo
chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005);
note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded
by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, with the support of the military
following international condemnation for the unconstitutional move
he then stepped aside pending elections, and Abass BONFOH served as
interim president; Faure GNASSINGBE later won popular elections in
April 2005
head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7
September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held
by 2010); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of
vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas
LAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%

Tokelau
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator
David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Pio TUIA (since 23 February 2008); note -
position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,
consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku
(village mayors), functions as a cabinet
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of
government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a
one-year term

Tonga
chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11
February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16
May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch
for life; four appointed from among the elected members of the
Legislative Assembly, including two each from the nobles' and
peoples' representatives serving three-year terms
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,
the cabinet, and two governors
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the monarch

Trinidad and Tobago
chief of state: President George Maxwell
RICHARDS (since 17 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24
December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
11 February 2008 (next to be held by February 2013); the president
usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party
in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS reelected president;
percent of electoral college vote - NA

Tunisia
chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7
November 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17
November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 24 October 2004 (next to be
held in October 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a
fourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%,
Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%

Turkey
chief of state: President Abdullah GUL (since 28 August 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 14
March 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Cemil CICEK (since 29 August
2007); Deputy Prime Minister Hayati YAZICI (since 29 August 2007);
Deputy Prime Minister Nazim EKREN (since 29 August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for one
seven-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president from
among members of parliament
election results: Abdullah GUL received 339 votes in the third round
of voting on 28 August 2007, after failing to garner the two thirds
vote required by law in the first two rounds
note: president-elect must have a two-thirds majority of the
National Assembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on
the third ballot

Turkmenistan
chief of state: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW
(since 14 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14
February 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 11 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president;
percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 89.2%, Amanyaz ATAJYKOW
3.2%, other candidates 7.6%

Turks and Caicos Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5
August 2008)
head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (chief minister
since 15 August 2003, sworn in as premier on 9 August 2006); note -
the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six
ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the
House of Assembly, and the attorney general
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party is appointed premier by the governor

Tuvalu
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Filoimea TELITO (since 15 April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Apisai IELEMIA (since 14 August
2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 14 August 2006 (next to be held
following parliamentary elections in 2010)
election results: Apisai IELEMIA elected Prime Minister in a
Parliamentary election on 14 August 2006

Uganda
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI
(since seizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Apolo NSIBAMBI (since
5 April 1999); note - the prime minister assists the president in
the supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected
legislators
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%, Kizza
BESIGYE 37.4%, other 3.3%

Ukraine
chief of state: President Viktor A. YUSHCHENKO (since 23
January 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (since 18
December 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr TURCHYNOV
(since 18 December 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Hryhoriy NEMYRYA
and Ivan VASYUNYK (since 18 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers selected by the prime minister; the
only exceptions are the foreign and defense ministers, who are
chosen by the president
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Secretariat helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); note - a special repeat runoff
presidential election between Viktor YUSHCHENKO and Viktor
YANUKOVYCH took place on 26 December 2004 after the earlier 21
November 2004 contest - won by YANUKOVYCH - was invalidated by the
Ukrainian Supreme Court because of widespread and significant
violations; under constitutional reforms that went into effect 1
January 2006, the majority in parliament takes the lead in naming
the prime minister
election results: Viktor YUSHCHENKO elected president; percent of
vote - Viktor YUSHCHENKO 52%, Viktor YANUKOVYCH 44.2%

United Arab Emirates
chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid
Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi)
(since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD
BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers
SULTAN bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin
Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the
seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional
authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions
federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi)
and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for
five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004
upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President
ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held in 2009); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan elected president by
a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktum
unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his
brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid Al-Maktum

United Kingdom
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14
November 1948)
head of government: Prime Minister James Gordon BROWN (since 27 June
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually the prime minister

United States
chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January
2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible
for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be
held on 6 November 2012)
election results: Barack H. OBAMA elected president; percent of
popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%;
note - OBAMA is expected to assume office on 20 January 2009

Uruguay
chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1
March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March
2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive
terms); election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held in
October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote
- Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING
10.3%; other 4.1%

Uzbekistan
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March
1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2
January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term,
extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 23
December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister, ministers,
and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote
- Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Aslidden RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom
TASHMUKHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%

Vanuatu
chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16
August 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22
September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral
college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to
be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime
minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following
general elections in 2012)
election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49
votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

Venezuela
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3
February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ
Rengifo (since 4 January 2008); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo
(since 4 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held in December 2012)
note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new
constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an
election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of
this constitution
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%

Vietnam
chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June
2006); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June
2006); Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28
June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006),
and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime
minister and confirmed by National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for five-year term; last held 27 June 2006 (next to be held
in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president from among the
members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed
by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy
prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly
election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime
minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%

Virgin Islands
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US
(since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20
January 2001)
head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections
for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the
Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor
and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote
for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held
7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote -
John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%

Wallis and Futuna
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since
16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI
(since 28 July 2008)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione
KANIMOA (since January 2001)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the
Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by
the members of the assembly

Western Sahara
none

Yemen
chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May
1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the
merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd
al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31
March 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held in September
2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of
vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

Zambia
chief of state: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August
2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008); note -
President BANDA was acting president since the illness and eventual
death of President Levy MWANAWASA on 18 August 2008, he was then
elected president on 30 October 2008 to serve out the remainder of
MWANAWASA's term; the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008);
Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 30 October 2008
(next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the
president; note - due to the untimely death of former President Levy
MWANAWASA, early elections were held to identify a replacement to
serve out the remainder of his term
election results: Rupiah BANDA elected president; percent of vote -
Rupiah BANDA 40.1%, Michael SATA 38.1%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 19.7%,
Godfrey MIYANDA 0.8%, other 1.3%

Zimbabwe
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE
(since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since
December 1999) and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since
31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999)
and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
House of Assembly
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper
signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each
province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term
limits); elections last held 28 March 2008 followed by a run-off on
27 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013); co-vice presidents appointed
by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 85.5%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 9.3%, other
5.2%; note - first round voting results - Morgan TSVANGIRAI 47.9%,
Robert Gabriel MUGABE 43.2%, Simba MAKONI 8.3%, other 0.6%;
first-round round polls were deemed to be flawed suppressing
TSVANGIRAI's results; the 27 June 2008 run-off between MUGABE and
TSVANGIRAI were severely flawed and internationally condemned

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2078 Exports

Afghanistan
$274 million; note - not including illicit exports or
reexports (2006)

Albania
$1.076 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Algeria
$60.51 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

American Samoa
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)

Andorra
$148.7 million f.o.b. (2005)

Angola
$45.03 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Anguilla
$13 million (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda
$84.3 million (2007 est.)

Argentina
$55.78 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Armenia
$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Aruba
$124 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2006)

Australia
$142.1 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$162.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$21.27 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
$674 million (2006)

Bahrain
$13.79 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$12.45 billion (2007 est.)

Barbados
$385 million (2006)

Belarus
$24.47 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Belgium
$322.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Belize
$429 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Benin
$586 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$763 million (2006)

Bhutan
$350 million f.o.b. (2006)

Bolivia
$4.49 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$4.243 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Botswana
$5.025 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Brazil
$160.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
$25.3 million (2002)

Brunei
$6.767 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Bulgaria
$18.44 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
$617 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Burma
$6.122 billion f.o.b.
note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the
value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled
to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2007 est.)

Burundi
$44 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cambodia
$4.089 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cameroon
$3.827 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Canada
$431.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
$76.5 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$2.52 million (2004)

Central African Republic
$146.7 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Chad
$4.201 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Chile
$67.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

China
$1.22 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Christmas Island
$NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
$NA

Colombia
$30.58 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Comoros
$32 million f.o.b. (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$1.587 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Congo, Republic of the
$5.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
$5.222 million (2005)

Costa Rica
$9.268 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$8.476 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Croatia
$12.62 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cuba
$3.734 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cyprus
$1.495 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$122.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Denmark
$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Djibouti
$340 million f.o.b. (2006)

Dominica
$94 million f.o.b. (2006)

Dominican Republic
$7.237 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$14.37 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$24.45 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$4.035 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$9.904 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Eritrea
$12 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Estonia
$11.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
$1.288 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

European Union
$1.33 trillion; note - external exports, excluding
intra-EU trade (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$125 million (2004 est.)

Faroe Islands
$634 million f.o.b. (2006)

Fiji
$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Finland
$89.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

France
$546 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
$211 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Gabon
$6.956 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$88 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
$301 million f.o.b.; (includes West Bank) (2005)

Georgia
$2.104 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
$1.354 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ghana
$4.162 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
$271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Greece
$23.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Greenland
$480 million f.o.b. (2006)

Grenada
$38 million (2006)

Guam
$45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Guatemala
$6.94 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Guernsey
$NA

Guinea
$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$133 million f.o.b. (2006)

Guyana
$683 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Haiti
$522 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Honduras
$5.594 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$345.9 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2007 est.)

Hungary
$87.77 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iceland
$4.793 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

India
$151.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$118 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iran
$88.26 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iraq
$38.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ireland
$115.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
$NA

Israel
$50.37 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Italy
$502.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Jamaica
$2.331 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Japan
$678.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Jersey
$NA

Jordan
$5.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$48.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kenya
$4.127 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kiribati
$17 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Korea, North
$1.466 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Korea, South
$379 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kosovo
$148.4 million (2007)

Kuwait
$63.72 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$1.337 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Laos
$970 million (2007 est.)

Latvia
$8.143 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$4.077 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Lesotho
$853 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Liberia
$1.197 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Libya
$42.97 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$2.47 billion (1996)

Lithuania
$17.18 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$18.42 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Macau
$2.557 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2006)

Macedonia
$3.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Madagascar
$986 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Malawi
$604 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Malaysia
$176.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Maldives
$167 million f.o.b. (2006)

Mali
$294 million f.o.b. (2006)

Malta
$3.238 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Mauritania
$1.395 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Mauritius
$2.231 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Mayotte
$6.5 million f.o.b. (2005)

Mexico
$271.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)

Moldova
$1.361 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Monaco
$716.3 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2005)

Mongolia
$1.889 billion f.o.b. (2007)

Montenegro
$171.3 million (2003)

Montserrat
$700,000 (2001)

Morocco
$12.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Mozambique
$2.412 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Namibia
$2.919 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Nauru
$64,000 f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Nepal
$830 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border
trade with India (2006)

Netherlands
$456.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$3.71 billion f.o.b. (2006)

New Caledonia
$1.341 billion f.o.b. (2006)

New Zealand
$27.35 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$2.313 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones
(2007 est.)

Niger
$428 million f.o.b. (2006)

Nigeria
$61.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Niue
$201,400 (2004)

Norfolk Island
$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Northern Mariana Islands
$NA

Norway
$140.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Oman
$23.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Pakistan
$18.12 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Palau
$5.882 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Panama
$9.312 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone
(2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$4.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Paraguay
$5.463 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Peru
$27.96 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Philippines
$49.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
$NA

Poland
$144.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Portugal
$51.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Qatar
$42.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Romania
$40.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Russia
$355.5 billion (2007 est.)

Rwanda
$184 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
$19 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$84 million (2006)

Saint Lucia
$288 million (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$5.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$193 million (2006)

Samoa
$131 million f.o.b. (2006)

San Marino
$1.291 billion (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe
$9 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$226.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Senegal
$1.65 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Serbia
$8.824 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$395 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$216 million f.o.b. (2006)

Singapore
$302.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Slovakia
$57.53 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$27.06 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
$237 million f.o.b. (2006)

Somalia
$300 million f.o.b. (2006)

South Africa
$76.19 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Spain
$256.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$8.135 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sudan
$8.879 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Suriname
$1.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Svalbard
$197.6 million (2004)

Swaziland
$1.926 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sweden
$170.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$200.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Syria
$11.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$246.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
$1.606 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tanzania
$2.227 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Thailand
$151.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
$10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)

Togo
$702 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tokelau
$0 (2002)

Tonga
$22 million f.o.b. (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago
$13.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tunisia
$15.15 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turkey
$115.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$7.567 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$169.2 million (2000)

Tuvalu
$1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Uganda
$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ukraine
$49.84 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$178.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$442.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

United States
$1.148 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$5.063 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$8.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$40 million f.o.b. (2006)

Venezuela
$69.17 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$48.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$4.234 billion (2001)

Wallis and Futuna
$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)

West Bank
$301 million f.o.b.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
$13.89 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Yemen
$7.311 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Zambia
$4.594 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$1.52 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2079 Debt - external

Afghanistan
$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia;
Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral Development
Banks (2004)

Albania
$1.55 billion (2004)

Algeria
$3.957 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

American Samoa
$NA

Andorra
$NA

Angola
$8.357 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Anguilla
$8.8 million (1998)

Antigua and Barbuda
$359.8 million (June 2006)

Argentina
$135.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Armenia
$1.372 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Aruba
$478.6 million (2005 est.)

Australia
$826.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Austria
$752.5 billion (30 June 2007)

Azerbaijan
$2.439 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
$342.6 million (2004 est.)

Bahrain
$7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$21.23 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Barbados
$668 million (2003)

Belarus
$7.347 billion (31 December 2007)

Belgium
$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)

Belize
$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)

Benin
$1.2 billion (2007)

Bermuda
$160 million (FY99/00)

Bhutan
$713.3 million (2006)

Bolivia
$4.495 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$6.734 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Botswana
$408 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Brazil
$229.4 billion (31 December 2007)

British Virgin Islands
$36.1 million (1997)

Brunei
$0 (2005)

Bulgaria
$34.88 billion (30 June 2007)

Burkina Faso
$1.33 billion (2007)

Burma
$7.022 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Burundi
$1.2 billion (2003)

Cambodia
$3.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Cameroon
$2.554 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Canada
$758.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Cape Verde
$325 million (2002)

Cayman Islands
$70 million (1996)

Central African Republic
$1.153 billion (2007 est.)

Chad
$1.6 billion (2005 est.)

Chile
$57.6 billion (31 December 2007)

China
$363 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Colombia
$41.39 billion (30 June 2007)

Comoros
$232 million (2000 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$10 billion (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
$5 billion (2000 est.)

Cook Islands
$141 million (1996 est.)

Costa Rica
$7.416 billion (30 June 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
$13.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Croatia
$46.3 billion (30 June 2007)

Cuba
$16.79 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion
owed to Russia (31 December 2007 est.)

Cyprus
$26.97 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$74.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Denmark
$492.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Djibouti
$428 million (2006)

Dominica
$213 million (2004)

Dominican Republic
$10.21 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ecuador
$17.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Egypt
$29.2 billion (30 June 2007)

El Salvador
$9.574 billion (December 2007)

Equatorial Guinea
$338 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Eritrea
$311 million (2000 est.)

Estonia
$24.82 billion (30 June 2007)

Ethiopia
$2.621 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$NA

Faroe Islands
$64 million (1999)

Fiji
$127 million (2004 est.)

Finland
$271.2 billion (30 June 2007)

France
$4.396 trillion (30 June 2007)

French Polynesia
$NA

Gabon
$4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$628.8 million (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
$NA

Georgia
$4.5 billion (2007)

Germany
$4.489 trillion (30 June 2007)

Ghana
$4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gibraltar
$NA

Greece
$86.72 billion (31 December 2007)

Greenland
$25 million (1999)

Grenada
$347 million (2004)

Guam
$NA

Guatemala
$5.908 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guernsey
$NA

Guinea
$3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$941.5 million (2000 est.)

Guyana
$1.2 billion (2002)

Haiti
$1.475 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Honduras
$3.411 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$588 billion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$125.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Iceland
$3.073 billion (2002)

India
$149.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
$140 billion (31 December 2007)

Iran
$20.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Iraq
$100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ireland
$1.841 trillion (30 June 2007)

Isle of Man
$NA

Israel
$89.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Italy
$996.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Jamaica
$9.657 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Japan
$1.492 trillion (30 June 2007)

Jersey
$NA

Jordan
$8.133 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$96.36 billion (31 December 2007)

Kenya
$6.713 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kiribati
$10 million (1999 est.)

Korea, North
$12.5 billion (2001 est.)

Korea, South
$220.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Kosovo
according to the national bank of Serbia, Kosovo's external
debt was around $1.2 billion; Kosovo was willing to accept around
$900 million (2007)

Kuwait
$33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$2.966 billion (30 June 2007)

Laos
$3.179 billion (2006)

Latvia
$33.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
$31.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Lesotho
$689 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Liberia
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Libya
$4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$0 (2001)

Lithuania
$27.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Luxembourg
$NA

Macau
$0 (2006)

Macedonia
$3.967 billion (31 December 2007)

Madagascar
$4.6 billion (2002)

Malawi
$894 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Malaysia
$53.09 billion (31 December 2007)

Maldives
$482 million (2006 est.)

Mali
$2.8 billion (2002)

Malta
$188.8 million (2005)

Marshall Islands
$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Mauritania
NA

Mauritius
$2.149 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mayotte
$NA

Mexico
$179.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)

Moldova
$3.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Monaco
$18 billion (2000 est.)

Mongolia
$1.438 billion (2007)

Montenegro
$650 million (2006)

Montserrat
$8.9 million (1997)

Morocco
$19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mozambique
$4.189 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Namibia
$1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nauru
$33.3 million (2002)

Nepal
$3.07 billion (March 2006)

Netherlands
$2.277 trillion (30 June 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
$2.68 billion (2004)

New Caledonia
$79 million (1998 est.)

New Zealand
$51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Niger
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Nigeria
$8.007 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Niue
$418,000 (2002 est.)

Norfolk Island
$NA

Northern Mariana Islands
$NA

Norway
$469.1 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30
June 2007)

Oman
$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Pakistan
$38.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Palau
$0 (FY99/00)

Panama
$10.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$1.646 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Paraguay
$3.492 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Peru
$32.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Philippines
$61.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Poland
$169.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Portugal
$461.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Puerto Rico
$NA

Qatar
$33.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Romania
$74.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Russia
$356.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Saint Helena
$NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$314 million (2004)

Saint Lucia
$257 million (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$223 million (2004)

Samoa
$177 million (2004)

San Marino
$NA

Sao Tome and Principe
$318 million (2002)

Saudi Arabia
$58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Senegal
$2.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Serbia
$26.24 billion (includes debt for Montenegro and Kosovo)
(2007 est.)

Seychelles
$1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$1.61 billion (2003 est.)

Singapore
$25.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Slovakia
$36.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
$40.42 billion (30 June 2007)

Solomon Islands
$166 million (2004)

Somalia
$3 billion (2001 est.)

South Africa
$39.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain
$1.084 trillion (30 June 2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$12.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sudan
$29.42 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Suriname
$504.3 million (2005 est.)

Swaziland
$524 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Sweden
$598.2 billion (30 June 2006)

Switzerland
$1.34 trillion (30 June 2007)

Syria
$6.633 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Taiwan
$97.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Tajikistan
$1.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tanzania
$4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Thailand
$59.52 billion (31 December 2007)

Togo
$2 billion (2005)

Tonga
$80.7 million (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
$2.869 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tunisia
$19.27 billion (December 2007)

Turkey
$247.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkmenistan
$1.4 billion to $5 billion (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$NA

Tuvalu
$NA

Uganda
$1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ukraine
$69.04 billion (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates
$61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$10.45 trillion (30 June 2007)

United States
$12.25 trillion (30 June 2007)

Uruguay
$11.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Uzbekistan
$3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$81.2 million (2004)

Venezuela
$43.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vietnam
$21.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$NA

Wallis and Futuna
$3.67 million (2004)

West Bank
$NA

Western Sahara
$NA

World
$51.78 trillion
note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt,
both public and private (2004 est.)

Yemen
$6.044 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zambia
$2.596 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$5.155 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2080 Fiscal year

Afghanistan
21 March - 20 March

Albania
calendar year

Algeria
calendar year

American Samoa
1 October - 30 September

Andorra
calendar year

Angola
calendar year

Anguilla
1 April - 31 March

Antigua and Barbuda
1 April - 31 March

Argentina
calendar year

Armenia
calendar year

Aruba
calendar year

Australia
1 July - 30 June

Austria
calendar year

Azerbaijan
calendar year

Bahamas, The
1 July - 30 June

Bahrain
calendar year

Bangladesh
1 July - 30 June

Barbados
1 April - 31 March

Belarus
calendar year

Belgium
calendar year

Belize
1 April - 31 March

Benin
calendar year

Bermuda
1 April - 31 March

Bhutan
1 July - 30 June

Bolivia
calendar year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
calendar year

Botswana
1 April - 31 March

Brazil
calendar year

British Virgin Islands
1 April - 31 March

Brunei
1 April - 31 March

Bulgaria
calendar year

Burkina Faso
calendar year

Burma
1 April - 31 March

Burundi
calendar year

Cambodia
calendar year

Cameroon
1 July - 30 June

Canada
1 April - 31 March

Cape Verde
calendar year

Cayman Islands
1 April - 31 March

Central African Republic
calendar year

Chad
calendar year

Chile
calendar year

China
calendar year

Christmas Island
1 July - 30 June

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
1 July - 30 June

Colombia
calendar year

Comoros
calendar year

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
calendar year

Congo, Republic of the
calendar year

Cook Islands
1 April - 31 March

Costa Rica
calendar year

Cote d'Ivoire
calendar year

Croatia
calendar year

Cuba
calendar year

Cyprus
calendar year

Czech Republic
calendar year

Denmark
calendar year

Djibouti
calendar year

Dominica
1 July - 30 June

Dominican Republic
calendar year

Ecuador
calendar year

Egypt
1 July - 30 June

El Salvador
calendar year

Equatorial Guinea
calendar year

Eritrea
calendar year

Estonia
calendar year

Ethiopia
8 July - 7 July

European Union
NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
1 April - 31 March

Faroe Islands
calendar year

Fiji
calendar year

Finland
calendar year

France
calendar year

French Polynesia
calendar year

Gabon
calendar year

Gambia, The
calendar year

Gaza Strip
calendar year

Georgia
calendar year

Germany
calendar year

Ghana
calendar year

Gibraltar
1 July - 30 June

Greece
calendar year

Greenland
calendar year

Grenada
calendar year

Guam
1 October - 30 September

Guatemala
calendar year

Guernsey
calendar year

Guinea
calendar year

Guinea-Bissau
calendar year

Guyana
calendar year

Haiti
1 October - 30 September

Holy See (Vatican City)
calendar year

Honduras
calendar year

Hong Kong
1 April - 31 March

Hungary
calendar year

Iceland
calendar year

India
1 April - 31 March

Indonesia
calendar year

Iran
21 March - 20 March

Iraq
calendar year

Ireland
calendar year

Isle of Man
1 April - 31 March

Israel
calendar year

Italy
calendar year

Jamaica
1 April - 31 March

Japan
1 April - 31 March

Jersey
1 April - 31 March

Jordan
calendar year

Kazakhstan
calendar year

Kenya
1 July - 30 June

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
calendar year

Korea, South
calendar year

Kuwait
1 April - 31 March

Kyrgyzstan
calendar year

Laos
1 October - 30 September

Latvia
calendar year

Lebanon
calendar year

Lesotho
1 April - 31 March

Liberia
calendar year

Libya
calendar year

Liechtenstein
calendar year

Lithuania
calendar year

Luxembourg
calendar year

Macau
calendar year

Macedonia
calendar year

Madagascar
calendar year

Malawi
1 July - 30 June

Malaysia
calendar year

Maldives
calendar year

Mali
calendar year

Malta
calendar year

Marshall Islands
1 October - 30 September

Mauritania
calendar year

Mauritius
1 July - 30 June

Mayotte
calendar year

Mexico
calendar year

Micronesia, Federated States of
1 October - 30 September

Moldova
calendar year

Monaco
calendar year

Mongolia
calendar year

Montenegro
calendar year

Montserrat
1 April - 31 March

Morocco
calendar year

Mozambique
calendar year

Namibia
1 April - 31 March

Nauru
1 July - 30 June

Nepal
16 July - 15 July

Netherlands
calendar year

Netherlands Antilles
calendar year

New Caledonia
calendar year

New Zealand 1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

Nicaragua
calendar year

Niger
calendar year

Nigeria
calendar year

Niue
1 April - 31 March

Norfolk Island
1 July - 30 June

Northern Mariana Islands
1 October - 30 September

Norway
calendar year

Oman
calendar year

Pakistan
1 July - 30 June

Palau
1 October - 30 September

Panama
calendar year

Papua New Guinea
calendar year

Paraguay
calendar year

Peru
calendar year

Philippines
calendar year

Pitcairn Islands
1 April - 31 March

Poland
calendar year

Portugal
calendar year

Puerto Rico
1 July - 30 June

Qatar
1 April - 31 March

Romania
calendar year

Russia
calendar year

Rwanda
calendar year

Saint Helena
1 April - 31 March

Saint Kitts and Nevis
calendar year

Saint Lucia
1 April - 31 March

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
calendar year

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
calendar year

Samoa
June 1 - May 31

San Marino
calendar year

Sao Tome and Principe
calendar year

Saudi Arabia
calendar year

Senegal
calendar year

Seychelles
calendar year

Sierra Leone
calendar year

Singapore
1 April - 31 March

Slovakia
calendar year

Slovenia
calendar year

Solomon Islands
calendar year

Somalia
NA

South Africa
1 April - 31 March

Spain
calendar year

Sri Lanka
calendar year

Sudan
calendar year

Suriname
calendar year

Swaziland
1 April - 31 March

Sweden
calendar year

Switzerland
calendar year

Syria
calendar year

Taiwan
calendar year

Tajikistan
calendar year

Tanzania
1 July - 30 June

Thailand
1 October - 30 September

Timor-Leste
calendar year

Togo
calendar year

Tokelau
1 April - 31 March

Tonga
1 July - 30 June

Trinidad and Tobago
1 October - 30 September

Tunisia
calendar year

Turkey
calendar year

Turkmenistan
calendar year

Turks and Caicos Islands
calendar year

Tuvalu
calendar year

Uganda
1 July - 30 June

Ukraine
calendar year

United Arab Emirates
calendar year

United Kingdom
6 April - 5 April

United States
1 October - 30 September

Uruguay
calendar year

Uzbekistan
calendar year

Vanuatu
calendar year

Venezuela
calendar year

Vietnam
calendar year

Virgin Islands
1 October - 30 September

Wallis and Futuna
calendar year

West Bank
calendar year

Western Sahara
calendar year

Yemen
calendar year

Zambia
calendar year

Zimbabwe
calendar year

This page was last updated on 18 November 2008

======================================================================

@2081 Flag description

Afghanistan
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red,
and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red
band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the
emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below
the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the
Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK);
this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of
wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic
inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of
the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is
great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name
Afghanistan

Akrotiri
the flag of the UK is used

Albania
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Algeria
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a
red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the
two-color boundary
note: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of
Islam (the state religion)

American Samoa
blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is
based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and
white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying
two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a
"Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk
known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols
broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the
relationship between the United States and American Samoa

Andorra
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the
coat of arms features a quartered shield
note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a
national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which
does bear a national emblem

Angola
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half
a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

Anguilla
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an
interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy
water below

Antigua and Barbuda
red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based
on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal
bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising
sun in the black band

Argentina
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white,
and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun
with a human face known as the Sun of May

Armenia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

Aruba
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the
upper hoist-side corner

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Australia
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing
the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star
depicts one point for each of the six original states and one
representing all of Australia's internal and external territories;
on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross
constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four
larger, seven-pointed stars

Austria
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Azerbaijan
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and
green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in
red band

Bahamas, The
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold,
and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist
side

Bahrain
red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states,
with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side;
the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Bangladesh
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the
sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the
lush vegetation of Bangladesh

Barbados
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and
blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the
colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Belarus
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half
the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red

Belgium
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,
and red
note: the design was based on the flag of France

Belize
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom
edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the
coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a
mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in
the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green
garland

Benin
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom)
with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Bermuda
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with
a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship
Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the
flag

Bhutan
divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the
upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered
along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing
away from the hoist side

Bolivia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band
note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black
five-pointed star centered in the yellow band

Bosnia and Herzegovina
a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly
side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top
of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven
full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom
along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Botswana
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in
the center

Bouvet Island
the flag of Norway is used

Brazil
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a
blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each
state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the
night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with
the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

British Indian Ocean Territory white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag

British Virgin Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked
on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll
bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Brunei
yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national
emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a
swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned
crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Bulgaria
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red
note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white
stripe, has been removed

Burkina Faso
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with
a yellow five-pointed star in the center
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Burma
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing 14, white, five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven
administrative divisions and seven states

Burundi
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and
bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk
superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,
two stars below)

Cambodia
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width),
and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat
outlined in black in the center of the red band
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its
design

Cameroon
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Canada
two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width),
with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is
centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red
and white

Cape Verde
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue
- equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three
bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and
a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a
circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of
the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the
length of the flag from the hoist side

Cayman Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above
a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a
scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE
SEAS

Central African Republic
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a
yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band

Chad
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of
Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms
centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Chile
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue
square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of
the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the
center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes
the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the
blood spilled to achieve independence
note: design was influenced by the US flag

China
red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller
yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the
middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Christmas Island
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper
hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image
of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is
blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia,
superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the
island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

Clipperton Island
the flag of France is used

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Colombia
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue,
and red
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Comoros
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and
blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered
within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing
the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a
line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and
the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -
Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols
of Islam

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
sky blue field divided diagonally
from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe
bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star
appears in the upper hoist corner

Congo, Republic of the
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the
lower triangle is red
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Cook Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for
every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Coral Sea Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Costa Rica
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double
width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical
disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a
light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just
below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the
words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Cote d'Ivoire
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side),
white, and green
note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France

Croatia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Cuba
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Cyprus
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the
name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two
green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white
field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance
from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red
crescent and a red five-pointed star

Czech Republic
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red
with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

Denmark
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side;
the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the
other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Dhekelia
the flag of the UK is used

Djibouti
two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light
green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Dominica
green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the
vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the
horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in
the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Dominican Republic
a centered white cross that extends to the edges
divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist
side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a
small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch
(left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross;
above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA,
LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA
DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Ecuador
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue,
and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the
flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not
bear a coat of arms

Egypt
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side
with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the
name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is
based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an
Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has
a plain white band

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

Equatorial Guinea
three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of
arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and
five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton
tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ,
JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Eritrea
red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing
the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the
lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is
centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Estonia
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three
equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Ethiopia
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and
red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from
the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the
three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa,
and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other
African countries upon independence that they became known as the
pan-African colors

European Union
blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged
in a circle in the center, representing the union of the peoples of
Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Faroe Islands
white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to
the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted
toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Fiji
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the
flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered
by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm
tree, bananas, and a white dove

Finland
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag;
the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

France
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and
red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the
origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the
design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags,
including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire,
Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French
dependent areas

French Polynesia
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white
band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white
wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on
the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the
wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
the flag of France is used

Gabon
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Gambia, The
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with
white edges, and green

Georgia
white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross
connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners
is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears
to date back to the 14th century

Germany
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

Ghana
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag
of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Gibraltar
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red
with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band;
hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Greece
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white;
there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a
white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established
religion of the country

Greenland
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a
large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of
the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Grenada
a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top
and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a
red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed
stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in
the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the
center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the
hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer
of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven
administrative divisions

Guam
territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all
four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse
containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree
with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the
national flag

Guatemala
three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side),
white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the
national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain)
all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed
swords and framed by a wreath

Guernsey
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed
cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Guinea
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guinea-Bissau
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green
with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black
five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guyana
green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow,
black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border
between the yellow and the green

Haiti
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a
centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a
palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing
the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Holy See (Vatican City)
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side)
and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed
keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara,
centered in the white band

Honduras
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue
with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered
in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former
Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El
Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Hong Kong
red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in
the center

Hungary
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Iceland
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

India
three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange)
(top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel)
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has
a small orange disk centered in the white band

Indonesia
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar
to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of
Poland, which is white (top) and red

Iran
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;
the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in
the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in
the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is
repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11
times along the top edge of the red band

Iraq
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green
Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of
Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain
white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin
centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation
colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a
compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Ireland
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and
has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green;
also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors
of green (hoist side), white, and red

Isle of Man
red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in
the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the
knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of
the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Israel
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as
the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal
horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Italy
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green
(hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the
Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side),
white, and green; inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by
Napoleon in 1797

Jamaica
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -
green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Jan Mayen
the flag of Norway is used

Japan
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without
rays) in the center

Jersey
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of
the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red
shield with the three lions of England in yellow

Jordan
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the
Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and
green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle
on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and
bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven
verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven
points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national
spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is
based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Kazakhstan
sky blue background representing the endless sky and a
gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle in the
center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold

Kenya
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;
the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering
crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Kiribati
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying
over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three
horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Korea, North
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side
of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

Korea, South
white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the
center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching
(Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Kosovo
centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of
Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars -
each representing one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo - arrayed
in a slight arc

Kuwait
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red
with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates
to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Kyrgyzstan
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

Laos
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and
red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Latvia
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width),
and maroon

Lebanon
three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white
(middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree
centered in the white band

Lesotho
three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in
the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and
prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black
Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was
unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Liberia
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the
US flag

Libya
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the
state religion)

Liechtenstein
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with
a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Lithuania
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and
red

Luxembourg
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a
darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Macau
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and
water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one
large in center of arc and four smaller

Macedonia
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the
edges of the red field

Madagascar
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Malawi
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Malaysia
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with
white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the
crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design
was based on the flag of the US

Maldives
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a
vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the
hoist side of the flag

Mali
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and
red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Malta
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the
upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,
edged in red

Marshall Islands
blue with two stripes radiating from the lower
hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star
with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the
two stripes

Mauritania
green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow,
horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the
crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Mauritius
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow,
and green

Mayotte
unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte
centered on a white field, above which the name of the island
appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of
arms, flanked on either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll
with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag
is the national flag of France

Mexico
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
red; the coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on
a cactus) is centered in the white band

Micronesia, Federated States of
light blue with four white
five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond
pattern

Moldova
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined
in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its
beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow
scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided
horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and
crescent all in black-outlined yellow; same color scheme as Romania

Monaco
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to
the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which
is white (top) and red

Mongolia
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and
red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national
emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
symbol)

Montenegro
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe
with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Montserrat
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer
half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside
a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Morocco
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known
as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and
green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red
is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian
gulf; design dates to 1912

Mozambique
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and
yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the
black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow
five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black
superimposed on an open white book

Namibia
a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the
flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the
upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow,
12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green

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

Navassa Island
the flag of the US is used

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

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

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

New Caledonia
the flag of France is used

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

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

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

Nigeria
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
green

Niue
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars -
a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each
arm of the bold red cross

Norfolk Island
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white,
and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in
the slightly wider white band

Northern Mariana Islands
blue, with a white, five-pointed star
superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional
foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a
wreath

Norway
red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Oman
three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width
with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national
emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed
swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the
vertical band

Pakistan
green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of
religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and
star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam

Palau
light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
shifted slightly to the hoist side

Panama
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are
white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and
plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and
white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Papua New Guinea
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner;
the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise
centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed
stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered

Paraguay
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the
emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the
left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star
within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY,
all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears
the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty
and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Peru
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red
with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of
quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all
framed by a green wreath

Philippines
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing
peace and justice) and red (representing courage); a white
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality;
the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary
rays, each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought
independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a
small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major
geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao;
the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown
upside down with the red band at the top

Pitcairn Islands
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered
on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green,
and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Poland
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to
the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Portugal
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and
red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the
dividing line

Puerto Rico
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design
initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag,
with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Qatar
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on
the hoist side

Romania
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the
yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also
resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Russia
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

Rwanda
three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width),
yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end
of the blue band

Saint Barthelemy
the flag of France is used

Saint Helena
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of
the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted
sailing ship

Saint Kitts and Nevis
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the
black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the
lower triangle is red

Saint Lucia
blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black
arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Saint Martin
the flag of France is used

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist
side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under
the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three
parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal
cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing
the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white
background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red
background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one
above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by
colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the
flag of France is used for official occasions

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
three vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three
green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Samoa
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant
bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern
Cross constellation

San Marino
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue
with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat
of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked
by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word
LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Sao Tome and Principe
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow
(double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed
side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles
triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the
Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as
"There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a
white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design
dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with
the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

Senegal
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow,
and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow
band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Serbia
three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white;
charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the
hoist side

Seychelles
five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red,
white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Sierra Leone
three equal horizontal bands of light green (top),
white, and light blue

Singapore
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near
the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent
(closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five
white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

Slovakia
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red
shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine
surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered
vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Slovenia
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red,
with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav,
Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the
center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and
rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an
inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the
Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th
and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of
the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Solomon Islands
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the
lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue
with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the
lower triangle is green

Somalia
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the
center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

South Africa
two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue
separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y,
the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y
embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are
separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are
separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
blue, with the flag of
the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and
the South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion
centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a
penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield, and below
it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the
Lion Protect its Own Land)

Spain
three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width),
and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the
yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of
the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left,
Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by
the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are
framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which
are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the
eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the
two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further
beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe

Sri Lanka
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other
panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a
sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow
field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between
the two panels

Sudan
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Suriname
five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white,
red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a
large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band

Svalbard
the flag of Norway is used

Swaziland
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width),
and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band
is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff
decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Sweden
blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in
the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Switzerland
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the
center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Syria
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black,
colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small, green,
five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars
represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to
the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an
Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt,
which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the
current design dates to 1980

Taiwan
red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Tajikistan
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of
white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold,
five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe

Tanzania
divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the
lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green
and the lower triangle is blue

Thailand
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
width), white, and red

Timor-Leste
red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that
extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of
the black triangle

Togo
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom)
alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square
is in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

Tokelau
the flag of New Zealand is used

Tonga
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner

Trinidad and Tobago
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from
the upper hoist side to the lower fly side

Tunisia
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent
nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam

Turkey
red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is
toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just
outside the crescent opening

Turkmenistan
green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist
side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing
carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; a white crescent
moon representing Islam with five white stars representing the
regions or welayats of Turkmenistan appear in the upper corner of
the field just to the fly side of the red stripe

Turks and Caicos Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer
half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell,
lobster, and cactus

Tuvalu
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country
with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

Uganda
six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red,
black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center
and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the
hoist side

Ukraine
two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grain fields under a blue sky

United Arab Emirates
three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side

United Kingdom
blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron
saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red
cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is
superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron
saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly
called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue
Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including
other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or
provinces, and British overseas territories

United States
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and
bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent
the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a
number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
the flag of the US is
used

Uruguay
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom)
alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner
with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May with
16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy

Uzbekistan
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and
green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and
12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Vanuatu
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by
a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow

Venezuela
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and
red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and
an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Vietnam
red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Virgin Islands
white field with a modified US coat of arms in the
center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms
shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three
arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and
white stripes below a blue panel

Wake Island
the flag of the US is used

Wallis and Futuna
unofficial, local flag has a red field with four
white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three
native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes
of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each
other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the
upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag

Yemen
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white
band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the
white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic
eagle centered in the white band

Zambia
green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red
(hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the
outer edge of the flag

Zimbabwe
seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black,
red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in
black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird
representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a
red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which
symbolizes peace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral
wealth, red - blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands
for the native people

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2085 Roadways (km)

Afghanistan
total: 42,150 km
paved: 12,350 km
unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)

Albania
total: 18,000 km
paved: 7,020 km
unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Algeria
total: 108,302 km
paved: 76,028 km (includes 645 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)

American Samoa
total: 221 km (2007)

Andorra
total: 270 km

Angola
total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Anguilla
total: 175 km
paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda
total: 1,165 km
paved: 384 km
unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Argentina
total: 231,374 km
paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 161,962 km (2004)

Armenia total: 7,700 km paved: 7,700 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2006)

Australia total: 812,972 km paved: 341,448 km unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)

Austria total: 107,262 km paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)

Azerbaijan
total: 59,141 km
paved: 29,210 km
unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)

Bahamas, The
total: 2,717 km
paved: 1,560 km
unpaved: 1,133 km (2002)

Bahrain
total: 3,498 km
paved: 2,768 km
unpaved: 730 km (2003)

Bangladesh
total: 239,226 km
paved: 22,726 km
unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)

Barbados
total: 1,600 km
paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Belarus
total: 94,797 km
paved: 84,028 km
unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)

Belgium
total: 152,256 km
paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)

Belize
total: 3,007 km
paved: 575 km
unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Benin
total: 16,000 km
paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)

Bermuda
total: 447 km
paved: 447 km
note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)

Bhutan
total: 8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)

Bolivia
total: 62,479 km
paved: 3,749 km
unpaved: 58,730 km (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads)
unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)

Botswana
total: 25,798 km
paved: 8,410 km
unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)

Brazil
total: 1,751,868 km
paved: 96,353 km
unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)

British Indian Ocean Territory
note: short section of paved road
between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

British Virgin Islands
total: 200 km
paved: 200 km (2007)

Brunei
total: 3,650 km
paved: 2,819 km
unpaved: 831 km (2005)

Bulgaria
total: 40,231 km
paved: 39,587 km (includes 331 km of expressways)
unpaved: 644 km (2005)

Burkina Faso
total: 92,495 km
paved: 3,857 km
unpaved: 88,638 km (2004)

Burma
total: 27,000 km
paved: 3,200 km
unpaved: 23,800 km (2006)

Burundi
total: 12,322 km
paved: 1,286 km
unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Cambodia
total: 38,257 km
paved: 2,406 km
unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)

Cameroon
total: 50,000 km
paved: 5,000 km
unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)

Canada
total: 1,042,300 km
paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2006)

Cape Verde
total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Cayman Islands total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007)

Central African Republic
total: 24,307 km (2000)

Chad
total: 33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)

Chile
total: 80,505 km
paved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)

China
total: 1,930,544 km
paved: 1,575,571 km (includes 41,005 km of expressways)
unpaved: 354,973 km (2005)

Christmas Island
total: 140 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (2007)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total: 22 km
paved: 10 km
unpaved: 12 km (2006)

Colombia
total: 164,257 km (2005)

Comoros
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (2002)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 153,497 km
paved: 2,794 km
unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 17,289 km
paved: 864 km
unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)

Cook Islands
total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Costa Rica
total: 35,330 km
paved: 8,621 km
unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 80,000 km
paved: 6,500 km
unpaved: 73,500 km
note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt
roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are
impassable (2006)

Croatia
total: 28,788 km (includes 877 km of expressways) (2006)

Cuba
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (includes 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (2000)

Cyprus
total: 14,630 km (area under government control: 12,280 km;
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km)
paved: area under government control: 7,979 km (includes 257 km of
expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km
unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered
by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2006)

Czech Republic
total: 128,512 km
paved: 128,512 km (includes 657 km of expressways) (2007)

Denmark
total: 72,362 km
paved: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006)

Djibouti
total: 3,065 km
paved: 1,226 km
unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)

Dominica
total: 780 km
paved: 393 km
unpaved: 387 km (2000)

Dominican Republic
total: 19,705 km
paved: 9,872 km
unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)

Ecuador
total: 43,670 km
paved: 6,472 km
unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)

Egypt
total: 92,370 km
paved: 74,820 km
unpaved: 17,550 km (2004)

El Salvador
total: 10,886 km
paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 2,880 km (2000)

Eritrea
total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (2000)

Estonia
total: 57,016 km
paved: 12,926 km (includes 99 km of expressways)
unpaved: 44,090 km (2005)

Ethiopia
total: 36,469 km
paved: 6,980 km
unpaved: 29,489 km (2004)

European Union
total: 5,454,446 km (2008)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2008)

Faroe Islands
total: 463 km (2006)

Fiji
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (2000)

Finland
total: 78,821 km
paved: 50,854 km (includes 700 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,967 km (2008)

France
total: 951,500 km
paved: 951,500 km (metropolitan France; includes 10,950 km of
expressways)
note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments
(2006)

French Polynesia
total: 2,590 km
paved: 1,735 km
unpaved: 855 km (1999)

Gabon
total: 9,170 km
paved: 937 km
unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)

Gambia, The
total: 3,742 km
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Gaza Strip
note: see entry for West Bank

Georgia
total: 20,329 km
paved: 7,854 km (includes 13 km of expressways)
unpaved: 12,475 km (2006)

Germany
total: 644,480 km
paved: 644,480 km (includes 12,400 km of expressways)
note: includes local roads (2006)

Ghana
total: 62,221 km
paved: 9,955 km
unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Gibraltar
total: 29 km
paved: 29 km (2007)

Greece
total: 117,533 km
paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)

Greenland
note: although there are short roads in towns, there are
no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by
sea or air (2005)

Grenada
total: 1,127 km
paved: 687 km
unpaved: 440 km (2000)

Guam
total: 1,045 km (2007)

Guatemala
total: 14,095 km
paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,232 km (2000)

Guinea
total: 44,348 km
paved: 4,342 km
unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 3,455 km
paved: 965 km
unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)

Guyana
total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)

Haiti
total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (2000)

Honduras
total: 13,600 km
paved: 2,775 km
unpaved: 10,825 km (2000)

Hong Kong
total: 2,009 km
paved: 2,009 km (2007)

Hungary
total: 159,568 km
paved: 70,050 km (30,874 km of interurban roads including 626 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 89,518 km (2005)

Iceland
total: 13,058 km
paved/oiled gravel: 4,397 km (does not include urban roads)
unpaved: 8,661 km (2007)

India
total: 3,316,452 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2006)

Indonesia
total: 391,009 km
paved: 216,714 km
unpaved: 174,295 km (2005)

Iran
total: 172,927 km
paved: 125,908 km (includes 1,429 km of expressways)
unpaved: 47,019 km (2006)

Iraq
total: 44,900 km
paved: 37,851 km
unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Ireland total: 96,602 km paved: 96,602 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2003)

Isle of Man total: 500 km (2008)

Israel
total: 17,870 km
paved: 17,870 km (includes 146 km of expressways) (2007)

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

Jamaica
total: 21,552 km
paved: 15,937 km (includes 33 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,615 km (2005)

Japan
total: 1,196,999 km
paved: 949,101 km (includes 7,383 km of expressways)
unpaved: 247,898 km (2006)

Jersey
total: 358 km (2002)

Jordan total: 7,694 km paved: 7,694 km (2006)

Kazakhstan total: 91,563 km paved: 83,717 km unpaved: 7,846 km (2006)

Kenya
total: 63,265 km (interurban roads)
paved: 8,933 km
unpaved: 54,332 km
note: there also are 100,000 km of rural roads and 14,500 km of
urban roads for a national total of 177,765 km (2004)

Kiribati
total: 670 km (2000)

Korea, North
total: 25,554 km
paved: 724 km
unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)

Korea, South
total: 102,062 km
paved: 90,417 km (includes 3,103 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,645 km (2006)

Kosovo
total: 1,924 km
paved: 1,666 km
unpaved: 258 km (2006)

Kuwait
total: 5,749 km
paved: 4,887 km
unpaved: 862 km (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,909 km (includes 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,591 km (2003)

Laos
total: 29,811 km
paved: 4,010 km
unpaved: 25,801 km (2006)

Latvia total: 69,675 km paved: 69,675 km (2006)

Lebanon total: 6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)

Lesotho
total: 7,091 km
paved: 1,404 km
unpaved: 5,687 km (2003)

Liberia
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)

Libya
total: 100,024 km
paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)

Liechtenstein
total: 380 km
paved: 380 km (2007)

Lithuania
total: 79,984 km
paved: 70,997 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,987 km (2006)

Luxembourg
total: 5,227 km
paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2004)

Macau
total: 384 km
paved: 384 km (2006)

Macedonia
total: 13,182 km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)

Madagascar
total: 65,663 km
paved: 7,617 km
unpaved: 58,046 km (2003)

Malawi
total: 15,451 km
paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Malaysia
total: 98,721 km
paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Maldives
total: 88 km
paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on
Laamu
note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Mali
total: 18,709 km
paved: 3,368 km
unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Malta
total: 2,227 km
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2005)

Marshall Islands
total: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways)
(2007)

Mauritania total: 11,066 km paved: 2,966 km unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Mauritius total: 2,028 km paved: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)

Mexico
total: 356,945 km
paved: 178,473 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways)
unpaved: 178,472 km (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)

Moldova
total: 12,666 km
paved: 12,117 km
unpaved: 549 km (2007)

Monaco total: 50 km paved: 50 km (2007)

Mongolia
total: 49,250 km
paved: 1,724 km
unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)

Montenegro
total: 7,368 km
paved: 4,742 km
unpaved: 2,626 km (2006)

Montserrat
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed
most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been
built in the north end of the island (2008)

Morocco
total: 57,625 km
paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)

Mozambique
total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)

Namibia
total: 42,237 km
paved: 5,406 km
unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Nauru
total: 24 km
paved: 24 km (2002)

Nepal
total: 17,280 km
paved: 9,829 km
unpaved: 7,451 km (2004)

Netherlands
total: 134,981 km (includes 2,604 km of expressways)
(2006)

Netherlands Antilles
total: 845

New Caledonia
total: 5,622 km (2006)

New Zealand
total: 93,576 km
paved: 61,564 km (includes 172 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,012 km (2006)

Nicaragua
total: 19,036 km
paved: 2,299 km
unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)

Niger
total: 18,550 km
paved: 3,803 km
unpaved: 14,747 km (2006)

Nigeria
total: 193,200 km
paved: 28,980 km
unpaved: 164,220 km (2004)

Niue
total: 120 km
paved: 120 km (2008)

Norfolk Island total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2008)

Northern Mariana Islands
total: 536 km (2007)

Norway
total: 92,946 km
paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)

Oman
total: 42,300 km
paved: 16,500 km (includes 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,800 km (2005)

Pakistan
total: 259,758 km
paved: 162,879 km (includes 711 km of expressways)
unpaved: 96,879 km (2005)

Palau
note: estimated to have 60 km of roads as of 1996

Panama
total: 11,978 km
paved: 4,300 km
unpaved: 7,343 km (2002)

Papua New Guinea
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (2000)

Paraguay
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)

Peru
total: 78,829 km
paved: 11,351 km (includes 276 km of expressways)
unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)

Philippines
total: 200,037 km
paved: 19,804 km
unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)

Poland
total: 423,997 km
paved: 295,356 km (includes 662 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128,641 km (2006)

Portugal
total: 82,900 km
paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,300 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2005)

Puerto Rico
total: 26,186 km
paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,309 km (2007)

Qatar
total: 7,790 km (2006)

Romania
total: 198,817 km
paved: 60,043 km (includes 228 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Russia
total: 933,000 km
paved: 754,984 km (includes 30,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 178,016 km
note: includes public, local, and departmental roads (2006)

Rwanda
total: 14,008 km
paved: 2,662 km
unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

Saint Helena
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km,
Tristan da Cunha 20 km)
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km) (2002)

Saint Kitts and Nevis total: 320 km paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)

Saint Lucia total: 1,210 km (2002)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total: 117 km
paved: 80 km
unpaved: 37 km (2000)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 829 km
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)

Samoa
total: 2,337 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)

San Marino total: 292 km paved: 292 km (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (2000)

Saudi Arabia
total: 221,372 km
paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)

Senegal
total: 13,576 km
paved: 3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)

Serbia
total: 36,875 km
paved: 31,392 km
unpaved: 5,483 km
note: roadways in Kosovo listed separately (2006)

Seychelles
total: 458 km
paved: 440 km
unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Sierra Leone
total: 11,300 km
paved: 904 km
unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Singapore
total: 3,262 km
paved: 3,262 km (includes 150 km of expressways) (2006)

Slovakia
total: 43,761 km
paved: 38,085 km (includes 316 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,676 km (2006)

Slovenia total: 38,562 km paved: 38,562 km (includes 579 km of expressways) (2006)

Solomon Islands total: 1,360 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 1,327 km note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

Somalia
total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)

South Africa
total: 362,099 km
paved: 73,506 km (includes 239 km of expressways)
unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)

Spain
total: 681,224 km
paved: 681,224 km (includes 13,872 km of expressways) (2006)

Sri Lanka
total: 97,286 km
paved: 78,802 km
unpaved: 18,484 km (2003)

Sudan
total: 11,900 km
paved: 4,320 km
unpaved: 7,580 km (2000)

Suriname
total: 4,304 km
paved: 1,130 km
unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Swaziland
total: 3,594 km
paved: 1,078 km
unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

Sweden
total: 425,300 km
paved: 139,300 km (includes 1,740 km of expressways)
unpaved: 286,000 km (2008)

Switzerland
total: 71,298 km
paved: 71,298 km (includes 1,758 of expressways) (2006)

Syria
total: 97,401 km
paved: 19,490 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways)
unpaved: 77,911 km (2006)

Taiwan
total: 40,262 km
paved: 38,171 km (includes 976 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,091 km (2007)

Tajikistan
total: 27,767 km (2000)

Tanzania total: 78,891 km paved: 6,808 km unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)

Thailand total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)

Timor-Leste
total: 6,040 km
paved: 2,600 km
unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)

Togo
total: 7,520 km
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)

Tonga
total: 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (2000)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (2000)

Tunisia
total: 19,232 km
paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)

Turkey
total: 426,951 km (includes 1,987 km of expressways) (2006)

Turkmenistan
total: 58,592 km
paved: 47,577 km
unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)

Tuvalu
total: 8 km
paved: 8 km (2002)

Uganda
total: 70,746 km
paved: 16,272 km
unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)

Ukraine
total: 169,422 km
paved: 165,611 km (includes 15 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,811 km (2007)

United Arab Emirates
total: 4,080 km
paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

United Kingdom
total: 398,366 km
paved: 398,366 km (includes 3,520 km of expressways) (2006)

United States
total: 6,465,799 km
paved: 4,209,835 km (includes 75,040 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,255,964 km (2007)

Uruguay
total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)

Uzbekistan
total: 86,496 km
paved: 75,511 km
unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)

Vanuatu
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Venezuela
total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (2002)

Vietnam
total: 222,179 km
paved: 42,167 km
unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)

Virgin Islands
total: 1,257 km (2007)

West Bank total: 5,147 km paved: 5,147 km note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)

World
total: 68,937,575 km (2008)

Yemen
total: 71,300 km
paved: 6,200 km
unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Zambia
total: 91,440 km
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Zimbabwe
total: 97,267 km
paved: 18,481 km
unpaved: 78,786 km (2002)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2086 Illicit drugs

Afghanistan
world's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation
increased 17% to a near-record 202,000 hectares in 2007; good
growing conditions pushed potential opium production to a record
8,000 metric tons, up 42% from last year; if the entire opium crop
were processed, 947 metric tons of heroin potentially could be
produced; drug trade is a source of instability and the Taliban and
other antigovernment groups participate in and profit from the drug
trade; widespread corruption impedes counterdrug efforts; most of
the heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan
opium; vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal
financial networks; regional source of hashish

Albania
increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian
opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to
a lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western
Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic
Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in
Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional
trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens

Angola
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for
Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa

Anguilla
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined
for the US and Europe

Antigua and Barbuda
considered a minor transshipment point for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an
offshore financial center

Argentina
a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe;
some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area;
law enforcement corruption; a source for precursor chemicals;
increasing domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers,
especially cocaine base and synthetic drugs

Armenia
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic
consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium
and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser
extent the rest of Europe

Aruba
transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some
accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage
of population consumes cocaine

Australia
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit
opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of
opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major
consumer of cocaine and amphetamines

Austria
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South
American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption
of European-produced synthetic drugs

Azerbaijan
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy,
mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program;
transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a
lesser extent the rest of Europe

Bahamas, The
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
US and Europe; offshore financial center

Bangladesh
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring
countries

Barbados
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics
bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

Belarus
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for
the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and
via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and
lightly regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering
legislation does not meet international standards; few
investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities

Belgium
growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit
point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South
American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine,
heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a
strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to
money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and
tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

Belize
transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer
of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; money-laundering
activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector

Benin
transshipment point used by Nigerian traffickers for narcotics
destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to
poorly enforced financial regulations

Bolivia
world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and
Peru) with an estimated 29,500 hectares under cultivation in 2007, a
slight increase over 2006; third largest producer of cocaine,
estimated at 120 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007;
transit country for Peruvian and Colombian cocaine destined for
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Europe; cultivation
generally increasing since 2000, despite eradication and alternative
crop programs; weak border controls; some money-laundering activity
related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil
and Paraguay; major cocaine consumption (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
increasingly a transit point for heroin being
trafficked to Western Europe; minor transit point for marijuana;
remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a
primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement,
and instances of corruption

Brazil
second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit
producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the
Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a
large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important
transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine
headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for
narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in
drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for
Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics
proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial
system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area

British Virgin Islands
transshipment point for South American
narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial
center makes it vulnerable to money laundering

Brunei
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled
substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory
death penalty

Bulgaria
major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the
European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money
laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions

Burma
remains world's second-largest producer of illicit opium with
an estimated production in 2008 of 340 metric tons, an increase of
26%, and cultivation in 2008 was 22,500 hectares, a 4% increase from
2007; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest
control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94% of poppy
cultivation; lack of government will to take on major
narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money
laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major
source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption;
currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to
continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering
controls (2008)

Cambodia
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in
the government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine
production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based
economy and porous borders

Canada
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and
export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant
large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing
ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable
to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial
services sector

Cape Verde
used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine
destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial
system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Cayman Islands
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug
transshipment to the US and Europe

Chile
transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the
region; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile
more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits,
especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a recent
anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors
passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making
Chile a significant consumer of cocaine

China
major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden
Triangle region of Southeast Asia; growing domestic drug abuse
problem; source country for chemical precursors, despite new
regulations on its large chemical industry

Colombia
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis;
world's leading coca cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca
cultivation in 2007, a 6% increase over 2006, producing a potential
of 535 metric tons of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of
coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to most of the US market and the
great majority of other international drug markets; in 2007, aerial
eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 153,000 hectares with
another 67,000 hectares manually eradicated, but aggressive
replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key
producer; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are
either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market
peso exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium
poppy cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between 2006 and
2007 with a corresponding estimated 27% decline in the yield of pure
heroin to 1.9 metric tons; (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the one of Africa's biggest producers of cannabis, but mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Costa Rica
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South
America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic
cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising;
significant consumption of amphetamines

Cote d'Ivoire
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local
consumption; utility as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe
reduced by ongoing political instability; while rampant corruption
and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to
money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits
the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

Croatia
transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian
heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for
maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe

Cuba
territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone
for US- and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for
certain drug-related crimes in 1999

Cyprus
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of
anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money
laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak

Czech Republic
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe;
producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets;
susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking,
organized crime; significant consumer of ecstasy

Dominica
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and
Europe; minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement
is weak, making the country particularly vulnerable to money
laundering

Dominican Republic
transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for
ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada;
substantial money laundering activity; Colombian narcotics
traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial
transactions; significant amphetamine consumption

Ecuador
significant transit country for cocaine originating in
Colombia and Peru, with over half of the US-bound cocaine passing
through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals
used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for
cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of
dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased
activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and
Colombian insurgents

Egypt
transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to
Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug
couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of
financial regulations

El Salvador
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of
marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine

Estonia
growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important
transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic
drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord;
potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug
trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector
to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy

Ethiopia
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and
Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined
for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use
and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in
all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system
limits the country's utility as a money laundering center

France
metropolitan France: transshipment point for South American
cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
the US and Europe

Georgia
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for
domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via
Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia

Germany
source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine
processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian
heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic
drugs; major financial center

Ghana
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a
lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the
US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a
well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility
as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and
cannabis use

Greece
a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and
heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and
precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine
transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug
trafficking and organized crime

Grenada
small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point
for marijuana and cocaine to US

Guatemala
major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005,
cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a
potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than
1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly
domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major
staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering
is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem

Guinea-Bissau
increasingly important transit country for South
American cocaine enroute to Europe; enabling environment for
trafficker operations thanks to pervasive corruption;
archipelago-like geography around the capital facilitates drug
smuggling

Guyana
transshipment point for narcotics from South America -
primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis;
rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human
smuggling

Haiti
Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US
and Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian
narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial
transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis

Honduras
transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit
producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally
for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some
money-laundering activity

Hong Kong
despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit
for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,
especially among young people

Hungary
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis
and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited
producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and
methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to
organized crime and drug trafficking, are improving, but remain
vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy

India
world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical
trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit
international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics
produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia;
illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money
laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor
production

Indonesia
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use;
producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy

Iran
despite substantial interdiction efforts and considerable
control measures along the border with Afghanistan, Iran remains one
of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to
Europe; suffers one of the highest opiate addiction rates in the
world, and has an increasing problem with synthetic drugs; lacks
anti-money laundering laws; has reached out to neighboring countries
to share counter-drug intelligence

Ireland
transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North
Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic
drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor
transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western
Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money
laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies
involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern

Israel
increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin
abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from
Jordan; money-laundering center

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

Jamaica
transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North
America and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption of cannabis;
government has an active manual cannabis eradication program;
corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering
activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit
financial transactions

Kazakhstan
significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS
markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra
(for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit
crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia
and the rest of Europe; significant consumer of opiates

Kenya
widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit
country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North
America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa;
significant potential for money-laundering activity given the
country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption,
and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities

Korea, North
for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of
the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of
them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad
while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December
2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have
linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and
methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant
ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003

Kyrgyzstan
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy
for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops;
transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the
rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates

Laos
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares,
about a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production
in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports
of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic
methamphetamine problem (2007)

Latvia
transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic
drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe,
Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved
legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent
enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of
offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime
(including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and
prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

Lebanon
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares
in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium
poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine
and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European
markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug
proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug
trafficking

Liberia
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin
and South American cocaine for the European and US markets;
corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade
provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center

Liechtenstein
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money
laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated
offshore financial services sector

Lithuania
transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine,
ecstasy, and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western
Europe, and neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of
high-quality amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis,
methamphetamines; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to
banking legislation

Macau
transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China;
consumer of opiates and amphetamines

Macedonia
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity
is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a
mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

Madagascar
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point
for heroin

Malaysia
drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe
penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug
demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine
producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional
drug market

Malta
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to
Western Europe

Mauritius
consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South
Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally;
significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money
laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the
government appears generally to be committed to regulating its
banking industry

Mexico
major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in
2007 rose to 6,900 hectares yielding a potential production of 18
metric tons of pure heroin, or 50 metric tons of "black tar" heroin,
the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States;
marijuana cultivation increased to 8,900 hectares in 2007 and
yielded a potential production of 15,800 metric tons; government
conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in
the world; continues as the primary transshipment country for
US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual
cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug
syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the
country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant
money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest
foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market
(2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
major consumer of cannabis

Moldova
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for
CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and
possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

Montserrat
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined
for the US and Europe

Morocco
one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish;
shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit
point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe;
significant consumer of cannabis

Mozambique
southern African transit point for South Asian hashish
and heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the
European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local
consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa);
corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system
vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed
financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center

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

Netherlands
major European producer of synthetic drugs, including
ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine,
heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound
ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering;
significant consumer of ecstasy

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

New Zealand
significant consumer of amphetamines

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

Nigeria
a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for
European, East Asian, and North American markets; consumer of
amphetamines; safe haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating
worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and
criminal activity; Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering
controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task
Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in
June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be
monitored by FATF

Pakistan
significant transit area for Afghan drugs, including
heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Iran, Western
markets, the Gulf States, Africa, and Asia; financial crimes related
to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain
problems; opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 2,300 hectares in
2007 with 600 of those hectares eradicated; federal and provincial
authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that utilizes
forced eradication, fines, and arrests

Panama
major cocaine transshipment point and primary
money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering
activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore
financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring
of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains
a major problem

Papua New Guinea
major consumer of cannabis

Paraguay
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is
consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for
Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and
Europe; weak border controls, extensive corruption and
money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak
anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

Peru
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru is now
the world's second largest producer of coca leaf, though it lags far
behind Colombia; cultivation of coca in Peru declined to 36,000
hectares in 2007; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at
210 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007; finished cocaine
is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market;
increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being
moved to Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia for use in the
Southern Cone or transshipment to Europe and Africa; increasing
domestic drug consumption

Philippines
domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing
problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major
consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in
rural areas where Manila's control is limited

Poland
despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international
information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer
of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment
point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to
Western Europe

Portugal
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined
for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin;
transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;
consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

Romania
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American
cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant
financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable
to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency
exchange houses, and casinos

Russia
limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and
producer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption;
government has active illicit crop eradication program; used as
transshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American
cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent
Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source
of heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime are
key concerns; major consumer of opiates

Saint Kitts and Nevis
transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity

Saint Lucia
transit point for South American drugs destined for the
US and Europe

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
transshipment point for South
American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis
cultivation

Saudi Arabia
death penalty for traffickers; improving
anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Senegal
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin
and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America;
illicit cultivator of cannabis

Serbia
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to
Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money
laundering

Singapore
drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement
efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore
is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for
money laundering

Slovakia
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market;
consumer of ecstasy

Slovenia
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

South Africa
transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine,
as well as a major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine
and heroin consumption on the rise; world's largest market for
illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through
various east African countries, but increasingly producing its own
synthetic drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money
launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and
narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African
economy

Spain
despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin
American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of
Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and
hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin
American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering
site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized
crime

Suriname
growing transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment
point for arms-for-drugs dealing

Switzerland
a major international financial center vulnerable to the
layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite
significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules
persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through
offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for
and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and
Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and
limited ecstasy production

Syria
a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for
regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls
and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering

Taiwan
regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and
precursor chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major
problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin;
rising problems with use of ketamine and club drugs

Tajikistan
major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for
Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited
illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption;
Tajikistan seizes roughly 80% of all drugs captured in Central Asia
and stands third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw
opium); significant consumer of opiates

Tanzania
growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast
Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for South African,
European, and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for
southern Africa; money laundering remains a problem

Thailand
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit
point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market
from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of
cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring
countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication
efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in
methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer
of methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government
crackdowns

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem

Trinidad and Tobago
transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

Turkey
key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western
Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea
routes; major Turkish and other international trafficking
organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert
imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey
and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas
of legal opium poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw
concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls

Turkmenistan
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian
and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor
chemicals bound for Afghanistan

Turks and Caicos Islands
transshipment point for South American
narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Ukraine
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for
CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the
West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment
point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin
America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved
anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the
Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and
Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering
regime continues to be monitored by FATF

United Arab Emirates
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for
traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing
countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it
vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls
improving, but informal banking remains unregulated

United Kingdom
producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and
synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian
heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs;
money-laundering center

United States
world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from
Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and
Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican
methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian
heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants,
stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering
center

Uruguay
small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for
Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement
corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws;
weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption
of cocaine base and synthetic drugs

Uzbekistan
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian
and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit
cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for
domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by
government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin
precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

Venezuela
small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the
processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large
quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country
from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related
money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia
and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily
targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by
Colombian insurgents on border

Vietnam
minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point
for Southeast Asian heroin; government continues to face domestic
opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding
crackdowns

World
cocaine: worldwide coca leaf cultivation in 2007 amounted to
232,500 hectares; Colombia produced slightly more than two-thirds of
the worldwide crop, followed by Peru and Bolivia; potential pure
cocaine production decreased 7% to 865 metric tons in 2007; Colombia
conducts aggressive coca eradication campaign, but both Peruvian and
Bolivian Governments are hesitant to eradicate coca in key growing
areas; 551 metric tons of export-quality cocaine (85% pure) is
documented to have been seized or destroyed in 2005; US consumption
of export quality cocaine is estimated to have been in excess of 380
metric tons
opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation continued to
increase in 2007, with a potential opium production of 8,400 metric
tons, reaching the highest levels recorded since estimates began in
mid-1980s; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting
for 95% of the global supply; Southeast Asia - responsible for 9% of
global opium - saw marginal increases in production; Latin America
produced 1% of global opium, but most was refined into heroin
destined for the US market; if all potential opium was processed
into pure heroin, the potential global production would be 1,000
metric tons of heroin in 2007

Zambia
transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone,
small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and
possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled
with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it
an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of
cannabis

Zimbabwe
transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax,
and methamphetamines en route to South Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2087 Imports

Afghanistan
$3.823 billion (2006)

Albania
$3.999 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Algeria
$26.25 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

American Samoa
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)

Andorra
$1.879 billion (2005)

Angola
$12.29 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Anguilla
$143 million (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda
$522.8 million (2007 est.)

Argentina
$42.53 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Armenia
$2.807 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Aruba
$1.054 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Australia
$160 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$160.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$6.045 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
$2.401 billion (2006)

Bahrain
$10.93 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$16.67 billion (2007 est.)

Barbados
$1.586 billion (2006)

Belarus
$28.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Belgium
$323.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Belize
$642 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Benin
$1.085 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$1.162 billion (2006)

Bhutan
$320 million c.i.f. (2006)

Bolivia
$3.249 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$9.947 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Botswana
$3.403 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Brazil
$120.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
$187 million (2002 est.)

Brunei
$2 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Bulgaria
$28.67 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
$1.296 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Burma
$2.942 billion f.o.b.
note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of
consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from
Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2007 est.)

Burundi
$272 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cambodia
$5.424 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cameroon
$3.714 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Canada
$386.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
$743.6 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$866.9 million (2004)

Central African Republic
$237.3 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Chad
$1.158 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Chile
$43.99 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

China
$904.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Christmas Island
$NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
$NA

Colombia
$31.17 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Comoros
$143 million f.o.b. (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$2.263 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Congo, Republic of the
$2.634 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
$81.04 million (2005)

Costa Rica
$12.26 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$5.932 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Croatia
$25.99 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cuba
$10.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cyprus
$7.84 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Denmark
$102 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Djibouti
$1.555 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Dominica
$296 million f.o.b. (2006)

Dominican Republic
$13.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$12.76 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$44.95 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$8.108 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Eritrea
$573 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Estonia
$14.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
$5.165 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

European Union
$1.466 trillion; note - external imports, excluding
intra-EU trade (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$90 million (2004 est.)

Faroe Islands
$751 million c.i.f. (2006)

Fiji
$3.12 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Finland
$78.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

France
$600.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
$1.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Gabon
$2.107 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$271 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
$2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes West Bank) (2005)

Georgia
$4.977 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
$1.075 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ghana
$8.053 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
$2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Greece
$80.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Greenland
$712 million c.i.f. (2006)

Grenada
$343 million (2006)

Guam
$701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Guatemala
$12.62 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Guernsey
$NA

Guinea
$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$200 million f.o.b. (2006)

Guyana
$1.006 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Haiti
$1.734 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Honduras
$8.556 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$365.6 billion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$86.88 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iceland
$6.181 billion (2007 est.)

India
$230.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$84.93 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iran
$53.88 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iraq
$25.67 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ireland
$84.76 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
$NA

Israel
$55.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Italy
$498.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Jamaica
$5.784 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Japan
$573.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Jersey
$NA

Jordan
$12.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$33.21 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kenya
$8.54 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kiribati
$62 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Korea, North
$2.879 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Korea, South
$349.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kosovo
$NA

Kuwait
$20.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$2.636 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Laos
$1.378 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Latvia
$14.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$11.93 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Lesotho
$1.536 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Liberia
$7.143 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Libya
$14.43 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$917.3 million (1996)

Lithuania
$22.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$23.13 billion c.i.f. (2007 est.)

Macau
$4.559 billion c.i.f. (2006)

Macedonia
$4.977 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Madagascar
$1.918 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Malawi
$866 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Malaysia
$139.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Maldives
$930 million f.o.b. (2006)

Mali
$2.358 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Malta
$4.541 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)

Mauritania
$1.475 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Mauritius
$3.656 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Mayotte
$341 million f.o.b.; note - excludes petroleum imports (2005)

Mexico
$281.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)

Moldova
$3.677 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Monaco
$916.1 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2005)

Mongolia
$2.117 billion c.i.f. (2007)

Montenegro
$601.7 million (2003)

Montserrat
$17 million (2001)

Morocco
$28.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Mozambique
$2.811 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Namibia
$3.091 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Nauru
$20 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Nepal
$2.398 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Netherlands
$406.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$15.74 billion f.o.b. (2006)

New Caledonia
$1.998 billion f.o.b. (2006)

New Zealand
$29.06 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$4.078 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Niger
$800 million f.o.b. (2006)

Nigeria
$38.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Niue
$9.038 million (2004)

Norfolk Island
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Northern Mariana Islands
$214.4 million (2001)

Norway
$77.24 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Oman
$11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Pakistan
$28.76 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Palau
$107.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Panama
$12.62 billion f.o.b.
note: includes the Colon Free Zone (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$2.629 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Paraguay
$6.094 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Peru
$19.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Philippines
$57.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
$NA

Poland
$160.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Portugal
$75.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Qatar
$19.86 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Romania
$64.54 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Russia
$223.4 billion (2007 est.)

Rwanda
$637 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
$45 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$383 million (2006)

Saint Lucia
$791 million (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$68.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$578 million (2006)

Samoa
$324 million f.o.b. (2006)

San Marino
$2.035 billion (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe
$66 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$82.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Senegal
$3.731 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Serbia
$18.35 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$823 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$560 million f.o.b. (2006)

Singapore
$252 billion (2007 est.)

Slovakia
$58.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$29.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
$256 million f.o.b. (2006)

Somalia
$798 million f.o.b. (2006)

South Africa
$81.89 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Spain
$380.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$10.36 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sudan
$7.722 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Suriname
$1.297 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Svalbard
$NA

Swaziland
$1.914 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sweden
$151.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$187.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Syria
$10.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$215.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
$2.762 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tanzania
$4.861 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Thailand
$125.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
$202 million (2004 est.)

Togo
$1.201 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tokelau
$969,200 c.i.f. (2002)

Tonga
$139 million f.o.b. (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago
$7.67 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tunisia
$18.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turkey
$162 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$4.516 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$175.6 million (2000)

Tuvalu
$12.91 million c.i.f. (2005)

Uganda
$2.983 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ukraine
$60.41 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$621.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

United States
$1.968 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$5.554 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$4.48 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$156 million c.i.f. (2006)

Venezuela
$45.46 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$58.92 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$4.609 billion (2001)

Wallis and Futuna
$61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)

West Bank
$2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
$13.74 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Yemen
$6.735 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Zambia
$3.611 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$2.183 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2088 Independence

Afghanistan
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign
affairs)

Albania
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Algeria
5 July 1962 (from France)

American Samoa
none (territory of the US)

Andorra
1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French Count
of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel)

Angola
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda
1 November 1981 (from UK)

Argentina
9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Armenia
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Aruba
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Australia
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Austria
976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156
(Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire
proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

Azerbaijan
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Bahamas, The
10 July 1973 (from UK)

Bahrain
15 August 1971 (from UK)

Bangladesh
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March
1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December
1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation
of the state of Bangladesh

Barbados
30 November 1966 (from UK)

Belarus
25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Belgium
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared
independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I
ascended to the throne)

Belize
21 September 1981 (from UK)

Benin
1 August 1960 (from France)

Bermuda
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Bhutan
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary
king)

Bolivia
6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for
independence completed 1 March 1992; independence declared 3 March
1992)

Botswana
30 September 1966 (from UK)

Brazil
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

British Virgin Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei
1 January 1984 (from UK)

Bulgaria
3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the
Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the
Ottoman Empire)

Burkina Faso
5 August 1960 (from France)

Burma
4 January 1948 (from UK)

Burundi
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)

Cambodia
9 November 1953 (from France)

Cameroon
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Canada
1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11
December 1931 (recognized by UK)

Cape Verde
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Cayman Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Central African Republic
13 August 1960 (from France)

Chad
11 August 1960 (from France)

Chile
18 September 1810 (from Spain)

China
221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January
1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949
(People's Republic established)

Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Colombia
20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Comoros
6 July 1975 (from France)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

Congo, Republic of the
15 August 1960 (from France)

Cook Islands
none (became self-governing in free association with
New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move
to full independence by unilateral action)

Costa Rica
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Cote d'Ivoire
7 August 1960 (from France)

Croatia
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Cuba
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the
US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a
day of independence

Cyprus
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these
proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

Czech Republic
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech
Republic and Slovakia)

Denmark
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849
became a constitutional monarchy

Djibouti
27 June 1977 (from France)

Dominica
3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominican Republic
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Ecuador
24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Egypt
28 February 1922 (from UK)

El Salvador
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Equatorial Guinea
12 October 1968 (from Spain)

Eritrea
24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Estonia
20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Ethiopia
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest
in the world - at least 2,000 years

European Union
7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed
establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered
into force)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Faroe Islands
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Fiji
10 October 1970 (from UK)

Finland
6 December 1917 (from Russia)

France
486 (Frankish tribes unified); 843 (Western Francia
established from the division of the Carolingian Empire)

French Polynesia
none (overseas lands of France)

Gabon
17 August 1960 (from France)

Gambia, The
18 February 1965 (from UK)

Georgia
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Germany
18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into
four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945
following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West
Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and
French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany)
proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone;
unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October
1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991

Ghana
6 March 1957 (from UK)

Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Greenland
none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of
Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but
Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating
to Greenland)

Grenada
7 February 1974 (from UK)

Guam
none (territory of the US)

Guatemala
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guernsey
none (British crown dependency)

Guinea
2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea-Bissau
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from
Portugal)

Guyana
26 May 1966 (from UK)

Haiti
1 January 1804 (from France)

Holy See (Vatican City)
11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the
three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged,
among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and
established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal
States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may
be traced back to the 8th century

Honduras
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Hong Kong
none (special administrative region of China)

Hungary
25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional
founding date)

Iceland
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish
Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

India
15 August 1947 (from UK)

Indonesia
17 August 1945 (declared)
note: recognized by the Netherlands on 27 December 1949; in August
2005, the Netherlands announced it recognized de facto Indonesian
independence on 17 August 1945

Iran
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

Iraq
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional
Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government

Ireland
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

Isle of Man
none (British crown dependency)

Israel
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)

Italy
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not
finally unified until 1870)

Jamaica
6 August 1962 (from UK)

Japan
660 B.C. (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)

Jersey
none (British crown dependency)

Jordan
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)

Kazakhstan
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Kenya
12 December 1963 (from UK)

Kiribati
12 July 1979 (from UK)

Korea, North
15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Korea, South
15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Kosovo
17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

Kuwait
19 June 1961 (from UK)

Kyrgyzstan
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Laos
19 July 1949 (from France)

Latvia
18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

Lebanon
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)

Lesotho
4 October 1966 (from UK)

Liberia
26 July 1847

Libya
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

Liechtenstein
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein
established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

Lithuania
11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by
Soviet Union)

Luxembourg
1839 (from the Netherlands)

Macau
none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed
independence from Yugoslavia)

Madagascar
26 June 1960 (from France)

Malawi
6 July 1964 (from UK)

Malaysia
31 August 1957 (from UK)

Maldives
26 July 1965 (from UK)

Mali
22 September 1960 (from France)

Malta
21 September 1964 (from UK)

Marshall Islands 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Mauritania
28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritius
12 March 1968 (from UK)

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized
by Spain)

Micronesia, Federated States of
3 November 1986 (from the
US-administered UN trusteeship)

Moldova
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Monaco
1419 (beginning of rule by the House of Grimaldi)

Mongolia
11 July 1921 (from China)

Montenegro
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

Montserrat
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco
2 March 1956 (from France)

Mozambique
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Namibia
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

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

Nepal
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

Netherlands
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low
Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26
July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of
Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace
of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

Netherlands Antilles
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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

New Zealand
26 September 1907 (from UK)

Nicaragua
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Niger
3 August 1960 (from France)

Nigeria
1 October 1960 (from UK)

Niue
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Northern Mariana Islands
none (commonwealth in political union with
the US)

Norway
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden
dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the
union)

Oman
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Pakistan
14 August 1947 (from British India)

Palau
1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Panama
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain
28 November 1821)

Papua New Guinea
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered
UN trusteeship)

Paraguay
14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Peru
28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Philippines
12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4
July 1946 (from the US)

Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland
11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

Portugal
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910
(republic proclaimed)

Puerto Rico
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Qatar
3 September 1971 (from UK)

Romania
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire;
independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26
March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic
proclaimed)

Russia
24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Rwanda
1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

Saint Barthelemy
none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Helena
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
19 September 1983 (from UK)

Saint Lucia
22 February 1979 (from UK)

Saint Martin
none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
27 October 1979 (from UK)

Samoa
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

San Marino
3 September AD 301

Sao Tome and Principe
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Saudi Arabia
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

Senegal
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence
achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

Serbia
5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

Seychelles
29 June 1976 (from UK)

Sierra Leone
27 April 1961 (from UK)

Singapore
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

Slovakia
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech
Republic and Slovakia)

Slovenia
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Solomon Islands
7 July 1978 (from UK)

Somalia
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which
became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered
UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

South Africa
31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four
British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free
State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared) 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

Spain
the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of
independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in
the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the
small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost
immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this
event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is
traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

Sri Lanka
4 February 1948 (from UK)

Sudan
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

Suriname
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

Svalbard
none (territory of Norway)

Swaziland
6 September 1968 (from UK)

Sweden
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

Switzerland
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Syria
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)

Tajikistan
9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Tanzania
26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December
1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became
independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with
Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and
Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

Thailand
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Timor-Leste
28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from
Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international
recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

Togo
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Trinidad and Tobago
31 August 1962 (from UK)

Tunisia
20 March 1956 (from France)

Turkey
29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

Turkmenistan
27 October 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Turks and Caicos Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu
1 October 1978 (from UK)

Uganda
9 October 1962 (from UK)

Ukraine
24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

United Arab Emirates
2 December 1971 (from UK)

United Kingdom
England has existed as a unified entity since the
10th century; the union between England and Wales, begun in 1284
with the Statute of Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with an
Act of Union; in another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland
agreed to permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative union
of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the
adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of
Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United
Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in
1927

United States
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

Uruguay
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Uzbekistan
1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Vanuatu
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

Venezuela
5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Vietnam
2 September 1945 (from France)

Virgin Islands
none (territory of the US)

Wallis and Futuna
none (overseas territory of France)

Yemen
22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger
of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the
Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen
(Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became
independent in November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a
republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South
Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

Zambia
24 October 1964 (from UK)

Zimbabwe
18 April 1980 (from UK)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2089 Industrial production growth rate (%)

Afghanistan
NA%

Albania
4% (2007 est.)

Algeria
5% (2007 est.)

American Samoa
NA%

Andorra
NA%

Angola
23.9% (2007 est.)

Anguilla
3.1% (1997 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
NA%

Argentina
7.5% (2007 est.)

Armenia
3.2% (2007 est.)

Aruba
NA%

Australia
4.1% (2007 est.)

Austria
5.7% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
25% (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
NA%

Bahrain
5.2% (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
8.4% (2007 est.)

Barbados
-3.2% (2000 est.)

Belarus
5% (2007 est.)

Belgium
2.8% (2007 est.)

Belize
0.5% (2007 est.)

Benin
4.5% (2007 est.)

Bermuda
NA%

Bhutan
9.3% (1996 est.)

Bolivia
1.1% (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
6.7% (2007 est.)

Botswana
4.2% (2007 est.)

Brazil
4.9% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
NA%

Brunei
1.8% (2005 est.)

Bulgaria
14% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
5.2% (2007 est.)

Burma
9% (2007 est.)

Burundi
6.4% (2007 est.)

Cambodia
15% (2007 est.)

Cameroon
3.5% (2007 est.)

Canada
0.3% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
7.5% (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
NA%

Central African Republic
3% (2002)

Chad
2% (2007 est.)

Chile
11.1% (2007 est.)

China
13.4% (2007 est.)

Colombia
9.8% (2007 est.)

Comoros
-2% (1999 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA%

Congo, Republic of the
-12% (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
1% (2002)

Costa Rica
7.3% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
-1.8% (2007 est.)

Croatia
5.3% (2007 est.)

Cuba
2.5% (2007 est.)

Cyprus
3.8% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
9.8% (2007 est.)

Denmark
0.5% (2007 est.)

Djibouti
3% (1996 est.)

Dominica
-10% (1997 est.)

Dominican Republic
2.4% (2007 est.)

Ecuador
1.4% (2007 est.)

Egypt
7.5% (2007 est.)

El Salvador
3.4% (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
10.1% (2007 est.)

Eritrea
2% (2007 est.)

Estonia
7.7% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
11% (2007 est.)

European Union
3.2% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA%

Faroe Islands
8% (1999 est.)

Fiji
NA%

Finland
8.1% (2007 est.)

France
1.8% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
NA%

Gabon
5.2% (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
-2.3% (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
2.4% (includes West Bank) (2005)

Georgia
13.4% (2007 est.)

Germany
5.2% (2007 est.)

Ghana
7.8% (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
NA%

Greece
2.2% (2007 est.)

Greenland
NA%

Grenada
0.7% (1997 est.)

Guam
NA%

Guatemala
4.8% (2007 est.)

Guernsey
NA%

Guinea
7.6% (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
4.7% (2003 est.)

Guyana
-26.4% (2007 est.)

Haiti
2.5% (2007 est.)

Honduras
4.4% (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
-0.8% (2007 est.)

Hungary
3.5% (2007 est.)

Iceland
9% (2007 est.)

India
8.5% (2007 est.)

Indonesia
4.7% (2007 est.)

Iran
4.8% excluding oil (2007 est.)

Iraq
7.9% (2007 est.)

Ireland
5% (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
3.2% (FY96/97)

Israel
4.1% (2007 est.)

Italy
0.6% (2007 est.)

Jamaica
1.2% (2007 est.)

Japan
1.3% (2007 est.)

Jersey
NA%

Jordan
7.7% (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
7.2% (2007 est.)

Kenya
6.8% (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0.7% (1991 est.)

Korea, North
NA%

Korea, South
5.5% (2007 est.)

Kuwait
1.7% (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
9.3% (2007 est.)

Laos
12% (2007 est.)

Latvia
5.4% (2007 est.)

Lebanon
NA%

Lesotho
12% (2007 est.)

Liberia
NA%

Libya
5.6% (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
NA%

Lithuania
7.4% (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
1.7% (2007 est.)

Macau
3.8% (3rd quarter, 2007)

Macedonia
1.7% (2007 est.)

Madagascar
6% (2007 est.)

Malawi
4.4% (2007 est.)

Malaysia
3.3% (2007 est.)

Maldives
-0.9% (2004 est.)

Mali
NA%

Malta
NA%

Marshall Islands
NA%

Mauritania
2% (2000 est.)

Mauritius
4.7% (2007 est.)

Mayotte
NA%

Mexico
1.4% (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA%

Moldova
1% (2007 est.)

Monaco
NA%

Mongolia
3% (2006 est.)

Montserrat
NA%

Morocco
5% (2007 est.)

Mozambique
10% (2007 est.)

Namibia
9% (2007 est.)

Nauru
NA%

Nepal
2.2% (FY05/06)

Netherlands
3.1% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
NA%

New Caledonia
-0.6% (1996)

New Zealand
1.5% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
5% (2007 est.)

Niger
5.1% (2003 est.)

Nigeria
3.2% (2007 est.)

Niue
NA%

Northern Mariana Islands
NA%

Norway
0.1% (2007 est.)

Oman
3.2% (2007 est.)

Pakistan
8% (2007 est.)

Palau
NA%

Panama
10.5% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
6.4% (2007 est.)

Paraguay
-1% (2007 est.)

Peru
9.8% (2007 est.)

Philippines
7.1% (2007 est.)

Poland
8.9% (2007 est.)

Portugal
2.3% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
NA%

Qatar
8% (2007 est.)

Romania
10.6% (2007 est.)

Russia
7.4% (2007 est.)

Rwanda
13.1% (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA%

Saint Lucia
-8.9% (1997 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-0.9% (1997 est.)

Samoa
2.8% (2000)

San Marino
5.6% (2005 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
7% (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
2.9% (2007 est.)

Senegal
5.2% (2007 est.)

Serbia
1.8% (2007 est.)

Seychelles
7% (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
NA%

Singapore
7.4% (2007 est.)

Slovakia
17.2% (2007 est.)

Slovenia
9.5% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
NA%

Somalia
NA%

South Africa
4.4% (2007 est.)

Spain
3.1% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
7.6% (2007 est.)

Sudan
22% (2007 est.)

Suriname
6.5% (1994 est.)

Swaziland
1.1% (2007 est.)

Sweden
3% (2007 est.)

Switzerland
6.5% (2006 est.)

Syria
2.5% (2007 est.)

Taiwan
9.2% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
5% (2007 est.)

Tanzania
9.5% (2007 est.)

Thailand
5.4% (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
8.5% (2004 est.)

Togo
1% (2007 est.)

Tonga
1% (2003 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
6.5% (2007 est.)

Tunisia
7.2% (2007 est.)

Turkey
5.4% (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
10.3% (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA%

Tuvalu
NA%

Uganda
5.8% (2007 est.)

Ukraine
6% (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
4.3% (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
0.5% (2007 est.)

United States
-1.7% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
7.9% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
12.1% (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
1% (1997 est.)

Venezuela
3.9% (2007 est.)

Vietnam
10.6% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
NA%

Wallis and Futuna
NA%

West Bank
2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Western Sahara
NA%

World
5% (2007 est.)

Yemen
3.2% (2007 est.)

Zambia
6.3% (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
-5% (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2090 Industries

Afghanistan
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture,
shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal,
copper

Albania
food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,
chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Algeria
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining,
electrical, petrochemical, food processing

American Samoa
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing
vessels), handicrafts

Andorra
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber,
banking, tobacco, furniture

Angola
petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite,
uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing;
food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship
repair

Anguilla
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Antigua and Barbuda
tourism, construction, light manufacturing
(clothing, alcohol, household appliances)

Argentina
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Armenia
diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools,
forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear,
hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments,
microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food
processing, brandy

Aruba
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Australia
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel

Austria
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals,
chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard,
communications equipment, tourism

Azerbaijan
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield
equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals;
textiles

Bahamas, The
tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum,
aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Bahrain
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron
pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance,
ship repairing, tourism

Bangladesh
cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper
newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Barbados
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for
export

Belarus
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,
motorcycles, televisions, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles,
radios, refrigerators

Belgium
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and
beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Belize
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction,
oil

Benin
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Bermuda
international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Bhutan
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide, tourism

Bolivia
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco,
handicrafts, clothing

Bosnia and Herzegovina
steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese,
bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden
furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil
refining

Botswana
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
processing; textiles

Brazil
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin,
steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and
equipment

British Virgin Islands
tourism, light industry, construction, rum,
concrete block, offshore financial center

Brunei
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas,
construction

Bulgaria
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco;
machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke,
refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Burkina Faso
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap,
cigarettes, textiles, gold

Burma
agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin,
tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals;
fertilizer; natural gas; garments, jade and gems

Burundi
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly
of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Cambodia
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood
products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Cameroon
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production,
food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Canada
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and
unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish
products, petroleum and natural gas

Cape Verde
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments,
salt mining, ship repair

Cayman Islands
tourism, banking, insurance and finance,
construction, construction materials, furniture

Central African Republic
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing,
textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Chad
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Chile
copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and
steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

China
mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other
metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel;
petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products,
including footwear, toys, and electronics; food processing;
transportation equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and
locomotives, ships, and aircraft; telecommunications equipment,
commercial space launch vehicles, satellites

Christmas Island
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
copra products and tourism

Colombia
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear,
beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Comoros
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the mining (diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair

Congo, Republic of the
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber,
brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Cook Islands
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing,
handicrafts

Costa Rica
microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment,
textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic
products

Cote d'Ivoire
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining,
truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials,
electricity, ship construction and repair

Croatia
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,
wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,
petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism

Cuba
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement,
agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Cyprus
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum
production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light
chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products

Czech Republic
metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles,
glass, armaments

Denmark
iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing,
machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing,
electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products,
shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical
equipment

Dhekelia
none

Djibouti
construction, agricultural processing

Dominica
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement
blocks, shoes

Dominican Republic
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold
mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Ecuador
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products,
chemicals

Egypt
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light
manufactures

El Salvador
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals,
fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Equatorial Guinea
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Eritrea
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light
manufacturing, salt, cement

Estonia
engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles;
information technology, telecommunications

Ethiopia
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals,
metals processing, cement

European Union
among the world's largest and most technologically
advanced, the European Union industrial base includes: ferrous and
non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products,
petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail
transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles,
construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding,
electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated
manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment,
fishing, food and beverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles,
tourism

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
fish and wool processing; tourism

Faroe Islands
fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and
refurbishment, handicrafts

Fiji
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small
cottage industries

Finland
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and
scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs,
chemicals, textiles, clothing

France
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,
electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism

French Polynesia
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing,
handicrafts, phosphates

Gabon
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals,
ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood,
cement

Gambia, The
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages,
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Gaza Strip
generally small family businesses that produce textiles,
soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the
Israelis had established some small-scale modern industries in an
industrial center, but operations ceased prior to Israel's
evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements

Georgia
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances,
mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

Germany
among the world's largest and most technologically advanced
producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery,
vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages,
shipbuilding, textiles

Ghana
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting,
food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Gibraltar
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Greece
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals,
metal products; mining, petroleum

Greenland
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut);
gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining;
handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Grenada
food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations,
tourism, construction

Guam
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services,
concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Guatemala
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Guernsey
tourism, banking

Guinea
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light
manufacturing, and agricultural processing

Guinea-Bissau
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Guyana
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

Haiti
sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light
assembly based on imported parts

Holy See (Vatican City) printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Honduras
sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Hong Kong
textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping,
electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Hungary
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,
textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Iceland
fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production;
geothermal power, tourism

India
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation
equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software

Indonesia
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear,
mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism

Iran
petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles,
cement and other construction materials, food processing
(particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous
and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Iraq
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction
materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Ireland
steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum
mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing;
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation
equipment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Isle of Man
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Israel
high-technology projects (including aviation, communications,
computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber
optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food,
beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals
products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles,
footwear

Italy
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food
processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Jamaica
tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light
manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products,
telecommunications

Japan
among world's largest and technologically advanced producers
of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and
nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Jersey
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Jordan
clothing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals,
petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light
manufacturing, tourism

Kazakhstan
oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc,
copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron
and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric
motors, construction materials

Kenya
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries,
textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products,
horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement,
commercial ship repair, tourism

Kiribati
fishing, handicrafts

Korea, North
military products; machine building, electric power,
chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite,
copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food
processing; tourism

Korea, South
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production,
chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

Kosovo
mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather,
machinery, appliances

Kuwait
petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair,
water desalination, food processing, construction materials

Kyrgyzstan
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement,
shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold,
rare earth metals

Laos
copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement

Latvia
buses, vans, street and railroad cars; synthetic fibers,
agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -
dependent on imports for energy and raw materials

Lebanon
banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement,
textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture
products, oil refining, metal fabricating

Lesotho
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts,
construction, tourism

Liberia
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Libya
petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles,
handicrafts, cement

Liechtenstein
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products,
ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments,
tourism, optical instruments

Lithuania
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television
sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding
(small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing,
fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic
components, computers, amber jewelry

Luxembourg
banking and financial services, iron and steel,
information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation,
food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires,
glass, aluminum, tourism

Macau
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear,
toys

Macedonia
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron,
steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Madagascar
meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries,
sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant,
paper, petroleum, tourism

Malawi
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing, electronics, tin mining and
smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum
production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production
and refining, logging

Maldives
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining

Mali
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Malta
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction,
food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Marshall Islands
copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from
seashells, wood, and pearls)

Mauritania
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Mauritius
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles,
clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,
nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Mayotte
newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Mexico
food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel,
petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer
durables, tourism

Micronesia, Federated States of
tourism, construction; fish
processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood,
and pearls)

Moldova
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural
machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing
machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

Monaco
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer
products

Mongolia
construction and construction materials; mining (coal,
copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food
and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural
fiber manufacturing

Montenegro
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer
goods, tourism

Montserrat
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Morocco
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing,
leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Mozambique
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints),
aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos,
tobacco

Namibia
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Nauru
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Nepal
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and
oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

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

Netherlands Antilles
tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire),
petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities
(Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

New Caledonia
nickel mining and smelting

New Zealand
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles,
machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism,
mining

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

Niger
uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food
processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Nigeria
crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; palm oil, peanuts, cotton,
rubber, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals,
fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel, small commercial ship
construction and repair

Niue
tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Norfolk Island
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Northern Mariana Islands
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Norway
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and
paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Oman
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied
natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel,
chemicals, optic fiber

Pakistan
textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals,
construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Palau
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making

Panama
construction, brewing, cement and other construction
materials, sugar milling

Papua New Guinea
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood
production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and
copper; crude oil production, petroleum refining; construction,
tourism

Paraguay
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,
metallurgic, electric power

Peru
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication;
petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish
processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Philippines
electronics assembly, garments, footwear,
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing,
petroleum refining, fishing

Pitcairn Islands
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Poland
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,
shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Portugal
textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper,
chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products,
wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology,
telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism

Puerto Rico
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products,
tourism

Qatar
crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship
repair

Romania
electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear,
light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction
materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Russia
complete range of mining and extractive industries producing
coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building
from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles;
defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced
electronic components, shipbuilding; road and rail transportation
equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery,
tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and
transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer
durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Rwanda
cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Saint Helena
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy
woodwork), fishing, philatelic sales

Saint Kitts and Nevis
tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing,
footwear, beverages

Saint Lucia
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages,
corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut
processing

Saint Martin
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy
industry

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fish processing and supply base for
fishing fleets; tourism

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
food processing, cement, furniture,
clothing, starch

Samoa
food processing, building materials, auto parts

San Marino
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics,
cement, wine

Sao Tome and Principe
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish
processing, timber

Saudi Arabia
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic
petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic
soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair,
commercial aircraft repair, construction

Senegal
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining,
fertilizer production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and
gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Serbia
sugar, agricultural machinery, electrical and communication
equipment, paper and pulp, lead, transportation equipment

Seychelles
fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla,
coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture;
beverages

Sierra Leone
diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages,
textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small
commercial ship repair

Singapore
electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling
equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber
products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore
platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade

Slovakia
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity,
gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers;
machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport
vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Slovenia
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc
smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks,
automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles,
chemicals, machine tools

Solomon Islands
fish (tuna), mining, timber

Somalia
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles,
wireless communication

South Africa
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold,
chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles,
iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship
repair

Spain
textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages,
metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles,
machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear,
pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Sri Lanka
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other
agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking;
clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining

Sudan
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,
soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals,
armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Suriname
bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil,
lumbering, food processing, fishing

Swaziland
coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles
and apparel

Sweden
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and
telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed
foods, motor vehicles

Switzerland
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision
instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance

Syria
petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco,
phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, car assembly

Taiwan
electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals,
textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing,
vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals

Tajikistan
aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement,
vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and
freezers

Tanzania
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal
twine); diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil
refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Thailand
tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing,
beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and
electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits,
furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's
second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Timor-Leste
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Togo
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts,
textiles, beverages

Tokelau
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking,
plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Tonga
tourism, construction, fishing

Trinidad and Tobago
petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing,
cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Tunisia
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore),
tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

Turkey
textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal,
chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber,
paper

Turkmenistan
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food
processing

Turks and Caicos Islands
tourism, offshore financial services

Tuvalu
fishing, tourism, copra

Uganda
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel
production

Ukraine
coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing
(especially sugar)

United Arab Emirates
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing,
aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

United Kingdom
machine tools, electric power equipment, automation
equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor
vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment,
metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food
processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods

United States
leading industrial power in the world, highly
diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor
vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics,
food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Uruguay
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Uzbekistan
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy,
gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Vanuatu
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Venezuela
petroleum, construction materials, food processing,
textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly

Vietnam
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining,
coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper

Virgin Islands
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Wallis and Futuna
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

West Bank
generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in
the settlements and industrial centers

Western Sahara
phosphate mining, handicrafts

World
dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in
computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical
equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a
small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly
adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development
of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating
already grim environmental problems

Yemen
crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale
production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing;
handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial
ship repair

Zambia
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs,
beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

Zimbabwe
mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay,
numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products,
cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs,
beverages

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2091 Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)

Afghanistan
total: 154.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 158.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 150.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Albania
total: 19.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Algeria
total: 28.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

American Samoa
total: 10.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Andorra
total: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Angola
total: 182.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 194.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 169.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Anguilla
total: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
total: 17.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Argentina
total: 11.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Armenia
total: 20.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Aruba
total: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Australia
total: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Austria
total: 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
total: 56.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 62.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
total: 23.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bahrain
total: 15.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
total: 57.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 58.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Barbados
total: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Belarus
total: 6.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Belgium
total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Belize
total: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Benin
total: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bermuda
total: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bhutan
total: 51.92 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bolivia
total: 49.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 9.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Botswana
total: 44.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Brazil
total: 23.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
total: 15.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Brunei
total: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
total: 18.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
total: 86.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 93.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Burma
total: 49.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Burundi
total: 60.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 67.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cambodia
total: 56.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cameroon
total: 64.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Canada
total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
total: 42.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 48.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
total: 82.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 88.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 75.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Chad
total: 100.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 106.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 94 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Chile
total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

China
total: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
total: 19.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Comoros
total: 68.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 76.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 83.11 deaths/1,000 live
births
male: 91.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 81.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 86.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 75.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
total: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 69.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 77.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Croatia
total: 6.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cuba
total: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Cyprus
total: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
total: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Denmark
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Djibouti
total: 99.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 106.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Dominica
total: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
total: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Ecuador
total: 21.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Egypt
total: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 30.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

El Salvador
total: 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 83.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 84.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Eritrea
total: 44.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 50.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Estonia
total: 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
total: 82.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 94.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

European Union
total: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
total: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Fiji
total: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Finland
total: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

France
total: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Gabon
total: 52.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
total: 68.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 75.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Georgia
total: 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Germany
total: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Ghana
total: 52.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
total: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Greece
total: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Greenland
total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Grenada
total: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Guam
total: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Guatemala
total: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Guernsey
total: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Guinea
total: 67.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 71.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 101.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 111.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Guyana
total: 30.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Haiti
total: 62.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 66.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 57.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Honduras
total: 24.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
total: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Hungary
total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Iceland
total: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

India
total: 32.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Indonesia
total: 31.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Iran
total: 36.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 37.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Iraq
total: 45.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Ireland
total: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Israel
total: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Italy
total: 5.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Jamaica
total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Japan
total: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Jersey
total: 5.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Jordan
total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
total: 26.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Kenya
total: 56.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 58.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Kiribati
total: 44.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 49.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Korea, North
total: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Korea, South
total: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Kuwait
total: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 37.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Laos
total: 79.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 88.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Latvia
total: 8.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Lebanon
total: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Lesotho
total: 78.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Liberia
total: 143.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 159.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 127.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Libya
total: 21.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
total: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Lithuania
total: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Macau
total: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Macedonia
total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Madagascar
total: 55.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 60.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Malawi
total: 90.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 94.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Malaysia
total: 16.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Maldives
total: 30.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mali
total: 103.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 113.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 93.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Malta
total: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
total: 26.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mauritania
total: 66.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mauritius
total: 12.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mayotte
total: 57.88 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mexico
total: 19.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 27.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Moldova
total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Monaco
total: 5.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mongolia
total: 41.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Montserrat
total: 16.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Morocco
total: 38.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 41.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Mozambique
total: 107.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 110.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 104.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Namibia
total: 45.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 49.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Nauru
total: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Nepal
total: 62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 60.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Netherlands
total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
total: 9.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

New Zealand
total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
total: 25.91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Niger
total: 115.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 119.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 111.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Nigeria
total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 101.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Niue
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
total: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Norway
total: 3.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Oman
total: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Pakistan
total: 66.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 67.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Palau
total: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Panama
total: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
total: 46.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 50.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Paraguay
total: 25.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Peru
total: 29.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Philippines
total: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Poland
total: 6.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Portugal
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
total: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Qatar
total: 13.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Romania
total: 23.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Russia
total: 10.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Rwanda
total: 83.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 88.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
total: 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 14.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 13.62 deaths/1,000 live
births
male: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Samoa
total: 25.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

San Marino
total: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 38.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
total: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Senegal
total: 58.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 62.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Seychelles
total: 14.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
total: 156.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 173.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 138.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Singapore
total: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Slovakia
total: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Slovenia
total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
total: 19.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Somalia
total: 110.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 120.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 101.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

South Africa
total: 45.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Spain
total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
total: 19.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Sudan
total: 86.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 87.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Suriname
total: 19.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Svalbard
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
total: 69.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Sweden
total: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Switzerland
total: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Syria
total: 26.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Taiwan
total: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
total: 42.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 47.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Tanzania
total: 70.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 77.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Thailand
total: 18.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
total: 41.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 48.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Togo
total: 57.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 65.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Tokelau
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
total: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Tunisia
total: 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Turkey
total: 36.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
total: 51.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
total: 18.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Uganda
total: 65.99 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Ukraine
total: 9.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
total: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
total: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

United States
total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Uruguay
total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
total: 24.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
total: 50.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Venezuela
total: 22.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Vietnam
total: 23.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
total: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
total: 71.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 71.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

World
total: 42.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Yemen
total: 56.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 60.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Zambia
total: 100.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 96.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
total: 33.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2092 Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)

Afghanistan
13% (2007 est.)

Albania
2.9% (2007 est.)

Algeria
3.5% (2007 est.)

American Samoa
NA%

Andorra
3.2% (2005)

Angola
12.2% (2007 est.)

Anguilla
5.3% (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
1.5% (2007 est.)

Argentina
8.8% official rate; actual rate may be double the official
rate (2007 est.)

Armenia
4.4% (2007 est.)

Aruba
3.4% (2005)

Australia
2.3% (2007 est.)

Austria
2.2% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
16.7% (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
2.4% (2007 est.)

Bahrain
3.3% (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
9.1% (2007 est.)

Barbados
5.5% (2007 est.)

Belarus
8.4% (2007 est.)

Belgium
1.8% (2007 est.)

Belize
2.3% (2007 est.)

Benin
1.3% (2007 est.)

Bermuda
2.8% (November 2005)

Bhutan
4.9% (2007 est.)

Bolivia
8.7% (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.6% (2007 est.)

Botswana
7.1% (2007 est.)

Brazil
3.6% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
2% (2005)

Brunei
0.4% (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
9.8% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
-0.2% (2007 est.)

Burma
35% (2007 est.)

Burundi
8.3% (2007 est.)

Cambodia
5.9% (2007 est.)

Cameroon
1.1% (2007 est.)

Canada
2.1% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
4.4% (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
4.4% (2004)

Central African Republic
0.9% (2007 est.)

Chad
4% (2007 est.)

Chile
4.4% (2007 est.)

China
4.8% (2007 est.)

Colombia
5.5% (2007 est.)

Comoros
3% (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
16.7% (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
2.7% (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
2.1% (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
9.4% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.9% (2007 est.)

Croatia
4.5% (2007 est.)

Cuba
3.1% (2007 est.)

Cyprus
2.4% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
2.9% (2007 est.)

Denmark
1.7% (2007 est.)

Djibouti
5% (2007 est.)

Dominica
2.7% (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
6.1% (2007 est.)

Ecuador
2.3% (2007 est.)

Egypt
9.5% (2007 est.)

El Salvador
4.6% (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
6% (2007 est.)

Eritrea
17% (2007 est.)

Estonia
6.6% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
17.2% (2007 est.)

European Union
1.8% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
3.6% (1998)

Faroe Islands
1.8% (2005)

Fiji
4.8% (2007)

Finland
2.5% (2007 est.)

France
1.5% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
1.1% (2006 est.)

Gabon
5% (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
5.1% (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
3.6% (includes West Bank) (2006)

Georgia
9.3% (2007 est.)

Germany
2.3% (2007 est.)

Ghana
10.7% (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
2.9% (2005)

Greece
2.9% (2007 est.)

Greenland
1% (2005 est.)

Grenada
3.7% (2007 est.)

Guam
2.5% (2005 est.)

Guatemala
6.8% (2007 est.)

Guernsey
3.4% (June 2006)

Guinea
23.4% (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
3.8% (2007 est.)

Guyana
12.3% (2007 est.)

Haiti
8.5% (2007 est.)

Honduras
6.9% (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
2% (2007 est.)

Hungary
8% (2007 est.)

Iceland
5.1% (2007 est.)

India
6.4% (2007 est.)

Indonesia
6.3% (2007 est.)

Iran
17.1% (2007 est.)

Iraq
4.7% (2007 est.)

Ireland
4.9% (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
3.1% (December 2006 est.)

Israel
0.5% (2007 est.)

Italy
1.8% (2007 est.)

Jamaica
9.5% (2007 est.)

Japan
0.1% (2007 est.)

Jersey
3.7% (December 2006)

Jordan
5.4% (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
10.8% (2007 est.)

Kenya
9.7% (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0.2% (2007 est.)

Korea, North
NA%

Korea, South
2.5% (2007 est.)

Kosovo
2% (2007 est.)

Kuwait
5.5% (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
10.2% (2007 est.)

Laos
4.5% (2007 est.)

Latvia
10.1% (2007 est.)

Lebanon
4.2% (2007 est.)

Lesotho
8% (2007 est.)

Liberia
11.2% (2007 est.)

Libya
6.3% (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
1% (2001)

Lithuania
5.7% (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
2.3% (2007 est.)

Macau
7.2% (2006)

Macedonia
2.3% (2007 est.)

Madagascar
10.3% (2007 est.)

Malawi
7.9% (2007 est.)

Malaysia 2% note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled (2007 est.)

Maldives
5% (2007 est.)

Mali
2.5% (2007 est.)

Malta
1.3% (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
3% (2005 est.)

Mauritania
7.3% (2007 est.)

Mauritius
8.8% (2007 est.)

Mayotte
1.7% (2005)

Mexico
4% (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
2.2% (2005)

Moldova
12.3% (2007 est.)

Monaco
1.9% (2000)

Mongolia
9% (2007)

Montenegro
3.4% (2007)

Montserrat
2.6% (2002 est.)

Morocco
2% (2007 est.)

Mozambique
8.2% (2007 est.)

Namibia
6.7% (2007 est.)

Nauru
-3.6% (1993)

Nepal
6.4% (2007 est.)

Netherlands
1.6% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
2.1% (2003 est.)

New Caledonia
1.4% (2000 est.)

New Zealand
2.4% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
11.1% (2007 est.)

Niger
0.1% (2007 est.)

Nigeria
5.4% (2007 est.)

Niue
4% (2005)

Northern Mariana Islands
-0.8% (2000)

Norway
0.8% (2007 est.)

Oman
5.9% (2007 est.)

Pakistan
7.6% (2007 est.)

Palau
2.7% (2005 est.)

Panama
4.2% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0.9% (2007 est.)

Paraguay
8.1% (2007 est.)

Peru
1.8% (2007 est.)

Philippines
2.8% (2007 est.)

Poland
2.5% (2007 est.)

Portugal
2.4% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
6.5% (2003 est.)

Qatar
13.7% (2007 est.)

Romania
4.8% (2007 est.)

Russia
9% annual average
note: 12% at year-end (2007 est.)

Rwanda
9.1% (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
3.2% (1997 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
4.5% (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
1.9% (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
8.1% (2005)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6.1% (2007 est.)

Samoa
6% (2007 est.)

San Marino
-1.5% (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
18% (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
4.1% (2007 est.)

Senegal
5.9% (2007 est.)

Serbia
6.8% (2007)

Seychelles
5.3% (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
11.7% (2007 est.)

Singapore
2.1% (2007 est.)

Slovakia
2.8% (2007 est.)

Slovenia
3.6% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
6.3% (2007 est.)

Somalia
NA%; note - businesses print their own money, so inflation
rates cannot be easily determined

South Africa
6.5% (2007 est.)

Spain
2.8% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
15.8% (2007 est.)

Sudan
8% (2007 est.)

Suriname
6.4% (2007 est.)

Swaziland
8.1% (2007 est.)

Sweden
2.2% (2007 est.)

Switzerland
0.7% (2007 est.)

Syria
12.2% (2007 est.)

Taiwan
1.8% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
13.1% (2007 est.)

Tanzania
7% (2007 est.)

Thailand
2.2% (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
7.8% (2007 est.)

Togo
1% (2007 est.)

Tokelau
NA%

Tonga
5.9% (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
7.9% (2007 est.)

Tunisia
3.1% (2007 est.)

Turkey
8.7% (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
11.3% (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
4% (1995)

Tuvalu
3.8% (2006 est.)

Uganda
6.1% (2007 est.)

Ukraine
12.8% (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
14% (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
2.3% (2007 est.)

United States
2.9% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
8.1% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
12% officially, but 38% based on analysis of consumer
prices (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
3.9% (2007 est.)

Venezuela
18.7% (2007 est.)

Vietnam
8.3% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
2.2% (2003)

Wallis and Futuna
2.8% (2005)

West Bank
3.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006)

Western Sahara
NA%

World
developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries
5% to 20% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in
individual cases, from declining prices in Japan to hyperinflation
in one Third World country (Zimbabwe); inflation rates have declined
for most countries for the last several years, held in check by
increasing international competition from several low wage countries
(2005 est.)

Yemen
10% (2007 est.)

Zambia
10.6% (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
12,563% official data; private sector estimates are much
higher (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2093 Waterways (km)

Afghanistan
1,200 km (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to
500 DWT) (2007)

Albania
43 km (2007)

Angola
1,300 km (2007)

Argentina
11,000 km (2006)

Australia
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and
Murray-Darling river systems) (2006)

Austria
358 km (2007)

Bangladesh
8,370 km
note: includes up to 3,060 km main cargo routes; network reduced to
5,200 km in dry season (2006)

Belarus
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country
and by shallowness) (2003)

Belgium
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2006)

Belize
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Benin
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)

Bolivia
10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sava River (northern border) open to shipping
but use limited (2006)

Brazil
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population)
(2007)

Brunei
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2007)

Bulgaria
470 km (2007)

Burma
12,800 km (2007)

Burundi
mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2005)

Cambodia
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)

Cameroon
navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy
season (2005)

Canada
636 km
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2007)

Central African Republic
2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and
Sangha rivers) (2006)

Chad
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2006)

China
124,000 km navigable (2006)

Colombia
18,000 km (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
15,000 km (2005)

Congo, Republic of the
1,125 km (commercially navigable on Congo and
Oubanqui rivers) (2006)

Costa Rica
730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal
lagoons) (2006)

Croatia
785 km (2007)

Cuba
240 km (2007)

Czech Republic
664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other
navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) (2006)

Denmark
400 km (2007)

Ecuador
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2006)

Egypt
3,500 km
note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,
and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including
approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m
(2006)

El Salvador
Rio Lempa partially navigable for small craft (2007)

Estonia
320 km (2006)

European Union
52,332 km (2006)

Fiji
203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
(2006)

Finland
7,842 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased
from Russia (2006)

France
metropolitan France: 8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft
of 3,000 metric tons)
French Guiana: 3,760 km (460 km navigable by small oceangoing
vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft)
(2006)

Gabon
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2007)

Gambia, The
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can
reach 190 km) (2006)

Germany
7,467 km
note: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North
Sea and Black Sea (2006)

Ghana
1,293 km
note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano
rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta
(2007)

Greece
6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens
sea voyage by 325 km (2007)

Guatemala
990 km
note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable
during high-water season (2007)

Guinea
1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets
and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2007)

Guyana
Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by
oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2006)

Honduras
465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Hungary
1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2007)

India
14,500 km
note: 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for
mechanized vessels (2006)

Indonesia
21,579 km (2007)

Iran
850 km (on Karun River; additional service on Lake Urmia) (2006)

Iraq
5,279 km
note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third
River (565 km) are principal waterways (2006)

Ireland
956 km (pleasure craft only) (2007)

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

Japan
1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2007)

Kazakhstan
4,000 km (on the Ertis ((Irtysh)) River (80%) and Syr
Darya ((Syrdariya)) River) (2006)

Kenya
part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya
(2006)

Kiribati
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007)

Korea, North
2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Korea, South
1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
600 km (2007)

Laos
4,600 km
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)

Latvia
300 km (2006)

Liechtenstein
28 km (2006)

Lithuania
441 km (2006)

Luxembourg
37 km (on Moselle River) (2007)

Madagascar
600 km (2006)

Malawi
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2007)

Malaysia
7,200 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km
(2005)

Mali
1,800 km (2007)

Mexico
2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals) (2007)

Moldova
424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2007)

Mongolia
580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge
River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry
little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May
to September (2004)

Mozambique
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora
Bassa Lake) (2007)

Netherlands
6,211 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2006)

Nicaragua
2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2007)

Niger
300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya
between September and March) (2005)

Nigeria
8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and
creeks) (2007)

Norway
1,577 km (2007)

Panama
800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2007)

Papua New Guinea
11,000 km (2006)

Paraguay
3,100 km (2007)

Peru
8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km
of Lago Titicaca (2007)

Philippines
3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m)
(2007)

Poland
3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2006)

Portugal
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2006)

Romania
1,731 km
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary
branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)

Russia
102,000 km (including 33,000 km with guaranteed depth)
note: 72,000 km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White
Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea (2006)

Rwanda
Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
(2006)

Senegal
1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance
rivers) (2005)

Serbia
587 km (primarily on Danube and Sava rivers) (2005)

Sierra Leone
800 km (600 km year round) (2005)

Slovakia
172 km (on Danube River) (2005)

Spain
1,000 km (2003)

Sri Lanka
160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2006)

Sudan
4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile
rivers) (2006)

Suriname
1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m)
(2005)

Sweden
2,052 km (2005)

Switzerland
65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and
Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)

Syria
900 km (not economically significant) (2005)

Tajikistan
200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2006)

Tanzania
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal
avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable
(2005)

Thailand 4,000 km note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2005)

Togo
50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2005)

Turkey
1,200 km (2005)

Turkmenistan
1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland
waterways) (2006)

Uganda
on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and
parts of Albert Nile (2005)

Ukraine
2,253 km (most on Dnieper River) (2006)

United Kingdom
3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2003)

United States
41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2007)

Uruguay
1,600 km (2005)

Uzbekistan
1,100 km (2006)

Venezuela
7,100 km
note: Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by
oceangoing vessels (2005)

Vietnam
17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft)
(2005)

World
671,886 km (2004)

Zambia
2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and
Luapula rivers) (2005)

Zimbabwe
on Lake Kariba (2005)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2094 Judicial branch

Afghanistan
the constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama
or Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms
by the president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate
High Courts and Appeals Courts; there is also a minister of justice;
a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established by
the Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abuses
and war crimes

Albania
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by
the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals
and district courts

Algeria
Supreme Court

American Samoa
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are
appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)

Andorra
Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the
Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or
Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice
or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri
Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional

Angola
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are
appointed by the president)

Anguilla
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme
Court)

Antigua and Barbuda
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint
Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands
and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction); member
Caribbean Court of Justice

Argentina
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court
judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate)
note: the Supreme Court currently has two unfilled vacancies, and
the Argentine Congress is considering a bill to reduce the number of
Supreme Court judges to five

Armenia
Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Aruba
Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the
monarch)

Australia
High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are
appointed by the governor general)

Austria
Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;
Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court
or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Azerbaijan
Supreme Court

Bahamas, The
Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme
(lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts

Bahrain
High Civil Appeals Court

Bangladesh
Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are
appointed by the president)

Barbados
Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the
Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services); Caribbean
Court of Justice is the highest court of appeal

Belarus
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president);
Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president
and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)

Belgium
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or
Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the
government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice
Council)

Belize
Supreme Court of Judicature (the chief justice is appointed
by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court
of Appeal

Benin
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court
or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Bermuda
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Bhutan
Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges
appointed by the monarch); note - the draft constitution establishes
a Supreme Court, which will serve as chief court of appeal

Bolivia
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year
terms by National Congress); District Courts (one in each
department); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases);
Constitutional Tribunal (five primary or titulares and five
alternate or suplente magistrates appointed by Congress; to rule on
constitutional issues); National Electoral Court (six members
elected by Congress, Supreme Court, the President, and the political
party with the highest vote in the last election for 4-year terms)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
BH Constitutional Court (consists of nine
members: four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's
House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's
National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of
the European Court of Human Rights); BH State Court (consists of
nine judges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and
Criminal - having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law
and appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities); a
War Crimes Chamber opened in March 2005
note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a
number of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in the
Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska
has five municipal courts

Botswana
High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in
each district)

Brazil
Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF (11 ministers are appointed
for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher
Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are
appointed for life); note - though appointed "for life," judges,
like all federal employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70

British Virgin Islands
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting
of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary
Jurisdiction

Brunei
Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by
monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in
London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal
with Islamic laws (2006)

Bulgaria
Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;
Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year
terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the
two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;
responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and
investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the
Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by
the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)

Burkina Faso
Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Burma
remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but
there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not
independent of the executive

Burundi
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; High
Court of Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the
Constitutional Court)

Cambodia
Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the
constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower
courts) exercises judicial authority

Cameroon
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High
Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges,
elected by the National Assembly)

Canada
Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime
minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada;
Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named
variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court,
Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

Cape Verde
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Cayman Islands
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of
Appeal

Central African Republic
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the
president of the National Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court
of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Inferior Courts

Chad
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate
Courts

Chile
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the
president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates
provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is
elected every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional
Tribunal

China
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National
People's Congress); Local People's Courts (comprise higher,
intermediate, and basic courts); Special People's Courts (primarily
military, maritime, railway transportation, and forestry courts)

Christmas Island
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Colombia
four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme
Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of
criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees
of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of
State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from
the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms);
Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the
constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the
constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council
(administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves
jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are
elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)

Comoros
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the
president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected
by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of
the republic)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Constitutional Court; Appeals
Court or Cour de Cassation; Council of State; High Military Court;
plus civil and military courts and tribunals

Congo, Republic of the
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Cook Islands
High Court

Costa Rica
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected
for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)

Cote d'Ivoire
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four
chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for
financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases,
and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit
to the number of members

Croatia
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts
appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
Republic, which is elected by the Assembly

Cuba
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president,
vice president, and other judges are elected by the National
Assembly)

Cyprus
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president
and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots

Czech Republic
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and
deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term

Denmark
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)

Djibouti
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Dominica
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of
Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six
judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary
Jurisdiction)

Dominican Republic
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are
appointed by the National Judicial Council comprised of the
president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president
of the Supreme Court, and an additional non-governing party
congressional representative)

Ecuador
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the
Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in
December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire
court via a simple-majority resolution)

Egypt
Supreme Constitutional Court

El Salvador
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected
by the Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four
Supreme Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and
administrative conflict)

Equatorial Guinea
Supreme Tribunal

Eritrea
High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also
have military and special courts

Estonia
National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Ethiopia
Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of
the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other
federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's
Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal
Judicial Administrative Council)

European Union
Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures
that the treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout
the EU; resolve constitutional issues among the EU institutions) -
27 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year
term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 13
justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 27
justices appointed for a six-year term

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Faroe Islands
none

Fiji
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Finland
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the
president)

France
Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are
appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of
the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel
(three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the
president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the
president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat

French Polynesia
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First
Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative
Law or Tribunal Administratif

Gabon
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -
Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts
of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts

Gambia, The
Supreme Court

Georgia
Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the
president's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation);
Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts

Germany
Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht
(half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the
Bundesrat)

Ghana
Supreme Court

Gibraltar
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Greece
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges
appointed for life by the president after consultation with a
judicial council

Greenland
High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre
Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in
Copenhagen)

Grenada
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of
Appeal and a High Court of Justice (a High Court judge is assigned
to and resides in Grenada)

Guam
Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president);
Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by
the governor)

Guatemala
Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is
Guatemala's highest court (five judges are elected for concurrent
five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia (13 members serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a
president of the Court each year from among their number; the
president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial
judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)

Guernsey
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the
bailiff)

Guinea
Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Guinea-Bissau
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists
of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his
pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases);
Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals
for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases
valued at more than $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not
necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases valued at less
than $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Guyana
Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and
the Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the
Caribbean Court of Justice

Haiti
Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

Holy See (Vatican City)
there are three tribunals responsible for
civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other
tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pope
PIUS XII on 1 May 1946

Honduras
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15
judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)

Hong Kong
Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region

Hungary
Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National
Assembly for nine-year terms)

Iceland
Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for
life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices
are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)

India
Supreme Court (one chief justice and 25 associate justices are
appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the
age of 65 or are removed for "proved misbehavior")

Indonesia
Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the
president from a list of candidates selected by the legislature); a
separate Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi was invested by
the president on 16 August 2003; in March 2004 the Supreme Court
assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower
court system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Labor
Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in
January 2006

Iran
The Supreme Court (Qeveh Qazaieh) and the four-member High
Council of the Judiciary have a single head and overlapping
responsibilities; together they supervise the enforcement of all
laws and establish judicial and legal policies; lower courts include
a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special
administrative court

Iraq
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to
be comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Federal Supreme Court,
Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary
Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in
accordance with the law

Ireland
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

Isle of Man
High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the
Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant
governor)

Israel
Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection
Committee - made up of all three branches of the government;
mandatory retirement age is 70)

Italy
Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15
judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by
parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative
Supreme Courts)

Jamaica
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on
the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal

Japan
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after
designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the
cabinet)

Jersey
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the
bailiff)

Jordan
Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Kazakhstan
Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7
members)

Kenya
Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president);
High Court

Kiribati
Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges
at all levels are appointed by the president

Korea, North
Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly)

Korea, South
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president with
consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices
appointed by the president based partly on nominations by National
Assembly and Chief Justice of the court)

Kosovo
Supreme Court judges are appointed by the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG); district courts
judges are appointed by the SRSG; municipal courts judges are
appointed by the SRSG
note: after the termination of UNMIK's mandate, the Kosovo Judicial
Council (KJC) will propose to the president candidates for
appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is
also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of
judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15% of
Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from nonmajority
communities

Kuwait
High Court of Appeal

Kyrgyzstan
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the
Supreme and Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by
the Jorgorku Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their
mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration;
Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a
probationary period of five years, then 10 years)

Laos
People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme
Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of
the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the
People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National
Assembly Standing Committee)

Latvia
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by
Parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are
confirmed by Parliament)

Lebanon
four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and
commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional
Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of
laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and
prime minister as needed)

Lesotho
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on
the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate
Courts; customary or traditional court

Liberia
Supreme Court

Libya
Supreme Court

Liechtenstein
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal
or Obergericht

Lithuania
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal;
judges for all courts appointed by the president

Luxembourg
judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2
district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative
courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative
courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all
courts are appointed for life by the monarch

Macau
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Macedonia
Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges;
Constitutional Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican
Judicial Council - the Assembly appoints the judges

Madagascar
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court
or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle

Malawi
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed
by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the
Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts

Malaysia
Civil Courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High
Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and
Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges appointed by the paramount ruler
on the advice of the prime minister); Sharia Courts include Sharia
Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at
state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as
custody, divorce, and inheritance, only for Muslims; decisions of
Sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts

Maldives
Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the
President with approval of voting members of the People's Council;
High Court; Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by
the Judicial Service Commission

Mali
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Malta
Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts
are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Marshall Islands
Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court

Mauritania
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower
courts

Mauritius
Supreme Court

Mayotte
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Mexico
Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la
Nacion (justices or ministros are appointed by the president with
consent of the Senate)

Micronesia, Federated States of
Supreme Court

Moldova
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)

Monaco
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the
monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Mongolia
Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and
provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts;
judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved
by the president)

Montenegro
Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms);
Supreme Court (judges have life tenure)

Montserrat
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia,
one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and
presides over the High Court)

Morocco
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of
the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Mozambique
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its
professional judges are appointed by the president and some are
elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative
Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts
note: although the constitution provides for a separate
Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence
the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases

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

Nauru
Supreme Court

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

Netherlands
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for
life by the monarch)

Netherlands Antilles
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed
by the monarch)

New Caledonia
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint
Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

New Zealand
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note -
judges appointed by the Governor-General

Nicaragua
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (16 judges
elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)

Niger
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

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

Niue
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Norfolk Island
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Northern Mariana Islands
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court;
Federal District Court

Norway
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the
monarch)

Oman
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
judges who practice secular and Sharia law

Pakistan
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president);
Federal Islamic or Sharia Court

Palau
Supreme Court; Court of Common Pleas; Land Court

Panama
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine
judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three
courts of appeal

Papua New Guinea
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive
Council after consultation with the minister responsible for
justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal
Services Commission)

Paraguay
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine
judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or
Consejo de la Magistratura)

Peru
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges
are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)

Philippines
Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and
serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan
(special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)

Pitcairn Islands
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal;
Judicial Officers are appointed by the Governor

Poland
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an
indefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen by
the Sejm for nine-year terms)

Portugal
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges
appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)

Puerto Rico
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance
composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court
(justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the
consent of the Senate)

Qatar
Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an
Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in
2007; note - all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the
recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable
three-year terms

Romania
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed
for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the
Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister
of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society
representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and
prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the
Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions
regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and
internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members
serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the
president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies

Russia
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration
Court; judges for all courts are appointed for life by the
Federation Council on the recommendation of the president

Rwanda
Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial
Courts; District Courts; mediation committees

Saint Helena
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on
Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts
and Nevis)

Saint Lucia
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica,
Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal
Superieur d'Appel

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
(based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Samoa
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and
Titles Court

San Marino
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Sao Tome and Principe
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the
National Assembly)

Saudi Arabia
Supreme Council of Justice

Senegal
Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final
Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals

Serbia
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (to become court of
cassation under new constitution), appellate courts, district
courts, municipal courts

Seychelles
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts
are appointed by the president

Sierra Leone
Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

Singapore
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president
with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by
the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals

Slovakia
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council);
Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of
nominees approved by the National Council); Special Court (judges
elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)

Slovenia
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly
on the recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court
(judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and
nominated by the president)

Solomon Islands
Court of Appeal

Somalia
following the breakdown of the central government, most
regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either
secular, traditional Somali customary law, or Sharia (Islamic) law
with a provision for appeal of all sentences

South Africa
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High
Courts; Magistrate Courts

Spain
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo

Sri Lanka
Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts
are appointed by the president

Sudan
Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court;
National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National Judicial
Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National
Judiciary

Suriname
Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate
court (justices are nominated for life)

Swaziland
High Court; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are
appointed by the monarch

Sweden
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by
the prime minister and the cabinet)

Switzerland
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms
by the Federal Assembly)

Syria
Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges;
headed by the president); national level - Supreme Constitutional
Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality
of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the
President); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts
represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and
local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of
First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts
- Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);
Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national
security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to
marriage and divorce)

Taiwan
Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with
consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Tajikistan
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Tanzania
Permanent Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman); Court
of Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges); High Court
(consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges appointed by the
president; holds regular sessions in all regions); District Courts;
Primary Courts (limited jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the
higher courts)

Thailand
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)

Timor-Leste
Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one
judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by
Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is
established, Court of Appeals is highest court

Togo
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Tokelau
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal
jurisdiction in Tokelau

Tonga
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen
and approved by Privy Council)

Trinidad and Tobago
Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the
High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is
appointed by the president after consultation with the prime
minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are
appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal
Service Commission); High Court of Justice; Caribbean Court of
Appeals member; Court of Appeals; the highest court of appeal is the
Privy Council in London

Tunisia
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Turkey
Constitutional Court; High Court of Appeals (Yargitay);
Council of State (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military
High Court of Appeals; Military High Administrative Court

Turkmenistan
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Turks and Caicos Islands
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Tuvalu
High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside
over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of
Appeal in Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)

Uganda
Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and
approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by
the president)

Ukraine
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

United Arab Emirates
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by
the president)

United Kingdom
House of Lords (highest court of appeal; several
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life);
Supreme Courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising
the Courts of Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown
Courts); Scotland's Court of Session and Court of the Justiciary

United States
Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the
president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate;
appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United
States District Courts; State and County Courts

Uruguay
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and
elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)

Uzbekistan
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and
confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Vanuatu
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president
after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)

Venezuela
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia
(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single
12-year term)

Vietnam
Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a
five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
president)

Virgin Islands
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third
Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges
appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)

Wallis and Futuna
justice generally administered under French law by
the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer
customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu; a court of
appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia

Yemen
Supreme Court

Zambia
Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are
appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction
to hear civil and criminal cases)

Zimbabwe
Supreme Court; High Court

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2095 Labor force

Afghanistan
15 million (2004 est.)

Albania
1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers)
(September 2006 est.)

Algeria
9.38 million (2007 est.)

American Samoa
17,630 (2005)

Andorra
42,420 (2005)

Angola
7.148 million (2007 est.)

Anguilla
6,049 (2001)

Antigua and Barbuda
30,000 (1991)

Argentina 16.03 million note: urban areas only (2007 est.)

Armenia
1.2 million (2007 est.)

Aruba
41,500 (2004 est.)

Australia
10.95 million (2007 est.)

Austria
3.566 million (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
5.243 million (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
181,900 (2006)

Bahrain
437,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2007 est.)

Bangladesh
69.4 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,
Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $4.8 billion
in 2005-06. (2007 est.)

Barbados
128,500 (2001 est.)

Belarus
4.3 million (31 December 2005)

Belgium
4.94 million (2007 est.)

Belize
113,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2006 est.)

Benin
5.38 million (2007 est.)

Bermuda
38,360 (2004)

Bhutan
NA
note: major shortage of skilled labor

Bolivia
4.377 million (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.026 million (2001)

Botswana
288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

Brazil
99.23 million (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
12,770 (2004)

Brunei
180,400 (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
2.593 million (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)

Burma
29.26 million (2007 est.)

Burundi
2.99 million (2002)

Cambodia
7 million (2003 est.)

Cameroon
6.674 million (2007 est.)

Canada
17.95 million (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
120,600 (1990)

Cayman Islands
23,450 (2004)

Central African Republic
1.857 million (2006)

Chad
3.747 million (2006)

Chile
7.167 million (2007 est.)

China
800.7 million (2007 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
20.5 million (2007 est.)

Comoros
144,500 (1996 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
15 million (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
NA

Cook Islands
6,820 (2001)

Costa Rica
1.92 million
note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa
Rica (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
6.907 million (68% agricultural) (2007 est.)

Croatia
1.749 million (2007 est.)

Cuba
4.956 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2007 est.)

Cyprus
393,000 (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
5.36 million (2007 est.)

Denmark
2.86 million (2007 est.)

Djibouti
282,000 (2000)

Dominica
25,000 (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic
4.027 million (2007 est.)

Ecuador
4.51 million (urban) (2007 est.)

Egypt
22.1 million (2007 est.)

El Salvador
2.913 million (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
NA

Eritrea
NA

Estonia
687,000 (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
27.27 million (1999)

European Union
222.7 million (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
1,724 (est.) (1996)

Faroe Islands
24,250 (October 2000)

Fiji
117,500 (2006 est.)

Finland
2.675 million (2007 est.)

France
27.91 million (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
65,930 (December 2005)

Gabon
582,000 (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
400,000 (1996)

Gaza Strip
267,000 (2006)

Georgia
2.02 million (2007 est.)

Germany
43.54 million (2007 est.)

Ghana
11.29 million (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)

Greece
4.92 million (2007 est.)

Greenland
32,120 (2004)

Grenada
42,300 (1996)

Guam
62,050 (2002 est.)

Guatemala
3.958 million (2007 est.)

Guernsey
31,470 (March 2006)

Guinea
3.7 million (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
480,000 (1999)

Guyana
418,000 (2001 est.)

Haiti
3.6 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
2.779 million (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
3.64 million (2007 est.)

Hungary
4.19 million (2007 est.)

Iceland
181,000 (2007 est.)

India
516.4 million (2007 est.)

Indonesia
109.9 million (2007 est.)

Iran
28.7 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2006 est.)

Iraq
7.4 million (2004 est.)

Ireland
2.217 million (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
39,690 (2001)

Israel
2.894 million (2007 est.)

Italy
24.74 million (2007 est.)

Jamaica
1.255 million (2007 est.)

Japan
66.69 million (2007 est.)

Jersey
53,560 (June 2006)

Jordan
1.563 million (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
8.229 million (2007 est.)

Kenya
11.85 million (2005 est.)

Kiribati
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence
farmers (2001 est.)

Korea, North
20 million
note: estimates vary widely (2004 est.)

Korea, South
24.22 million (2007 est.)

Kosovo
832,000 (June 2007 est.)

Kuwait 2.093 million note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
2.7 million (2000)

Laos
2.1 million (2006 est.)

Latvia
1.167 million (2007 est.)

Lebanon
1.5 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(2005 est.)

Lesotho
838,000 (2000 est.)

Libya
1.83 million (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria,
Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Lithuania
1.603 million (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
205,000 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers
commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2007 est.)

Macau
275,000 (2006)

Macedonia
890,000 (2007 est.)

Madagascar
7.3 million (2000)

Malawi
4.5 million (2001 est.)

Malaysia
10.94 million (2007 est.)

Maldives
101,300 (2004)

Mali
5.4 million (2007 est.)

Malta
166,000 (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
14,680 (2000)

Mauritania
786,000 (2001)

Mauritius
574,000 (2007 est.)

Mayotte
44,560 (2002)

Mexico
44.71 million (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
37,410 (2000)

Moldova
1.333 million (2007 est.)

Monaco 44,000 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)

Mongolia
1.042 million (2006)

Montenegro
259,100 (2004)

Montserrat 4,521 note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.)

Morocco
11.39 million (2007 est.)

Mozambique
9.6 million (2007 est.)

Namibia
660,000 (2007 est.)

Nepal 11.11 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2006 est.)

Netherlands
7.604 million (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
83,600 (2005)

New Caledonia
78,990 (2004)

New Zealand
2.236 million (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
2.262 million (2007 est.)

Niger
70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the
public sector (1995)

Nigeria
50.13 million (2007 est.)

Niue
663 (2001)

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands 44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)

Norway
2.507 million (2007 est.)

Oman
920,000 (2002 est.)

Pakistan
48.23 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor (2007 est.)

Palau
9,777 (2005)

Panama
1.362 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
3.557 million (2007 est.)

Paraguay
2.787 million (2007 est.)

Peru
9.839 million (2007 est.)

Philippines
36.22 million (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
15 able-bodied men (2004)

Poland
16.86 million (2007 est.)

Portugal
5.618 million (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
1.3 million (2000)

Qatar
881,000 (2007 est.)

Romania
9.3 million (2007 est.)

Russia
75.1 million (2007 est.)

Rwanda
4.6 million (2000)

Saint Helena 2,486 note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
18,170 (June 1995)

Saint Lucia
43,800 (2001 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
3,450 (2005)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
41,680 (1991 est.)

Samoa
90,000 (2000 est.)

San Marino
20,470 (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe
35,050 (1991)

Saudi Arabia
6.563 million
note: about one-third of the population in the 15-64 age group is
non-national (2007 est.)

Senegal
4.85 million (2007 est.)

Serbia
2.961 million (2002 est.)

Seychelles
39,560 (2006)

Sierra Leone
1.369 million (1981 est.)

Singapore
2.751 million (2007 est.)

Slovakia
2.654 million (2007 est.)

Slovenia
925,000 (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
249,200 (1999)

Somalia
3.7 million (few skilled laborers) (1975)

South Africa
20.49 million economically active (2007 est.)

Spain
22.19 million (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
7.489 million (2007 est.)

Sudan
7.415 million (1996 est.)

Suriname
156,700 (2004)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
300,000 (2006)

Sweden
4.839 million (2007 est.)

Switzerland
3.954 million (2007 est.)

Syria
5.462 million (2007 est.)

Taiwan
10.71 million (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
2.1 million (2007)

Tanzania
20.04 million (2007 est.)

Thailand
36.9 million (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
1.302 million (1998)

Tokelau
440 (2001)

Tonga
33,910 (2003)

Trinidad and Tobago
622,000 (2007 est.)

Tunisia
3.593 million (2007 est.)

Turkey 23.53 million note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
2.089 million (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
4,848 (1990 est.)

Tuvalu
3,615 (2004 est.)

Uganda
14.02 million (2007 est.)

Ukraine
21.58 million (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
3.065 million (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
30.89 million (2007 est.)

United States
153.1 million (includes unemployed) (2007 est.)

Uruguay
1.631 million (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
14.6 million (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
76,410 (1999)

Venezuela
12.37 million (2007 est.)

Vietnam
46.42 million (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
43,980 (2004 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
3,104 (2003)

West Bank
605,000 (2006)

Western Sahara
12,000 (2005 est.)

World
3.131 billion (2007 est.)

Yemen
6.305 million (2007 est.)

Zambia
4.989 million (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
4.032 million (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2096 Land boundaries (km)

Afghanistan
total: 5,529 km
border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km,
Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Akrotiri
total: 47.4 km
border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km

Albania
total: 717 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172
km, Kosovo 112 km

Algeria
total: 6,343 km
border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,
Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

American Samoa
0 km

Andorra
total: 120.3 km
border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km

Angola
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of
which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province),
Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Anguilla
0 km

Antarctica 0 km note: see entry on Disputes - international

Antigua and Barbuda
0 km

Argentina
total: 9,861 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261 km, Chile 5,308 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 580 km

Armenia
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Aruba
0 km

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
0 km

Australia
0 km

Austria
total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366
km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330
km, Switzerland 164 km

Azerbaijan
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Bahamas, The
0 km

Bahrain
0 km

Bangladesh total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Barbados
0 km

Belarus
total: 3,306 km
border countries: Latvia 171 km, Lithuania 680 km, Poland 605 km,
Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Belgium
total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km

Belize
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Benin
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km

Bermuda
0 km

Bhutan
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Bolivia
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km,
Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 1,538 km
border countries: Croatia 932 km, Montenegro 249 km, Serbia 357 km

Botswana
total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe
813 km

Bouvet Island
0 km

Brazil
total: 16,885 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia
1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km,
Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

British Indian Ocean Territory
0 km

British Virgin Islands
0 km

Brunei
total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Bulgaria
total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km,
Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Burkina Faso
total: 3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km,
Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Burma
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Burundi
total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda
290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Cambodia
total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Cameroon
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298
km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Canada total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Cape Verde
0 km

Cayman Islands
0 km

Central African Republic
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km

Chad
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km

Chile
total: 6,339 km
border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km

China
total: 22,117 km
border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,
India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km,
Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km,
Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40
km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
regional borders: Hong Kong 30 km, Macau 0.34 km

Christmas Island
0 km

Clipperton Island
0 km

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
0 km

Colombia
total: 6,309 km
border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Comoros
0 km

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 10,730 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary
of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central
African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda
217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

Congo, Republic of the
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon
1,903 km

Cook Islands
0 km

Coral Sea Islands
0 km

Costa Rica
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Croatia
total: 1,982 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 km

Cuba
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of
Cuba

Cyprus
total: 150.4 km (approximately)
border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km
(approximately)

Czech Republic
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km,
Slovakia 197 km

Denmark
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km

Dhekelia
total: 103 km (approximately)
border countries: Cyprus 103 km (approximately)

Djibouti
total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

Dominica
0 km

Dominican Republic
total: 360 km
border countries: Haiti 360 km

Ecuador
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Egypt
total: 2,665 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km,
Sudan 1,273 km

El Salvador
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Equatorial Guinea
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Eritrea
total: 1,626 km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Estonia
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km

Ethiopia
total: 5,328 km
border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km,
Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km

European Union
total: 12,440.8 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050
km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km,
Macedonia 394 km, Moldova 450 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Norway 2,348 km,
Russia 2,257 km, San Marino 39 km, Serbia 945 km, Switzerland 1,811
km, Turkey 446 km, Ukraine 1,257 km
note: data for European Continent only

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 km

Faroe Islands
0 km

Fiji
0 km

Finland
total: 2,654 km
border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,313 km

France
metropolitan France - total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km
French Guiana - total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

French Polynesia
0 km

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
0 km

Gabon
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,
Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Gambia, The
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km

Gaza Strip
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Georgia
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km

Germany
total: 3,621 km
border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646
km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577
km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Ghana
total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
877 km

Gibraltar
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Greece
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
Macedonia 246 km

Greenland
0 km

Grenada
0 km

Guam
0 km

Guatemala
total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256
km, Mexico 962 km

Guernsey
0 km

Guinea
total: 3,399 km
border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km,
Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Guinea-Bissau
total: 724 km
border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Guyana
total: 2,949 km
border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Haiti
total: 360 km
border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
0 km

Holy See (Vatican City)
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Honduras
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km

Hong Kong
total: 30 km
regional border: China 30 km

Hungary
total: 2,185 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia 166 km, Slovakia 676 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Iceland
0 km

India
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463
km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Indonesia
total: 2,830 km
border countries: Timor-Leste 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New
Guinea 820 km

Iran
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

Iraq
total: 3,650 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

Ireland total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Isle of Man
0 km

Israel
total: 1,017 km
border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Italy
total: 1,899.2 km
border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km

Jamaica
0 km

Jan Mayen
0 km

Japan
0 km

Jersey
0 km

Jordan
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,
Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Kazakhstan
total: 12,185 km
border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846
km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Kenya
total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Kiribati
0 km

Korea, North
total: 1,673 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km

Korea, South
total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km

Kosovo
total: 702 km
border countries: Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79
km, Serbia 352 km

Kuwait
total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Kyrgyzstan
total: 3,051 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Laos
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Latvia
total: 1,382 km
border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km,
Russia 292 km

Lebanon
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Lesotho
total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km

Liberia
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km

Libya
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Liechtenstein
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Lithuania
total: 1,574 km
border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Luxembourg
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Macau
total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km

Macedonia
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km

Madagascar
0 km

Malawi
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Malaysia
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Maldives
0 km

Mali
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km

Malta
0 km

Marshall Islands
0 km

Mauritania
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km

Mauritius
0 km

Mayotte
0 km

Mexico total: 4,353 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km

Micronesia, Federated States of 0 km

Moldova
total: 1,390 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km

Monaco
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km

Mongolia
total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Montenegro
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,
Croatia 25 km, Kosovo 79 km, Serbia 124 km

Montserrat
0 km

Morocco
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Mozambique
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Namibia
total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
967 km, Zambia 233 km

Nauru
0 km

Navassa Island
0 km

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

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

Netherlands Antilles
total: 15 km
border countries: Saint Martin 15 km

New Caledonia
0 km

New Zealand
0 km

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

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

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

Niue
0 km

Norfolk Island
0 km

Northern Mariana Islands
0 km

Norway
total: 2,542 km
border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Oman
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Pakistan
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
km, Iran 909 km

Palau
0 km

Panama
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Papua New Guinea
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Paracel Islands
0 km

Paraguay
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km

Peru
total: 7,461 km
border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km,
Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

Philippines
0 km

Pitcairn Islands
0 km

Poland
total: 3,047 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia
420 km, Ukraine 428 km

Portugal total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km

Puerto Rico 0 km

Qatar total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Romania
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Russia
total: 20,241.5 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland
1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 17.5 km,
Latvia 292 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441
km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576
km

Rwanda
total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km

Saint Barthelemy
0 km

Saint Helena
0 km

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 km

Saint Lucia
0 km

Saint Martin total: 15 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 15 km

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 km

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 km

Samoa
0 km

San Marino total: 39 km border countries: Italy 39 km

Sao Tome and Principe
0 km

Saudi Arabia
total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Senegal
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

Serbia
total: 2,026 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km,
Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km,
Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km

Seychelles
0 km

Sierra Leone total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Singapore
0 km

Slovakia
total: 1,474 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676
km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km

Slovenia
total: 1,086 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km,
Italy 199 km

Solomon Islands
0 km

Somalia
total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

South Africa
total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491
km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
0 km

Spain
total: 1,917.8 km
border countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,
Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km

Spratly Islands
0 km

Sri Lanka
0 km

Sudan
total: 7,687 km
border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605
km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km

Suriname total: 1,703 km border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Svalbard 0 km

Swaziland
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Sweden
total: 2,233 km
border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km

Switzerland
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Syria
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
375 km, Turkey 822 km

Taiwan
0 km

Tajikistan
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Tanzania
total: 3,861 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217
km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Thailand
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km

Timor-Leste
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Togo
total: 1,647 km
border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Tokelau
0 km

Tonga
0 km

Trinidad and Tobago
0 km

Tunisia
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Turkey
total: 2,648 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km

Turkmenistan
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 km

Tuvalu
0 km

Uganda
total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933
km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km

Ukraine
total: 4,566 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 940 km,
Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 176 km, Romania (southwest) 362 km,
Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km

United Arab Emirates
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

United Kingdom
total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km

United States
total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),
Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and
is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
none

Uruguay
total: 1,648 km
border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km

Uzbekistan
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Vanuatu
0 km

Venezuela
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Vietnam
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

Virgin Islands
0 km

Wake Island
0 km

Wallis and Futuna
0 km

West Bank
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

Western Sahara
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

World
the land boundaries in the world total 251,060 km (not
counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia,
each border 14 other countries
note: 45 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include:
Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic,
Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary,
Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal,
Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Swaziland,
Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West
Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan,
are doubly landlocked

Yemen
total: 1,746 km
border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Zambia
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania
338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km

Zimbabwe
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa
225 km, Zambia 797 km

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2097 Land use (%)

Afghanistan
arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 87.66% (2005)

Albania
arable land: 20.1%
permanent crops: 4.21%
other: 75.69% (2005)

Algeria
arable land: 3.17%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 96.55% (2005)

American Samoa
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)

Andorra
arable land: 2.13%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.87% (2005)

Angola
arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 97.12% (2005)

Anguilla
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds) (2005)

Antarctica
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2005)

Antigua and Barbuda
arable land: 18.18%
permanent crops: 4.55%
other: 77.27% (2005)

Argentina
arable land: 10.03%
permanent crops: 0.36%
other: 89.61% (2005)

Armenia
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)

Aruba
arable land: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2005)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005)

Australia
arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of
cultivated grassland)
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 93.81% (2005)

Austria
arable land: 16.59%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 82.56% (2005)

Azerbaijan
arable land: 20.62%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 76.77% (2005)

Bahamas, The
arable land: 0.58%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 99.13% (2005)

Bahrain
arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2005)

Bangladesh
arable land: 55.39%
permanent crops: 3.08%
other: 41.53% (2005)

Barbados
arable land: 37.21%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 60.46% (2005)

Belarus
arable land: 26.77%
permanent crops: 0.6%
other: 72.63% (2005)

Belgium
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89%
note: includes Luxembourg (2005)

Belize
arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)

Benin
arable land: 23.53%
permanent crops: 2.37%
other: 74.1% (2005)

Bermuda
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)

Bhutan
arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005)

Bolivia
arable land: 2.78%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 97.03% (2005)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
arable land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 1.89%
other: 78.5% (2005)

Botswana
arable land: 0.65%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.34% (2005)

Bouvet Island
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)

Brazil
arable land: 6.93%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.18% (2005)

British Indian Ocean Territory
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

British Virgin Islands
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (2005)

Brunei
arable land: 2.08%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 97.05% (2005)

Bulgaria
arable land: 29.94%
permanent crops: 1.9%
other: 68.16% (2005)

Burkina Faso
arable land: 17.66%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 82.12% (2005)

Burma
arable land: 14.92%
permanent crops: 1.31%
other: 83.77% (2005)

Burundi
arable land: 35.57%
permanent crops: 13.12%
other: 51.31% (2005)

Cambodia
arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)

Cameroon
arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 2.52%
other: 84.94% (2005)

Canada
arable land: 4.57%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 94.78% (2005)

Cape Verde
arable land: 11.41%
permanent crops: 0.74%
other: 87.85% (2005)

Cayman Islands
arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96.15% (2005)

Central African Republic
arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 96.75% (2005)

Chad
arable land: 2.8%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.18% (2005)

Chile
arable land: 2.62%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.95% (2005)

China
arable land: 14.86%
permanent crops: 1.27%
other: 83.87% (2005)

Christmas Island arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)

Clipperton Island
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all coral) (2005)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Colombia
arable land: 2.01%
permanent crops: 1.37%
other: 96.62% (2005)

Comoros
arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.67% (2005)

Congo, Republic of the
arable land: 1.45%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 98.4% (2005)

Cook Islands
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 8.33%
other: 75% (2005)

Coral Sea Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)

Costa Rica
arable land: 4.4%
permanent crops: 5.87%
other: 89.73% (2005)

Cote d'Ivoire
arable land: 10.23%
permanent crops: 11.16%
other: 78.61% (2005)

Croatia
arable land: 25.82%
permanent crops: 2.19%
other: 71.99% (2005)

Cuba
arable land: 27.63%
permanent crops: 6.54%
other: 65.83% (2005)

Cyprus
arable land: 10.81%
permanent crops: 4.32%
other: 84.87% (2005)

Czech Republic
arable land: 38.82%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 58.18% (2005)

Denmark
arable land: 52.59%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 47.22% (2005)

Djibouti
arable land: 0.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.96% (2005)

Dominica
arable land: 6.67%
permanent crops: 21.33%
other: 72% (2005)

Dominican Republic
arable land: 22.49%
permanent crops: 10.26%
other: 67.25% (2005)

Ecuador
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 4.81%
other: 89.48% (2005)

Egypt
arable land: 2.92%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 96.58% (2005)

El Salvador
arable land: 31.37%
permanent crops: 11.88%
other: 56.75% (2005)

Equatorial Guinea
arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005)

Eritrea
arable land: 4.78%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 95.19% (2005)

Estonia
arable land: 12.05%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 87.6% (2005)

Ethiopia
arable land: 10.01%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 89.34% (2005)

European Union
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)

Faroe Islands
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2005)

Fiji
arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (2005)

Finland
arable land: 6.54%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 93.44% (2005)

France
arable land: 33.46%
permanent crops: 2.03%
other: 64.51%
note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%,
other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe - arable land
11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%; Martinique - arable
land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%; Reunion - arable
land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2005)

French Polynesia
arable land: 0.75%
permanent crops: 5.5%
other: 93.75% (2005)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% trees, grasses, ferns, and moss; Ile
Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% grass, ferns,
and moss; Iles Crozet - 100% tossock grass, heath, and fern; Iles
Kerguelen - 100% tossock grass and Kerguelen cabbage; Bassas da
India (Iles Eparses) - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa
Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands;
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) - 100% lush vegetation and coconut
palms; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) - 90% forest, 10% other;
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% grasses and scattered brush
(2005)

Gabon
arable land: 1.21%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 98.15% (2005)

Gambia, The
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)

Gaza Strip
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 21%
other: 50% (2002)

Georgia
arable land: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)

Germany
arable land: 33.13%
permanent crops: 0.6%
other: 66.27% (2005)

Ghana
arable land: 17.54%
permanent crops: 9.22%
other: 73.24% (2005)

Gibraltar
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Greece
arable land: 20.45%
permanent crops: 8.59%
other: 70.96% (2005)

Greenland
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Grenada
arable land: 5.88%
permanent crops: 29.41%
other: 64.71% (2005)

Guam
arable land: 3.64%
permanent crops: 18.18%
other: 78.18% (2005)

Guatemala
arable land: 13.22%
permanent crops: 5.6%
other: 81.18% (2005)

Guernsey
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA

Guinea
arable land: 4.47%
permanent crops: 2.64%
other: 92.89% (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
arable land: 8.31%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 84.77% (2005)

Guyana
arable land: 2.23%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 97.63% (2005)

Haiti
arable land: 28.11%
permanent crops: 11.53%
other: 60.36% (2005)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Holy See (Vatican City)
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Honduras
arable land: 9.53%
permanent crops: 3.21%
other: 87.26% (2005)

Hong Kong
arable land: 5.05%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 93.94% (2001)

Hungary
arable land: 49.58%
permanent crops: 2.06%
other: 48.36% (2005)

Iceland
arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2005)

India
arable land: 48.83%
permanent crops: 2.8%
other: 48.37% (2005)

Indonesia
arable land: 11.03%
permanent crops: 7.04%
other: 81.93% (2005)

Iran
arable land: 9.78%
permanent crops: 1.29%
other: 88.93% (2005)

Iraq
arable land: 13.12%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 86.27% (2005)

Ireland
arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)

Isle of Man
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)
(2002)

Israel
arable land: 15.45%
permanent crops: 3.88%
other: 80.67% (2005)

Italy
arable land: 26.41%
permanent crops: 9.09%
other: 64.5% (2005)

Jamaica
arable land: 15.83%
permanent crops: 10.01%
other: 74.16% (2005)

Jan Mayen
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Japan
arable land: 11.64%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 87.46% (2005)

Jersey
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Jordan
arable land: 3.32%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 95.5% (2005)

Kazakhstan
arable land: 8.28%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 91.67% (2005)

Kenya
arable land: 8.01%
permanent crops: 0.97%
other: 91.02% (2005)

Kiribati
arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops: 47.95%
other: 49.31% (2005)

Korea, North
arable land: 22.4%
permanent crops: 1.66%
other: 75.94% (2005)

Korea, South
arable land: 16.58%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.41% (2005)

Kuwait
arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.99% (2005)

Kyrgyzstan
arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut
forest (2005)

Laos
arable land: 4.01%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 95.65% (2005)

Latvia
arable land: 28.19%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 71.36% (2005)

Lebanon
arable land: 16.35%
permanent crops: 13.75%
other: 69.9% (2005)

Lesotho
arable land: 10.87%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 89% (2005)

Liberia
arable land: 3.43%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 94.59% (2005)

Libya
arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005)

Liechtenstein
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)

Lithuania
arable land: 44.81%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 54.29% (2005)

Luxembourg
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005)

Macau
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Macedonia
arable land: 22.01%
permanent crops: 1.79%
other: 76.2% (2005)

Madagascar
arable land: 5.03%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 93.95% (2005)

Malawi
arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)

Malaysia
arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops: 17.54%
other: 77% (2005)

Maldives
arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)

Mali
arable land: 3.76%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 96.21% (2005)

Malta
arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)

Marshall Islands
arable land: 11.11%
permanent crops: 44.44%
other: 44.45% (2005)

Mauritania
arable land: 0.2%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.79% (2005)

Mauritius
arable land: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)

Mayotte
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%

Mexico
arable land: 12.66%
permanent crops: 1.28%
other: 86.06% (2005)

Micronesia, Federated States of
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)

Moldova
arable land: 54.52%
permanent crops: 8.81%
other: 36.67% (2005)

Monaco
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Mongolia
arable land: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)

Montenegro
arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 85.3%

Montserrat
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)

Morocco
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)

Mozambique
arable land: 5.43%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 94.28% (2005)

Namibia
arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99% (2005)

Nauru
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Navassa Island
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Nepal
arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 83.08% (2005)

Netherlands
arable land: 21.96%
permanent crops: 0.77%
other: 77.27% (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90% (2005)

New Caledonia
arable land: 0.32%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 99.46% (2005)

New Zealand
arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 87.54% (2005)

Nicaragua
arable land: 14.81%
permanent crops: 1.82%
other: 83.37% (2005)

Niger
arable land: 11.43%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 88.56% (2005)

Nigeria
arable land: 33.02%
permanent crops: 3.14%
other: 63.84% (2005)

Niue
arable land: 11.54%
permanent crops: 15.38%
other: 73.08% (2005)

Norfolk Island
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Northern Mariana Islands
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2005)

Norway
arable land: 2.7%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.3% (2005)

Oman
arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)

Pakistan
arable land: 24.44%
permanent crops: 0.84%
other: 74.72% (2005)

Palau
arable land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2005)

Panama
arable land: 7.26%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 90.79% (2005)

Papua New Guinea
arable land: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)

Paracel Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Paraguay
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)

Peru
arable land: 2.88%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.65% (2005)

Philippines
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)

Pitcairn Islands
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA

Poland
arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005)

Portugal
arable land: 17.29%
permanent crops: 7.84%
other: 74.87% (2005)

Puerto Rico
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)

Qatar
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)

Romania
arable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)

Russia
arable land: 7.17%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 92.72% (2005)

Rwanda
arable land: 45.56%
permanent crops: 10.25%
other: 44.19% (2005)

Saint Helena
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
arable land: 19.44%
permanent crops: 2.78%
other: 77.78% (2005)

Saint Lucia
arable land: 6.45%
permanent crops: 22.58%
other: 70.97% (2005)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
arable land: 12.5%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.5% (2005)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 64.1% (2005)

Samoa
arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)

San Marino
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)

Sao Tome and Principe
arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 42.71% (2005)

Saudi Arabia
arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)

Senegal
arable land: 12.51%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 87.25% (2005)

Serbia
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA

Seychelles
arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 84.79% (2005)

Sierra Leone
arable land: 7.95%
permanent crops: 1.05%
other: 91% (2005)

Singapore
arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)

Slovakia
arable land: 29.23%
permanent crops: 2.67%
other: 68.1% (2005)

Slovenia
arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)

Solomon Islands
arable land: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.04%
other: 97.34% (2005)

Somalia
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.32% (2005)

South Africa
arable land: 12.1%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.11% (2005)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2005)

Spain
arable land: 27.18%
permanent crops: 9.85%
other: 62.97% (2005)

Spratly Islands
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Sri Lanka
arable land: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)

Sudan
arable land: 6.78%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 93.05% (2005)

Suriname
arable land: 0.36%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 99.58% (2005)

Svalbard
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (no trees; the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
(2005)

Swaziland
arable land: 10.25%
permanent crops: 0.81%
other: 88.94% (2005)

Sweden
arable land: 5.93%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 94.06% (2005)

Switzerland
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
other: 89.51% (2005)

Syria
arable land: 24.8%
permanent crops: 4.47%
other: 70.73% (2005)

Taiwan
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 75% (2001)

Tajikistan
arable land: 6.52%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.59% (2005)

Tanzania
arable land: 4.23%
permanent crops: 1.16%
other: 94.61% (2005)

Thailand
arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)

Timor-Leste
arable land: 8.2%
permanent crops: 4.57%
other: 87.23% (2005)

Togo
arable land: 44.2%
permanent crops: 2.11%
other: 53.69% (2005)

Tokelau
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Tonga
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 14.67%
other: 65.33% (2005)

Trinidad and Tobago
arable land: 14.62%
permanent crops: 9.16%
other: 76.22% (2005)

Tunisia
arable land: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)

Turkey
arable land: 29.81%
permanent crops: 3.39%
other: 66.8% (2005)

Turkmenistan
arable land: 4.51%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 95.35% (2005)

Turks and Caicos Islands
arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2005)

Tuvalu
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 66.67%
other: 33.33% (2005)

Uganda
arable land: 21.57%
permanent crops: 8.92%
other: 69.51% (2005)

Ukraine
arable land: 53.8%
permanent crops: 1.5%
other: 44.7% (2005)

United Arab Emirates
arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)

United Kingdom
arable land: 23.23%
permanent crops: 0.2%
other: 76.57% (2005)

United States
arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2008)

Uruguay
arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005)

Uzbekistan
arable land: 10.51%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 88.73% (2005)

Vanuatu
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)

Venezuela
arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.88%
other: 96.27% (2005)

Vietnam
arable land: 20.14%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 72.93% (2005)

Virgin Islands
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)

Wake Island
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Wallis and Futuna
arable land: 7.14%
permanent crops: 35.71%
other: 57.15% (2005)

West Bank
arable land: 16.9%
permanent crops: 18.97%
other: 64.13% (2001)

Western Sahara
arable land: 0.02%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.98% (2005)

World
arable land: 10.57%
permanent crops: 1.04%
other: 88.38% (2005)

Yemen
arable land: 2.91%
permanent crops: 0.25%
other: 96.84% (2005)

Zambia
arable land: 6.99%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 92.97% (2005)

Zimbabwe
arable land: 8.24%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 91.43% (2005)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2098 Languages (%)

Afghanistan
Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official)
35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor
languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Akrotiri
English, Greek

Albania
Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek,
Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects

Algeria
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

American Samoa
Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other
Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific
islander 2.1%, other 2%
note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)

Andorra
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Angola
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Anguilla
English (official)

Antigua and Barbuda
English (official), local dialects

Argentina
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French

Armenia
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001
census)

Aruba
Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%,
Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%,
other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)

Australia
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%,
unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

Austria
German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian
2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes
Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in
Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani (Azeri) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%,
Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)

Bahamas, The
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Bahrain
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Bangladesh
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Barbados
English

Belarus
Belarusian, Russian, other

Belgium
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German
(official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Belize
Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9%
(official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown
0.2% (2000 census)

Benin
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in
south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Bermuda
English (official), Portuguese

Bhutan
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Bolivia
Spanish 60.7% (official), Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara
14.6% (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Botswana
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English
2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)

Brazil
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note -
less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools),
German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor
Amerindian languages

British Virgin Islands
English (official)

Brunei
Malay (official), English, Chinese

Bulgaria
Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and
unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Burkina Faso
French (official), native African languages belonging
to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population

Burma
Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Burundi
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Cambodia
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Cameroon
24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)

Canada
English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

Cape Verde
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West
African words)

Cayman Islands
English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

Central African Republic
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca
and national language), tribal languages

Chad
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more
than 120 different languages and dialects

Chile
Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English

China
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing
dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou),
Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority
languages (see Ethnic groups entry)

Christmas Island
English (official), Chinese, Malay

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Colombia
Spanish

Comoros
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of
Swahili and Arabic)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
French (official), Lingala (a
lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or
Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Congo, Republic of the
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba
(lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects
(of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Cook Islands
English (official), Maori

Costa Rica
Spanish (official), English

Cote d'Ivoire
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken

Croatia
Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9%
(including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001
census)

Cuba
Spanish

Cyprus
Greek, Turkish, English

Czech Republic
Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8%
(2001 census)

Denmark
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German
(small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language

Dhekelia
English, Greek

Djibouti
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Dominica
English (official), French patois

Dominican Republic
Spanish

Ecuador
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Egypt
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by
educated classes

El Salvador
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Equatorial Guinea
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes
French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)

Eritrea
Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic
languages

Estonia
Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%,
unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

Ethiopia
Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna
6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%,
English (major foreign language taught in schools) (1994 census)

European Union
Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian,
Finnish, French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian,
Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene,
Spanish, Swedish
note: only official languages are listed; German, the major language
of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is the most widely spoken
mother tongue - over 19% of the EU population; English is the most
widely spoken language - about 49% of the EU population is
conversant with it (2007)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
English

Faroe Islands
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Fiji
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Finland
Finnish 91.5% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3%
(small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2006)

France
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)
overseas departments: French, Creole patois

French Polynesia
French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4%
(official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002
census)

Gabon
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira,
Bandjabi

Gambia, The
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars

Gaza Strip
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English
(widely understood)

Georgia
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%,
other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Germany
German

Ghana
Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%,
Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga
3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000
census)

Gibraltar
English (used in schools and for official purposes),
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese

Greece
Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)

Greenland
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Grenada
English (official), French patois

Guam
English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%,
other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other
languages 3.5% (2000 census)

Guatemala
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially
recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel,
Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Guernsey
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country
districts

Guinea
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own
language

Guinea-Bissau
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Guyana
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a
dialect of Hindi), Urdu

Haiti
French (official), Creole (official)

Holy See (Vatican City)
Italian, Latin, French, various other
languages

Honduras
Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Hong Kong
Chinese (Cantonese) 89.2% (official), other Chinese
dialects 6.4%, English 3.2% (official), other 1.2% (2001 census)

Hungary
Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)

Iceland
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

India
Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%,
Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%,
Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%
note: English enjoys associate status but is the most important
language for national, political, and commercial communication;
Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 41% of the
people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu,
Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi,
Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular
variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is
not an official language (2001 census)

Indonesia
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay),
English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is
Javanese)

Iran
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects
26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

Iraq
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a
Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian

Ireland
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish
(Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas located along
the western seaboard

Isle of Man
English, Manx Gaelic

Israel
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority,
English most commonly used foreign language

Italy
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige
region are predominantly German speaking), French (small
French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene
(Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

Jamaica
English, English patois

Japan
Japanese

Jersey
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001
census)

Jordan
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and
middle classes

Kazakhstan
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official,
used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic
communication") 95% (2001 est.)

Kenya
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous
languages

Kiribati
I-Kiribati, English (official)

Korea, North
Korean

Korea, South
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high
school

Kosovo
Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish,
Roma

Kuwait
Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5%
(official), Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)

Laos
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Latvia
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other
4.3% (2000 census)

Lebanon
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Lesotho
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Liberia
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of
which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

Libya
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the
major cities

Liechtenstein
German (official), Alemannic dialect

Lithuania
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other
and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Luxembourg
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative
language), French (administrative language)

Macau
Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese
dialects 2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Macedonia
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%,
Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Madagascar
English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)

Malawi
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%,
Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other
3.6% (1998 census)

Malaysia
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese,
Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu,
Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most
widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Maldives
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from
Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Mali
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Malta
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual
3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)

Marshall Islands
Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8%
(1999 census)
note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

Mauritania
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof
(all national languages), French, Hassaniya

Mauritius
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English
(official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%,
unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)

Mayotte
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language)
spoken by 35% of the population

Mexico
Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%,
indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages
include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)

Micronesia, Federated States of
English (official and common
language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian,
Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Moldova
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Monaco
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Mongolia
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Montenegro
Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%,
Albanian 5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)

Montserrat
English

Morocco
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy

Mozambique
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8%
(official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe
7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%,
other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)

Namibia
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of
the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)

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

Nepal
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu
(Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi
2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)

Netherlands
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Netherlands Antilles
Papiamento 65.4% (a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely
spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other
1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

New Caledonia
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

New Zealand
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language
(official)

Nicaragua
Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995
census)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Niger
French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Nigeria
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Niue
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and
Samoan; English

Norfolk Island
English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th
century English and ancient Tahitian

Northern Mariana Islands
Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%,
Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%,
other 9.6% (2000 census)

Norway
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official),
small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official
in six municipalities

Oman
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Pakistan
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%,
Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%,
English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most
government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%

Palau
Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral
(Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official),
Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%,
Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

Panama
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians
bilingual

Papua New Guinea
Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca,
English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's
total)

Paraguay
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Peru
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large
number of minor Amazonian languages

Philippines
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English
(official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano,
Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Pitcairn Islands
English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th
century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)

Poland
Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Portugal
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally
used)

Puerto Rico
Spanish, English

Qatar
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Romania
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy)
1.1%, other 1.2%

Russia
Russian, many minority languages

Rwanda
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French
(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in
commercial centers

Saint Barthelemy
French (primary), English

Saint Helena
English

Saint Kitts and Nevis
English

Saint Lucia
English (official), French patois

Saint Martin
French (official language), English, Dutch, French
Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
French (official)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
English, French patois

Samoa
Samoan (Polynesian), English

San Marino
Italian

Sao Tome and Principe
Portuguese (official)

Saudi Arabia
Arabic

Senegal
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Serbia
Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%,
Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census)
note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all
official in Vojvodina

Seychelles
Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%,
unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Sierra Leone
English (official, regular use limited to literate
minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne
(principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole,
spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled
in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10%
of the population but understood by 95%)

Singapore
Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%,
Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects
1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)

Slovakia
Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%,
Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

Slovenia
Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified
4.4% (2002 census)

Solomon Islands
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca; English (official; but spoken by only 1%-2% of the
population); 120 indigenous languages

Somalia
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

South Africa
IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi
9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%,
other 7.2% (2001 census)

Spain
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%,
Basque 2%, are official regionally

Sri Lanka
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
(national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken
competently by about 10% of the population

Sudan
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie,
diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages
note: program of "Arabization" in process

Suriname
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Svalbard
Norwegian, Russian

Swaziland
English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)

Sweden
Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Switzerland
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%,
Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%,
Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%,
other 2.8% (2000 census)
note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and
official languages

Syria
Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian
widely understood; French, English somewhat understood

Taiwan
Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Tajikistan
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and
business

Tanzania
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili
in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce,
administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in
Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people
living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili
is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety
of sources including Arabic and English; it has become the lingua
franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most
people is one of the local languages

Thailand
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and
regional dialects

Timor-Leste
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian,
English
note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole,
Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people

Togo
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina
(the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes
spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the
north)

Tokelau
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Tonga
Tongan, English

Trinidad and Tobago
English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a
dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese

Tunisia
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)

Turkey
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian
note: there is also a substantial Gagauz population in the European
part of Turkey

Turkmenistan
Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Turks and Caicos Islands
English (official)

Tuvalu
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Uganda
English (official national language, taught in grade schools,
used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio
broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo
languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital
and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages,
Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic

Ukraine
Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other 9% (includes
small Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities)

United Arab Emirates
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

United Kingdom
English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of
Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

United States
English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European
3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

Uruguay
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)

Uzbekistan
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Vanuatu
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as
Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%,
unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Venezuela
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Vietnam
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a
second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area
languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Virgin Islands
English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%,
French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)

Wallis and Futuna
Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language),
Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

West Bank
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Western Sahara
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

World
Mandarin Chinese 13.22%, Spanish 4.88%, English 4.68%, Arabic
3.12%, Hindi 2.74%, Portuguese 2.69%, Bengali 2.59%, Russian 2.2%,
Japanese 1.85%, Standard German 1.44%, French 1.2% (2005 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only

Yemen
Arabic

Zambia
English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi,
Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages

Zimbabwe
English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the
Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal
dialects

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2100 Legal system

Afghanistan
based on mixed civil and Sharia law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Akrotiri
the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court
system to deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to
the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws
of the Republic of Cyprus

Albania
has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International
Criminal Court for its citizens

Algeria
socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review
of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of
various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review
of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Angola
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of
free markets; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Anguilla
based on English common law

Antarctica
Antarctica is administered through meetings of the
consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are
carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own
nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national
laws; US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US
nationals, such as murder, may apply extraterritorially; some US
laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic
Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and
criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized
by regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the
introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into
specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants;
and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica;
violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up
to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science
Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement
responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation
Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to
Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans
to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more
information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone:
(703) 292-8030, or visit their website at www.nsf.gov; more
generally, access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas
between 60 and 90 degrees south latitude, is subject to a number of
relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by
the states party to the Antarctic Treaty

Antigua and Barbuda
based on English common law

Argentina
mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Armenia
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Aruba
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law
influence

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the laws of the Commonwealth of
Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where
applicable, apply

Australia
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Austria
civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of
legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Azerbaijan
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Bahamas, The
based on English common law

Bahrain
based on Islamic law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Bangladesh
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Barbados
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Belarus
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Belgium
based on civil law system influenced by English
constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Belize
English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Benin
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Bermuda
English law

Bhutan
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Bolivia
based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Bosnia and Herzegovina
based on civil law system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Botswana
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial
review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Bouvet Island
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Brazil
based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

British Indian Ocean Territory
the laws of the UK, where applicable,
apply

British Virgin Islands
English law

Brunei
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Sharia law
supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Bulgaria
civil and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Burkina Faso
based on French civil law system and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Burma
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Burundi
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Cambodia
primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes
from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences
of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing
influence of common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations

Cameroon
based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Canada
based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil
law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Cape Verde
based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Cayman Islands
British common law and local statutes

Central African Republic
based on French law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Chad
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Chile
based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent
codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction; note - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of
its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system

China
based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental
civil code legal principles; legislature retains power to interpret
statutes; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislation;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Christmas Island
under the authority of the governor general of
Australia and Australian law

Clipperton Island
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
based upon the laws of Australia and local
laws

Colombia
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US
procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and reached full
implemention in January 2008; judicial review of executive and
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Comoros
French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Congo, Democratic Republic of the a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18 December 2005; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Congo, Republic of the based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Cook Islands
based on New Zealand law and English common law

Coral Sea Islands
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Costa Rica
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Cote d'Ivoire
based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Croatia
based on Austro-Hungarian law system with Communist law
influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Cuba
based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal
concepts, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Cyprus
based on English common law, with civil law modifications;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Czech Republic
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory

Denmark
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Dhekelia
the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court
system to deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to
the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws
of the Republic of Cyprus

Djibouti
based on French civil law system, traditional practices,
and Islamic law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Dominica
based on English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction

Dominican Republic
based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures
Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory
system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Ecuador
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Egypt
based on Islamic and civil law (particularly Napoleonic
codes); judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State
(oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

El Salvador
based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Equatorial Guinea
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal
custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Eritrea
primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with
revisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been
promulgated; government also issues unilateral proclamations setting
laws and policies; also relies on customary and
post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving
Muslims, Islamic law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Estonia
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Ethiopia
based on civil law; currently transitional mix of national
and regional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

European Union
comparable to the legal systems of member states;
first supranational law system

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
English common law

Faroe Islands
the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Fiji
based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Finland
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may
request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

France
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

French Polynesia
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
the laws of France, where
applicable, apply

Gabon
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Gambia, The
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law,
and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations

Georgia
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Germany
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Ghana
based on English common law and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Gibraltar
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Greece
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Greenland
the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Grenada
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Guam
modeled on US; US federal laws apply

Guatemala
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Guernsey
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is
administered by the Royal Court

Guinea
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Guinea-Bissau
based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Guyana
based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Haiti
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
the laws of Australia, where
applicable, apply

Holy See (Vatican City)
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to
it

Honduras
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing
influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include
abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial
system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Hong Kong
based on English common law

Hungary
based on the German-Austrian legal system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Iceland
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

India
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations;
separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus

Indonesia
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election
codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Iran
based on Sharia law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Iraq
based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework
outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Ireland
based on English common law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Isle of Man
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and Manx
statutes

Israel
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations,
and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal
systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that
it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Italy
based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials;
judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Jamaica
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Jan Mayen
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Japan
modeled after German civil law system with English-American
influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Jersey
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local
statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Jordan
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kazakhstan
based on Islamic law and Roman law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kenya
based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law,
tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; constitutional
amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in
1991

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
based on Prussian civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Korea, South
combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kosovo
evolving legal system based on terms of UN Special Envoy
Martti AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence

Kuwait
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kyrgyzstan
based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Laos
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and
procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Latvia
based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal
traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Lebanon
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and
civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Lesotho
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial
review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Liberia
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common
law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten
tribal practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Libya
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Liechtenstein
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Lithuania
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be
appealed to the constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Luxembourg
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Macau
based on Portuguese civil law system

Macedonia
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Madagascar
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Malawi
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Malaysia
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the
federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family
law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Maldives
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Mali
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Malta
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Marshall Islands
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Mauritania
a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Mauritius
based on French civil law system with elements of English
common law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Mayotte
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Mexico
mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Micronesia, Federated States of
based on adapted Trust Territory
laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary
laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Moldova
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews
legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Monaco
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Mongolia
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine
"continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution
ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Montenegro
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Montserrat
English common law and statutory law

Morocco
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law
systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Mozambique
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Namibia
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Nauru
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Navassa Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

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

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

Netherlands Antilles
based on Dutch civil law system with some
English common law influence

New Caledonia
based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords
grant substantial autonomy to the islands

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

Nicaragua
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

Nigeria
based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern
states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Niue
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the
power to make its own laws

Norfolk Island
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and
acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either
Australian or Norfolk Island law

Northern Mariana Islands
based on US system, except for customs,
wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Norway
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Oman
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to
the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Pakistan
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Palau
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Panama
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Papua New Guinea
based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Paraguay
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Peru
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Philippines
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Pitcairn Islands
local island by-laws

Poland
based on a mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced
as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review
of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are
final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of
Justice in Strasbourg; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations

Portugal
based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal
reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Puerto Rico
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal
system of justice

Qatar
based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of
law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being
implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Romania
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Russia
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Rwanda
based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Saint Barthelemy
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Saint Helena
English common law and statutes, supplemented by local
statutes

Saint Kitts and Nevis
based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Saint Lucia
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Saint Martin
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
based on English common law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Samoa
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review
of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the
citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

San Marino
based on civil law system with Italian law influences;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Sao Tome and Principe
based on Portuguese legal system and customary
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Saudi Arabia
based on Sharia law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Senegal
based on French civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State
audits the government's accounting office; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Serbia
based on civil law system

Seychelles
based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Sierra Leone
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Singapore
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Slovakia
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; legal code modified
to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory

Slovenia
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Solomon Islands
English common law, which is widely disregarded; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Somalia
no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian
law, Islamic Sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

South Africa
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the laws of the UK,
where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland
Islands presides over the Magistrates Court

Spain
civil law system, with regional applications; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Sri Lanka
a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Kandyan, and Jaffna Tamil law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Sudan
based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January
1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic
law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of
the northern states regardless of their religion; however, the CPA
establishes some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum; some
separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under
the CPA following the civil war; Islamic law will not apply to the
southern states

Suriname
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal
theory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Svalbard
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Swaziland
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts
and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Sweden
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Switzerland
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees
of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Syria
based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law;
Islamic law is used in the family court system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Taiwan
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Tajikistan
based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Tanzania
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Thailand
based on civil law system, with influences of common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Timor-Leste
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains
in place but is to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on
Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Togo
French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Tokelau
New Zealand and local statutes

Tonga
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Trinidad and Tobago
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Tunisia
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
session; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Turkey
civil law system derived from various European continental
legal systems; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified
European Convention on Human Rights; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Turkmenistan
based on civil law system and Islamic law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Turks and Caicos Islands
based on laws of England and Wales, with a
few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one
based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Ukraine
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

United Arab Emirates
based on a dual system of Sharia and civil
courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

United Kingdom
based on common law tradition with early Roman and
modern continental influences; has nonbinding judicial review of
Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

United States
federal court system based on English common law; each
state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one
(Louisiana, which is still influenced by the Napoleonic Code) is
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
the laws of the US,
where applicable, apply

Uruguay
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Uzbekistan
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Vanuatu
unified system being created from former dual French and
British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Venezuela
open, adversarial court system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Vietnam
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Virgin Islands
based on US laws

Wake Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Wallis and Futuna
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

World
all members of the UN are parties to the statute that
established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court

Yemen
based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and
local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Zambia
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Zimbabwe
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2101 Legislative branch

Afghanistan
the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi
Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected
for five-year terms, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102
seats, one-third elected from provincial councils for four-year
terms, one-third elected from local district councils for three-year
terms, and one-third nominated by the president for five-year terms)
note: on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga
(Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and
territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the
constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members
of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and
district councils
elections: last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held for the
Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial
councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008)
election results: the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system
used in the election did not make use of political party slates;
most candidates ran as independents

Albania
unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are
elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD
56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19

Algeria
bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's
Assembly or Al-Majlis Al-Shabi Al-Watani (389 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations
(Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the
president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; to serve six-year
terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed
every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 17 May 2007 (next
to be held in 2012); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 28
December 2006 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - FLN 136, RND 61, MSP 52, PT 26, RCD 19,
FNA 13, other 49, independents 33; Council of Nations - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 29, RND 12, MSP 3, RCD 1,
independents 3, presidential appointees (unknown affiliation) 24;
note - Council seating reflects the number of replaced council
members rather than the whole Council

American Samoa
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of
the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by
popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains
Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats;
members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November
2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US
House of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
reelected as delegate

Andorra
unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General
de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote,
14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of
the seven parishes; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 24 April 2005 (next to be held in
March-April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%,
CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2

Angola
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220
seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in
September 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6%, UNITA
10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%; seats by party -
MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, ND 2, FNLA 3

Anguilla
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected
by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%,
ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA
2, AUM 1

Antigua and Barbuda
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17
seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of
Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next
to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ALP 4, UPP 13

Argentina
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists
of the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote;
presently one-third of the members elected every two years to serve
six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are
elected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two
years to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 28 October 2007 (next to be held in
2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 28 October 2007
(next to be held in 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA;
seats by bloc or party - FV 12, UCR 4, CC 4, other 4; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or
party - FV 5, UCR 10, PJ 10, PRO 6, CC 16, FJ 2, other 31; note -
Senate and Chamber of Deputies seating reflect the number of
replaced senators and deputies, rather than the whole Senate and
Chamber of Deputies

Armenia
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov
(131 seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by
party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - HHK 33.9%, Prosperous
Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party
6%, other 24.7%; seats by party - HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF
(Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17

Aruba
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA
7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8,
MPA 1, RED 1

Australia
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76
seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the
two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected
every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all
territory members are elected every three years) and the House of
Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential
vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer
than 5 representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be held no
later than 2010); House of Representatives - last held 24 November
2007 (next to be called no later than 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor
Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, other 1; House
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10,
independents 2

Austria
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of
Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state
parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according to
its population; members serve a five- or six-year term) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - last held 28 September 2008 (next to
be held by September 2013)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe
29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%;
seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20

Azerbaijan
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, Motherland 2, other parties
with single seats 9, independents 42, undetermined 4

Bahamas, The
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats;
members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the
prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms)
and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve
the Parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%;
seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18

Bahrain
bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council
(40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of
Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly
elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held November-December
2006 (next election to be held in 2010)
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni
Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11;
note - seats by party as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8,
al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4,
unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with
al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1

Bangladesh
unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300
seats elected by popular vote from single territorial
constituencies; members serve five-year terms; note - parliament not
in session during the extended caretaker regime
elections: last held 1 October 2001 (the scheduled January 2007
election has been postponed until 29 December 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance
partners 41%, AL 40%, other 19%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI
17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 12; note -
the election of October 2001 brought to power a majority BNP
government aligned with three other smaller parties - JI, IOJ, and
Jatiya Party (Manzur)

Barbados
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats;
members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the
Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at
his discretion) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 15 January 2008 (next to be
called in 2013)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP
52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

Belarus
bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie
consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64
seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and eight members
appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held 28 September 2008 (next
to be held fall of 2012); international observers widely denounced
the elections as flawed and undemocratic based on massive government
falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won all 110 seats
election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA

Belgium
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in
Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by
popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year
terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van
Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in
French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on
the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 June 2007
(next to be held no later than June 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA
19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit
10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker List 3.4%, FN 2.3%,
other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 9, Open VLD 5, MR 6, VB 5, PS
4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2, Groen! 1, Dedecker List 1, FN 1
(note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB
12%, Open VLD 11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo
5.1%, Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party
- CDV/N-VA 30, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A-Spirit 14, CDH
10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 1
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of
government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a
complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six
governments each with its own legislative assembly

Belize
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats;
members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the
prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and
Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National
Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to
serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UDP 25, PUP 6

Benin
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18

Bermuda
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats;
members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition)
and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 18 December 2007 (next to be
held not later than 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%;
seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

Bhutan
new bicameral Parliament consists of the non-partisan
National Council (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20
electoral districts (dzongkhags) for four-year terms and 5 members
nominated by the King); and the National Assembly (47 seats; members
elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: National Council elections last held on 31 December 2007
and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December 2012); National
Assembly elections last held on 24 March 2008 (next to be held by
March 2013)
election results: National Council - NA; National Assembly - percent
of vote by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party - DPT 45, PDP 2

Bolivia
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are
elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130
seats; 70 members are directly elected from their districts and 60
are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held
18 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PODEMOS 13, MAS 12, UN 1, MNR 1; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 73,
PODEMOS 43, UN 8, MNR 6

Bosnia and Herzegovina
bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina
consists of the national House of Representatives or Predstavnicki
Dom (42 seats, 28 seats allocated for the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and 14 seats for the Republika Srpska; members elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation, to
serve four-year terms); and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15
seats, 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the
Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the
Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year terms); note
- Bosnia's election law specifies four-year terms for the state and
first-order administrative division entity legislatures
elections: national House of Representatives - elections last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); House of Peoples - last
constituted in January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)
election results: national House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 9, SBH
8, SNSD 7, SDP 5, SDS 3, HDZ-BH 3, HDZ1990 2, other 5; House of
Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by
party/coalition - NA
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that
consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010); percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 28, SBH 24, SDP 17,
HDZ-BH 8, HDZ100 7, other 14; and a House of Peoples (58 seats - 17
Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other); last constituted December
2002; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections
last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2010);
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SNSD 41,
SDS 17, PDP 8, DNS 4, SBH 4, SPRS 3, SDA 3, other 3; as a result of
the 2002 constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska
Council of Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska
National Assembly including eight Croats, eight Bosniaks, eight
Serbs, and four members of the smaller communities

Botswana
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a
largely advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting
of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members
serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3
members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly
(63 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are
appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and
Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004
(next to be held in October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%,
BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1

Brazil
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of
the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each
state and federal district elected according to the principle of
majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds elected
every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara
dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held 1 October 2006 for one-third
of the Senate (next to be held in October 2010 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held in October 2010)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB 3, PT 2, PDT 1, PSB 1,
PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83, PFL 65, PSDB
65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13, PV 13,
PSC 9, other 17; note - as of 1 January 2008: Federal Senate - seats
by party - PMDB 20, DEM (formerly PFL) 14, PSDB 13, PT 12, PTB 6,
PDT 5, PR 4, PRB 2, PSB 2, PCdoB 1, PP 1, PSOL 1; Chamber of
Deputies - seats by party - PMDB 90, PT 83, PSDB 64, DEM (formerly
PFL) 62, PP 41, PR 34, PSB 28, PDT 23, PTB 21, PPS 17, PV 13, PCdoB
13, PSC 7, PAN 4, PSOL 3, PMN 3, PTC 3, PHS 2, PTdoB 1, PRB 1

British Virgin Islands
unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected
seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general;
members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of
nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%,
independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1

Brunei
Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time
in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed
constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15
elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and
appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005;
council met in March 2006 and in March 2007
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)

Bulgaria
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held in June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%,
MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%, other 8.7%;
seats by party - CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17,
BPU 13, independents 4; note - seats by party as of January 2008 -
CfB 82, NMS2 36, MRF 34, Bulgarian New Democracy 16, DSB 16, UDF 16,
BPU 13, ATAKA 11, independents 16

Burkina Faso
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 6 May 2007 (next to
be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB
2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1

Burma
unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by
junta to convene (junta has announced plans to hold elections in
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),
other 60

Burundi
bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National
Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats, 60% Hutu and 40%
Tutsi with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a
National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic
representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 members elected by
indirect vote to serve five-year terms, with remaining seats
assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of state)
elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be
held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%,
MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59,
FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30,
FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1

Cambodia
bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by
the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and
commune councils; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2008 (next to be
held in July 2013); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be
held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP
58%, SRP 22%, others 20%; seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, others 7;
Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%;
seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2

Cameroon
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term
of the legislature
elections: last held 22 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RDCP 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1, vacant 17; note - vacant
seats will be determined in a yet to be scheduled by-election after
the Supreme Court nullified results in five districts
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established

Canada
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or
Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the
advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of
age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats;
members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of
five-year terms starting in 2009 elections)
elections: House of Commons - last held 14 October 2008 (next to be
held 19 October 2009)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party
18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 143, Liberal Party 76, New Democratic Party 37,
Bloc Quebecois 50, other 1

Cape Verde
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2

Cayman Islands
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3
appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by
popular vote; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

Central African Republic
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (105 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held
in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
KNK 42, MLPC 11, RDC 8, PSD 4, FPP 2, ADP 2, LONDO 1, independents
34, other 1

Chad
unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution
called for a Senate that has never been formed
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be
held by 2009); note - legislative elections, originally scheduled
for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action and
subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between government
and opposition parties
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 3, other 11

Chile
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of
the Senate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve eight-year terms; one-half elected every four years) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held in
December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005
(next to be held in December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8),
independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI
34, RN 20), independent 1; note - as of 8 January 2008: Senate -
seats by party - CPD 18, (PDC 5, PS 8, PPD 2, PRSD 3), APC 16 (UDI
9, RN 7), independent 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CPD
57 (PDC 16, PPD 19, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 53 (UDI 33, RN 20),
independent 10.

China
unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin
Daibiao Dahui (2,987 seats; members elected by municipal, regional,
and provincial people's congresses, and People's Liberation Army to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held December 2007-February 2008; date of next
election - NA
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 2,987

Christmas Island
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)

Colombia
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or
Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in
March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006
(next to be held in March 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41

Comoros
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are
selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by
universal suffrage; to serve for five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies
from local island assemblies

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
bicameral legislature consists of
a National Assembly (500 seats; 61 members elected by majority vote
in single-member constituencies, 439 members elected by open list
proportional-representation in multi-member constituencies; to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (108 seats; members elected by
provincial assemblies to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 30 July 2006 (next to be
held in 2011); Senate - last held 19 January 2007 (next to be held
by 2012)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PPRD 111, MLC 64, PALU 34, MSR 27, FR 26, RCD 15,
independents 63, others 160 (includes 63 political parties that won
10 or fewer seats); Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2,
independents 26, others 18 (political parties that won a single seat)

Congo, Republic of the
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(66 seats; members are elected by indirect vote to serve five-year
terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held in July
2008); National Assembly - last held 24 June and 5 August 2007 (next
to be held in 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - FDU 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD
5, independents 37, other 22

Cook Islands
bicameral Parliament consisting of a Legislative
Assembly (or lower house) (24 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and a House of Ariki (or upper house) made
up of traditional leaders
note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and
maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers
elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%,
independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1

Costa Rica
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa
(57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 February 2006 (next to be held in February
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, PASE 1, PFA 1, PRN 1, PUN 1

Cote d'Ivoire
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-district
elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on
14 January 2001 (next to be held in November 2008 after the
government postponed the elections in 2005 and 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
note: a Senate that was scheduled to be created in the October 2006
elections never took place

Croatia
unicameral Assembly or Sabor (153 seats; members elected
from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 November 2007 (next to be held in November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by
party - HDZ 66, SDP 56, HNS 7, HSS 6, HDSSB 3, IDS 3, SDSS 3, other 9

Cuba
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea
Nacional del Poder Popular (number of seats in the National Assembly
is based on population; 614 seats; members elected directly from
slates approved by special candidacy commissions to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 20 January 2008 (next to be held in January
2013)
election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party,
and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed

Cyprus
unicameral - area under government control: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats, 56 assigned to the
Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned
to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: area under government control: last held 21 May 2006
(next to be held 2011); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last
held 14 December 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: area under government control: House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.1%, DISY 30.3%,
DIKO 17.9%, EDEK 8.9%, EURO.KO 5.8%, Greens 2.0%; seats by party -
AKEL (Communist) 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 5, EURO.KO 3, Greens 1;
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic -
percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and
Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP
18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7; note - "TRNC" seats by
party as of September 2006 - CTP 25, OP 3, UBP 13, DP 6, BDH 1,
independents 2

Czech Republic
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the
Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 17-18 and 24-25 October
2008 (next to be held in October 2010); Chamber of Deputies - last
held 2-3 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - ODS 35, CSSD 29, KDU-CSL 7, others 8, independents 2;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - ODS 35.4%, CSSD
32.3%, KSCM 12.8%, KDU-CSL 7.2%, Greens 6.3%, other 6%; seats by
party - ODS 81, CSSD 74, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6; note - seats
by party as of December 2007 - ODS 81, CSSD 72, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13,
Greens 6, unaffiliated 2 (former CSSD members)

Denmark
unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats,
including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve four-year terms unless the Folketinget is dissolved earlier)
elections: last held 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 26.2%,
Social Democrats 25.5%, Danish People's Party 13.9%, Socialist
People's Party 13.0%, Conservative People's Party 10.4%, Social
Liberal Party 5.1%, New Alliance 2.8%, Red-Green Alliance 2.2%,
other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 46, Social Democrats 45,
Danish People's Party 25, Socialist People's Party 23, Conservative
People's Party 18, Social Liberal Party 9, New Alliance 5, Red-Green
Alliance 4; note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and
the two seats from the Faroe Islands

Djibouti
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65
seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 February 2008 (next to be held 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP
(coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH)
65

Dominica
unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members
appointed, 21 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010);
note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five
years of the last election, but technically it is five years from
the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace
period
election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.1%, UWP 43.6%,
DFP 3.2%, other 1.1%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

Dominican Republic
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional
consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Camara de Diputados (178 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May
2010); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be
held in May 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PLD 22, PRD 6, PRSC 4; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 96, PRD 60, PRSC 22

Ecuador
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100
seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional
representation system to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held in October
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5;
other 6; note - defections by members of National Congress are
commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats
held by the various parties; as of 29 November 2007, Congress is on
indefinite recess while a Constituent Assembly is convened

Egypt
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis
al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by
the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory
Council or Majlis al-Shura that traditionally functions only in a
consultative role but 2007 constitutional amendments could grant the
Council new powers (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88
appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term
elections for half of the elected members)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and
20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December
2010); Advisory Council - last held June 2007 (next to be held
May-June 2010)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1,
independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10
seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NDP 84, Tagammu 1, independents 3

El Salvador
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa
(84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
three-year terms)
elections: last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ARENA 34, FMLN 32, PCN 10, PDC 6, CD 2

Equatorial Guinea
unicameral House of People's Representatives or
Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held 4 May 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PDGE 98, CPDS 2
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all
executive authority in the president

Eritrea
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new
constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member
Constituent Assembly, which had been established in 1997 to discuss
and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans
living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to
serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections
to a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of
the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution
stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the
National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible
voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were
postponed indefinitely

Estonia
unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party
27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res
Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%,
Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Estonian
Reform Party 31, Center Party 29, Union of Pro Patria and Res
Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian
People's Union 6

Ethiopia
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation
(or upper chamber responsible for interpreting the constitution and
federal-regional issues) (108 seats; members are chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives (or lower chamber responsible for passing
legislation) (547 seats; members are directly elected by popular
vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPRDF 327,
CUD 109, UEDF 52, SPDP 23, OFDM 11, BGPDUF 8, ANDP 8, independent 1,
others 6, undeclared 2
note: some seats still remain vacant as detained opposition MPs did
not take their seats

European Union
two legislative bodies consisting of the Council of
the European Union (27 member-state ministers having 345 votes; the
number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states'
population; note - the Council is the main decision-making body of
the EU) and the European Parliament (785 seats, as of 1 January
2007; seats allocated among member states by proportion to
population; members elected by direct universal suffrage for a
five-year term)
elections: last held 10-13 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPP-ED 268,
PES 202, ALDE 88, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 36, UEN 27,
independents 28; note - seats by party as of 1 December 2007 -
EPP-ED 275, PES 217, ALDE 104, UEN 44, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41,
IND/DEM 24, independents 34, 4 unaccounted for

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
unicameral Legislative Council (10
seats; 2 members are ex officio and 8 are elected by popular vote;
to serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8

Faroe Islands
unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats;
members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the
seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than
January 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 21%, Social
Democratic Party 19.4%, Republican Party 23.3%, People's Party
20.1%, Center Party 8.4%, Self-Government Party 7.2%, other 0.6%;
seats by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social
Democratic Party 6, People's Party 7, Center Party 3, Independence
Party 2
note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held
on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican
Party 1, Union Party 1

Fiji
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14
appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of
Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime
Minister, 8 on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and 1 appointed
on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of
Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19
reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1
reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the
whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 6-13 May 2006 (next
to be held in 2011)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - SDL 44.6%, FLP 39.2%, UPP 0.8%, independents 4.9%, other
10.5%; seats by party - SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2

Finland
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 18 March 2007 (next to be held March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%,
SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%,
other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR
15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1

France
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or
Senat (331 seats, 305 for metropolitan France, 9 for overseas
departments, 5 for dependencies, and 12 for French nationals abroad;
members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve
six-year terms; one third elected every three years); note - between
2006 and 2011, 15 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total
of 348 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments,
2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon,
1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas
territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; starting in 2008,
members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve
six-year terms, with one-half elected every three years; and the
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats, 555 for
metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for
dependencies; members are elected by popular vote under a
single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held in
September 2008); National Assembly - last held 10 and 17 June 2007
(next to be held in June 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF (now MoDem) 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other
7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - UMP 46.37%, PS
42.25%, miscellaneous left wing parties 2.47%, PCF 2.28%, NC 2.12%,
PRG 1.65%, miscellaneous right wing parties 1.17%, the Greens 0.45,
other 1.24%; seats by party - UMP 313, PS 186, NC 22, miscellaneous
left wing parties 15, PCF 15, miscellaneous right wing parties 9,
PRG 7, the Greens 4, other 6

French Polynesia
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10 February
2008 (second round) (next to be held NA 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance
45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa
Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27,
Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998
(next to be held in September 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the
French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in
2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1

Gabon
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats;
members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental
assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or
Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct,
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next
to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24
December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents
9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2,
independents 4, others 5

Gambia, The
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members
elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

Georgia
unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme
Council or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (235 seats; 150 members elected by
proportional representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies, and
10 represent displaced persons from Abkhazia; to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 21 May 2008 (next to be held in spring 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - National
Movement-Democratic Front 59.2%, National Council-New Rights 17.7%,
other parties 23.1%; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic
Front 120, National Council-New Rights 16

Germany
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal
Assembly or Bundestag (614 seats; elected by popular vote under a
system combining direct and proportional representation; a party
must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain
proportional representation and caucus recognition; to serve
four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes;
state governments are directly represented by votes; each has three
to six votes depending on population and are required to vote as a
block)
elections: Bundestag - last held on 18 September 2005 (next to be
held no later than autumn 2009); note - there are no elections for
the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the
state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the
potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election
election results: Bundestag - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU
35.2%, SPD 34.3%, FDP 9.8%, Left 8.7%, Greens 8.1%, other 3.9%;
seats by party - CDU/CSU 225, SPD 222, FDP 61, Left 53, Greens 51,
independents 2

Ghana
unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held 7 December
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NPP 128, NDC 94, PNC 4, CPP 3, independent 1

Gibraltar
unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by
popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than
October 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%,
Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4,
Gibraltar Liberal Party 3

Greece
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 16 September 2007 (next to be held by
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND 41.8%, PASOK 38.1%,
KKE 8.2%, Synaspismos 5%, LAOS 3.8%, other 3.1%; seats by party - ND
152, PASOK 102, KKE 22, Synaspismos 14, LAOS 10

Greenland
unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members
are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 November 2005 (next to be held by
December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.7%,
Demokratiit 22.8%, IA 22.6%, Atassut Party 19.1%; Katusseqatigiit
4.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Demokratiit 7, IA 7,
Atassut 6, Katusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or
Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011);
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 1

Grenada
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 10
appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition)
and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 July 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NDC 11, NNP 4

Guam
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7
note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 1

Guatemala
unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la
Republica (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 September 2007 (next to be held in September
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UNE 30.4%, GANA 23.4%,
PP 18.9%, FRG 9.5%, PU 5.1%, other 12.7%; seats by party - UNE 48,
GANA 37, PP 30, FRG 15, PU 8, CASA 5, EG 4, PAN 4, UCN 4, URNG 2, UD
1

Guernsey
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are
elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark
have parliaments
elections: last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Guinea
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by a mixed system of
direct popular vote and proportional party lists)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%,
other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9
note: legislative elections were due in 2007 but have been postponed

Guinea-Bissau
unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held 16 November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%,
PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2%; seats by
party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1

Guyana
unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by
popular vote, also not more than 4 non-elected non-voting ministers
and 2 non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by
the president; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%,
AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5,
other 2

Haiti
bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of
the Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber
of Deputies (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms); note - in reestablishing the Senate, the candidate
in each department receiving the most votes in the last election
serves six years, the candidate with the second most votes serves
four years, and the candidate with the third most votes serves two
years
elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2006 with run-off elections
on 3 December 2006 (next regular election, for one third of seats,
to be held in 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 April 2006
with run-off elections on 3 December 2006 and 29 April 2007 (next
regular election to be held in 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - L'ESPWA 11, FUSION 5, OPL 4, FL 3, LAAA 2, UNCRH 2, PONT 2,
ALYANS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - L'ESPWA 23, FUSION 17, FRN 12, OPL 10, ALYANS 10, LAAA 5,
MPH 3, MOCHRENA 3, other 10; results for six other seats contested
on 3 December 2006 remain unknown

Holy See (Vatican City)
unicameral Pontifical Commission for the
State of Vatican City

Honduras
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128
seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votes
their party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL
62, PN 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU 2

Hong Kong
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30
seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by
popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 September 2008 (next to be held in September
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by parties -
pro-Beijing 37; pro-democracy 23

Hungary
unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats;
members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional
and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 and 23 April 2006 (next to be held in April
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - MSzP
43.2%, Fidesz-KDNP 42%, SzDSz 6.5%, MDF 5%, other 3.3%; seats by
party - MSzP 190, Fidesz-KDNP 164, SzDSz 20, MDF 11, independent 1;
seats by party as of September 2008 - MSzP 189, Fidesz-KDNP 162,
SzDSz 20, MDF 11, independent 3, vacant 1

Iceland
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party
36.6%, Social Democratic Alliance 26.8%, Progressive Party 11.7%,
Left-Green Movement 14.3%, Liberal Party 7.3%, other 3.3%; seats by
party - Independence Party 25, Social Democratic Alliance 18,
Progressive Party 7, Left-Green Alliance 9, Liberal Party 4

India
bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of
States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250
members up to 12 of whom are appointed by the president, the
remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and
territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the
People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular
vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - last held 20 April through 10 May
2004 (next must be held by May 2009)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - INC 147, BJP 129, CPI (M) 43, SP 38, RJD 23, DMK
16, BSP 15, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 10, JD (U) 8, SAD 8, PMK 6,
JMM 5, LJSP 4, MDMK 4, TDP 4, TRS 4, independent 6, other 29, vacant
13; note - seats by party as of December 2006

Indonesia
House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR)
(550 seats; members elected to serve five-year terms); House of
Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD),
constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative input
to DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly
(Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating and
impeaching president and in amending constitution; consists of
popularly elected members in DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulate
national policy
elections: last held 5 April 2004 (next to be held 8 or 9 April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Golkar 21.6%, PDI-P
18.5%, PKB 10.6%, PPP 8.2%, PD 7.5%, PKS 7.3%, PAN 6.4%, others
19.9%; seats by party - Golkar 128, PDI-P 109, PPP 58, PD 55, PAN
53, PKB 52, PKS 45, others 50
note: because of election rules, the number of seats won does not
always follow the percentage of votes received by parties

Iran
unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami or Majles (290 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 14 March 2008 with a runoff held 25 April 2008
(next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party -
conservatives/Islamists 170, reformers 46, independents 71,
religious minorities 3

Iraq
Council of Representatives (consisting of 275 members elected
by a closed-list, proportional representation system)
elections: last held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council
of Representatives (next to be held January 2009); the Council of
Representatives elected the Presidency Council and approved the
prime minister and two deputy prime ministers
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - Unified Iraqi Alliance 41%, Kurdistan Alliance 22%, Tawafuq
Coalition 15%, Iraqi National List 8%, Iraqi Front for National
Dialogue 4%, other 10%; number of seats by party (as of November
2007) - Unified Iraqi Alliance (including the Sadrist bloc with 30
and Fadilah with 15) 130, Kurdistan Alliance 53, Tawafuq Front 44,
Iraqi National List 25, Fadilah 15, Iraqi Front for National
Dialogue 11, other 12

Ireland
bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or
Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and
from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are
nominated by the prime minister; to serve five-year terms) and the
House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held by July
2012); House of Representatives - last held 24 May 2007 (next to be
held by May 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive
Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine
Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%,
Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail
78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6,
Progressive Democrats 2, other 5

Isle of Man
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council
(11 seats; members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord
Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others
named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys - last held 23 November 2006 (next to be
held in November 2011)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Man Labor Party 1,
independents 21

Israel
unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2006 (next scheduled to be held in
February 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kadima 22%, Labor
15.1%, SHAS 9.5%, Likud 9%, Yisrael Beiteinu 9%, NU/NRP 7.1%, GIL
5.9%, Torah and Shabbat Judaism 4.7%, Meretz-YAHAD 3.8%, United Arab
List 3%, Balad 2.3%, HADASH 2.7%, other 5.9%; seats by party -
Kadima 29, Labor 19, Likud 12, SHAS 12, Yisrael Beiteinu 11, NU/NRP
9, GIL 7, Torah and Shabbat Judaism 6, Meretz-YAHAD 5, United Arab
List 4, Balad 3, HADASH 3

Italy
bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or
Senato della Repubblica (315 seats; members elected by proportional
vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of
seats from that region; to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; members elected by
popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of
chamber seats; to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 13-14 April 2008 (next to be held
April 2010); Chamber of Deputies - last held 13-14 April 2008 (next
to be held in April 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - S. BERLUSCONI coalition 174 (PdL 147, LN 25, MpA 2), W.
VELTRONI coalition 132 (PD 118, IdV 3), UdC 3, other 6; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - S.
BERLUSCONI coalition 344 (PdL 276, LN 60, MpA 8), W. VELTRONI
coalition 246 (PD 217, IdV 29), UdC 36, other 4

Jamaica
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member
body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the
prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is
allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the
House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 September 2007 (next to be held no later than
October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.8%;
seats by party - JLP 33, PNP 27

Japan
bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors
or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; half
reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat
constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House
of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for
four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by
proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)
elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2007 (next to be
held in July 2010); House of Representatives - last held 11
September 2005 (next election by September 2009)
election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - DPJ 109, LDP 83, Komeito 20, JCP 7, SDP 5,
others 18
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (in single-seat
constituencies) - LDP 47.8%, DPJ 36.4%, others 15.8%; seats by party
- LDP 296, DPJ 113, Komeito 31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 24 (2007)

Jersey
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are
voting members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms,
12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms,
29 are deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the
deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of
Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by
the monarch)
elections: last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November
2005 for deputies (next to be held on 15 October 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55

Jordan
bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of
the Senate, also called the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (55
seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories
of public figures to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of
Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or Majlis
al-Nuwaab (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis
of proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - six
seats are reserved for women and are allocated by a special
electoral panel if no women are elected)
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 November 2007 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
IAF 5.5 %, independents and other 94.5%; seats by party - IAF 6,
independents and other 104; note - seven women will serve in the
next Assembly - six of whom filled women's quota seats and one was
directly elected

Kazakhstan
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 7
members are appointed by the president; other members are elected by
local assemblies; to serve six-year terms) and the Mazhilis (107
seats; 9 out of the 107 Mazhilis members are elected from the
Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which represents the country's
ethnic minorities; members are popularly elected to serve five-year
terms)
elections: Senate - (indirect) last held December 2005; next to be
held in 2011; Mazhilis - last held 18 August 2007 (next to be held
in 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan 88.1%,
NSDP 4.6%, Ak Zhol 3.3%, Auyl 1.6%, Communist People's Party 1.3%,
Patriots Party .8% Ruhaniyat .4%; seats by party - Nur-Otan 98; note
- parties must achieve a threshold of 7% of the electorate to
qualify for seats in the Mazhilis

Kenya
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called
"nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected
by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2
ex-officio members)
elections: last held 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ODM 99, PNU 43, ODM-K 16, KANU 14 other 38; ex-officio 2; seats
appointed by the president - TBD

Kiribati
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46
seats; 44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the
attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders
(representing Banaba Island); to serve four-year terms)
elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first
round on 22 August 2007 and the second round on 30 August 2007 (next
to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)

Korea, North
unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin
Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected
without opposition; some seats are held by minor parties

Korea, South
unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; 243
members elected in single-seat constituencies, 56 elected by
proportional representation; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
GNP 153, UDP 81, LFP 18, Pro-Park Alliance 14, DLP 5, CKP 3,
independents 25

Kosovo
unicameral Kosovo Assembly of the Provisional Government (120
seats; 100 seats directly elected, 10 seats for Serbs, 10 seats for
other minorities; to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%,
AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK
37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4

Kuwait
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all
cabinet ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National
Assembly)
elections: last held 17 May 2008 (next election to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc -
Sunni 21, Islamic Salafi Alliance 10, Liberals 7, Shiites 5, Popular
Action Bloc 4, Islamic Constitutional Movement 3

Kyrgyzstan
unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kengesh (90 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party 11, KCP 8

Laos
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by
popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's
Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LPRP 113, independents 2

Latvia
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are
elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL
16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party -
TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6; note -
seats by party as of February 2008 - TP 21, ZZS 17, SC 17, JL 14,
LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 5, PCTVL 6, independents 10

Lebanon
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or
Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular
vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005
(next to be held in spring 2009)
election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group -
Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and
Resistance Bloc 15; Free Patriotic Movement 15; Loyalty to the
Resistance 14; Qornet Shehwan 6; Lebanese Forces 5; Popular Bloc 4;
Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Syrian
National Socialist Party 2; Tashnaq 2; Syrian Ba'th Party 1;
Democratic Left 1; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Kataeb Party 1;
Nasserite Popular Movement 1; independent 4

Lesotho
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22
principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party)
and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by popular vote and 40 by
proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year
terms)
elections: last held 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4

Liberia
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30
seats; note - number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections;
members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in
2011); House of Representatives - last held 11 October 2005 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDC 15, LP 9, COTOL 8, UP 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15
note: junior senators - those who received the second most votes in
each county in the 11 October 2005 election - will only serve a
six-year first term because the Liberian constitution mandates
staggered Senate elections to ensure continuity of government; all
senators will be eligible for nine-year terms thereafter

Libya
unicameral General People's Congress (approximately 2,700
seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's
committees)

Liechtenstein
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members
are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL
13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Lithuania
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members are
elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional
representation; serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held October
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - TS 19.7%, TPP 15.1%, TT
12.7%, LSDP 11.7%, KDP+J 9%, LRLS 5.7%, LCS 5.3%, LLRA 4.8%, LVLS
3.7%, NS 3.6%, other 8.7%; seats by faction - TS 44, LSDP 26, TPP
16, TT 15, LRLS 11, KDP+J 10, LCS 8, LLRA 3, LVLS 3, NS 1,
independent 4

Luxembourg
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,
DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%, other 2.8%; seats by party -
CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory
body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members
appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister

Macau
unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected
by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief
executive; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results: percent of vote - New Democratic Macau Association
18.8%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16.6%, Union for
Development 13.3%, Union for Promoting Progress 9.6%, Macau
Development Alliance 9.3%, others 32.4%; seats by political group -
New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens'
Association 2, Union for Development 2, Union for Promoting Progress
2, Macau Development Alliance 1, others 3; 10 seats filled by
professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief
executive

Macedonia
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members
elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of
the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral
districts; serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - For a Better Macedonia
48.80%, Sun-Coalition for Europe 23.65%, Democratic Union for
Integration 12.77%, Democratic Party of Albanians 8.48%, Party for
European Future 1.47%, other 4.83%; seats by party - For a Better
Macedonia 63, Sun-Coalition for Europe 27, Democratic Union for
Integration 18, Democratic Party of Albanians 11, Party for European
Future 1

Madagascar
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or
Assemblee Nationale (127 seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April
2007 national referendum; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds
of the seats filled by regional assemblies; the remaining one-third
of seats appointed by the president; to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 23 September 2007 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20

Malawi
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MCP 56, UDF 49, independents 39, RP 15, others 25, vacancies 8

Malaysia
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or
Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by paramount ruler, 26 elected
by 13 state legislatures; to serve three-year terms with limit of
two terms) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008
(next to be held by March 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN
coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%; seats - BN
coalition 140, opposition parties 82

Maldives
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 members
elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50

Mali
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ADP coalition 113 (including ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3,
and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (including RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI
4, independent 15

Malta
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; members
are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation to serve five-year terms; note - additional seats are
given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a
legislative majority)
elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, MLP 48.8%,
other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 34

Marshall Islands
unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 19 November 2007 (next to be held by November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
independents 4
note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised
of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and
practice

Mauritania
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis
al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3
members elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a
portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National
Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next
to be held 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3
December 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated
with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties)
15, representatives of the diaspora 3, undecided 1; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq 51
(independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1),
CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3,
RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1

Mauritius
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected
by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give
representation to various ethnic minorities; to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS
38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2

Mayotte
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 21 and 28 March 2004 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - MDM 23.3%, UMP 22.8%,
PS 10.2%, MRC 8.9%, FRAP 6.5%, MPM 1.2%, other 27.1%; seats by party
- MDM 6, UMP 9, MRC 2, MPM 1, diverse left 1
note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 2001 (next to be held in September 2007); results
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Mayotte also
elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of
vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.1%, UDF 44.9%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1

Mexico
bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists
of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 members are
elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 seats are
allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Federal
Chamber of Deputies or Camara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300
members are elected by popular vote; remaining 200 members are
allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote; to serve
three-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2006 for all of the seats (next
to be held 1 July 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 2 July 2006
(next to be held 5 July 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 26, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 5, independent 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- PAN 207, PRD 127, PRI 106, PVEM 17, CD 17, PT 11, other 15

Micronesia, Federated States of unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote) elections: last held 6 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Moldova
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic
Moldova Bloc (AMN, PD, PSL) 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%;
seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc (AMN, PD, PSL) 34,
PPCD 11

Monaco
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16
members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional
representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%,
Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3

Mongolia
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPRP 47, DP 26, others 3; note - results are disputed

Montenegro
unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct
vote for four-year terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006)
elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European
Montenegro 47.7%, Serbian List 14.4%, Coalition SNP-NS-DSS 13.8%,
PZP 12.9%, Liberals and Bosniaks 3.7%, other (including Albanian
minority parties) 7.5%; seats by party - Coalition for European
Montenegro 41, Serbian List 12, Coalition SNP/NS/DSS 11, PZP 11,
Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Albanian minority parties 3

Montserrat
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly
elected; members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney
general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%,
MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP
1, independents 1
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single
constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council

Morocco
bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or
upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local
councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for
nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three
years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats;
295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from
national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 8 September 2006 (next
to be held in 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7
September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS
4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote
by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP
38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39

Mozambique
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da
Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO
29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90

Namibia
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26
seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve
six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to
determine members of the National Council held 29-30 November 2004
(next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held
15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party -
SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by
party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP
1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4,
NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1
note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Nauru
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 26 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18;
note - President Marcus STEPHEN called a snap election to break a
parliamentary stalemate blocking legislative action

Nepal
unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 seats decided
by direct popular vote; 335 seats by proportional representation; 26
appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers))
note: KOIRALA called the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly
on 28 May 2008
elections: last held 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPN-M 220, NC 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum 52, Terai
Madhesi Democratic Party/Nepal Sadbhawana Party 29, other smaller
parties 61; note - 26 seats to be filled by the new Cabinet

Netherlands
bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of
the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly
elected by the country's 12 provincial councils to serve four-year
terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members
directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in
May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be
held by early 2011)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11,
Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second
Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%,
Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green
Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%, other 6.6%; seats by party - CDA
41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green
Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7

Netherlands Antilles
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats, Curacao
14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB
2, DP-St. E 1, DP-St. M 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1
note: the government is a coalition of several parties

New Caledonia
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du
territoire (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial
Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3
note: New Caledonia currently holds one seat in the French Senate;
by 2010, New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate;
elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later
than September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - UMP 1; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French
National Assembly; elections last held 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to
be held on June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - UMP 2

New Zealand
unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called
Parliament (usually 120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in
single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and
51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; to serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NP 45.5%, NZLP 33.8%,
Green Party 6.4%, ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.2%, Progressive
0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats by party - NP 59, NZLP 43, Green
Party 8, ACT New Zealand 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1
note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats
increase to 122

Nicaragua
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92
seats; 90 members are elected by proportional representation and
party lists to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous
president, 1 seat for the runner-up in previous presidential
election)
elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),
MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)

Niger
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held in December
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MNSD 47, PNDS 25, CDS 22, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1

Nigeria
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109
seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives
(360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in
April 2011); House of Representatives - last held 21 April 2007
(next to be held in April 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%,
ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%, other 8.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27,
AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP
54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, UNPP 2.8%, NPD 1.9%, APGA 1.6%, PRP
0.8%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6, UNPP 2, APGA 2, NPD 1,
PRP 1, vacant 1

Niue
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common
roll and 14 are village representatives)
elections: last held 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20
independents

Norfolk Island
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members
elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four
votes can be given to any one candidate; to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010)
election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political
parties)

Northern Mariana Islands
bicameral Legislature consists of the
Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (20
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in
November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 3 November 2007
(next to be held in November 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1,
independents 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party
- NA; seats by party - Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4,
Democratic Party 1, independents 3
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
"resident representative" in Washington, DC; seats by party -
Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)

Norway
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats;
members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation
to serve four-year terms); note - in 2009 the number of seats will
change to 165
elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held in September
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 32.7%,
Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party 14.1%, Socialist Left Party
8.8%, Christian People's Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal
Party 5.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - Labor Party 61, Progress
Party 38, Conservative Party 23, Socialist Left Party 15, Christian
People's Party 11, Center Party 11, Liberal Party 10
note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership in the Lagting and
three-fourths of its membership in the Odelsting

Oman
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper
chamber (70 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory
powers only) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has some
limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only
advisory powers)
elections: last held 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the
outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female
candidates were elected

Pakistan
bicameral parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the
Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial
assemblies and the territories' representatives in the National
Assembly to serve six-year terms; one half are elected every three
years) and the National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members elected by
popular vote; 60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for
non-Muslims; to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in March 2006 (next to be held in
March 2009); National Assembly - last held 18 February 2008 (next to
be held in 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PML 38, MMA 18, PPPP 10, MQM 6, PML-N 4, PKMAP 3, ANP 2,
PPP-S 2, BNP-A 1, BNP-M 1, JWP 1, NA 1, PML-F 1, independents 12;
National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party -
PPPP 121, PML-N 91, PML 54, MQM 25, ANP 13, MMA 6, PML-F 5, BNP-A 1,
NPP 1, PPP-S 1, independents 18; note - as a result of the 27 June
2008 by-election, PML-N gained 3 seats and PPPP gained 2 seats)

Palau
bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK)
consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on
a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of
Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in
November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next
to be held in November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats -
independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats -
independents 16

Panama
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note
- in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula

Papua New Guinea
unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89
filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national
capital district; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats
elections: last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held
in June 2012
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
National Alliance 27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU 5, PDM 5,
independents 19, others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified
note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with
political parties is fluid

Paraguay
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of
Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies
or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be
held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 April 2008
(next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3

Peru
unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la
Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%,
UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%, other 14.6%; seats by
party - UPP 45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2

Philippines
bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or
Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members
elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (as a result
of May 2007 election it has 239 seats including 218 members
representing districts and 21 sectoral party-list members
representing special minorities elected on the basis of 1 seat for
every 2% of the total vote but limited to 3 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution
prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250
members)
elections: Senate - last held on 14 May 2007 (next to be held in May
2010); House of Representatives - elections last held on 14 May 2007
(next to be held in May 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Lakas-Kampi 4, LP 4, NPC 3, Nacionalista 2, independents 4,
others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators
because one senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Lakas 86, Kampi 46, NPC 29, LP 21, Party-list 21, others 36

Pitcairn Islands
unicameral Island Council (10 seats; 5 members
elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members, 2
appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary,
the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising between the governor
and council; elected members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December
2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Poland
bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate
or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a
provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the
Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the
designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only
used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
elections: Senate - last held 21 October 2007 (next to be held by
October 2011); Sejm elections last held 21 October 2007 (next to be
held by October 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PO 60, PiS 39, independents 1; Sejm - percent of vote by
party - PO 41.5%, PiS 32.1%, LiD 13.2%, PSL 8.9%, other 4.3%; seats
by party - PO 209, PiS 166, LiD 53, PSL 31, German minorities 1;
note - seats by party as of February 2008 - PO 209, PiS 159, LiD 53,
PSL 31, German minorities 1, nonaffiliated 7
note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm
only

Portugal
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da
Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 February 2005 (next to be held in Fall 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 45.1%, PSD 28.7%,
CDU 7.6%, CDS/PP 7.3%, BE 6.4%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PS 121,
PSD 75, CDU 14, CDS/PP 12, BE 8

Puerto Rico
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate
(at least 27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held
November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner
to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US
House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,
he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last
held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1

Qatar
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats;
members appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there
were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their
terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force
on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member
Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect
two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the
remaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections to
the Majlis al-Shura

Romania
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or
Senat (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 30 November 2008 (next expected to be
held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 30 November
2008 (next expected to be held November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party -
PSD-PC 34.2%, PDL 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%; seats by
alliance/party - PSD-PC 49, PDL 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 33.1%, PDL
32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%;
seats by alliance/party - PSD-PC 114, PDL 115, PNL 65, UDMR 22,
ethnic minorities 18

Russia
bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists
of an upper house, the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (168
seats; as of July 2000, members appointed by the top executive and
legislative officials in each of the 84 federal administrative units
- oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the
federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg; to serve four-year
terms) and a lower house, the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma
(450 seats; as of 2007, all members elected by proportional
representation from party lists winning at least 7% of the vote;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: State Duma - last held 2 December 2007 (next to be held
in December 2011)
election results: State Duma - United Russia 64.3%, CPRF 11.5%, LDPR
8.1%, Just Russia 7.7%, other 8.4%; total seats by party - United
Russia 315, CPRF 57, LDPR 40, Just Russia 38

Rwanda
bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 members
elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 by the
Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher
learning; to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80
seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local
bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - members appointed as part of the transitional
government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last
held 15 September 2008 (next to be held September 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%,
PL 7.5%; seats by party - RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members
indirectly elected

Saint Barthelemy
unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%,
Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy
7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by party - SBA 16,
Action-Equilibre-Transparence 1, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 1,
Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1

Saint Helena
unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the
speaker, three ex officio and 12 elected members; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 August 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12

Saint Kitts and Nevis
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3
appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member
constituencies; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1

Saint Lucia
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats;
six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on
the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after
consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the
House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to
be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP
50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

Saint Martin
unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)
election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%,
Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir
Saint-Martin 1

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil
Territorial (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and four from Miquelon;
members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 19 and 26 in March 2006 (next to be
held in March 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD
16, Cap sur l'Avenir 2, SPM 2000/AM 1
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect one seat to the French Senate;
elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held in September
2013); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP
1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects one seat to the French
National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 10 June 2007,
second round - 17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Left Radical Party 1

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and six appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.3%, NDP 44.7%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3

Samoa
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 elected
by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral
districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or
part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a
village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to
the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: election last held 31 March 2006 (next election to be
held not later than March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4

San Marino
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande
e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino
coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino
Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%; Party
of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the
Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35; PDCS
22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2;
Reforms and Freedm coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats
18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2

Sao Tome and Principe
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP
28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD
23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1

Saudi Arabia
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members
and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note -
though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent
to introduce elections for half of the members of local and
provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period
of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or
announced

Senegal
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly or
Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular
vote with the remaining members elected by proportional
representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and the
Senate reinstituted in 2007 (100 seats; 35 indirectly elected with
the remaining 65 members to be appointed by the president)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be
held 2012); note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to
postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006;
legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25
February 2007 presidential elections and later rescheduled for 3
June 2007; the June election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties,
including the former ruling Socialist Party, that resulted in a
record-low, 35-percent voter turnout; Senate - last held 19 August
2007 (next to be held - NA)
election results: National Assembly results - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 131, other 19; Senate
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDS 34,
AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president

Serbia
unicameral National Assembly (250 seats; deputies elected by
direct vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - For a European Serbia
coalition 38.4%, SRS 29.5%, DSS-NS 11.6%, coalition led by the SPS
7.6%, LPD 5.2%, other 7.7%; seats by party - For a European Serbia
102, SRS 78, DSS-NS 30, coalition led by the SPS 20, LDP 13, other
7; note - the seat allocation for the SNS is uncertain because of an
ongoing dispute with the SRS

Seychelles
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34
seats; 25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a
proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%;
seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

Sierra Leone
unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected
by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate
elections; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APC 59, SLPP 43, PMDC 10

Singapore
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there
are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition
candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as
"nonconstituency" members
elections: last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%,
SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1

Slovakia
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or
Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on
the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 29.1%, SDKU 18.4%,
SMK 11.7%, SNS 11.7%, LS-HZDS 8.8%, KDH 8.3%, other 12%; seats by
party - Smer 50, SDKU 31, SMK 20, SNS 19, LS-HZDS 16, KDH 14

Slovenia
bicameral Parliament consists of a National Assembly or
Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 members are directly elected and 50 are
elected on a proportional basis; note - the number of directly
elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election;
the constitution mandates 1 seat each for Slovenia's Hungarian and
Italian minorities; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats;
members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve
five-year terms; note - this is primarily an advisory body with
limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any
National Assembly decision, and call national referenda)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 September 2008 (next to
be held 8 October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SD 30.5%, SDS 29.3%,
ZARES 9.4%, DeSUS 7.5%, SNS 5.5%, SLS+SMS 5.2%, LDS 5.2%, other
7.4%; seats by party - SD 29, SDS 28, ZARES 9, DeSUS 7, SNS 5,
SLS+SMS 5, LDS 5, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1

Solomon Islands
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members
elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 April 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 6.9%,
PAP 6.3%, SIPRA 6.3%, Liberal 5%, Democratic 4.9%, SOCRED 4.3%,
LAFARI 2.8%, independents 60.3%; seats by party - National Party 4,
SIPRA 4, Democratic 3, PAP 3, LAFARI 2, Liberal 2, SOCRED 2,
independents 30

Somalia
unicameral National Assembly
note: unicameral Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA) (275 seats; 244
members appointed by the four major clans (61 for each clan), 31
seats allocated to smaller clans and subclans)

South Africa
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National
Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a
system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and
the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by
each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has
special powers to protect regional interests, including the
safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic
minorities); note - following the implementation of the new
constitution on 4 February 1997, the former Senate was disbanded and
replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no
change in membership and party affiliations, although the new
institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new
constitution
elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces -
last held on 14 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC
69.7%, DA 12.4%, IFP 7%, UDM 2.3%, NNP 1.7%, ACDP 1.6%, other 5.3%;
seats by party - ANC 279, DA 50, IFP 28, UDM 9, NNP 7, ACDP 6, other
21; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA

Spain
bicameral; General Courts or National Assembly or Las Cortes
Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (264 seats as of 2008;
208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 56 - as
of 2008 - appointed by the regional legislatures; to serve four-year
terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados
(350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a minimum of
two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla fill
one seat each with members serving a four-year term; the other 248
members are determined by proportional representation based on
popular vote on block lists who serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held in
March 2012); Congress of Deputies - last held on 9 March 2008 (next
to be held in March 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PP 101, PSOE 88, Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, CiU 4, PNV
2, CC 1, members appointed by regional legislatures 56; Congress of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.6%, PP 40.1%, CiU
3.1%, PNV 1.2%, ERC 1.2%, other 10.8%; seats by party - PSOE 169, PP
154, CiU 10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 8

Sri Lanka
unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional
representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance -
SLFP and JVP (no longer in formal UPFA alliance) 45.6%, UNP 37.8%,
TNA 6.8%, JHU 6%, SLMC 2%, UPF 0.5%, EPDP 0.3%, other 1%; seats by
party - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, SLMC 6, SLMC
dissidents 4, Communist Party 2, JHU dissidents 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2,
NUA 2, UPF 2, EPDP 1, UNP dissident 1

Sudan
bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States
(50 seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve
six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; members
presently appointed, but in the future 75% of members to be directly
elected and 25% elected in special or indirect elections; to serve
six-year terms)
elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held 2009)
election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointments
under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Suriname
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.7%, NDP 22.2%,
VVV 13.8%, A-Com 7.2%, A-1 5.9%, other 11.2%; seats by party - NF
23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3

Swaziland
bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate
(30 seats; 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20
appointed by the monarch; to serve five-year terms) and the House of
Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55
elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 19 September 2008 (next to
be held in 2013)
election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a
nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local
council of each constituency and for each constituency the three
candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are
narrowed to a single winner by a second round

Sweden
unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in
September 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%,
Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, Liberal People's Party 8.0%,
Christian Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by
party - Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, Liberal
People's Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19

Switzerland
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in
German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in
Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German),
Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian)
(46 seats; membership consists of 2 representatives from each canton
and 1 from each half canton; to serve four-year terms) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in
French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 19
October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be
held); National Council - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be
held in October 2011)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National
Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%,
CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS
43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other small parties 13; note -
seating for the Council of States as of December 2007 is CVP 16, FDP
12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 2

Syria
unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22-23 April 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NPF 172, independents 78

Taiwan
unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats - 73 district members
elected by popular vote, 34 at-large members elected on basis of
proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political
parties, 6 elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; to
serve four-year terms); parties must receive 5% of vote to qualify
for at-large seats
elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 12 January 2008 (next to be
held in January 2012)
election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT
53.5%, DPP 38.2%, NPSU 2.4%, PFP 0.3%, others 1.6%, independents 4%;
seats by party - KMT 81, DPP 27, NPSU 3, PFP 1, independent 1

Tajikistan
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the
National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25
members selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1
seat reserved for the former president; to serve five-year terms)
and the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi
Namoyandagon (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 25 March 2005 (next to be
held in February 2010); Assembly of Representatives 27 February and
13 March 2005 (next to be held in February 2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3; Assembly of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%,
Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51,
CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5

Tanzania
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats; 232
members elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by
the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of
Representatives; to serve five-year terms); note - in addition to
enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania,
the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar
has its own House of Representatives to make laws especially for
Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats elected
by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women
appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 Zanzibar
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take
place soon

Thailand
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the
Senate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote
representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent
government bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members
elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on
proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of
provinces; all serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in
March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23
December 2007 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle
Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5
note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a
seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional
Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the
Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are
disqualified from being senators

Timor-Leste
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary
from 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT
24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic
Alliance) 3.2%, UNTERDIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party -
FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM
2

Togo
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%,
CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50,
UFC 27, CAR 4

Tokelau
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportional
representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has seven
seats, Nukunonu has six seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of
1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono
elections: last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: independents 20

Tonga
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14
reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles
selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular
vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote -
independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents
3, PDP 2

Trinidad and Tobago
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31
seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, nine by the
President, six by the opposition party to serve a maximum term of
five years) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 5 November 2007
(next to be held in 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM
46%, UNC 29.7%; seats by party - PNM 26, UNC 15
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members
serving four-year terms; last election held in January 2005; seats
by party - PNM 11, DAC 1

Tunisia
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or
Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85
members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and
professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are
presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24 October 2004 (next
to be held in October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3
July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3,
PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (due to boycott))

Turkey
unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk
Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 July 2007 (next to be held on November
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 46.7%, CHP 20.8%,
MHP 14.3%, independents 5.2%, and other 13.0%; seats by party - AKP
341, CHP 112, MHP 71, independents 26; note - seats by party as of
17 December 2007 - AKP 340, CHP 87, MHP 70, DTP 20, DSP 13,
independents 6, other 12, vacant 2 (DTP entered parliament as
independents; DSP entered parliament on CHP's party list); only
parties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary
seats

Turkmenistan
two parliamentary bodies, a People's Council or Halk
Maslahaty (supreme legislative body of about 2,500 delegates, some
elected by popular vote and some appointed; meets at least yearly)
and a National Assembly or Mejlis (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003 (next to be
held in December 2008); National Assembly - last held 19 December
2004 (next to be held in December 2008)
election results: People's Council - percent of vote by party - DPT
100%; seats by party - DPT 2,507; National Assembly - percent of
vote by party - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note - all
elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of
Turkmenistan and are preapproved by the president
note: in late 2003, a law was adopted reducing the powers of the
National Assembly and making the People's Council the supreme
legislative organ; the People's Council can now legally dissolve the
National Assembly, and the president is now able to participate in
the National Assembly as its supreme leader; the National Assembly
can no longer adopt or amend the constitution or announce
referendums or its elections; since the president is both the
chairman of the People's Council and the supreme leader of the
National Assembly, the 2003 law has the effect of making him the
sole authority of both the executive and legislative branches of
government

Turks and Caicos Islands
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of
which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats
by party - PNP 13, PDM 2

Tuvalu
unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of
Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 August 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15

Uganda
unicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members elected
by popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established special
interest groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5],
13 ex officio members; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NRM 191, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 36, other
49

Ukraine
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats;
members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain
3% or more of the national electoral vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Party of Regions
34.4%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People's Self
Defense 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%; seats
by party/bloc - Party of Regions 175, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 156,
Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn bloc 20

United Arab Emirates
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or
Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the
rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve
two-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral
college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed
by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters
and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20
contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a
seat
note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto

United Kingdom
bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (618
seats; consisting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary
peers, and 26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005
elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as
provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House
of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain
there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary
peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be
held by May 2010)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%;
seats by party - Labor 355, Conservative 198, Liberal Democrat 62,
other 31; seats by party in the House of Commons as of 4 June 2008 -
Labor 351, Conservative 192, Liberal Democrat 63, Scottish National
Party/Plaid Cymru 9, Democratic Unionist 9, Sinn Fein 5, other 17
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly
(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer
of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of
1999 and has been suspended four times, the latest occurring in
October 2002 and lasting until 8 May 2007); in 1999, the UK held the
first elections for a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, the
most recent of which were held in May 2007

United States
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats,
2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve
six-year terms; one-third are elected every two years) and the House
of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202

Uruguay
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has
one vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to
be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31
October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1

Uzbekistan
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an
upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional
governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; to serve
five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be
held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9,
unaffiliated 10
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Vanuatu
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP
11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1,
Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent
4; note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture
and language

Venezuela
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms;
three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other
25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 1 January 2008 -
pro-government 152 (PSUV 114, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25),
PODEMOS 15

Vietnam
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPV 450, non-party CPV-approved 42, self-nominated 1; note - 493
candidates were elected; CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates
were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front

Virgin Islands
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008)

Wallis and Futuna
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate -
elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held by September
2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now
UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007
(next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats - PS 1

Yemen
a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111
seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of
Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab
Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

Zambia
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are
elected by popular vote, 8 members are appointed by the president,
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not
determined 2

Zimbabwe
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats - 60
elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial
governors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs elected
by the Council of Chiefs, 2 held by the president and deputy
president of the Council of Chiefs, and 5 appointed by the
president) and a House of Assembly (210 seats - all elected by
popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.6%,
ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.6%; seats by party - MDC 30, ZANU-PF 30;
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.3%, ZANU-PF
45.8%, other 2.9%; seats by party - MDC 109, ZANU-PF 97, other 4

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2102 Life expectancy at birth (years)

Afghanistan
total population: 44.21 years
male: 44.04 years
female: 44.39 years (2008 est.)

Albania
total population: 77.78 years
male: 75.12 years
female: 80.71 years (2008 est.)

Algeria
total population: 73.77 years
male: 72.13 years
female: 75.49 years (2008 est.)

American Samoa
total population: 73.47 years
male: 70.55 years
female: 76.56 years (2008 est.)

Andorra
total population: 82.67 years
male: 80.35 years
female: 85.14 years (2008 est.)

Angola
total population: 37.92 years
male: 36.99 years
female: 38.9 years (2008 est.)

Anguilla
total population: 80.53 years
male: 78.01 years
female: 83.12 years (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
total population: 74.25 years
male: 72.33 years
female: 76.26 years (2008 est.)

Argentina
total population: 76.36 years
male: 73.11 years
female: 79.77 years (2008 est.)

Armenia
total population: 72.4 years
male: 68.79 years
female: 76.55 years (2008 est.)

Aruba
total population: 75.06 years
male: 72.03 years
female: 78.14 years (2008 est.)

Australia
total population: 81.53 years
male: 79.16 years
female: 84.02 years (2008 est.)

Austria
total population: 79.36 years
male: 76.46 years
female: 82.41 years (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
total population: 66.31 years
male: 62.2 years
female: 71 years (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
total population: 65.72 years
male: 62.5 years
female: 69 years (2008 est.)

Bahrain
total population: 74.92 years
male: 72.41 years
female: 77.5 years (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
total population: 63.21 years
male: 63.14 years
female: 63.28 years (2008 est.)

Barbados
total population: 73.21 years
male: 71.2 years
female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Belarus
total population: 70.34 years
male: 64.63 years
female: 76.4 years (2008 est.)

Belgium
total population: 79.07 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.38 years (2008 est.)

Belize
total population: 68.19 years
male: 66.39 years
female: 70.08 years (2008 est.)

Benin
total population: 58.56 years
male: 57.42 years
female: 59.76 years (2008 est.)

Bermuda
total population: 78.3 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 80.48 years (2008 est.)

Bhutan
total population: 65.53 years
male: 64.75 years
female: 66.35 years (2008 est.)

Bolivia
total population: 66.53 years
male: 63.86 years
female: 69.33 years (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total population: 78.33 years
male: 74.74 years
female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)

Botswana
total population: 50.16 years
male: 51.28 years
female: 49.02 years (2008 est.)

Brazil
total population: 71.71 years
male: 68.15 years
female: 75.45 years (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
total population: 77.07 years
male: 75.88 years
female: 78.32 years (2008 est.)

Brunei
total population: 75.52 years
male: 73.32 years
female: 77.83 years (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
total population: 72.83 years
male: 69.22 years
female: 76.66 years (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
total population: 52.55 years
male: 50.67 years
female: 54.49 years (2008 est.)

Burma
total population: 62.94 years
male: 60.73 years
female: 65.28 years (2008 est.)

Burundi
total population: 51.71 years
male: 50.86 years
female: 52.6 years (2008 est.)

Cambodia
total population: 61.69 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)

Cameroon
total population: 53.3 years
male: 52.54 years
female: 54.08 years (2008 est.)

Canada
total population: 81.16 years
male: 78.65 years
female: 83.81 years (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
total population: 71.33 years
male: 67.99 years
female: 74.76 years (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
total population: 80.32 years
male: 77.68 years
female: 83 years (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
total population: 44.22 years
male: 44.14 years
female: 44.29 years (2008 est.)

Chad
total population: 47.43 years
male: 46.4 years
female: 48.5 years (2008 est.)

Chile
total population: 77.15 years
male: 73.88 years
female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

China
total population: 73.18 years
male: 71.37 years
female: 75.18 years (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
total population: 72.54 years
male: 68.71 years
female: 76.5 years (2008 est.)

Comoros
total population: 63.1 years
male: 60.72 years
female: 65.55 years (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total population: 53.98 years
male: 52.22 years
female: 55.8 years (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
total population: 53.74 years
male: 52.52 years
female: 55 years (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.79 years
female: 80.14 years (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
total population: 54.64 years
male: 53.95 years
female: 55.35 years (2008 est.)

Croatia
total population: 75.13 years
male: 71.49 years
female: 78.97 years (2008 est.)

Cuba
total population: 77.27 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 79.64 years (2008 est.)

Cyprus
total population: 78.15 years
male: 75.75 years
female: 80.67 years (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
total population: 76.62 years
male: 73.34 years
female: 80.08 years (2008 est.)

Denmark
total population: 78.13 years
male: 75.8 years
female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

Djibouti
total population: 43.31 years
male: 41.89 years
female: 44.77 years (2008 est.)

Dominica
total population: 75.33 years
male: 72.39 years
female: 78.41 years (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
total population: 73.39 years
male: 71.61 years
female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Ecuador
total population: 76.81 years
male: 73.94 years
female: 79.84 years (2008 est.)

Egypt
total population: 71.85 years
male: 69.3 years
female: 74.52 years (2008 est.)

El Salvador
total population: 72.06 years
male: 68.45 years
female: 75.84 years (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
total population: 61.23 years
male: 60.36 years
female: 62.13 years (2008 est.)

Eritrea
total population: 61.38 years
male: 59.35 years
female: 63.46 years (2008 est.)

Estonia
total population: 72.56 years
male: 67.16 years
female: 78.3 years (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
total population: 54.99 years
male: 52.54 years
female: 57.51 years (2008 est.)

European Union
total population: 77.32 years
male: 74 years
female: 80.84 years (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
total population: 79.29 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 81.89 years (2008 est.)

Fiji
total population: 70.44 years
male: 67.9 years
female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Finland
total population: 78.82 years
male: 75.31 years
female: 82.46 years (2008 est.)

France
total population: 80.87 years
male: 77.68 years
female: 84.23 years (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
total population: 76.51 years
male: 74.07 years
female: 79.08 years (2008 est.)

Gabon
total population: 53.52 years
male: 52.5 years
female: 54.57 years (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
total population: 54.95 years
male: 53.06 years
female: 56.9 years (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
total population: 73.16 years
male: 71.6 years
female: 74.83 years (2008 est.)

Georgia
total population: 76.51 years
male: 73.21 years
female: 80.26 years (2008 est.)

Germany
total population: 79.1 years
male: 76.11 years
female: 82.26 years (2008 est.)

Ghana
total population: 59.49 years
male: 58.65 years
female: 60.35 years (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
total population: 80.06 years
male: 77.17 years
female: 83.09 years (2008 est.)

Greece
total population: 79.52 years
male: 76.98 years
female: 82.21 years (2008 est.)

Greenland
total population: 69.46 years
male: 66.81 years
female: 72.25 years (2008 est.)

Grenada
total population: 65.6 years
male: 63.74 years
female: 67.47 years (2008 est.)

Guam
total population: 78.93 years
male: 75.86 years
female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)

Guatemala
total population: 69.99 years
male: 68.22 years
female: 71.86 years (2008 est.)

Guernsey
total population: 80.65 years
male: 77.64 years
female: 83.76 years (2008 est.)

Guinea
total population: 56.58 years
male: 55.12 years
female: 58.08 years (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.71 years
female: 49.39 years (2008 est.)

Guyana
total population: 66.43 years
male: 63.81 years
female: 69.18 years (2008 est.)

Haiti
total population: 57.56 years
male: 55.83 years
female: 59.35 years (2008 est.)

Honduras
total population: 69.37 years
male: 67.81 years
female: 71.01 years (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
total population: 81.77 years
male: 79.07 years
female: 84.69 years (2008 est.)

Hungary
total population: 73.18 years
male: 69 years
female: 77.62 years (2008 est.)

Iceland
total population: 80.55 years
male: 78.43 years
female: 82.76 years (2008 est.)

India
total population: 69.25 years
male: 66.87 years
female: 71.9 years (2008 est.)

Indonesia
total population: 70.46 years
male: 67.98 years
female: 73.07 years (2008 est.)

Iran
total population: 70.86 years
male: 69.39 years
female: 72.4 years (2008 est.)

Iraq
total population: 69.62 years
male: 68.32 years
female: 70.99 years (2008 est.)

Ireland
total population: 78.07 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 80.88 years (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
total population: 78.8 years
male: 75.46 years
female: 82.32 years (2008 est.)

Israel
total population: 80.61 years
male: 78.54 years
female: 82.79 years (2008 est.)

Italy
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.13 years
female: 83.2 years (2008 est.)

Jamaica
total population: 73.59 years
male: 71.88 years
female: 75.38 years (2008 est.)

Japan
total population: 82.07 years
male: 78.73 years
female: 85.59 years (2008 est.)

Jersey
total population: 79.65 years
male: 77.15 years
female: 82.35 years (2008 est.)

Jordan
total population: 78.71 years
male: 76.19 years
female: 81.39 years (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
total population: 67.55 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 73.16 years (2008 est.)

Kenya
total population: 56.64 years
male: 56.42 years
female: 56.87 years (2008 est.)

Kiribati
total population: 62.85 years
male: 59.79 years
female: 66.06 years (2008 est.)

Korea, North
total population: 72.2 years
male: 69.45 years
female: 75.08 years (2008 est.)

Korea, South
total population: 78.64 years
male: 75.34 years
female: 82.17 years (2008 est.)

Kuwait
total population: 77.53 years
male: 76.38 years
female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
total population: 69.12 years
male: 65.12 years
female: 73.33 years (2008 est.)

Laos
total population: 56.29 years
male: 54.19 years
female: 58.47 years (2008 est.)

Latvia
total population: 71.88 years
male: 66.68 years
female: 77.35 years (2008 est.)

Lebanon
total population: 73.41 years
male: 70.91 years
female: 76.04 years (2008 est.)

Lesotho
total population: 40.17 years
male: 40.97 years
female: 39.34 years (2008 est.)

Liberia
total population: 41.13 years
male: 39.85 years
female: 42.46 years (2008 est.)

Libya
total population: 77.07 years
male: 74.81 years
female: 79.44 years (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
total population: 79.95 years
male: 76.38 years
female: 83.52 years (2008 est.)

Lithuania
total population: 74.67 years
male: 69.72 years
female: 79.89 years (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
total population: 79.18 years
male: 75.91 years
female: 82.67 years (2008 est.)

Macau
total population: 84.33 years
male: 81.36 years
female: 87.45 years (2008 est.)

Macedonia
total population: 74.45 years
male: 71.95 years
female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)

Madagascar
total population: 62.52 years
male: 60.58 years
female: 64.51 years (2008 est.)

Malawi
total population: 43.45 years
male: 43.74 years
female: 43.15 years (2008 est.)

Malaysia
total population: 73.03 years
male: 70.32 years
female: 75.94 years (2008 est.)

Maldives
total population: 73.72 years
male: 71.55 years
female: 76.01 years (2008 est.)

Mali
total population: 49.94 years
male: 48 years
female: 51.94 years (2008 est.)

Malta
total population: 79.3 years
male: 77.08 years
female: 81.64 years (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
total population: 70.9 years
male: 68.88 years
female: 73.03 years (2008 est.)

Mauritania
total population: 53.91 years
male: 51.61 years
female: 56.28 years (2008 est.)

Mauritius
total population: 73.75 years
male: 70.28 years
female: 77.4 years (2008 est.)

Mayotte
total population: 62.54 years
male: 60.3 years
female: 64.85 years (2008 est.)

Mexico
total population: 75.84 years
male: 73.05 years
female: 78.78 years (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total population: 70.65 years
male: 68.79 years
female: 72.61 years (2008 est.)

Moldova
total population: 70.5 years
male: 66.81 years
female: 74.41 years (2008 est.)

Monaco
total population: 79.96 years
male: 76.14 years
female: 83.97 years (2008 est.)

Mongolia
total population: 67.32 years
male: 64.92 years
female: 69.84 years (2008 est.)

Montserrat
total population: 72.6 years
male: 74.66 years
female: 70.44 years (2008 est.)

Morocco
total population: 71.52 years
male: 69.16 years
female: 74 years (2008 est.)

Mozambique
total population: 41.04 years
male: 41.62 years
female: 40.44 years (2008 est.)

Namibia
total population: 49.89 years
male: 50.39 years
female: 49.38 years (2008 est.)

Nauru
total population: 63.81 years
male: 60.2 years
female: 67.6 years (2008 est.)

Nepal
total population: 60.94 years
male: 61.12 years
female: 60.75 years (2008 est.)

Netherlands
total population: 79.25 years
male: 76.66 years
female: 81.98 years (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
total population: 76.45 years
male: 74.15 years
female: 78.87 years (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
total population: 74.75 years
male: 71.76 years
female: 77.88 years (2008 est.)

New Zealand
total population: 80.24 years
male: 78.33 years
female: 82.25 years (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
total population: 71.21 years
male: 69.08 years
female: 73.44 years (2008 est.)

Niger
total population: 44.28 years
male: 44.3 years
female: 44.26 years (2008 est.)

Nigeria
total population: 46.53 years
male: 45.78 years
female: 47.32 years (2008 est.)

Niue
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
total population: 76.5 years
male: 73.89 years
female: 79.26 years (2008 est.)

Norway
total population: 79.81 years
male: 77.16 years
female: 82.6 years (2008 est.)

Oman
total population: 73.91 years
male: 71.64 years
female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)

Pakistan
total population: 64.13 years
male: 63.07 years
female: 65.25 years (2008 est.)

Palau
total population: 71 years
male: 67.82 years
female: 74.36 years (2008 est.)

Panama
total population: 76.88 years
male: 74.08 years
female: 79.81 years (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
total population: 66 years
male: 63.76 years
female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Paraguay
total population: 75.56 years
male: 72.99 years
female: 78.26 years (2008 est.)

Peru
total population: 70.44 years
male: 68.61 years
female: 72.37 years (2008 est.)

Philippines
total population: 70.8 years
male: 67.89 years
female: 73.85 years (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Poland
total population: 75.41 years
male: 71.42 years
female: 79.65 years (2008 est.)

Portugal
total population: 78.04 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 81.53 years (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
total population: 78.58 years
male: 74.64 years
female: 82.73 years (2008 est.)

Qatar
total population: 75.19 years
male: 73.5 years
female: 76.98 years (2008 est.)

Romania
total population: 72.18 years
male: 68.69 years
female: 75.89 years (2008 est.)

Russia
total population: 65.94 years
male: 59.19 years
female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Rwanda
total population: 49.76 years
male: 48.56 years
female: 51 years (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
total population: 78.27 years
male: 75.36 years
female: 81.33 years (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total population: 72.94 years
male: 70.08 years
female: 75.98 years (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
total population: 76.25 years
male: 73.59 years
female: 79.05 years (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total population: 78.91 years
male: 76.55 years
female: 81.4 years (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total population: 74.34 years
male: 72.42 years
female: 76.31 years (2008 est.)

Samoa
total population: 71.58 years
male: 68.76 years
female: 74.55 years (2008 est.)

San Marino
total population: 81.88 years
male: 78.43 years
female: 85.64 years (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
total population: 68 years
male: 66.35 years
female: 69.69 years (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
total population: 76.09 years
male: 74.04 years
female: 78.25 years (2008 est.)

Senegal
total population: 57.08 years
male: 55.7 years
female: 58.5 years (2008 est.)

Serbia
total population: 75.29 years
male: 72.7 years
female: 78.09 years (2008 est.)

Seychelles
total population: 72.6 years
male: 67.27 years
female: 78.1 years (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
total population: 40.93 years
male: 38.64 years
female: 43.28 years (2008 est.)

Singapore
total population: 81.89 years
male: 79.29 years
female: 84.68 years (2008 est.)

Slovakia
total population: 75.17 years
male: 71.23 years
female: 79.32 years (2008 est.)

Slovenia
total population: 76.73 years
male: 73.04 years
female: 80.66 years (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
total population: 73.44 years
male: 70.9 years
female: 76.1 years (2008 est.)

Somalia
total population: 49.25 years
male: 47.43 years
female: 51.12 years (2008 est.)

South Africa
total population: 48.89 years
male: 49.63 years
female: 48.15 years (2008 est.)

Spain
total population: 79.92 years
male: 76.6 years
female: 83.45 years (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
total population: 74.97 years
male: 72.95 years
female: 77.08 years (2008 est.)

Sudan
total population: 50.28 years
male: 49.38 years
female: 51.23 years (2008 est.)

Suriname
total population: 73.48 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 76.39 years (2008 est.)

Svalbard
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
total population: 31.99 years
male: 31.69 years
female: 32.3 years (2008 est.)

Sweden
total population: 80.74 years
male: 78.49 years
female: 83.13 years (2008 est.)

Switzerland
total population: 80.74 years
male: 77.91 years
female: 83.71 years (2008 est.)

Syria
total population: 70.9 years
male: 69.53 years
female: 72.35 years (2008 est.)

Taiwan
total population: 77.76 years
male: 74.89 years
female: 80.89 years (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
total population: 64.97 years
male: 61.95 years
female: 68.15 years (2008 est.)

Tanzania
total population: 51.45 years
male: 50.06 years
female: 52.88 years (2008 est.)

Thailand
total population: 72.83 years
male: 70.51 years
female: 75.27 years (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
total population: 66.94 years
male: 64.6 years
female: 69.39 years (2008 est.)

Togo
total population: 58.28 years
male: 56.2 years
female: 60.43 years (2008 est.)

Tokelau
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
total population: 70.44 years
male: 67.9 years
female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
total population: 67 years
male: 66.07 years
female: 67.98 years (2008 est.)

Tunisia
total population: 75.56 years
male: 73.79 years
female: 77.46 years (2008 est.)

Turkey
total population: 73.14 years
male: 70.67 years
female: 75.73 years (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
total population: 68.6 years
male: 65.53 years
female: 71.82 years (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total population: 75.19 years
male: 72.91 years
female: 77.59 years (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
total population: 68.97 years
male: 66.7 years
female: 71.36 years (2008 est.)

Uganda
total population: 52.34 years
male: 51.31 years
female: 53.4 years (2008 est.)

Ukraine
total population: 68.06 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 74.24 years (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
total population: 75.89 years
male: 73.35 years
female: 78.56 years (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
total population: 78.85 years
male: 76.37 years
female: 81.46 years (2008 est.)

United States
total population: 78.14 years
male: 75.29 years
female: 81.13 years (2008 est.)

Uruguay
total population: 76.14 years
male: 72.89 years
female: 79.51 years (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
total population: 71.69 years
male: 68.69 years
female: 74.87 years (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
total population: 63.61 years
male: 62.04 years
female: 65.27 years (2008 est.)

Venezuela
total population: 73.45 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 76.65 years (2008 est.)

Vietnam
total population: 71.33 years
male: 68.52 years
female: 74.33 years (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
total population: 78.92 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.11 years (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
total population: 74.29 years
male: 72.32 years
female: 76.38 years (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
total population: 53.92 years NA
male: 51.64 years NA
female: 56.31 years NA (2008 est.)

World
total population: 66.26 years
male: 64.3 years
female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Yemen
total population: 62.9 years
male: 60.96 years
female: 64.94 years (2008 est.)

Zambia
total population: 38.59 years
male: 38.49 years
female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
total population: 44.28 years
male: 45.08 years
female: 43.46 years (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2103 Literacy (%)

Afghanistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.1%
male: 43.1%
female: 12.6% (2000 est.)

Albania
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.3% (2001 census)

Algeria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.6%
female: 60.1% (2002 est.)

American Samoa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)

Andorra
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Angola
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.4%
male: 82.9%
female: 54.2% (2001 est.)

Anguilla
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
definition: age 15 and over has completed five
or more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Argentina
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.2%
female: 97.2% (2001 census)

Armenia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)

Aruba
definition: NA
total population: 97.3%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.1% (2000 census)

Australia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Austria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA

Azerbaijan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 census)

Bahamas, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Bahrain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)

Bangladesh
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Barbados
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

Belarus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.4% (1999 census)

Belgium
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Belize
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)

Benin
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 34.7%
male: 47.9%
female: 23.3% (2002 census)

Bermuda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)

Bhutan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)

Bolivia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 93.1%
female: 80.7% (2001 census)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99%
female: 94.4% (2000 est.)

Botswana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.2%
male: 80.4%
female: 81.8% (2003 est.)

Brazil
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.6%
male: 88.4%
female: 88.8% (2004 est.)

British Virgin Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Brunei
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)

Bulgaria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.7% (2001 census)

Burkina Faso
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 21.8%
male: 29.4%
female: 15.2% (2003 est.)

Burma
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.4% (2006 est.)

Burundi
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.3%
male: 67.3%
female: 52.2% (2000 est.)

Cambodia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

Cameroon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 77%
female: 59.8% (2001 est.)

Canada
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Cape Verde
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Cayman Islands
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Central African Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 48.6%
male: 64.8%
female: 33.5% (2000 est.)

Chad
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 25.7%
male: 40.8%
female: 12.8% (2000 est.)

Chile
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 95.8%
female: 95.6% (2002 census)

China
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2000 census)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92.9%
female: 92.7% (2004 est.)

Comoros
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can
read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 67.2%
male: 80.9%
female: 54.1% (2001 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Cook Islands
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Costa Rica
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.9%
male: 94.7%
female: 95.1% (2000 census)

Cote d'Ivoire
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.7%
male: 60.8%
female: 38.6% (2000 est.)

Croatia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 99.3%
female: 97.1% (2001 census)

Cuba
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2002 census)

Cyprus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2001 census)

Czech Republic
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Denmark
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Djibouti
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

Dominica
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)

Dominican Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 86.8%
female: 87.2% (2002 census)

Ecuador
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.7% (2001 census)

Egypt
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.4%
male: 83%
female: 59.4% (2005 est.)

El Salvador
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)

Eritrea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)

Estonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2000 census)

Ethiopia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

Fiji
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Finland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

France
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

French Polynesia
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)

Gabon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Gambia, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)

Georgia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)

Germany
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Ghana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)

Gibraltar
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA

Greece
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)

Greenland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)

Grenada
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)

Guam
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)

Guatemala
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.1%
male: 75.4%
female: 63.3% (2002 census)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 29.5%
male: 42.6%
female: 18.1% (2003 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)

Guyana
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)

Haiti
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Honduras
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 79.8%
female: 80.2% (2001 census)

Hong Kong
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)

Hungary
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)

Iceland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

India
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61%
male: 73.4%
female: 47.8% (2001 census)

Indonesia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 94%
female: 86.8% (2004 est.)

Iran
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83.5%
female: 70.4% (2002 est.)

Iraq
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.1%
male: 84.1%
female: 64.2% (2000 est.)

Ireland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2004 est.)

Italy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.8%
female: 98% (2001 census)

Jamaica
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)

Japan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 84.7% (2003 est.)

Kazakhstan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.3% (1999 est.)

Kenya
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%

Korea, South
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)

Kuwait
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 94.4%
female: 91% (2005 census)

Kyrgyzstan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)

Laos
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.7%
male: 77%
female: 60.9% (2001 est.)

Latvia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2000 census)

Lebanon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

Lesotho
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)

Liberia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

Libya
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)

Liechtenstein
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Lithuania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2001 census)

Luxembourg
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Macau
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.3%
female: 87.8% (2001 census)

Macedonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 census)

Madagascar
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Malawi
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

Malaysia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)

Maldives
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.4% (2000 census)

Mali
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

Malta
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Marshall Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)

Mauritania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)

Mauritius
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.4%
female: 89.6% (2004 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Moldova
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

Monaco
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Mongolia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)

Montserrat
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)

Morocco
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)

Mozambique
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)

Namibia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 86.8%
female: 83.5% (2001 census)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)

Netherlands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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

New Caledonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
female: 95.5% (1996 census)

New Zealand
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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

Niger
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 42.9%
female: 15.1% (2005 est.)

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

Niue
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Norway
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Oman
definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)

Pakistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 49.9%
male: 63%
female: 36% (2005 est.)

Palau
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

Panama
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)

Papua New Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 63.4%
female: 50.9% (2000 census)

Paraguay
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)

Peru
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

Philippines
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

Portugal
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)

Puerto Rico
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

Qatar
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)

Romania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)

Russia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2002 census)

Rwanda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)

Saint Helena
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended
school
total population: 97.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Saint Lucia
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
definition: age 15 and over has
ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)

Samoa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

San Marino
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%

Sao Tome and Principe
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)

Saudi Arabia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

Senegal
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.3%
male: 51.1%
female: 29.2% (2002 est.)

Serbia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2003 census)
note: includes Montenegro

Seychelles
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2002 census)

Sierra Leone
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English,
Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 35.1%
male: 46.9%
female: 24.4% (2004 est.)

Singapore
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)

Slovakia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

Slovenia
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

South Africa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

Spain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)

Sri Lanka
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.7%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.1% (2001 census)

Sudan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

Suriname
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 92%
female: 87.2% (2004 census)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)

Sweden
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Switzerland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Syria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.6%
male: 86%
female: 73.6% (2004 census)

Taiwan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: NA
female: NA (2003)

Tajikistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)

Tanzania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili
(Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 69.4%
male: 77.5%
female: 62.2% (2002 census)

Thailand
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2000 census)

Timor-Leste
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA
female: NA (2002)

Togo
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Tunisia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)

Turkey
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 95.3%
female: 79.6% (2004 est.)

Turkmenistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.3% (1999 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 76.8%
female: 57.7% (2002 census)

Ukraine
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)

United Arab Emirates
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

United Kingdom
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or
more years of schooling
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

United States
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Uruguay
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

Uzbekistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Vanuatu
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA (1999 census)

Venezuela
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.3%
female: 92.7% (2001 census)

Vietnam
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002 est.)

Virgin Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)

West Bank
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)

Western Sahara
NA

World
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82%
male: 87%
female: 77%
note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults
are found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all the
illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low
literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and West
Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where around
one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)

Yemen
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.2%
male: 70.5%
female: 30% (2003 est.)

Zambia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)

Zimbabwe
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2105 Manpower available for military service

Afghanistan
males age 16-49: 7,431,147
females age 16-49: 7,004,819 (2008 est.)

Albania
males age 16-49: 944,592
females age 16-49: 908,527 (2008 est.)

Algeria
males age 16-49: 9,736,757
females age 16-49: 9,590,978 (2008 est.)

Andorra
males age 16-49: 18,685 (2008 est.)

Angola
males age 16-49: 2,856,492
females age 16-49: 2,755,864 (2008 est.)

Anguilla
males age 16-49: 3,538 (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
males age 16-49: 19,560
females age 16-49: 18,977 (2008 est.)

Argentina
males age 16-49: 10,029,488
females age 16-49: 9,889,002 (2008 est.)

Armenia
males age 16-49: 809,576
females age 16-49: 870,864 (2008 est.)

Aruba
males age 16-49: 24,585
females age 16-49: 25,742 (2008 est.)

Australia
males age 16-49: 4,999,988
females age 16-49: 4,870,043 (2008 est.)

Austria
males age 16-49: 1,986,411
females age 16-49: 1,944,834 (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
males age 16-49: 2,278,888
females age 16-49: 2,291,770 (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
males age 16-49: 80,200 (2008 est.)

Bahrain
males age 16-49: 210,938
females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
males age 16-49: 41,199,340 (2008 est.)

Barbados
males age 16-49: 75,265
females age 16-49: 75,389 (2008 est.)

Belarus
males age 16-49: 2,491,643
females age 16-49: 2,528,779 (2008 est.)

Belgium
males age 16-49: 2,407,128
females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)

Belize
males age 16-49: 74,605
females age 16-49: 72,926 (2008 est.)

Benin
males age 16-49: 1,908,457
females age 16-49: 1,882,421 (2008 est.)

Bermuda
males age 16-49: 15,623 (2008 est.)

Bhutan
males age 16-49: 190,104
females age 16-49: 167,289 (2008 est.)

Bolivia
males age 16-49: 2,295,746
females age 16-49: 2,366,828 (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
males age 16-49: 1,212,007
females age 16-49: 1,170,645 (2008 est.)

Botswana
males age 16-49: 487,853
females age 16-49: 464,278 (2008 est.)

Brazil
males age 16-49: 52,449,957
females age 16-49: 52,375,921 (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
males age 16-49: 7,101 (2008 est.)

Brunei
males age 16-49: 108,356
females age 16-49: 110,153 (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
males age 16-49: 1,701,979
females age 16-49: 1,691,092 (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
males age 16-49: 3,364,288 (2008 est.)

Burma
males age 16-49: 13,402,788
females age 16-49: 13,437,042 (2008 est.)

Burundi
males age 16-49: 1,878,544
females age 16-49: 1,851,676 (2008 est.)

Cambodia
males age 16-49: 3,759,034
females age 16-49: 3,784,333 (2008 est.)

Cameroon
males age 16-49: 4,321,175
females age 16-49: 4,228,625 (2008 est.)

Canada
males age 16-49: 8,072,010
females age 16-49: 7,813,462 (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
males age 16-49: 103,650
females age 16-49: 103,553 (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
males age 16-49: 11,790 (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
males age 16-49: 1,032,828
females age 16-49: 999,330 (2008 est.)

Chad
males age 16-49: 1,906,545
females age 16-49: 2,258,758 (2008 est.)

Chile
males age 16-49: 4,242,912
females age 16-49: 4,182,509 (2008 est.)

China
males age 16-49: 375,009,345
females age 16-49: 354,314,328 (2008 est.)

Colombia
males age 16-49: 11,478,109
females age 16-49: 11,809,279 (2008 est.)

Comoros
males age 16-49: 167,850
females age 16-49: 167,362 (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
males age 16-49: 14,101,263 (2008
est.)

Congo, Republic of the
males age 16-49: 842,771
females age 16-49: 833,624 (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
males age 16-49: 1,134,205
females age 16-49: 1,095,763 (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
males age 16-49: 4,369,735
females age 16-49: 4,287,042 (2008 est.)

Croatia
males age 16-49: 1,035,712
females age 16-49: 1,037,896 (2008 est.)

Cuba
males age 16-49: 3,094,388
females age 16-49: 3,024,876 (2008 est.)

Cyprus
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 199,767
females age 16-49: 190,665 (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
males age 16-49: 2,522,383
females age 16-49: 2,425,095 (2008 est.)

Denmark
males age 16-49: 1,235,067
females age 16-49: 1,215,418 (2008 est.)

Djibouti
males age 16-49: 111,274
females age 16-49: 105,168 (2008 est.)

Dominica
males age 16-49: 18,584 (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
males age 16-49: 2,440,203
females age 16-49: 2,326,694 (2008 est.)

Ecuador
males age 16-49: 3,536,602
females age 16-49: 3,559,188 (2008 est.)

Egypt
males age 16-49: 21,247,777
females age 16-49: 20,406,408 (2008 est.)

El Salvador
males age 16-49: 1,634,816
females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
males age 16-49: 136,725
females age 16-49: 138,018 (2008 est.)

Eritrea
males age 16-49: 1,108,836
females age 16-49: 1,096,120 (2008 est.)

Estonia
males age 16-49: 306,273
females age 16-49: 317,852 (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
males age 16-49: 17,666,967
females age 16-49: 17,530,211 (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
males age 16-49: 11,725 (2008 est.)

Fiji
males age 16-49: 242,567
females age 16-49: 238,556 (2008 est.)

Finland
males age 16-49: 1,169,910
females age 16-49: 1,121,187 (2008 est.)

France
males age 16-49: 14,646,427
females age 16-49: 14,379,630 (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
males age 16-49: 79,540 (2008 est.)

Gabon
males age 16-49: 331,181
females age 16-49: 332,498 (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
males age 16-49: 379,668
females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
males age 16-49: 337,670 (2008 est.)

Georgia
males age 16-49: 1,113,251
females age 16-49: 1,168,021 (2008 est.)

Germany
males age 16-49: 19,594,118
females age 16-49: 18,543,955 (2008 est.)

Ghana
males age 16-49: 5,802,096
females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
males age 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)

Greece
males age 16-49: 2,535,174
females age 16-49: 2,517,273 (2008 est.)

Greenland
males age 16-49: 15,221 (2008 est.)

Grenada
males age 16-49: 27,309 (2008 est.)

Guatemala
males age 16-49: 2,861,696
females age 16-49: 3,062,967 (2008 est.)

Guinea
males age 16-49: 2,230,049
females age 16-49: 2,193,236 (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
males age 16-49: 344,087
females age 16-49: 347,886 (2008 est.)

Guyana
males age 16-49: 220,797 (2008 est.)

Haiti
males age 16-49: 2,047,083
females age 16-49: 2,047,953 (2008 est.)

Honduras
males age 16-49: 1,868,940
females age 16-49: 1,825,770 (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
males age 16-49: 1,772,820
females age 16-49: 1,941,448 (2008 est.)

Hungary
males age 16-49: 2,391,400
females age 16-49: 2,337,240 (2008 est.)

Iceland
males age 16-49: 74,896 (2008 est.)

India
males age 16-49: 301,094,084
females age 16-49: 283,047,141 (2008 est.)

Indonesia
males age 16-49: 63,800,825
females age 16-49: 61,729,717 (2008 est.)

Iran
males age 16-49: 20,212,275
females age 16-49: 19,638,751 (2008 est.)

Iraq
males age 16-49: 7,086,200
females age 16-49: 6,808,954 (2008 est.)

Ireland
males age 16-49: 1,024,635
females age 16-49: 1,024,276 (2008 est.)

Israel
males age 16-49: 1,717,362
females age 16-49: 1,636,574 (2008 est.)

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

Jamaica
males age 16-49: 688,480
females age 16-49: 709,548 (2008 est.)

Japan
males age 16-49: 27,819,804
females age 16-49: 26,863,794 (2008 est.)

Jordan
males age 16-49: 1,812,551
females age 16-49: 1,559,155 (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
males age 16-49: 4,176,731
females age 16-49: 4,219,636 (2008 est.)

Kenya
males age 16-49: 9,044,685
females age 16-49: 8,805,736 (2008 est.)

Kiribati
males age 16-49: 26,377 (2008 est.)

Korea, North
males age 16-49: 6,225,747
females age 16-49: 6,188,270 (2008 est.)

Korea, South
males age 16-49: 13,691,809
females age 16-49: 13,029,859 (2008 est.)

Kuwait
males age 16-49: 1,032,408
females age 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
males age 16-49: 1,398,878
females age 16-49: 1,419,374 (2008 est.)

Laos
males age 16-49: 1,549,774
females age 16-49: 1,570,702 (2008 est.)

Latvia
males age 16-49: 568,683
females age 16-49: 565,826 (2008 est.)

Lebanon
males age 16-49: 1,106,879
females age 16-49: 1,122,595 (2008 est.)

Lesotho
males age 16-49: 525,203
females age 16-49: 522,485 (2008 est.)

Liberia
males age 16-49: 729,813
females age 16-49: 741,223 (2008 est.)

Libya
males age 16-49: 1,682,183
females age 16-49: 1,611,001 (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)

Lithuania
males age 16-49: 915,187
females age 16-49: 906,097 (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
males age 16-49: 116,305
females age 16-49: 114,566 (2008 est.)

Macau
males age 16-49: 121,825 (2008 est.)

Macedonia
males age 16-49: 532,856
females age 16-49: 513,684 (2008 est.)

Madagascar
males age 16-49: 4,443,341
females age 16-49: 4,441,124 (2008 est.)

Malawi
males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)

Malaysia
males age 16-49: 6,440,338
females age 16-49: 6,280,826 (2008 est.)

Maldives
males age 16-49: 89,505
females age 16-49: 85,745 (2008 est.)

Mali
males age 16-49: 2,603,700
females age 16-49: 2,441,776 (2008 est.)

Malta
males age 16-49: 96,309
females age 16-49: 92,242 (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
males age 16-49: 15,708 (2008 est.)

Mauritania males age 16-49: 740,675 females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)

Mauritius
males age 16-49: 341,018 (2008 est.)

Mexico
males age 16-49: 27,774,688
females age 16-49: 29,376,791 (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.)

Moldova
males age 16-49: 1,161,924
females age 16-49: 1,187,771 (2008 est.)

Monaco
males age 16-49: 6,687 (2008 est.)

Mongolia
males age 16-49: 865,425
females age 16-49: 860,669 (2008 est.)

Montserrat
males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.)

Morocco
males age 16-49: 9,152,580
females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)

Mozambique
males age 16-49: 4,545,975 (2008 est.)

Namibia
males age 16-49: 527,948 (2008 est.)

Nauru
males age 16-49: 3,470 (2008 est.)

Nepal
males age 16-49: 7,322,965
females age 16-49: 6,859,064 (2008 est.)

Netherlands
males age 16-49: 3,950,825
females age 16-49: 3,850,800 (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
males age 16-49: 55,365
females age 16-49: 57,060 (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
males age 16-49: 57,738 (2008 est.)

New Zealand
males age 16-49: 1,009,298
females age 16-49: 997,134 (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
males age 16-49: 1,513,312
females age 16-49: 1,507,999 (2008 est.)

Niger
males age 16-49: 2,871,868
females age 16-49: 2,696,966 (2008 est.)

Nigeria
males age 16-49: 31,929,204
females age 16-49: 30,638,979 (2008 est.)

Norway
males age 16-49: 1,078,181
females age 16-49: 1,046,550 (2008 est.)

Oman
males age 16-49: 802,455
females age 16-49: 626,841 (2008 est.)

Pakistan
males age 16-49: 42,633,765
females age 16-49: 40,114,017 (2008 est.)

Palau
males age 16-49: 5,973 (2008 est.)

Panama
males age 16-49: 851,044 (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
males age 16-49: 1,481,417
females age 16-49: 1,385,040 (2008 est.)

Paraguay
males age 16-49: 1,589,873
females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)

Peru
males age 16-49: 7,653,898
females age 16-49: 7,531,329 (2008 est.)

Philippines
males age 16-49: 23,547,252
females age 16-49: 23,177,487 (2008 est.)

Poland
males age 16-49: 9,741,508
females age 16-49: 9,514,843 (2008 est.)

Portugal
males age 16-49: 2,573,913
females age 16-49: 2,498,262 (2008 est.)

Qatar
males age 16-49: 320,383
females age 16-49: 167,475 (2008 est.)

Romania
males age 16-49: 5,682,299
females age 16-49: 5,557,098 (2008 est.)

Russia
males age 16-49: 36,219,908
females age 16-49: 37,019,853 (2008 est.)

Rwanda
males age 16-49: 2,430,469
females age 16-49: 2,392,933 (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
males age 16-49: 10,095
females age 16-49: 10,081 (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
males age 16-49: 48,358 (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
males age 16-49: 34,373 (2008 est.)

Samoa
males age 16-49: 53,417 (2008 est.)

San Marino
males age 16-49: 6,613 (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
males age 16-49: 42,340
females age 16-49: 43,781 (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
males age 16-49: 8,547,441
females age 16-49: 6,381,098 (2008 est.)

Senegal
males age 16-49: 2,943,619
females age 16-49: 2,955,179 (2008 est.)

Seychelles
males age 16-49: 23,598
females age 16-49: 24,424 (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
males age 16-49: 1,315,561 (2008 est.)

Singapore
males age 16-49: 1,277,862 (2008 est.)

Slovakia
males age 16-49: 1,420,966
females age 16-49: 1,386,259 (2008 est.)

Slovenia
males age 16-49: 494,496
females age 16-49: 481,180 (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
males age 16-49: 141,051 (2008 est.)

Somalia
males age 16-49: 2,181,050
females age 16-49: 2,125,558 (2008 est.)

South Africa
males age 16-49: 11,622,507
females age 16-49: 11,501,537 (2008 est.)

Spain
males age 16-49: 10,033,069
females age 16-49: 9,764,937 (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
males age 16-49: 5,458,720
females age 16-49: 5,594,006 (2008 est.)

Sudan
males age 16-49: 9,639,923
females age 16-49: 9,321,106 (2008 est.)

Suriname
males age 16-49: 130,534
females age 16-49: 130,243 (2008 est.)

Swaziland
males age 16-49: 266,311 (2008 est.)

Sweden
males age 16-49: 2,052,890
females age 16-49: 1,980,550 (2008 est.)

Switzerland
males age 16-49: 1,852,580
females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.)

Syria
males age 16-49: 5,251,875
females age 16-49: 4,966,367 (2008 est.)

Taiwan
males age 16-49: 6,283,134
females age 16-49: 6,098,599 (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
males age 16-49: 1,897,356
females age 16-49: 1,911,594 (2008 est.)

Tanzania
males age 16-49: 9,108,177 (2008 est.)

Thailand
males age 16-49: 17,553,410
females age 16-49: 17,751,268 (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
males age 16-49: 284,903
females age 16-49: 272,212 (2008 est.)

Togo
males age 16-49: 1,365,505
females age 16-49: 1,374,993 (2008 est.)

Tonga
males age 16-49: 32,053
females age 16-49: 30,981 (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
males age 16-49: 301,561
females age 16-49: 264,225 (2008 est.)

Tunisia
males age 16-49: 2,992,249
females age 16-49: 2,912,819 (2008 est.)

Turkey
males age 16-49: 20,213,205
females age 16-49: 19,432,688 (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
males age 16-49: 1,316,698
females age 16-49: 1,331,005 (2008 est.)

Uganda
males age 16-49: 6,532,894
females age 16-49: 6,352,416 (2008 est.)

Ukraine
males age 16-49: 11,457,562
females age 16-49: 11,767,357 (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates males age 16-49: 2,405,884 (includes non-nationals) females age 16-49: 884,853 (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
males age 16-49: 14,729,500
females age 16-49: 14,125,600 (2008 est.)

United States
males age 16-49: 72,715,332
females age 16-49: 71,638,785 (2008 est.)

Uruguay
males age 16-49: 837,252
females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
males age 16-49: 7,480,484
females age 16-49: 7,542,017 (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
males age 16-49: 58,900 (2008 est.)

Venezuela
males age 16-49: 6,647,124
females age 16-49: 6,801,133 (2008 est.)

Vietnam
males age 16-49: 24,586,328
females age 16-49: 24,335,132 (2008 est.)

Yemen
males age 16-49: 5,080,038
females age 16-49: 4,852,555 (2008 est.)

Zambia
males age 16-49: 2,678,668
females age 16-49: 2,567,433 (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
males age 16-49: 3,264,258
females age 16-49: 3,048,049 (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2106 Maritime claims

Afghanistan
none (landlocked)

Albania
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Algeria
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

American Samoa
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Andorra
none (landlocked)

Angola
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Anguilla
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Antarctica
Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from
their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these
zones are not accepted by other countries; 21 of 28 Antarctic
consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory
(although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do
not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes
- international entry

Antigua and Barbuda
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Argentina
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Armenia
none (landlocked)

Aruba
territorial sea: 12 nm

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Australia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Austria
none (landlocked)

Azerbaijan
none (landlocked)

Bahamas, The
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Bahrain
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Bangladesh
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin

Barbados territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Belarus
none (landlocked)

Belgium
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Belize
territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note
- from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's
territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,
1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
Guatemala
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Benin
territorial sea: 200 nm

Bermuda
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Bhutan
none (landlocked)

Bolivia
none (landlocked)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
no data available

Botswana
none (landlocked)

Bouvet Island
territorial sea: 4 nm

Brazil
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

British Indian Ocean Territory
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

British Virgin Islands
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Brunei
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

Bulgaria
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Burkina Faso
none (landlocked)

Burma
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Burundi
none (landlocked)

Cambodia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Cameroon
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm

Canada
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Cape Verde
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Cayman Islands territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Central African Republic
none (landlocked)

Chad
none (landlocked)

Chile
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm

China
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Christmas Island territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Clipperton Island
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Colombia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Comoros
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors

Congo, Republic of the
territorial sea: 200 nm

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

Coral Sea Islands territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Costa Rica
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Cote d'Ivoire
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Croatia
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Cuba
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Cyprus
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Czech Republic
none (landlocked)

Denmark
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Djibouti
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Dominica
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Dominican Republic
measured from claimed archipelagic straight
baselines
territorial sea: 6 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Ecuador
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

Egypt
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

El Salvador territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Equatorial Guinea territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Eritrea
territorial sea: 12 nm

Estonia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with
neighboring states

Ethiopia
none (landlocked)

European Union
NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Faroe Islands
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Fiji
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added

Finland
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

France
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

French Polynesia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses
(does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands);
Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Gabon
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Gambia, The
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified

Gaza Strip
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation

Georgia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Germany
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Ghana
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Gibraltar
territorial sea: 3 nm

Greece
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Greenland
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Grenada
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Guam
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Guatemala
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Guernsey
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Guinea
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Guinea-Bissau
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Haiti
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Heard Island and McDonald Islands territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Holy See (Vatican City)
none (landlocked)

Honduras
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm

Hong Kong
territorial sea: 3 nm

Hungary
none (landlocked)

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

India
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Indonesia
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Iran
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the
Persian Gulf
continental shelf: natural prolongation

Iraq
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Ireland
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Isle of Man
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Israel
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Italy
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Jamaica
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Jan Mayen
territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Japan
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the
international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and
Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Jersey
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Jordan
territorial sea: 3 nm

Kazakhstan
none (landlocked)

Kenya
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Kiribati
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Korea, North
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the
exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign
vessels and aircraft without permission are banned

Korea, South
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the
Korea Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Kosovo
none (landlocked)

Kuwait
territorial sea: 12 nm

Kyrgyzstan
none (landlocked)

Laos
none (landlocked)

Latvia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Lebanon
territorial sea: 12 nm

Lesotho
none (landlocked)

Liberia
territorial sea: 200 nm

Libya
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

Liechtenstein
none (landlocked)

Lithuania
territorial sea: 12 nm

Luxembourg
none (landlocked)

Macau
not specified

Macedonia
none (landlocked)

Madagascar
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath

Malawi
none (landlocked)

Malaysia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea

Maldives
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Mali
none (landlocked)

Malta
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Marshall Islands
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Mauritania
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Mauritius
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Mayotte
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Mexico
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Micronesia, Federated States of territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Moldova
none (landlocked)

Monaco
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Mongolia
none (landlocked)

Montenegro
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: defined by treaty

Montserrat
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Morocco
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Mozambique
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Namibia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Nauru
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Navassa Island territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Nepal none (landlocked)

Netherlands territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Netherlands Antilles
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

New Caledonia
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

New Zealand
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Nicaragua
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation

Niger
none (landlocked)

Nigeria
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Niue
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Norfolk Island
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Northern Mariana Islands
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Norway
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Oman
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Pakistan
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Palau
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Panama
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Papua New Guinea
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Paracel Islands
NA

Paraguay
none (landlocked)

Peru
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Philippines
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100
nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has
also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm
in breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Pitcairn Islands
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Poland
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Portugal
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Puerto Rico
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Qatar
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or
the median line

Romania
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Russia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Rwanda
none (landlocked)

Saint Helena territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Saint Kitts and Nevis
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Saint Lucia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Saint Pierre and Miquelon territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Samoa
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

San Marino
none (landlocked)

Sao Tome and Principe
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Saudi Arabia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Senegal
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Serbia
none (landlocked)

Seychelles
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Sierra Leone
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Singapore
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as
defined in treaties and practice

Slovakia
none (landlocked)

Slovenia
territorial sea: 12 nm

Solomon Islands measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Somalia territorial sea: 200 nm

South Africa territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Spain
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)

Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Sudan
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Suriname
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Svalbard
territorial sea: 4 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia

Swaziland
none (landlocked)

Sweden
territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion
of straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Switzerland
none (landlocked)

Syria
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm

Taiwan
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Tajikistan
none (landlocked)

Tanzania
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Thailand
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Timor-Leste
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Togo
territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Tokelau
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Tonga
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Trinidad and Tobago measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Tunisia
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Turkey
territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea
and in Mediterranean Sea
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary
agreed upon with the former USSR

Turkmenistan
none (landlocked)

Turks and Caicos Islands
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Tuvalu
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Uganda
none (landlocked)

Ukraine
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation

United Arab Emirates
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

United Kingdom
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries

United States
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Uruguay
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Uzbekistan
none (doubly landlocked)

Vanuatu
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Venezuela
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Vietnam
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Virgin Islands
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Wake Island
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Wallis and Futuna
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

West Bank
none (landlocked)

Western Sahara
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

World
a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries
make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline
as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea:
territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive
economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of
continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary
situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from
extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm

Yemen
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Zambia
none (landlocked)

Zimbabwe
none (landlocked)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2107 International organization participation

Afghanistan
ADB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
SAARC, SACEP, SCO (guest), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Albania
BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Algeria
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

American Samoa
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU

Andorra
CE, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,
OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WTO (observer)

Angola
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS
(observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Anguilla
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU,
WFTU

Antigua and Barbuda
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Argentina
AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS,
CAN (associate), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina
(observer), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Armenia
ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer),
EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (associate member),
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Aruba
Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO
(associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU, WMO

Australia
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia
Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD,
OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Austria
ACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional members), AfDB
(nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE,
CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer),
UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Azerbaijan
ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer),
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Bahamas, The
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Bahrain
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Bangladesh
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Barbados
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Belarus
BSEC (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, FAO,
GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Belgium
ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA,
EU, FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB
(nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Belize
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Benin
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Bermuda
Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU,
WCO, WFTU

Bhutan
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM,
OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Bolivia
CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA,
MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Bosnia and Herzegovina
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Botswana
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Brazil
AfDB (nonregional members), BIS, CAN (associate), CPLP, FAO,
G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNITAR,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

British Virgin Islands
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol
(subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU

Brunei
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Bulgaria
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Burkina Faso
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Burma
ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Burundi
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Cambodia
ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Cameroon
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Canada
ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia
Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating
state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH,
MONUC, NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Cape Verde
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Cayman Islands
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC,
UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU

Central African Republic
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Chad
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Chile
APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

China
ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, Arctic Council
(observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, CDB, EAS, FAO, G-24
(observer), G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM
(observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC
(observer), SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Christmas Island
none

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none

Colombia
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Comoros
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL,
COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Congo, Republic of the
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Cook Islands
ACP, ADB, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMSO,
IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Costa Rica
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM
(observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Cote d'Ivoire
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Croatia
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE,
CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG,
OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Cuba
ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNITAR,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Cyprus
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS
(observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Czech Republic
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC
(observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state),
EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Denmark
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP,
UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Djibouti
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Dominica
ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Dominican Republic
ACP, BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Ecuador
CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA,
MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN,
UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Egypt
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU,
COMESA, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

El Salvador
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union
Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Equatorial Guinea
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate),
FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
(observer)

Eritrea
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAS (observer), MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Estonia
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Ethiopia
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

European Union
European Union: ARF (dialogue member), ASEAN
(dialogue member), IDA, OAS (observer), PIF (partner), SAARC
(observer), UN (observer)
European Community: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, FAO, EBRD, G-10,
LAIA, NSG (observer), OECD, UNRWA, WCO, WTO, ZC (observer)
European Central Bank: BIS
European Investment Bank: EBRD, WADB (nonregional member)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
UPU

Faroe Islands
Arctic Council, FAO, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU

Fiji
ACP, ADB, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Finland
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest),
NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club,
PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

France
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer),
CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ,
G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

French Polynesia
FZ, ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
UPU

Gabon
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Gambia, The
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Georgia
ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Germany
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),
CBSS, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-5, G-7,
G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Ghana
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL,
UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Gibraltar
Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Greece
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Greenland
Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU

Grenada
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WTO

Guam
IOC, SPC, UPU

Guatemala
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer),
MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Guernsey
UPU

Guinea
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Guinea-Bissau
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Guyana
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Haiti
ACP, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Holy See (Vatican City)
CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM
(observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO
(observer), UPU, WFTU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Honduras
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Hong Kong
ADB, APEC, BIS, ICC, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WMO,
WTO

Hungary
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA
(cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC

Iceland
Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

India
ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), BIMSTEC, BIS, C, CERN (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-15,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAS (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF
(partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Indonesia
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PIF (partner), UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Iran
CP, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Iraq
ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO (observer)

Ireland
ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Isle of Man
UPU

Israel
BIS, BSEC (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
OAS (observer), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), PCA, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Italy
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS
(observer), CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,
UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Jamaica
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Japan
ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN
(dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN
(observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA,
MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris
Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Jordan
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Kazakhstan
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG,
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Kenya
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MONUC, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Kiribati
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Korea, North
ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Korea, South
ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN
(dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Kosovo
ITUC, WFTU

Kuwait
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU,
FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Kyrgyzstan
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Laos
ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Latvia
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Lebanon
ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, OIF, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Lesotho
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber),
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Liberia
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Libya
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Liechtenstein
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol,
IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Lithuania
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG,
OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Luxembourg
ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Macau
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO
(associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WFTU, WMO, WTO

Macedonia
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Madagascar
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Malawi
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Malaysia
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Maldives
ADB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC,
SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Mali
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Malta
Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Marshall Islands
ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Mauritania
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Mauritius
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Mayotte
InOC, UPU, WFTU

Mexico
APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CDB, CE
(observer), CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Micronesia, Federated States of
ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Moldova
BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Monaco
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Mongolia
ADB, ARF, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Montenegro
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Montserrat
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU

Morocco
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Mozambique
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Namibia
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Nauru
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Nepal
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Netherlands
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS
(observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Netherlands Antilles
Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO

New Caledonia
ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU, WMO

New Zealand
ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on
11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia
Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG,
OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Nicaragua
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Niger
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Nigeria
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Niue
ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Norfolk Island
UPU

Northern Mariana Islands
SPC, UPU

Norway
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,
ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Oman
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Pakistan
ADB, ARF, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA,
SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Palau
ACP, ADB, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Panama
BCIE, CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Papua New Guinea
ACP, ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,
MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Paraguay
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Peru
APEC, CAN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Philippines
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PIF (partner),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Pitcairn Islands
SPC, UPU

Poland
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC
(observer), CBSS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating
state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Portugal
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention,
SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union
Latina, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Puerto Rico
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC,
UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU

Qatar
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Romania
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA
(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer),
MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Russia
APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS,
BSEC, CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, G-8,
GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris
Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

Rwanda
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Saint Barthelemy
UPU, WFTU

Saint Helena
UPU, WFTU

Saint Kitts and Nevis
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Saint Lucia
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Saint Martin
UPU, WFTU

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
UPU, WFTU

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Samoa
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

San Marino
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO

Sao Tome and Principe
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Saudi Arabia
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BIS,
FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS,
MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Senegal
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Serbia
BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD (suspended), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Seychelles
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO (observer)

Sierra Leone
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Singapore
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Slovakia
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE,
CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO,
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Slovenia
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,
FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest),
NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Solomon Islands
ACP, ADB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU,
MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO,
WTO

Somalia
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

South Africa
ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM, NSG, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Spain
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer),
MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Sri Lanka
ADB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Sudan
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Suriname
ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Svalbard
none

Swaziland
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Sweden
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic
Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC,
NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Switzerland
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Syria
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO

Taiwan
ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC, IOC, ITUC, WCL, WFTU, WTO

Tajikistan
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Tanzania
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Thailand
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Timor-Leste
ACP, ADB, ARF, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, MIGA, NAM,
OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO

Togo
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Tokelau
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Tonga
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Trinidad and Tobago
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Tunisia
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Turkey
ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE,
CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Turkmenistan
ADB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO
(guest), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO

Turks and Caicos Islands
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol
(subbureau), UPU

Tuvalu
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, IFRCS (observer), IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Uganda
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Ukraine
Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC
(observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

United Arab Emirates
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

United Kingdom
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional
members), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS
(observer), CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-5, G-7,
G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UN
Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

United States
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),
ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE
(observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI
(observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Uruguay
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Uzbekistan
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Vanuatu
ACCT, ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WMO, WTO (observer)

Venezuela
Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Vietnam
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Virgin Islands
IOC, UPU, WFTU

Wallis and Futuna
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU

Western Sahara
WFTU

Yemen
AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,
MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Zambia
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OPCW,
PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Zimbabwe
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2108 Merchant marine

Albania
total: 24
by type: cargo 22, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)

Algeria
total: 33
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas
9, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 18 (Jordan 7, UK 11) (2008)

Angola
total: 6
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 6) (2008)

Antigua and Barbuda
total: 1,146
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 50, cargo 651, carrier 4,
chemical tanker 5, container 392, liquefied gas 12, petroleum tanker
1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 20
foreign-owned: 1,113 (Australia 1, Colombia 2, Cyprus 18, Denmark
19, Estonia 23, France 1, Germany 941, Greece 3, Iceland 12, Italy
1, Latvia 13, Lithuania 5, Netherlands 20, NZ 2, Norway 8, Poland 2,
Russia 4, Slovenia 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 8, Turkey 6, UK 9, US 8)
(2008)

Argentina
total: 46
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 9, chemical tanker 2, container 1,
passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated
cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 14 (Brazil 1, Chile 7, Spain 2, UK 4)
registered in other countries: 19 (Liberia 3, Panama 8, Paraguay 5,
Uruguay 3) (2008)

Australia
total: 50
by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
liquefied gas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 8,
roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 24 (Canada 9, France 1, Germany 2, Japan 1,
Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Singapore 1, UK 5, US 2)
registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Belize 1,
Bermuda 1, Dominica 2, Fiji 1, Marshall Islands 1, NZ 1, Panama 4,
Singapore 12, Tonga 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2008)

Austria
total: 4
by type: cargo 2, container 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2)
registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 2) (2008)

Azerbaijan
total: 89
by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker
46, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3
registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 2, Panama 1) (2008)

Bahamas, The
total: 1,223
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 210, cargo 226, carrier 2,
chemical tanker 88, combination ore/oil 12, container 65, liquefied
gas 77, passenger 109, passenger/cargo 35, petroleum tanker 209,
refrigerated cargo 119, roll on/roll off 16, specialized tanker 3,
vehicle carrier 51
foreign-owned: 1,150 (Angola 6, Belgium 15, Bermuda 12, Brazil 2,
Canada 84, China 10, Croatia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 25, Denmark 67,
Finland 9, France 30, Germany 44, Greece 209, Hong Kong 30, Iceland
1, Indonesia 2, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 1, Italy 4, Japan 87, Jordan
2, Kenya 1, Malaysia 13, Monaco 15, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 9,
Nigeria 2, Norway 189, Poland 17, Russia 4, Saudi Arabia 16,
Singapore 17, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, Spain 14, Sweden 4,
Switzerland 1, Thailand 5, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 8, UAE 23,
UK 56, US 106, Venezuela 1)
registered in other countries: 12 (Bolivia 1, Panama 9, Peru 1,
Portugal 1) (2008)

Bahrain
total: 9
by type: bulk carrier 4, container 4, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 5, UAE 1) (2008)

Bangladesh
total: 40
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, container 5, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 1 (China 1)
registered in other countries: 10 (Comoros 2, Honduras 1, Malta 2,
Panama 2, Singapore 2, Togo 1) (2008)

Barbados
total: 85
by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 50, chemical tanker 7, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 80 (Canada 9, Greece 12, India 1, Iran 2, Lebanon 1,
Norway 38, Sweden 7, Syria 1, UK 9)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2008)

Belgium
total: 79
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, container 6,
liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off
10
foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 4, France 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6,
Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta
15, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2,
Portugal 1, Portugal 7, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu
4) (2008)

Belize
total: 216
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 32, cargo 152, chemical
tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated
cargo 12, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 178 (Australia 1, China 71, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1,
Estonia 6, Greece 1, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 8, South Korea 1,
Latvia 12, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 31, Singapore 2, Spain 1, Turkey
15, Ukraine 7, UAE 5, UK 5) (2008)

Bermuda
total: 137
by type: bulk carrier 23, chemical tanker 3, container 22, liquefied
gas 33, passenger 24, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 18,
refrigerated cargo 9
foreign-owned: 115 (Australia 1, China 10, France 1, Germany 22,
Greece 9, Hong Kong 4, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Japan 2, Nigeria 11,
Norway 5, Sweden 20, UK 3, US 23)
registered in other countries: 50 (Bahamas 12, Marshall Islands 4,
Philippines 34) (2008)

Bolivia
total: 23
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 7 (Bahamas 1, China 1, Iran 1, Singapore 1, Syria 2,
Taiwan 1) (2008)

Brazil
total: 136
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 22, carrier 1, chemical tanker 7,
container 11, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker
45, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 25 (Chile 1, Denmark 2, Germany 6, Greece 1, Mexico
1, Norway 5, Spain 9)
registered in other countries: 8 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 2, Ghana 1,
Liberia 3, Marshall Islands 1) (2008)

British Virgin Islands
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1)
(2008)

Brunei
total: 8
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 1 (UK 1) (2008)

Bulgaria
total: 74
by type: bulk carrier 37, cargo 14, chemical tanker 5, container 6,
liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll
off 4, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 65 (Germany 63, Ireland 1, Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 31 (Comoros 2, Malta 5, Panama 3,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15, Slovakia 6) (2008)

Burma
total: 24
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 17, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Cambodia
total: 626
by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 530, carrier 3, chemical tanker 10,
container 8, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated
cargo 15, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 467 (Canada 2, China 193, Cyprus 7, Egypt 13, Gabon
1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 8, Indonesia 2, Japan 1, South Korea 22,
Latvia 1, Lebanon 8, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Russia 83, Singapore
4, Syria 48, Taiwan 1, Turkey 26, Ukraine 34, UAE 2, US 6) (2008)

Canada
total: 175
by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 13, carrier 1, chemical tanker 10,
combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64,
petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned: 17 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, US 10)
registered in other countries: 206 (Australia 9, Bahamas 84,
Barbados 9, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong
44, Liberia 7, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 6, Norway 7, Norway 3,
Panama 18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 1, Spain 3,
Taiwan 2, Vanuatu 5) (2008)

Cape Verde
total: 8
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5
foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2008)

Cayman Islands
total: 109
by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 2, chemical tanker 42, petroleum
tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle
carrier 7
foreign-owned: 107 (Denmark 3, Germany 15, Greece 16, Italy 4, Japan
13, Norway 1, Singapore 10, UK 3, US 42) (2008)

Chile
total: 44
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, container 1,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7,
roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3
registered in other countries: 40 (Argentina 7, Brazil 1, Cyprus 1,
Isle of Man 6, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 2, Panama 12, Singapore 6,
Venezuela 1) (2008)

China
total: 1,826
by type: barge carrier 4, bulk carrier 451, cargo 689, carrier 2,
chemical tanker 69, combination ore/oil 1, container 162, liquefied
gas 44, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 244,
refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 9,
vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned: 20 (Ecuador 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 1,
Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 1,441 (Bahamas 10, Bangladesh 1,
Belize 71, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 193, Cyprus 10, France 5,
Georgia 10, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 324, India 1, Indonesia
2, Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Liberia 11, Malta 12, Marshall
Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 36, Panama 532, Philippines 4, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 94, Sierra Leone 15, Singapore 14,
Thailand 1, Tuvalu 16, unknown 39) (2008)

Colombia
total: 17
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 3, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 4)
(2008)

Comoros
total: 136
by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 87, carrier 2, chemical tanker 5,
container 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 68 (Bangladesh 2, Bulgaria 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 6,
India 2, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 4, Norway 1, Pakistan 4,
Philippines 1, Russia 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 1, Syria 4,
Turkey 8, Ukraine 8, UAE 7, US 2) (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 1
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Congo, Republic of the 1) (2008)

Congo, Republic of the
registered in other countries: 1 (Congo,
Democratic Republic of the 1) (2008)

Cook Islands
total: 26
by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 17 (Latvia 1, Lithuania 1, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 5,
Sweden 8) (2008)

Costa Rica
total: 1
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Croatia
total: 80
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 11, chemical tanker 3,
passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 2
registered in other countries: 30 (Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Liberia 2,
Malta 9, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 7) (2008)

Cuba
total: 11
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3,
refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 13 (Bahamas 1, Cyprus 1, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Panama 10) (2008)

Cyprus
total: 858
by type: bulk carrier 295, cargo 182, chemical tanker 63, container
193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum
tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 12, specialized
tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 690 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Canada 2, Chile 1, China
10, Cuba 1, Denmark 4, Estonia 5, Germany 189, Greece 259, Hong Kong
2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 4, Italy 7, Japan 21, South
Korea 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Netherlands 22, Norway 18, Philippines
1, Poland 18, Portugal 1, Russia 50, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, Spain
6, Sweden 2, Syria 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 9, UK 19, US 5)
registered in other countries: 256 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Bahamas
25, Belize 1, Burma 1, Cambodia 7, Comoros 1, Georgia 1, Germany 2,
Gibraltar 1, Greece 7, Liberia 63, Malta 31, Marshall Islands 37,
Netherlands 8, Netherlands Antilles 21, Panama 19, Poland 1, Russia
2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,
Samoa 1, Singapore 1, Tonga 1, Turkey 2, UK 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Czech Republic
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Denmark
total: 327
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 63, carrier 2, chemical tanker 78,
container 84, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 42, petroleum tanker
29, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 1, Germany 1, Germany 9, Greece 4, Iceland
2, Norway 3, Sweden 6)
registered in other countries: 534 (Antigua and Barbuda 19, Bahamas
67, Belgium 4, Brazil 2, Cayman Islands 3, Cyprus 4, Egypt 1,
Estonia 1, France 2, Germany 1, Gibraltar 7, Hong Kong 24, Isle of
Man 29, Italy 3, Jamaica 2, Liberia 12, Lithuania 5, Luxembourg 1,
Malta 30, Marshall Islands 10, Mexico 2, Netherlands 29, Netherlands
Antilles 2, Norway 25, Panama 40, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 16, Singapore 87, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Spain 1,
Sweden 4, Togo 1, UAE 1, UK 62, US 31, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Dominica
total: 53
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 27, chemical tanker 3, petroleum
tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 47 (Australia 2, Estonia 7, Greece 10, India 2,
Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 7, Syria 2,
Turkey 5, Ukraine 4, UAE 1) (2008)

Dominican Republic
total: 1
by type: cargo 1
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ecuador
total: 37
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8,
petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (China 1, Panama 4) (2008)

Egypt
total: 67
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 28, container 2, passenger/cargo 4,
petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 8, Lebanon 1)
registered in other countries: 58 (Cambodia 13, Georgia 12, Honduras
3, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Moldova 1, Panama 17, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra
Leone 3, Togo 1) (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 1
by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Eritrea
total: 5
by type: cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 1 (2008)

Estonia
total: 29
by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 21, petroleum tanker 2, chemical
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 1, Germany 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 85 (Antigua and Barbuda 23, Belize 6,
Cyprus 5, Dominica 7, Finland 2, Latvia 2, Liberia 1, Malta 11,
Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 16, Sweden 2, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Ethiopia total: 9 by type: cargo 8, roll on/roll off 1 (2008)

Faroe Islands
total: 12
by type: cargo 9, passenger/cargo 3
foreign-owned: 5 (Iceland 1, Norway 4) (2008)

Fiji
total: 9
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2008)

Finland
total: 98
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 28, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6,
container 3, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 5,
roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Estonia 2, Germany 1, Norway 3, Sweden 2)
registered in other countries: 47 (Bahamas 9, Germany 4, Gibraltar
3, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,
Sweden 12, UK 1) (2008)

France
total: 138
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 32, container 25,
liquefied gas 12, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 33, petroleum tanker
23, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 38 (Belgium 6, China 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Italy
2, Japan 1, NZ 1, Norway 5, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Sweden 9,
Switzerland 1, Switzerland 2)
registered in other countries: 127 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Australia
1, Bahamas 30, Belgium 2, Bermuda 1, Hong Kong 1, Indonesia 1, Isle
of Man 1, Italy 2, Liberia 5, Luxembourg 17, Malta 5, Morocco 14,
Netherlands 1, Norway 3, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 23, Wallis and Futuna 6) (2008)

French Polynesia
total: 15
by type: cargo 6, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo
1, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2008)

Gabon
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2008)

Gambia, The
total: 5
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)

Georgia
total: 191
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 148, carrier 2, chemical tanker 1,
container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 4,
refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 153 (China 10, Cyprus 1, Egypt 12, Germany 2, Greece
5, Hong Kong 2, Israel 2, Lebanon 4, Monaco 4, Nigeria 1, Romania
16, Russia 12, Syria 49, Turkey 14, Ukraine 18, UAE 1) (2008)

Germany
total: 393
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 43, chemical tanker 13, container
284, liquefied gas 5, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum
tanker 11, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 11 (China 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Finland 4,
Netherlands 1, Sweden 1)
registered in other countries: 2,998 (Antigua and Barbuda 941,
Australia 2, Bahamas 44, Bermuda 22, Brazil 6, Bulgaria 63, Burma 1,
Canada 3, Cayman Islands 15, Cyprus 189, Denmark 9, Denmark 1,
Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 1, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 129, Hong Kong
6, India 2, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 56, Jamaica 4, Liberia 849,
Luxembourg 5, Malaysia 1, Malta 91, Marshall Islands 235, Mongolia
4, Morocco 2, Netherlands 75, Netherlands Antilles 43, Norway 1, NZ
1, Panama 44, Portugal 2, Portugal 18, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 3, Singapore 24, Slovakia 3, Spain 1, Spain 4, Sri
Lanka 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 1, UK 76, US 5) (2008)

Ghana
total: 4
by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)

Gibraltar
total: 240
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container
43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3,
Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway
33, Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Greece
total: 869
by type: bulk carrier 260, cargo 66, carrier 1, chemical tanker 66,
combination ore/oil 2, container 45, liquefied gas 10, passenger 13,
passenger/cargo 115, petroleum tanker 274, roll on/roll off 15,
specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 64 (Belgium 16, Cyprus 7, Turkey 1, UK 32, US 8)
registered in other countries: 2,357 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Bahamas
209, Barbados 12, Belize 1, Bermuda 9, Brazil 1, Cambodia 3, Cayman
Islands 16, China 2, Comoros 6, Cyprus 259, Denmark 4, Dominica 10,
Egypt 8, Georgia 5, Gibraltar 6, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 22, Isle of
Man 50, Italy 6, Jamaica 6, North Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Liberia 358,
Maldives 1, Malta 452, Marshall Islands 269, Norway 3, Panama 510,
Philippines 4, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 71, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia
3, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 15, Slovakia 2, Turkey 1, UAE 3,
Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 3, unknown 5) (2008)

Greenland
total: 2
by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2008)

Guyana
total: 8
by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2, unknown 1) (2008)

Honduras
total: 123
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 57, chemical tanker 6, container 1,
liquefied gas 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker
25, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 42 (Bangladesh 1, Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 3, Greece
4, Hong Kong 1, Israel 1, Japan 4, South Korea 6, Lebanon 1, Mexico
1, Singapore 12, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, Vietnam 1) (2008)

Hong Kong
total: 1,114
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 525, cargo 142, carrier 3,
chemical tanker 68, combination ore/oil 2, container 205, liquefied
gas 22, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 114, roll
on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 7
foreign-owned: 703 (Belgium 3, Canada 44, China 324, Denmark 24,
France 1, Germany 6, Greece 22, Indonesia 7, Iran 15, Japan 111,
South Korea 3, Norway 40, Philippines 1, Portugal 1, Russia 2,
Singapore 18, Syria 1, Taiwan 11, UAE 1, UK 39, US 29)
registered in other countries: 357 (Bahamas 30, Bermuda 4, Cambodia
8, China 12, Cyprus 2, Georgia 2, Honduras 1, India 1, Jamaica 1,
Kiribati 4, Liberia 44, Malaysia 14, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4,
Mexico 1, Netherlands Antilles 2, Norway 20, Panama 130, Philippines
1, Portugal 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Seychelles 1,
Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 47, Tuvalu 7, UK 2, Vietnam 1, unknown 8)
(2008)

Iceland
total: 2
by type: passenger/cargo 2
registered in other countries: 37 (Antigua and Barbuda 12, Bahamas
1, Belize 2, Denmark 2, Faroe Islands 1, Gibraltar 1, Malta 5,
Marshall Islands 3, Norway 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7)
(2008)

India
total: 501
by type: bulk carrier 102, cargo 241, carrier 1, chemical tanker 19,
container 13, liquefied gas 18, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 11,
petroleum tanker 92, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 12 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 6, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 61 (Barbados 1, Comoros 2, Cyprus 2,
Dominica 2, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 27, Saint
Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 13,
unknown 1) (2008)

Indonesia
total: 971
by type: bulk carrier 54, cargo 514, chemical tanker 35, container
80, liquefied gas 7, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum
tanker 143, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 10, specialized
tanker 10, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 43 (China 2, France 1, Germany 1, Japan 6, Norway 1,
Philippines 1, Singapore 27, Taiwan 2, UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 114 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, China 1,
Hong Kong 7, Liberia 2, Mongolia 1, Panama 31, Singapore 66, unknown
2) (2008)

Iran
total: 74
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 34, chemical tanker 4, container 6,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated
cargo 2, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 115 (Barbados 2, Bolivia 1, Cyprus
10, Hong Kong 15, Malta 79, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2008)

Iraq
total: 14
by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 (2008)

Ireland
total: 29
by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1,
Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 10,
Slovakia 1, UK 1) (2008)

Isle of Man
total: 273
by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 50, chemical tanker 48, container
12, liquefied gas 41, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 73,
refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 8, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 181 (Chile 6, Denmark 29, France 1, Germany 56,
Greece 50, Ireland 1, Japan 6, Monaco 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 20,
Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Turkey 2, US 4)
registered in other countries: 7 (Bahamas 1, Liberia 5, Marshall
Islands 1) (2008)

Israel
total: 11
by type: cargo 2, container 9
registered in other countries: 60 (Bermuda 3, Cyprus 4, Georgia 2,
Honduras 1, Liberia 23, Malta 18, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2, Slovakia 4) (2008)

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

Jamaica
total: 20
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 6, carrier 1, container 4, roll
on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 17 (Denmark 2, Germany 4, Greece 6, Hong Kong 1,
Latvia 1, Russia 3) (2008)

Japan
total: 683
by type: bulk carrier 136, cargo 30, carrier 3, chemical tanker 27,
container 11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 135,
petroleum tanker 156, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 51,
vehicle carrier 61
registered in other countries: 3,074 (Australia 1, Bahamas 87,
Belize 8, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 13, China
2, Cyprus 21, France 1, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 111, Indonesia 6, Isle
of Man 6, Italy 1, South Korea 20, Liberia 116, Malaysia 4, Malta 8,
Marshall Islands 17, Nigeria 1, Norway 29, Panama 2335, Philippines
81, Portugal 15, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 3, Singapore 131, Thailand 4, UK 4, US 7, Vanuatu 29,
Vietnam 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Jordan
total: 21
by type: cargo 8, container 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker
2, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 13 (UAE 13)
registered in other countries: 24 (Algeria 7, Bahamas 2, Panama 13,
Syria 2) (2008)

Kazakhstan
total: 5
by type: petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Kenya
total: 1
by type: petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 1, Comoros 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Kiribati
total: 43
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, petroleum
tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 14
foreign-owned: 31 (China 15, Hong Kong 4, South Korea 2, Singapore
4, Taiwan 5, Turkey 1) (2008)

Korea, North
total: 167
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 121, carrier 1, chemical tanker 4,
container 3, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated
cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 19 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 1,
Romania 4, Syria 1, UAE 8, Yemen 2)
registered in other countries: 2 (Mongolia 1, Panama 1) (2008)

Korea, South
total: 812
by type: bulk carrier 212, cargo 226, carrier 2, chemical tanker
133, container 80, liquefied gas 33, passenger 5, passenger/cargo
26, petroleum tanker 61, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 9,
specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 31 (China 1, Japan 20, Norway 2, UK 1, US 7)
registered in other countries: 363 (Belize 1, Cambodia 22, China 1,
Cyprus 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Kiribati 2, Liberia 3, Malta 2,
Marshall Islands 10, Mongolia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 303, Russia
1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 2) (2008)

Kuwait
total: 38
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied
gas 4, petroleum tanker 22
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1,
Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 7, UAE 10)
(2008)

Laos
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Latvia
total: 22
by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 2,
passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Estonia 2)
registered in other countries: 118 (Antigua and Barbuda 13, Belize
12, Cambodia 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, Jamaica 1,
Liberia 21, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 16, Panama 8, Russia 2, Saint
Kitts and Nevis 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17) (2008)

Lebanon
total: 33
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 13, carrier 11, passenger/cargo 1,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Greece 2, Syria 2)
registered in other countries: 55 (Barbados 1, Cambodia 8, Comoros
4, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Georgia 4, Honduras 1, Italy 1, North Korea 1,
Liberia 2, Malta 11, Mongolia 2, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Syria 3, Togo 1, unknown 2) (2008)

Liberia
total: 2,204
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 390, cargo 107, chemical
tanker 241, combination ore/oil 7, container 750, liquefied gas 84,
passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 460, refrigerated
cargo 103, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 12, vehicle
carrier 36
foreign-owned: 2,109 (Argentina 3, Belgium 4, Brazil 3, Canada 7,
China 11, Croatia 2, Cyprus 63, Denmark 12, Estonia 1, France 5,
Germany 849, Gibraltar 5, Greece 358, Hong Kong 44, India 2,
Indonesia 2, Isle of Man 5, Israel 23, Italy 41, Japan 116, South
Korea 3, Latvia 21, Lebanon 2, Mexico 2, Monaco 8, Netherlands 6,
Nigeria 2, Norway 40, Poland 13, Qatar 4, Romania 2, Russia 94,
Saudi Arabia 27, Singapore 32, Slovenia 3, Sweden 10, Switzerland
13, Taiwan 91, Turkey 7, Ukraine 25, UAE 23, UK 20, US 98, Uruguay
3, Vietnam 4) (2008)

Libya
total: 17
by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll
off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2)
registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 3) (2008)

Lithuania
total: 45
by type: cargo 23, container 2, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker
1, refrigerated cargo 13
foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 5, Ukraine 1)
registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Cook
Islands 1, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Norway 1, Panama 7, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 9, unknown 3) (2008)

Luxembourg
total: 45
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 3, chemical tanker 15, container 4,
liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3,
roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 44 (Belgium 7, Denmark 1, France 17, Germany 5,
Netherlands 2, UK 8, US 4)
registered in other countries: 1 (Ukraine 1) (2008)

Madagascar
total: 8
by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2008)

Malaysia
total: 306
by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 97, carrier 1, chemical tanker 34,
container 46, liquefied gas 33, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker
71, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 40 (Germany 1, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, Russia 2,
Singapore 16, Sweden 3)
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 13, Marshall Islands 3,
Norway 1, Panama 12, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,
Singapore 27, Thailand 3, Tuvalu 1, US 2, unknown 4) (2008)

Maldives
total: 29
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated
cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Tuvalu 1) (2008)

Malta
total: 1,438
by type: bulk carrier 459, cargo 411, carrier 2, chemical tanker
171, container 80, liquefied gas 25, passenger 29, passenger/cargo
15, petroleum tanker 159, refrigerated cargo 32, roll on/roll off
37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned: 1,343 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 2, Belgium
15, Bulgaria 5, Canada 1, China 12, Croatia 9, Cyprus 31, Denmark
30, Egypt 1, Estonia 11, France 5, Germany 91, Greece 452, Hong Kong
1, Iceland 5, India 2, Iran 79, Israel 18, Italy 50, Japan 8, South
Korea 2, Latvia 19, Lebanon 11, Libya 3, Lithuania 1, Norway 93,
Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 58, Slovenia 4,
Spain 3, Sweden 2, Switzerland 20, Syria 6, Turkey 176, Ukraine 30,
UAE 5, UK 19, US 23)
registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 3) (2008)

Marshall Islands
total: 1,049
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 284, cargo 71, carrier 1,
chemical tanker 191, combination ore/oil 4, container 188, liquefied
gas 47, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 221,
refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 14, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 990 (Australia 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6,
Chile 4, China 7, Croatia 6, Cyprus 37, Denmark 10, Germany 235,
Greece 269, Hong Kong 4, Iceland 3, India 1, Ireland 1, Isle of Man
1, Italy 3, Japan 17, South Korea 10, Latvia 16, Malaysia 3, Mexico
4, Monaco 13, Netherlands 8, Norway 66, Pakistan 1, Panama 1,
Romania 1, Russia 9, Saudi Arabia 5, Singapore 18, Slovenia 4, Spain
1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 12, Taiwan 1, Turkey 50, UAE 15, UK 9, UK
9, US 123) (2008)

Mauritius
total: 3
by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Mexico
total: 55
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas
4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 23, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 20 (Brazil 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 2,
Marshall Islands 4, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Spain 3, Venezuela 5,
unknown 1) (2008)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 3
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)

Moldova
total: 39
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, combination
ore/oil 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 17 (Egypt 1, Romania 3, Russia 3, Syria 1, Turkey 3,
Ukraine 5, Yemen 1) (2008)

Monaco
registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4,
Isle of Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Mongolia
total: 77
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 44, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas
1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 6,
vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 53 (China 1, Germany 4, Indonesia 1, North Korea 1,
South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Russia 9, Singapore 9, Thailand 1, Ukraine
1, Vietnam 23) (2008)

Montenegro
total: 6
by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 3 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2008)

Morocco
total: 35
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo
13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 16 (France 14, Germany 2)
registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)

Mozambique
total: 2
by type: cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2008)

Namibia
total: 1
by type: cargo 1
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2008)

Netherlands
total: 622
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical tanker 44,
container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 15,
petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23,
specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14,
France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12,
Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14)
registered in other countries: 178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20,
Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22,
Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2,
Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1,
Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US
1, unknown 1) (2008)

Netherlands Antilles
total: 147
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 72, carrier 19,
chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 1, passenger 2,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 6,
specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 123 (Belgium 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 21, Denmark 2, Germany
43, Hong Kong 2, Netherlands 38, Norway 3, Sweden 1, Turkey 10, US
1) (2008)

New Caledonia
total: 2
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

New Zealand
total: 13
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo
4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook
Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)

Nigeria
total: 68
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 12, combination ore/oil 1,
liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 46, specialized
tanker 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Japan 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Cook
Islands 1, Georgia 1, Italy 1, Liberia 2, Panama 10, Poland 1,
Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 1, unknown 3) (2008)

Norway
total: 688
by type: bulk carrier 46, cargo 141, carrier 3, chemical tanker 137,
combination ore/oil 12, container 4, liquefied gas 65,
passenger/cargo 117, petroleum tanker 85, refrigerated cargo 14,
roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 50
foreign-owned: 199 (Canada 3, Canada 7, Chile 2, China 36, Denmark
25, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 3, Germany 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong
20, Iceland 3, Italy 4, Japan 29, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Monaco 5,
Poland 3, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 34, UK 5, US 8)
registered in other countries: 923 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia
1, Bahamas 189, Barbados 38, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 5, Canada
3, Cayman Islands 1, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 5, Cyprus 18,
Denmark 1, Denmark 2, Dominica 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 4,
Finland 3, France 5, Gibraltar 33, Hong Kong 40, Indonesia 1, Isle
of Man 20, Italy 2, South Korea 2, Liberia 40, Libya 1, Malta 93,
Marshall Islands 66, Netherlands 12, Netherlands Antilles 3, Panama
89, Philippines 10, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13,
Singapore 143, Spain 5, Sweden 7, Tuvalu 1, UK 31, US 9, unknown 4)
(2008)

Oman
total: 3
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)

Pakistan
total: 15
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 19 (Comoros 4, Malta 2, Marshall
Islands 1, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3) (2008)

Panama
total: 6,323
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2,143, cargo 1,208, carrier
13, chemical tanker 565, combination ore/oil 6, container 790,
liquefied gas 189, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 71, petroleum
tanker 557, refrigerated cargo 265, roll on/roll off 128,
specialized tanker 29, vehicle carrier 313
foreign-owned: 5,394 (Albania 2, Argentina 8, Australia 4,
Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 9, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 2, British Virgin
Islands 1, Bulgaria 3, Burma 1, Canada 18, Chile 12, China 532,
Colombia 4, Croatia 3, Cuba 10, Cyprus 19, Denmark 40, Dominican
Republic 1, Ecuador 4, Egypt 17, Estonia 5, Finland 2, France 5,
Gabon 1, Germany 44, Gibraltar 1, Greece 510, Hong Kong 130, India
27, Indonesia 31, Iran 7, Israel 3, Italy 28, Japan 2,335, Jordan
13, North Korea 1, South Korea 303, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Lebanon 5,
Lithuania 7, Malaysia 12, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 2, Monaco 16,
Netherlands 14, Nigeria 10, Norway 89, Oman 2, Pakistan 9, Peru 16,
Philippines 7, Poland 11, Portugal 9, Qatar 1, Romania 7, Russia 18,
Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 100, Spain 50, Sri Lanka 1, Sweden 6,
Switzerland 25, Syria 32, Taiwan 320, Thailand 10, Tunisia 1, Turkey
94, Turks and Caicos Islands 1, Ukraine 10, UAE 109, UK 59, US 126,
Venezuela 10, Vietnam 30, Yemen 6)
registered in other countries: 3 (Marshall Islands 1, Sierra Leone
1, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Papua New Guinea
total: 21
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 6 (UAE 6) (2008)

Paraguay
total: 23
by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)

Peru
total: 8
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Bahamas 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Belize 1, Panama 16) (2008)

Philippines
total: 391
by type: bulk carrier 75, cargo 125, carrier 16, chemical tanker 17,
container 6, liquefied gas 5, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 68,
petroleum tanker 36, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 11,
vehicle carrier 11
foreign-owned: 161 (Bermuda 34, China 4, Greece 4, Hong Kong 1,
Japan 81, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 23, Norway 10, Singapore 1, Taiwan
1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 11 (Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1,
Indonesia 1, Panama 7) (2008)

Poland
total: 15
by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1)
registered in other countries: 98 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas
17, Cyprus 18, Liberia 13, Malta 24, Norway 3, Panama 11, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2008)

Portugal
total: 117
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15,
container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9,
petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 84 (Bahamas 1, Belgium 7, Belgium 1, Denmark 3,
Germany 20, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Italy 12, Japan 15, Mexico 1,
Netherlands 1, Spain 11, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1,
Malta 3, Panama 9) (2008)

Puerto Rico
total: 3
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2008)

Qatar
total: 22
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 8,
liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 7 (Kuwait 7)
registered in other countries: 5 (Liberia 4, Panama 1) (2008)

Romania
total: 17
by type: cargo 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker
2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 49 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 16, North
Korea 4, Liberia 2, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 3, Panama
7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,
Sierra Leone 3, Syria 2) (2008)

Russia
total: 1,074
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 663, carrier 2, chemical tanker 27,
combination ore/oil 34, container 11, passenger 14, passenger/cargo
7, petroleum tanker 217, refrigerated cargo 59, roll on/roll off 10,
specialized tanker 5
foreign-owned: 112 (Belgium 4, Cyprus 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Italy
4, South Korea 1, Latvia 2, Norway 2, Switzerland 3, Turkey 80,
Ukraine 11, US 1)
registered in other countries: 486 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas
4, Belize 31, Bulgaria 1, Cambodia 83, Comoros 12, Cyprus 50,
Dominica 3, Georgia 12, Hong Kong 2, Jamaica 3, Liberia 94, Malaysia
2, Malta 58, Marshall Islands 9, Moldova 3, Mongolia 9, Panama 18,
Saint Kitts and Nevis 19, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 21,
Sierra Leone 11, Slovakia 1, Tuvalu 2, Ukraine 1, Vanuatu 2, unknown
31) (2008)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 159
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 109, chemical tanker 7, container 1,
liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker
19, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 121 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 3, Finland
1, Greece 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 5, Malaysia
1, Pakistan 3, Romania 1, Russia 19, Singapore 1, Spain 1, Syria 7,
Turkey 35, Ukraine 9, UAE 18, UK 3, Yemen 1) (2008)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 525
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 315, carrier 20,
chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 17,
petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 18,
specialized tanker 2, container 21
foreign-owned: 476 (Austria 2, Barbados 1, Belgium 8, Bulgaria 15,
Canada 1, China 94, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Czech Republic 1, Denmark
16, Egypt 3, Estonia 16, France 6, Germany 3, Gibraltar 1, Greece
71, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 6, Iceland 7, India 7, Iran 1, Israel 2,
Italy 17, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 17, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 9,
Monaco 5, Montenegro 1, Namibia 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 13, Poland
1, Puerto Rico 1, Romania 1, Russia 21, Singapore 4, Slovenia 5,
South Africa 1, Sweden 2, Switzerland 6, Syria 13, Turkey 20,
Ukraine 11, UAE 9, UK 13, UK 1, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Samoa
total: 1
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Cyprus 1) (2008)

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 6
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 5
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) (2008)

Saudi Arabia
total: 62
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 5, passenger/cargo
8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 7, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 71 (Bahamas 16, Comoros 1, Dominica
2, France 1, Liberia 27, Marshall Islands 5, Norway 3, Panama 16)
(2008)

Seychelles
total: 8
by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2008)

Sierra Leone
total: 182
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 143, carrier 2, chemical tanker 3,
container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6,
petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 95 (Belgium 1, China 15, Egypt 3, Greece 1, Hong Kong
1, Lebanon 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 11, Syria 18,
Taiwan 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 10, UAE 8, UK 2, US 1, Yemen 2) (2008)

Singapore
total: 1,292
by type: bulk carrier 167, cargo 87, carrier 5, chemical tanker 209,
container 273, liquefied gas 96, petroleum tanker 386, refrigerated
cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 53
foreign-owned: 774 (Australia 12, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 8, Chile 6,
China 14, Cyprus 1, Denmark 87, France 1, Germany 24, Greece 15,
Hong Kong 47, India 13, Indonesia 66, Italy 5, Japan 131, South
Korea 3, Malaysia 27, Norway 143, Slovenia 1, Sweden 20, Switzerland
2, Taiwan 72, Thailand 23, UAE 12, UK 17, US 22)
registered in other countries: 331 (Australia 1, Bahamas 17, Belize
2, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 10, Comoros 1, Cyprus 3,
Dominica 7, France 2, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 18, Indonesia 27, Isle
of Man 1, Kiribati 4, Liberia 32, Malaysia 16, Marshall Islands 18,
Mongolia 9, Norway 1, Panama 100, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Thailand 2, Tuvalu 23,
US 12, unknown 2) (2008)

Slovakia
total: 51
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 42, refrigerated cargo 4
foreign-owned: 47 (Bulgaria 6, Germany 3, Greece 2, Ireland 1,
Israel 4, Italy 2, Poland 2, Russia 1, Slovenia 1, Syria 2, Turkey
10, Ukraine 12, UK 1) (2008)

Slovenia
registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 6,
Bahamas 1, Cyprus 4, Liberia 3, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 4, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1) (2008)

Somalia
total: 1
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2008)

South Africa
total: 3
by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (Bahamas 1, Nigeria 1, NZ 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Seychelles 1, UK 3) (2008)

Spain
total: 158
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 14, chemical tanker 11, container 22,
liquefied gas 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 47, petroleum tanker
16, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 3, Canada 1, Denmark 2, Germany 5, Italy
2, Mexico 3, Norway 5, UK 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 110 (Angola 1, Argentina 2, Bahamas
14, Belize 1, Brazil 9, Cape Verde 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 6, Malta 3,
Marshall Islands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 50, Portugal 11, Saint Kitts
and Nevis 1, UK 1, Uruguay 6, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Sri Lanka
total: 26
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 5 (Germany 5)
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Sudan
total: 3
by type: cargo 2, carrier 1 (2008)

Suriname
total: 1
by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Sweden
total: 195
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 23, carrier 1, chemical tanker 45,
passenger 4, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll
off 37, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 25
foreign-owned: 41 (Denmark 4, Estonia 2, Finland 12, Germany 5,
Italy 9, Norway 7, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 207 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas
4, Barbados 7, Bermuda 20, Cook Islands 8, Cyprus 2, Denmark 6,
Finland 2, France 9, Germany 1, Gibraltar 13, Isle of Man 1, Italy
1, Liberia 10, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands
28, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 31, Norway 3, Panama 6, Portugal
3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 20, UK 17, US 5)
(2008)

Switzerland
total: 35
by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 6,
specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas
1, France 3, Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12,
Panama 25, Portugal 2, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6,
Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Syria
total: 77
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 65, carrier 4, container 1, petroleum
tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 7 (Jordan 2, Lebanon 3, Romania 2)
registered in other countries: 196 (Barbados 1, Bolivia 2, Cambodia
48, Comoros 4, Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Georgia 49, Hong Kong 1, North
Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Libya 2, Malta 6, Moldova 1, Panama 32, Saint
Kitts and Nevis 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Sierra Leone
18, Slovakia 2, Togo 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Taiwan
total: 102
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 19, chemical tanker 1, container 24,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 7, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Canada 2, France 1)
registered in other countries: 536 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 1, Honduras
2, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Italy 13, Kiribati 5, Liberia 91,
Marshall Islands 1, Panama 320, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 1,
Singapore 72, Thailand 1, UK 11, unknown 3) (2008)

Tanzania
total: 9
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2008)

Thailand
total: 398
by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container
22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100,
refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan
1, UK 5)
registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10,
Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008)

Timor-Leste
total: 1
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Togo
total: 10
by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Bangladesh 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 1, Lebanon 1, Syria
2) (2008)

Tonga
total: 13
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 8, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1,
passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Cyprus 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2008)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 9
by type: passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Bahamas 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Tunisia
total: 7
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo
4
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Turkey
total: 612
by type: bulk carrier 101, cargo 281, chemical tanker 70,
combination ore/oil 1, container 35, liquefied gas 7, passenger 4,
passenger/cargo 51, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 28, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Cyprus 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Italy 3, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 595 (Albania 1, Antigua and Barbuda
6, Bahamas 8, Belize 15, Cambodia 26, Comoros 8, Dominica 5, Georgia
14, Greece 1, Isle of Man 2, Italy 1, Kiribati 1, Liberia 7, Malta
176, Marshall Islands 50, Moldova 3, Netherlands 1, Netherlands
Antilles 10, Panama 94, Russia 80, Saint Kitts and Nevis 35, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 20, Sierra Leone 15, Slovakia 10, Tuvalu
2, UK 2, unknown 2) (2008)

Turkmenistan
total: 7
by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Turks and Caicos Islands
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1)
(2008)

Tuvalu
total: 80
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 30, chemical tanker 14, container 2,
passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated
cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 63 (China 16, Hong Kong 7, Kenya 1, South Korea 1,
Malaysia 1, Maldives 1, Norway 1, Russia 2, Singapore 23, Thailand
1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 1, US 1, Vietnam 5) (2008)

Ukraine
total: 189
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 141, chemical tanker 1, container 3,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated
cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Luxembourg 1, Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 204 (Belize 7, Cambodia 34, Comoros
8, Cyprus 4, Dominica 4, Georgia 18, Liberia 25, Lithuania 1, Malta
30, Moldova 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Russia 11, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 11, Sierra Leone 10,
Slovakia 12, Tuvalu 1, unknown 3) (2008)

United Arab Emirates
total: 58
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, container 8,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll
on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 14 (Denmark 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
registered in other countries: 313 (Bahamas 23, Bahrain 1, Belize 5,
Cambodia 2, Comoros 7, Cyprus 9, Dominica 1, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 3,
Hong Kong 1, India 6, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Jordan 13, North Korea 8,
Liberia 23, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 5,
Panama 109, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis
18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone
8, Singapore 12, Somalia 1, Turkey 1, UK 9, unknown 6) (2008)

United Kingdom
total: 518
by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 67, carrier 5, chemical tanker 61,
container 180, liquefied gas 18, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 67,
petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 24,
vehicle carrier 18
foreign-owned: 264 (Cyprus 2, Denmark 62, Finland 1, France 23,
Germany 76, Hong Kong 2, Ireland 1, Italy 5, Japan 4, NZ 1, Norway
31, South Africa 3, Spain 1, Sweden 17, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 11,
Turkey 2, UAE 9, US 12)
registered in other countries: 391 (Algeria 11, Antigua and Barbuda
9, Argentina 4, Australia 5, Bahamas 56, Barbados 9, Belize 5,
Bermuda 3, Brunei 1, Cape Verde 1, Cayman Islands 3, Cyprus 19,
Gibraltar 2, Greece 32, Hong Kong 39, India 2, Italy 7, South Korea
1, Liberia 20, Luxembourg 8, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 18,
Netherlands 2, Norway 5, Panama 59, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 14, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 17,
Slovakia 1, Spain 5, Sweden 2, Thailand 5, Tonga 1, US 1) (2008)

United States
total: 422
by type: barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 61, cargo 69, carrier 2,
chemical tanker 22, container 81, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 59,
petroleum tanker 53, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 25,
vehicle carrier 22
foreign-owned: 74 (Australia 1, Denmark 31, Germany 5, Japan 7,
Malaysia 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Singapore 12, Sweden 5, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 732 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia
2, Bahamas 106, Bermuda 23, Cambodia 6, Canada 10, Cayman Islands
42, Comoros 2, Cyprus 5, Ecuador 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 29, Ireland
2, Isle of Man 4, Italy 17, South Korea 7, Liberia 98, Luxembourg 4,
Malta 23, Marshall Islands 123, Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles
1, Norway 1, Norway 7, Panama 126, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Russia
1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore
22, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tuvalu 1, UK 12, Vanuatu 1, unknown 2)
(2008)

Uruguay
total: 17
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 6)
registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)

Vanuatu
total: 54
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4, vehicle
carrier 5
foreign-owned: 54 (Australia 2, Belgium 4, Canada 5, Estonia 1,
Greece 1, Japan 29, Monaco 1, Poland 7, Russia 2, Switzerland 1, US
1) (2008)

Venezuela
total: 62
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 16, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas
5, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 12 (Chile 1, Denmark 1, Greece 3, Mexico 5, Panama 1,
Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 12 (Bahamas 1, Panama 10, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Vietnam
total: 387
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 36, cargo 280, chemical
tanker 12, container 14, liquefied gas 6, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 32, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Hong Kong 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries: 64 (Honduras 1, Liberia 4, Mongolia
23, Panama 30, Tuvalu 5, unknown 1) (2008)

Wallis and Futuna
total: 8
by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6
foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)

Yemen
total: 4
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 13 (North Korea 2, Moldova 1, Panama
6, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2109 National holiday

Afghanistan
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

Albania
Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Algeria
Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

American Samoa
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Andorra
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Angola
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Anguilla
Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

Antigua and Barbuda
Independence Day (National Day), 1 November
(1981)

Argentina
Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Armenia
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Aruba
Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

Australia
Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated
as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and
New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25
April (1915)

Austria
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the
passage of the law on permanent neutrality

Azerbaijan
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May
(1918)

Bahamas, The
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Bahrain
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was
the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date
of independence from British protection

Bangladesh
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971
is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is
Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of
Bangladesh

Barbados
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Belarus
Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the
date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the
date of independence from the Soviet Union

Belgium
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I

Belize
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Benin
National Day, 1 August (1960)

Bermuda
Bermuda Day, 24 May

Bhutan
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king),
17 December (1907)

Bolivia
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Day, 25 November (1943)

Botswana
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

Brazil
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

British Virgin Islands
Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

Brunei
National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was
the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date
of independence from British protection

Bulgaria
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Burkina Faso
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

Burma
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February
(1947)

Burundi
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Cambodia
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Cameroon
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Canada
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Cape Verde
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Cayman Islands
Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Central African Republic
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Chad
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Chile
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

China
Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China,
1 October (1949)

Christmas Island
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Colombia
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Comoros
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Congo, Republic of the
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Cook Islands
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Costa Rica
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Cote d'Ivoire
Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

Croatia
Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 was
the day the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a
three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the
Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8
October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

Cuba
Triumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)

Cyprus
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots
celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Czech Republic
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Denmark
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is
generally viewed as the National Day

Djibouti
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Dominica
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Dominican Republic
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Ecuador
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Egypt
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

El Salvador
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Equatorial Guinea
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Eritrea
Independence Day, 24 May (1993)

Estonia
Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February
1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet
Russia; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence
from the Soviet Union

Ethiopia
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

European Union
Europe Day 9 May (1950); note - a Union-wide holiday,
the day that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of the European
Coal and Steel Community to achieve an organized Europe

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Faroe Islands
Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July

Fiji
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Finland
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

France
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often
incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually
commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the
storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of
a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete
Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)

French Polynesia
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Gabon
Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

Gambia, The
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Georgia
Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the
date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date
of independence from the Soviet Union

Germany
Unity Day, 3 October (1990)

Ghana
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Gibraltar
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the
national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go
with Spain

Greece
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Greenland
June 21 (longest day)

Grenada
Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Guam
Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)

Guatemala
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Guernsey
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Guinea
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Guinea-Bissau
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Guyana
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Haiti
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Holy See (Vatican City)
Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24
April (2005)

Honduras
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Hong Kong
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's
Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is
celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment
Day

Hungary
Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August

Iceland
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

India
Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

Indonesia
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Iran
Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Iraq
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was
celebrated under the SADDAM Husayn regime; the Government of Iraq
has yet to declare a new national holiday

Ireland
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Isle of Man
Tynwald Day, 5 July

Israel
Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared
independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and
the holiday may occur in April or May

Italy
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

Jamaica
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Japan
Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)

Jersey
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Jordan
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Kazakhstan
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Kenya
Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Kiribati
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Korea, North
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK), 9 September (1948)

Korea, South
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Kosovo
Independence Day, 17 February (2008)

Kuwait
National Day, 25 February (1950)

Kyrgyzstan
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Laos
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Latvia
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918
was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia;
4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21
August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet
Union

Lebanon
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Lesotho
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Liberia
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Libya
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Liechtenstein
Assumption Day, 15 August

Lithuania
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February
1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet
Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it
declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Luxembourg
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23
June; note - the actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the
festivities were shifted by five months to allow observance during a
more favorable time of year

Macau
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's
Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is
celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Macedonia
Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known
as Saint Elijah's Day

Madagascar
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Malawi
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Malaysia
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Maldives
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Mali
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Malta
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Marshall Islands
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Mauritania
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Mauritius
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Mayotte
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Mexico
Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Micronesia, Federated States of
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Moldova
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Monaco
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)

Mongolia
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Montenegro
National Day, 13 July (1878)

Montserrat
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June
(1926)

Morocco
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30
July (1999)

Mozambique
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Namibia
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Nauru
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Nepal
NA; note - in 2006, Parliament abolished the birthday of King
GYANENDRA (7 July) and Constitution Day (9 November) as national
holidays

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

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

New Caledonia
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

New Zealand
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day
(commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at
Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Nicaragua
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Niger
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Nigeria
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

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

Norfolk Island
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn
Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Northern Mariana Islands
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Norway
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Oman
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Pakistan
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)

Palau
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Panama
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Papua New Guinea
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Paraguay
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)

Peru
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Philippines
Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898
was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was
date of independence from US

Pitcairn Islands
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in
June (1926)

Poland
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Portugal
Portugal Day (Day of Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also
called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes
(1524-80) died

Puerto Rico
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico
Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Qatar
Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is
National Day, 18 December

Romania
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December
(1918)

Russia
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)

Rwanda
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Saint Barthelemy
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday
is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August

Saint Helena
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June
(1926)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Saint Lucia
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Saint Martin
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is
Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Samoa
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January
1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered
UN trusteeship; it is observed in June

San Marino
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)

Sao Tome and Principe
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Saudi Arabia
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Senegal
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Serbia
National Day, 15 February

Seychelles
Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Sierra Leone
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Singapore
National Day, 9 August (1965)

Slovakia
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

Slovenia
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Solomon Islands
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Somalia
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26
June (1960) in Somaliland

South Africa
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

Spain
National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set
foot in the Americas

Sri Lanka
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Sudan
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Suriname
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Swaziland
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

Sweden
Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)

Switzerland
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Syria
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)

Taiwan
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10
October (1911)

Tajikistan
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)

Tanzania
Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Thailand
Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)

Timor-Leste
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Togo
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

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

Tonga
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Trinidad and Tobago
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Tunisia
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of
BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)

Turkey
Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Turkmenistan
Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Turks and Caicos Islands
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Tuvalu
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Uganda
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Ukraine
Independence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918,
the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia)
and the day the short-lived Western and Central Ukrainian republics
united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day

United Arab Emirates
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

United Kingdom
the UK does not celebrate one particular national
holiday

United States
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Uruguay
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Uzbekistan
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Vanuatu
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Venezuela
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Vietnam
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Virgin Islands
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

Wallis and Futuna
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Yemen
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Zambia
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Zimbabwe
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2110 Nationality

Afghanistan
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan

Albania
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian

Algeria
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian

American Samoa
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan

Andorra
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran

Angola
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan

Anguilla
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan

Antigua and Barbuda
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Argentina
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine

Armenia
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian

Aruba
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Australia
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian

Austria
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian

Azerbaijan
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani

Bahamas, The
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian

Bahrain
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini

Bangladesh
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi

Barbados
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

Belarus
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian

Belgium
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian

Belize
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Benin
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese

Bermuda
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian

Bhutan
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese

Bolivia
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian

Bosnia and Herzegovina
noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Botswana
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Brazil
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian

British Virgin Islands
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander

Brunei
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian

Bulgaria
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian

Burkina Faso
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe

Burma
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese

Burundi
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian

Cambodia
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian

Cameroon
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian

Canada
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian

Cape Verde
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean

Cayman Islands
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian

Central African Republic
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African

Chad
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian

Chile
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean

China
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese

Christmas Island
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander

Colombia
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian

Comoros
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
noun: Congolese (singular and
plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Congo, Republic of the
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Cook Islands
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Costa Rica
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican

Cote d'Ivoire
noun: Ivoirian(s)
adjective: Ivoirian

Croatia
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian

Cuba
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban

Cyprus
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot

Czech Republic
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech

Denmark
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish

Djibouti
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian

Dominica
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican

Dominican Republic
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican

Ecuador
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian

Egypt
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian

El Salvador
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran

Equatorial Guinea
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Eritrea
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean

Estonia
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

Ethiopia
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island

Faroe Islands
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese

Fiji
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian

Finland
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish

France
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French

French Polynesia
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian

Gabon
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese

Gambia, The
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian

Gaza Strip
noun: NA
adjective: NA

Georgia
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian

Germany
noun: German(s)
adjective: German

Ghana
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian

Gibraltar
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar

Greece
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek

Greenland
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic

Grenada
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian

Guam
noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Guamanian

Guatemala
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan

Guernsey
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander

Guinea
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean

Guinea-Bissau
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean

Guyana
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese

Haiti
noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian

Holy See (Vatican City)
noun: none
adjective: none

Honduras
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran

Hong Kong
noun: Chinese/Hong Konger
adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Hungary
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian

Iceland
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic

India
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian

Indonesia
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian

Iran
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian

Iraq
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi

Ireland
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective
plural)
adjective: Irish

Isle of Man
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx

Israel
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli

Italy
noun: Italian(s)
adjective: Italian

Jamaica
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican

Japan
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese

Jersey
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander

Jordan
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian

Kazakhstan
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani

Kenya
noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan

Kiribati
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati

Korea, North
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean

Korea, South
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean

Kosovo
noun: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian)
adjective: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian)
note: Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or
adjective

Kuwait
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti

Kyrgyzstan
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Laos
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian

Latvia
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian

Lebanon
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese

Lesotho
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho

Liberia
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Libya
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan

Liechtenstein
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein

Lithuania
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian

Luxembourg
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg

Macau
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Macedonia
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Madagascar
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy

Malawi
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian

Malaysia
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian

Maldives
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian

Mali
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian

Malta
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese

Marshall Islands
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese

Mauritania
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

Mauritius
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian

Mayotte
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran

Mexico
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican

Micronesia, Federated States of
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Moldova
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan

Monaco
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Mongolia
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian

Montenegro
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin

Montserrat
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian

Morocco
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan

Mozambique
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican

Namibia
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian

Nauru
noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan

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

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

Netherlands Antilles
noun: Dutch Antillean(s)
adjective: Dutch Antillean

New Caledonia
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian

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

Nicaragua
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan

Niger
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien

Nigeria
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian

Niue
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean

Norfolk Island
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Northern Mariana Islands
noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NA

Norway
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Oman
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani

Pakistan
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani

Palau
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan

Panama
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Papua New Guinea
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean

Paraguay
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Peru
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

Philippines
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine

Pitcairn Islands
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Poland
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish

Portugal
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese

Puerto Rico
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican

Qatar
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari

Romania
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian

Russia
noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian

Rwanda
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan

Saint Helena noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian note: referred to locally as "Saints"

Saint Kitts and Nevis
noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian

Saint Lucia
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or
Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Samoa
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan

San Marino
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese

Sao Tome and Principe
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean

Saudi Arabia
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Senegal
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese

Serbia
noun: Serb(s)
adjective: Serbian

Seychelles
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois

Sierra Leone
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean

Singapore
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore

Slovakia
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak

Slovenia
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian

Solomon Islands
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander

Somalia
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali

South Africa
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African

Spain
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish

Sri Lanka
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan

Sudan
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese

Suriname
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese

Swaziland
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi

Sweden
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish

Switzerland
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss

Syria
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian

Taiwan
noun: Taiwan (singular and plural)
note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan
adjective: Taiwan

Tajikistan
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani

Tanzania
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian

Thailand
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai

Timor-Leste
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese

Togo
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese

Tokelau
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan

Tonga
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan

Trinidad and Tobago
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Tunisia
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian

Turkey
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish

Turkmenistan
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmenistani

Turks and Caicos Islands
noun: none
adjective: none

Tuvalu
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan

Uganda
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan

Ukraine
noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian

United Arab Emirates
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati

United Kingdom
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British

United States
noun: American(s)
adjective: American

Uruguay
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan

Uzbekistan
noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani

Vanuatu
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Venezuela
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

Vietnam
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese

Virgin Islands
noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Virgin Islander

Wallis and Futuna noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

West Bank
noun: NA
adjective: NA

Western Sahara
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Yemen
noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni

Zambia
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian

Zimbabwe
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2111 Natural resources

Afghanistan
natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc,
barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones

Albania
petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper,
iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

Algeria
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead,
zinc

American Samoa
pumice, pumicite

Andorra
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Angola
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar,
gold, bauxite, uranium

Anguilla
salt, fish, lobster

Antarctica
iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and
other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small
uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,
and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries

Antigua and Barbuda
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Arctic Ocean
sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals
(seals and whales)

Argentina
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper,
iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Armenia
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite

Aruba
NEGL; white sandy beaches

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
fish

Atlantic Ocean
oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and
whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic
nodules, precious stones

Australia
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum
note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal
accounting for 29% of global coal exports

Austria
oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc,
antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower

Azerbaijan
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals,
bauxite

Bahamas, The
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Bahrain
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Bangladesh
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Barbados
petroleum, fish, natural gas

Belarus
forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural
gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

Belgium
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Belize
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Benin
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Bermuda
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Bhutan
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Bolivia
tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony,
silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

Bosnia and Herzegovina
coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc,
chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand,
forests, hydropower

Botswana
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal,
iron ore, silver

Bouvet Island
none

Brazil
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates,
platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

British Indian Ocean Territory
coconuts, fish, sugarcane

British Virgin Islands
NEGL

Brunei
petroleum, natural gas, timber

Bulgaria
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Burkina Faso
manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold,
phosphates, pumice, salt

Burma
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten,
lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,
hydropower

Burundi
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper,
platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum,
gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Cambodia
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential

Cameroon
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Canada
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum,
natural gas, hydropower

Cape Verde
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Cayman Islands
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Central African Republic
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil,
hydropower

Chad
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold,
limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Chile
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals,
molybdenum, hydropower

China
coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin,
tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite,
aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)

Christmas Island
phosphate, beaches

Clipperton Island
fish

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
fish

Colombia
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold,
copper, emeralds, hydropower

Comoros
NEGL

Congo, Democratic Republic of the cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Congo, Republic of the petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Cook Islands
NEGL

Coral Sea Islands
NEGL

Costa Rica
hydropower

Cote d'Ivoire
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay,
cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower

Croatia
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium,
gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower

Cuba
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber,
silica, petroleum, arable land

Cyprus
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay
earth pigment

Czech Republic
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Denmark
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone,
gravel and sand

Djibouti
geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble,
salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Dominica
timber, hydropower, arable land

Dominican Republic
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Ecuador
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Egypt
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese,
limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

El Salvador
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Equatorial Guinea
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite,
diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Eritrea
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural
gas, fish

Estonia
oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand,
dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Ethiopia
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural
gas, hydropower

European Union
iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead,
zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land,
timber, fish

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Faroe Islands
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Fiji
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Finland
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel,
gold, silver, limestone

France
metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium,
antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish
French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum,
clay

French Polynesia
timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
fish, crayfish
note: Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have
guano, phosphates, and coconuts

Gabon
petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium,
gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Gambia, The
fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon,
silica sand, clay, petroleum

Gaza Strip
arable land, natural gas

Georgia
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper,
minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for
important tea and citrus growth

Germany
coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel,
uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Ghana
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish,
rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Gibraltar
none

Greece
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel,
magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Greenland
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold,
platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales,
hydropower, possible oil and gas

Grenada
timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Guam
aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely
undeveloped)

Guatemala
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Guernsey
cropland

Guinea
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish,
salt

Guinea-Bissau
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite,
limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Guyana
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Haiti
bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
fish

Holy See (Vatican City)
none

Honduras
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore,
antimony, coal, fish, hydropower

Hong Kong
outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Hungary
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

Iceland
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

India
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore,
manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas,
diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Indian Ocean
oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Indonesia
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite,
copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Iran
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,
manganese, zinc, sulfur

Iraq
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Ireland
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite,
gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Isle of Man
none

Israel
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock,
magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Italy
coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice,
fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, arable land

Jamaica
bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Jan Mayen
none

Japan
negligible mineral resources, fish
note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the
world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas as well
as the second largest importer of oil

Jersey
arable land

Jordan
phosphates, potash, shale oil

Kazakhstan
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead,
zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Kenya
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc,
diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Kiribati
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Korea, North
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron
ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

Korea, South
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower
potential

Kosovo
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome,
bauxite

Kuwait
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Kyrgyzstan
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and
rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas;
other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Laos
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Latvia
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable
land

Lebanon
limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a
water-deficit region, arable land

Lesotho
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay,
building stone

Liberia
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Libya
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Liechtenstein
hydroelectric potential, arable land

Lithuania
peat, arable land, amber

Luxembourg
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Macau
NEGL

Macedonia
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite,
manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber,
arable land

Madagascar
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar
sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Malawi
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of
uranium, coal, and bauxite

Malaysia
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas,
bauxite

Maldives
fish

Mali
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum,
granite, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited

Malta
limestone, salt, arable land

Marshall Islands
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed
minerals

Mauritania
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil,
fish

Mauritius
arable land, fish

Mayotte
NEGL

Mexico
petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas,
timber

Micronesia, Federated States of
forests, marine products,
deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Moldova
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Monaco
none

Mongolia
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin,
nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Montenegro
bauxite, hydroelectricity

Montserrat
NEGL

Morocco
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Mozambique
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum,
graphite

Namibia
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium,
cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Nauru
phosphates, fish

Navassa Island
guano

Nepal
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small
deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Netherlands
natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and
gravel, arable land

Netherlands Antilles
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

New Caledonia
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold,
lead, copper

New Zealand
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower,
gold, limestone

Nicaragua
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Niger
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum,
gypsum, salt, petroleum

Nigeria
natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone,
niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Niue
fish, arable land

Norfolk Island
fish

Northern Mariana Islands
arable land, fish

Norway
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc,
titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Oman
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas

Pacific Ocean
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Pakistan
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum,
poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Palau
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products,
deep-seabed minerals

Panama
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Papua New Guinea
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil,
fisheries

Paracel Islands
none

Paraguay
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Peru
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

Philippines
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt,
copper

Pitcairn Islands
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been
discovered offshore

Poland
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber,
arable land

Portugal
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin,
tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable
land, hydropower

Puerto Rico
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and
offshore oil

Qatar
petroleum, natural gas, fish

Romania
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal,
iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

Russia
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil,
natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources

Rwanda
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore),
methane, hydropower, arable land

Saint Barthelemy
has few natural resouces, its beaches being the
most important

Saint Helena
fish, lobster

Saint Kitts and Nevis
arable land

Saint Lucia
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral
springs, geothermal potential

Saint Martin
salt

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fish, deepwater ports

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
hydropower, cropland

Samoa
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

San Marino
building stone

Sao Tome and Principe
fish, hydropower

Saudi Arabia
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Senegal
fish, phosphates, iron ore

Serbia
oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite,
gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land

Seychelles
fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Sierra Leone
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold,
chromite

Singapore
fish, deepwater ports

Slovakia
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper
and manganese ore; salt; arable land

Slovenia
lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower,
forests

Solomon Islands
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,
zinc, nickel

Somalia
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin,
gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

South Africa
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese,
nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper,
vanadium, salt, natural gas

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
fish

Southern Ocean
probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields
on the continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer
deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales,
and seals - none exploited; krill, fish

Spain
coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium,
tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite,
kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land

Spratly Islands
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas
potential

Sri Lanka
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates,
clay, hydropower

Sudan
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore,
zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower

Suriname
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold,
and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

Svalbard
coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish

Swaziland
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests,
small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Sweden
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten,
uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Switzerland
hydropower potential, timber, salt

Syria
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt,
iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower

Taiwan
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and
asbestos

Tajikistan
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal,
lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold

Tanzania
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds,
gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Thailand
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead,
fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

Timor-Leste
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Togo
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Tokelau
NEGL

Tonga
fish, fertile soil

Trinidad and Tobago
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Tunisia
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Turkey
coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold,
barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone,
magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable
land, hydropower

Turkmenistan
petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

Turks and Caicos Islands
spiny lobster, conch

Tuvalu
fish

Uganda
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land

Ukraine
iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur,
graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber,
arable land

United Arab Emirates
petroleum, natural gas

United Kingdom
coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc,
gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica
sand, slate, arable land

United States
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium,
bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten,
zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion
short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Uruguay
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Uzbekistan
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver,
copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Vanuatu
manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Venezuela
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other
minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Vietnam
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil
and gas deposits, forests, hydropower

Virgin Islands
sun, sand, sea, surf

Wake Island
none

Wallis and Futuna
NEGL

West Bank
arable land

Western Sahara
phosphates, iron ore

World
the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the
depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and
plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality
(especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose
serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only
beginning to address

Yemen
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal,
gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west

Zambia
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver,
uranium, hydropower

Zimbabwe
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron
ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2112 Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)

Afghanistan
21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Albania
-4.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Algeria
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

American Samoa
-7.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Andorra
13.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Angola
1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Anguilla
14.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
2.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Argentina
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Armenia
-4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Aruba
9.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Australia
6.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Austria
1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
-2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bahrain
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Barbados
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belarus
0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belgium
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Belize
NA (2008 est.)

Benin
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bermuda
2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bhutan
NA (2008 est.)

Bolivia
-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
6.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Botswana
5.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

Brazil
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
8.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Brunei
2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
-3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
NA (2008 est.)

Burma
NA (2008 est.)

Burundi
5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cambodia
NA (2008 est.)

Cameroon
NA (2008 est.)

Canada
5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
-11.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
16.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2008
est.)

Central African Republic
NA (2008 est.)

Chad
-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Chile
NA (2008 est.)

China
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Comoros
NA (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
-2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
NA (2008 est.)

Croatia
1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cuba
-1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Cyprus
0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Denmark
2.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Djibouti
NA (2008 est.)

Dominica
-5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ecuador
-7.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Egypt
-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

El Salvador
-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
NA (2008 est.)

Eritrea
NA (2008 est.)

Estonia
-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
NA
note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is
expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and
Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine
in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2008 est.)

European Union
1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Fiji
-2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Finland
0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

France
1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gabon
-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Georgia
-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Germany
2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ghana
-0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Greece
2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Greenland
-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Grenada
-11.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guam
NA (2008 est.)

Guatemala
-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guernsey
3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guinea
-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Guyana
-7.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Haiti
-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Honduras
-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Hungary
0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iceland
1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

India
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Indonesia
-1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iran
-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Iraq
NA (2008 est.)

Ireland
4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
5.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Israel
2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Italy
2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jamaica
-5.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Japan
NA (2008 est.)

Jersey
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Jordan
5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
-3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kenya
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kiribati
NA (2008 est.)

Korea, North
NA (2008 est.)

Korea, South
NA (2008 est.)

Kuwait
16.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
-2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Laos
NA (2008 est.)

Latvia
-2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lebanon
NA (2008 est.)

Lesotho
-0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Liberia
15.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Libya
NA (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Lithuania
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
8.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Macau
26.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Macedonia
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Madagascar
NA (2008 est.)

Malawi
NA (2008 est.)

Malaysia
NA
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2008 est.)

Maldives
NA (2008 est.)

Mali
-5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Malta
2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
-5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mauritania
NA (2008 est.)

Mauritius
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mayotte
2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mexico
-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of -21.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Moldova
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Monaco
7.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mongolia
NA (2008 est.)

Montserrat
NA (2008 est.)

Morocco
-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Mozambique
NA (2008 est.)

Namibia
0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nauru
NA (2008 est.)

Nepal
NA (2008 est.)

Netherlands
2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
NA
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2008 est.)

New Zealand
2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Niger
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Nigeria
-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Niue
NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Norway
1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Oman
0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Pakistan
-0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Palau
0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Panama
-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
NA (2008 est.)

Paraguay
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Peru
-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Philippines
-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Poland
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Portugal
3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Qatar
-2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Romania
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Russia
0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Rwanda
2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
NA (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
-2.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
-4.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
-4.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008
est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-7.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.)

Samoa
-9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

San Marino
10.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
-6.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Senegal
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Seychelles
-5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2008 est.)

Singapore
6.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Slovakia
0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Slovenia
0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Somalia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

South Africa
4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

Spain
0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
-1.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sudan
0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Suriname
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Svalbard
NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
NA (2008 est.)

Sweden
1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Switzerland
2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Syria
NA (2008 est.)

Taiwan
0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tanzania
-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Thailand
NA (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA (2008 est.)

Togo
NA (2008 est.)

Tokelau
NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
NA (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
-11.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tunisia
-0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turkey
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
NA (2008 est.)

Uganda
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Ukraine
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

United States
2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uruguay
-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
-3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
NA (2008 est.)

Venezuela
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Vietnam
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2008 est.)

West Bank
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Yemen
NA (2008 est.)

Zambia
-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
NA
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2113 Geography - note

Afghanistan
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast
to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the
country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan
Corridor)

Akrotiri
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several
small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base
Area land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the
Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

Albania
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic
Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

Algeria
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

American Samoa
Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater
harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough
seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

Andorra
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in
the Pyrenees

Angola
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the
rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Anguilla
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser
Antilles

Antarctica
the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest
continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface
at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent
period; mostly uninhabitable

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with
many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor

Arctic Ocean
major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern
access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic
location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link
between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating
research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover
in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean;
snow cover lasts about 10 months

Argentina
second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);
strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic
and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,
Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical
climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is
the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon
is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

Armenia
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich
(Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

Aruba
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches;
its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the
Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve
established in 2000

Atlantic Ocean
major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of
Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits
include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The
Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the
Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

Australia
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;
population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts;
the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects
the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most
consistent winds in the world

Austria
landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central
Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major
river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands
because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

Azerbaijan
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan
exclave are landlocked

Bahamas, The
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive
island chain of which 30 are inhabited

Bahrain
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic
location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's
petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

Bangladesh
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers
flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main
channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually
empty into the Bay of Bengal

Barbados
easternmost Caribbean island

Belarus
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of
Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes

Belgium
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and
NATO

Belize
only country in Central America without a coastline on the
North Pacific Ocean

Benin
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural
harbors, river mouths, or islands

Bermuda
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample
rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by
US Government from 1941 to 1995

Bhutan
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Bolivia
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

Bosnia and Herzegovina
within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized
borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat
Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led
Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region
called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro, and
traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the
west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east

Botswana
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the
country

Bouvet Island
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
Norway

Brazil
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries
with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

British Indian Ocean Territory archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

British Virgin Islands
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico

Brunei
close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking
Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by
Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia

Bulgaria
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land
routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Burkina Faso
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of
the Black, Red, and White Voltas

Burma
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

Burundi
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the
Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote
headstream of the White Nile

Cambodia
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River
and Tonle Sap

Cameroon
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout
the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of
current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest
mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano

Canada
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic
location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately
90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border

Cape Verde
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near
major north-south sea routes; important communications station;
important sea and air refueling site

Cayman Islands
important location between Cuba and Central America

Central African Republic
landlocked; almost the precise center of
Africa

Chad
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the
Sahel

Chile
strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);
Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions

China
world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US);
Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak

Christmas Island
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

Clipperton Island
reef 12 km in circumference

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
islands are thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation; site of a World War I naval battle in
November 1914 between the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and
the German raider SMS Emden; after being heavily damaged in the
engagement, the Emden was beached by her captain on North Keeling
Island

Colombia
only South American country with coastlines on both the
North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Comoros
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Congo, Democratic Republic of the straddles equator; has narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands

Congo, Republic of the
about 70% of the population lives in
Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Cook Islands
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely
populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of
the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic
isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km

Coral Sea Islands
important nesting area for birds and turtles

Costa Rica
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital
of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes,
Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

Cote d'Ivoire
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal
region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is
sparsely populated

Croatia
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea
and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of
Croatia - some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

Cuba
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the
Greater Antilles

Cyprus
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after
Sicily and Sardinia)

Czech Republic
landlocked; strategically located astride some of
oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is
a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and
the Danube in central Europe

Denmark
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking
Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in
greater Copenhagen

Dhekelia
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several
small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base
Area land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the
Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

Djibouti
strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and
close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia;
mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in
Africa

Dominica
known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its
spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected
by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the
Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and
include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in
the world

Dominican Republic
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

Ecuador
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

Egypt
controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and
remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link
between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition
to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;
dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues;
prone to influxes of refugees

El Salvador
smallest Central American country and only one without a
coastline on Caribbean Sea

Equatorial Guinea
insular and continental regions widely separated

Eritrea
strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest
shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia
along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May
1993

Estonia
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded;
offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

Ethiopia
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost
with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue
Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in
T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are
believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and
castor bean

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
deeply indented coast provides
good natural harbors; short growing season

Faroe Islands
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one
uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically
located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

Fiji
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited

Finland
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
southwestern coastal plain

France
largest West European nation

French Polynesia
includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one
coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great
phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba
(Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

French Southern and Antarctic Lands islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses): the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

Gabon
a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped
Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these
circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its
pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

Gambia, The
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the
continent of Africa

Gaza Strip
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade
routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of
Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history

Georgia
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia
controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them

Germany
strategic location on North European Plain and along the
entrance to the Baltic Sea

Ghana
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

Gibraltar
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the
North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Greece
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an
archipelago of about 2,000 islands

Greenland
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and
Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast;
close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;
world's second largest ice cap

Grenada
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is
divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Guam
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Guatemala
no natural harbors on west coast

Guernsey
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Guinea
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their
sources in the Guinean highlands

Guinea-Bissau
this small country is swampy along its western coast
and low-lying inland

Guyana
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname
and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern
territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively

Haiti
shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being in 2005

Holy See (Vatican City)
landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's
smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the
Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial
authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including
the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer
residence)

Honduras
has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean
shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

Hong Kong
more than 200 islands

Hungary
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between
Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna
(Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions

Iceland
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost
European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in
the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental
Europe

India
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian
Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the
world, lies on the border with Nepal

Indian Ocean
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of
Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and
the Lombok Strait

Indonesia
archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles
equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from
Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

Iran
strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz,
which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport

Iraq
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of
the Persian Gulf

Ireland
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North
America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides
within 100 km of Dublin

Isle of Man
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest
and is a bird sanctuary

Israel
there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites - including 100
small outpost communities in the West Bank - as well as 42 sites in
the Golan Heights, 0 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem
(July 2008 est.); Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important
freshwater source

Italy
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

Jamaica
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica
Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

Jan Mayen
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

Japan
strategic location in northeast Asia

Jersey
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of
population concentrated in Saint Helier

Jordan
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as
the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the
occupied West Bank

Kazakhstan
landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of
territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004,
Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050

Kenya
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful
agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on
Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography
supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic
value

Kiribati
21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island)
in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru

Korea, North
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and
Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

Korea, South
strategic location on Korea Strait

Kuwait
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Kyrgyzstan
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien
Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

Laos
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly
forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western
boundary with Thailand

Latvia
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains,
with some hills in the east

Lebanon
Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically
helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based
on religion, clan, and ethnicity

Lesotho
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa;
mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level

Liberia
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

Libya
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

Liechtenstein
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation

Lithuania
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that
are ancient glacial deposits

Luxembourg
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

Macau
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea
measuring 5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of
Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland
peninsula by three bridges

Macedonia
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and
Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

Madagascar
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along
Mozambique Channel

Malawi
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's
most prominent physical feature

Malaysia
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern
South China Sea

Maldives
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited
islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with
strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Mali
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan

Malta
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three
largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and
Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration

Marshall Islands
the Marshall Islands Bikini and Enewetak are former
US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II
battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a
US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second
largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of
Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the
Pacific

Mauritania
most of the population concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country

Mauritius
the main island, from which the country derives its name,
is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral
reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons,
driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a
combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species

Mayotte
part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)

Mexico
strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize),
one of the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated
in Mexico

Micronesia, Federated States of
four major island groups totaling
607 islands

Moldova
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and
minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

Monaco
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy
See); almost entirely urban

Mongolia
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Montenegro
strategic location along the Adriatic coast

Montserrat
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised
of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

Morocco
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

Mozambique
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most
fertile part of the country

Namibia
first country in the world to incorporate the protection of
the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is
protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

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

Navassa Island
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base
at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution
holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands
of fig trees, scattered cactus

Nepal
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest
and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the
borders with China and India respectively

Netherlands
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine,
Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Netherlands Antilles
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles
are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group
(Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands
(southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin
is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent
states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory
of Sint Maarten

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

New Zealand
about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington
is the southernmost national capital in the world

Nicaragua
largest country in Central America; contains the largest
freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

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

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

Niue
one of world's largest coral islands

Norfolk Island
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost
inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one
small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is
situated

Northern Mariana Islands
strategic location in the North Pacific
Ocean

Norway
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much
indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air
routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines
in the world

Oman
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Pacific Ocean
the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama
Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides
the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in
the southwestern Pacific Ocean

Pakistan
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion
routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

Palau
westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six
island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II
battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

Panama
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land
bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal
that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific
Ocean

Papua New Guinea
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of
world's largest swamps along southwest coast

Paracel Islands
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs
divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent
Group

Paraguay
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil;
population concentrated in southern part of country

Peru
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable
lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak,
is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

Philippines
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands;
favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water
bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea,
and Luzon Strait

Pitcairn Islands
Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger
island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural
harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger
ships stationed offshore

Poland
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and
the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Portugal
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along
western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

Puerto Rico
important location along the Mona Passage - a key
shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest
and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and
high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast
relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

Qatar
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major
petroleum deposits

Romania
controls most easily traversable land route between the
Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

Russia
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably
located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its
size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either
too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's
tallest peak

Rwanda
landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the
population predominantly rural

Saint Helena
Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants
unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground
for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da
Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a
prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa

Saint Kitts and Nevis
with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat
and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide
channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball
bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in
the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape
complements that of its sister island

Saint Lucia
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking
cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural
highlights of the Caribbean

Saint Martin
the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in
the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of
Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
vegetation scanty

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

Samoa
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

San Marino
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after
the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

Sao Tome and Principe
the smallest country in Africa; the two main
islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are
mountainous

Saudi Arabia
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Senegal
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is
almost an enclave within Senegal

Serbia
controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to
Turkey and the Near East

Seychelles
41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

Sierra Leone
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches)
a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western
Africa

Singapore
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

Slovakia
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous;
the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic
lakes and valleys

Slovenia
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country
controls some of Europe's major transit routes

Solomon Islands
strategic location on sea routes between the South
Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007
an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred
345 km WNW of the capital Honiara, the resulting tsunami devastated
coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of
deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was
especially hard hit

Somalia
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

South Africa
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost
completely surrounds Swaziland

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the north coast of
South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage;
reindeer, introduced early in the 20th century, live on South Georgia

Southern Ocean
the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between
South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic
Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent
of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the cold polar surface
waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front
and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of
60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the
far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly
winds

Spain
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

Spratly Islands
strategically located near several primary shipping
lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small
islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

Sri Lanka
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

Sudan
largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its
tributaries

Suriname
smallest independent country on South American continent;
mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna
that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new
development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast

Svalbard
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of
nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total
area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed
Vault, a seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity
Trust and the Norwegian Government

Swaziland
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Sweden
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and
North Seas

Switzerland
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe;
along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern
Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

Syria
there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites
in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)

Taiwan
strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the
Luzon Strait

Tajikistan
landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the
Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast;
highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was
the tallest mountain in the former USSR

Tanzania
Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three
of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's
second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the
world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest

Thailand
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Timor-Leste
Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island
of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and
easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands

Togo
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct
geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

Tokelau
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each
with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying
length and rising to over 3 m above sea level

Tonga
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

Trinidad and Tobago
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is
the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt

Tunisia
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and
Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration

Turkey
strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus,
Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount
Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far
eastern portion of the country

Turkmenistan
landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate
portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert,
which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau

Turks and Caicos Islands
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

Tuvalu
one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six
of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau,
Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya
and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

Uganda
landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and
rivers

Ukraine
strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and
Asia; second-largest country in Europe

United Arab Emirates
strategic location along southern approaches to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

United Kingdom
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km
from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because
of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from
tidal waters

United States
world's third-largest country by size (after Russia
and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley
is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point
on the continent

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,
prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
wildlife; closed to the public
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands,
which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and
East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public
Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed
to the public
Midway Islands: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge
and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form
of wildlife observation and photography
Palmyra Atoll: the high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make
the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island
territories; supports a large undisturbed stand of Pisonia beach
forest

Uruguay
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname);
most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is
grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising

Uzbekistan
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world

Vanuatu
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller
islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

Venezuela
on major sea and air routes linking North and South
America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest
waterfall

Vietnam
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km
across at its narrowest point

Virgin Islands
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key
shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best
natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

Wake Island
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency
landing location for transpacific flights

Wallis and Futuna
both island groups have fringing reefs

West Bank
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's
coastal aquifers; there are about 340 Israeli civilian
sites—including 100 small outpost communities in the West Bank and
29 sites in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)

Western Sahara
the waters off the coast are particularly rich
fishing areas

World
the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old,
just about one-third of the 13.7-billion-year age estimated for the
universe

Yemen
strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the
Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping
lanes

Zambia
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary
with Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary
with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria
Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2115 Political pressure groups and leaders

Afghanistan
other: religious groups; tribal leaders

Albania
Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of
Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian
National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement; Omonia
[Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH
[Gezim KALAJA]

Algeria
The Algerian Human Rights League or LADDH [Hocine ZEHOUANE];
SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]

American Samoa
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing
population pressures)

Andorra
NA

Angola
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC
[N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]

Anguilla
NA

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William
ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]

Argentina
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA);
Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine
Rural Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners'
association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners'
association); Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union
for employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor
or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Roman
Catholic Church
other: business organizations; Peronist-dominated labor movement;
Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that can be either
pro or anti-government); students

Armenia
Aylentrank (Impeachment) [Nikol PASHINYAN]; Yerkrapah Union
[Manvel GRIGORIAN]

Aruba
other: environmental groups

Australia
other: business groups; environmental groups; social
groups; trade unions

Austria
Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally
independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic
Chamber; OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV;
Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization,
Catholic Action
other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or
OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment
organizations in the areas of environment and human rights

Azerbaijan
Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (self-proclaimed);
Karabakh Liberation Organization; Sadval, Lezgin movement; Talysh
independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces or UPAF

Bahamas, The
Friends of the Environment
other: trade unions

Bahrain
Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
other: several small leftist and other groups are active

Bangladesh
Advocacy to End Gender-based Violence through the MoWCA
(Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs)
other: environmentalists; Islamist groups; religious leaders;
teachers; union leaders

Barbados
Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST];
Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS]; Congress of
Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes
the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN]; Barbados Workers
Union or BWU [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David
COMISSIONG]; National Union of Public Workers [Joseph GODDARD]

Belarus
Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH];
Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK];
Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Tatiana PROTKO]; Belarusian
Organization of Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; Charter 97 [Andrey
SANNIKOV]; For Freedom (unregistered) [Aleksandr MILINKEVICH]; Lenin
Communist Union of Youth (youth wing of the Belarusian Party of
Communists or PKB); National Strike Committee of Entrepreneurs
[Aleksandr VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership NGO [Nikolay
ASTREYKA]; Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol SHUMCHENKO];
Vyasna [Ales BYALATSKY]; Women's Independent Democratic Movement
[Ludmila PETINA]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dmitriy DASHKEVICH,
Sergey BAKHUN]; Zubr youth group [Vladimir KOBETS]

Belgium
Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation
of Belgian Industries
other: numerous other associations representing bankers,
manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical
professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests
of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi
and groups representing immigrants

Belize
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR
[Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David
VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene
GOMEZ]

Benin
other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups;
teachers' unions and other educational groups

Bermuda
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial
Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or
BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

Bhutan
United Front for Democracy (exiled)
other: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading
militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community

Bolivia
Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB
other: Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions

Bosnia and Herzegovina
other: displaced persons associations;
student councils; war veterans

Botswana
First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso
Ya Ba Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language
(Kalanga elites)
other: diamond mining companies

Brazil
Landless Workers' Movement or MST
other: labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations;
religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the
Catholic Church

British Virgin Islands
The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk
other: environmentalists

Brunei
NA

Bulgaria
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or
CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation
other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with
various agendas

Burkina Faso
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole
SAGNON]; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone
ZOUGMORE]; Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]; National
Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO];
National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE]
other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in
both organizations and communities

Burma
Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC (based in Thailand);
Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and
labor advocates); National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime
Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately
elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border
area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel
government in exile); Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen
National Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP;
National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of
opposition groups); United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity
and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and
political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary]; 88
Generation Students (pro-democracy movement) [MIN KO NAING]
other: several Shan factions

Burundi
Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les
malversations economiques or OLUCOME [Gabriel RUFYIRI]
(anti-corruption pressure group)
other: Hutu and Tutsi militias (loosely organized)

Cambodia
Cambodian Freedom Fighters or CFF; Partnership for
Transparency Fund or PTF (anti-corruption organization); Students
Movement for Democracy; The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or
Comfrel
other: human rights organizations; vendors

Cameroon
Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president];
Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]

Canada
other: agricultural sector; automobile industry; business
groups; chemical industry; commercial banks; communications sector;
energy industry; environmentalists; public administration groups;
steel industry; trade unions

Cape Verde
other: environmentalists; political pressure groups

Cayman Islands
National Trust
other: environmentalists

Central African Republic
Monam (combating gender-base violence)

Chad
rebel groups

Chile
Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes
trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations
other: revitalized university student federations at all major
universities

China
the China Democracy Party; the Falungong spiritual movement
note: no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the
government has identified the organizations listed above as
subversive groups

Christmas Island
none

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre

Colombia
National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia or FARC
note: two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia

Comoros
other: environmentalists

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
MONUC - UN organization working
with the government; FARDC (Forces Armees de la Republique du Congo)
- Army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo which commits
atrocities on citizens; FDLA (Forces Democratiques de Liberation du
Rwanda) - Rwandan militia group

Congo, Republic of the
Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC;
General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC;
Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese
Socialist Youth or UJSC

Cook Islands
Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other: various groups lobbying for political change

Costa Rica
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD
(Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated
Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican
Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party
affiliate); Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO; Costa Rican
Solidarity Movement; Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises
or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]; Federation of Public Service Workers or
FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE;
National Association of Educators or ANDE; National Association of
Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]; Rerum Novarum
or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]

Cote d'Ivoire
Federation of University and High School Students of
Cote d'Ivoire or FESCI [Serges KOFFI]; Rally of Houphouetists for
Democracy and Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE MADY]; Young Patriots
[Charles BLE GOUDE]

Croatia
other: human rights groups

Cuba
Human Rights Watch; National Association of Small Farmers

Cyprus
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West);
Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of
Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor
Federation or PEO (Communist controlled)

Czech Republic
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS
[Milan STECH]

Denmark
Danish Free Press Society (freedom of speech); Danish
National Socialist Movement or DNSB [Jonni HANSEN] (neo-Nazi
organization)
other: human rights groups

Djibouti
Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes
RPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD
(opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, and UDJ)

Dominica
Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

Dominican Republic
Citizen Participation Group (Participacion
Ciudadania); Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Foundation
for Institution-Building and Justice (FINJUS)

Ecuador
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or
CONAIE [Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or
CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of
Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of
Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA
CRUZ, president]

Egypt
Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal)
note: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties
and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood
constitutes Hosni MUBARAK's potentially most significant political
opposition

El Salvador
labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El
Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar
Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National
Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of
Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or
SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or
USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of
Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National
Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly
Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or
ASI

Equatorial Guinea
ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for
democratic reform); Global Witness (anti-corruption)

Eritrea
Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) [HAGOS, Mesfin]; Eritrean
Islamic Jihad or EIJ (includes Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or
EIJM also known as the Abu Sihel Movement); Eritrean Islamic
Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa Movement); Eritrean
Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National
Alliance or ENA (a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number
of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF
[ARADOM Iyob]

Estonia
Nochnoy Dozor/Night Watch anti-fascist movement (leader
Alexander KOROBOV)

Ethiopia
Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; Ogaden National
Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa]

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Falkland Islands Association
(supports freedom of the people from external causes)

Faroe Islands
Sea Shepard [Paul WATSON] (preservation of small
whales)
other: conservationists

Fiji
Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH]
(for restoration of a democratic government); Viti Landowners
Association

France
Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT,
left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members;
Confederation Generale des Cadres or CGC, independent white-collar
union with 196,000 members; Confederation Generale du Travail or
CGT, historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000
members; Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere or FO,
independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members; Mouvement
des Entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000
companies as members (claimed)
French Guiana: conservationists; gold mining pressure groups;
hunting pressure groups
Guadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General
Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for an Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement
Martinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union
for Martinique Workers or CSTM; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of
Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
Reunion: NA

French Polynesia
NA

Gabon
NA

Gambia, The
National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace
Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment
Network Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

Georgia
other: Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government
in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia

Germany
other: business associations and employers' organizations;
religious, trade unions, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups

Ghana
Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or
CJA (education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization
of Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (water rights); Public Citizen
(water rights); Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene
OKAI] (education reform); Third World Network (education reform)

Gibraltar
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives
Organization; Women's Association

Greece
Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS];
Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS];
General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]

Greenland
other: conservationists; environmentalists

Grenada
Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel
Movement Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The
New Jewel 19 Committee

Guam
Guam Federation of Teachers' Union; Guam Waterworks Authority
Workers
other: activists; indigenous groups

Guatemala
Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity
or AAI; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee
of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations
or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM

Guernsey
Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No
More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]

Guinea
National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of
Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National
Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and
Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]);
National Council of Civil Society Organizations of Guinea or CNOSCG
[Ben Sekou SYLLA]; Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or
SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]

Guinea-Bissau
NA

Guyana
Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Bar Association;
Guyana Citizens Initiative; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana
Public Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades
Union Congress

Haiti
Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole
ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of
Workers Trade Unions or FOS; General Organization of Independent
Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS]; Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, or
KOREGA; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement
or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering
Power or PROP; Protestant Federation of Haiti; Roman Catholic Church

Holy See (Vatican City)
none (exclusive of influence exercised by
church officers)

Honduras
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or
CODEH; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating
Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers
Confederation or CGT; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or
COHEP; National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH;
National Union of Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United
Confederation of Honduran Workers or CUTH

Hong Kong
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade
Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE
Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries;
Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong,
executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic
Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber
of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG
Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or
NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHARNWUT, executive
committee member]

Hungary
Air Work Group (works to reduce air pollution in towns and
cities); Company For Freedom Rights (Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert)
or TASZ (personal data protection); Danube Circle (protests the
building of the Gabchikovo-Nagymaros dam); Green Future (protests
the impact of lead contamination of local factory on health of the
people); environmentalists: Hungarian Ornithological and Nature
Conservation Society (Magyar Madartani Egyesulet)or MME; Green
Alternative (Zold Alternativa)

Iceland
Icelandic Psychiatric Human Rights Group

India
All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley
(separatist group); Bajrang Dal (religious organization); National
Socialist Council of Nagaland in the northeast (separatist group);
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (religious organization); Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (religious organization
other: numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations;
various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional
autonomy

Indonesia
Indonesian Women's Coalition (Koalisi Perempuan - human
rights group); Islamic Defenders Front or FPI; National Alliance for
Freedom of Religion and Faith; Oil Palm Watch (environmental)

Iran
groups that generally support the Islamic Republic: Ansar-e
Hizballah-Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh); Followers of the Line
of the Imam and the Leader; Islamic Engineers Society; Tehran
Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat); active pro-reform student
group: Office of Strengthening Unity (OSU); opposition groups:
Baluchistan People's Party (BPP); Freedom Movement of Iran; Marz-e
Por Gohar; National Front; and various ethnic and Monarchist
organizations; armed political groups that have been repressed by
the government: Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI);
Jundallah; Komala; Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO);
People's Fedayeen; People's Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK)

Iraq
Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political
parties

Ireland
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian
McCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); Families
Against Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism);
Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge)
or CCSG (encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for
greater civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Irish Republican Army
or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group);
Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation
promoters); Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 -
transportation promoters); 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM
(supports a fully sovereign Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or
UDA (terrorist group)

Isle of Man
Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government
watchdog); Mec Vannin (political party advocating a sovereign state
and environment policies); note - has only had one member elected to
the Tynwald

Israel
B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human
rights abuses; Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General]
supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip;
YESHA Council of Settlements [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes
settler interests and opposes territorial compromise

Italy
manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio;
Confindustria; organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori;
Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union
confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL
[Guglielmo EPIFANI] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei
Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNO], which is Roman
Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi
ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist)

Jamaica
New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black
religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

Japan
other: business groups; trade unions

Jersey
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business
support); Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade
association); Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human
rights); La Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group);
Progress Jersey [Darius J. PEARCE, Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI]
(human rights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society
or RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of
cattle); Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building
preservation)

Jordan
Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice
chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim
Brotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, controller general]

Kazakhstan
Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel
FOKINA]; Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For a
Just Kazakhstan [Bolat ABILOV]; For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy
ZHOVTIS, Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV];
Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS,
executive director]; Pan-National Social Democratic Party of
Kazakhstan [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAI]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye
[Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International
Monitors [Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]

Kenya
Council of Islamic Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Idris
MOHAMMED]; Kenya Human Rights Commission [L. Muthoni WANYEKI];
Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]; National Convention
Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political
parties and nongovernment organizations [Ndung'u WAINANA];
Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon
Peter Karanja MWANGI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches;
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur
al-BUSAIDY]
other: labor unions

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
none

Korea, South
Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean
Trade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National
Council of Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans'
Association; National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic
Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations;
National Federation of Student Associations

Kosovo
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human
rights); Humanitarian Law Centre (human rights); Movement for
Self-Determination; Serb National Council (SNV)

Kuwait
other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular
liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups

Kyrgyzstan
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for
Democracy and Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim
[Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]

Laos
NA

Latvia
Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)
[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

Lebanon
Hizballah military wing
other: Palestinian militias; Maronite Christians; Sunnis and their
militias; Shi'as and their militias

Lesotho
Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Thabang
MATJAMA] (pushes for media freedom)

Liberia
other: demobilized former military officers

Libya
other: Arab nationalist movements; anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile
Movement; Islamic elements

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
Europe House (promotes the EU); European Movement
(promotes the EU); Lithuanian Future Forum (promotes the EU)

Luxembourg
ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector
trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural
producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union
representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of
Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL
(federation of industrialists); Greenpeace (environment protection);
LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of
ecology); OGBL (center-left trade union)

Macau
Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley
HO]; Roman Catholic Church; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio
NG Kuok-cheong]

Macedonia
Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC];
Federation of Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of
Education, Science and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian
Congress [Todor PETROV]

Madagascar
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR;
Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National
Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

Malawi
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group);
Malawi Law Society (human rights); Malawi Movement for the
Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain
democracy); National Democratic Alliance or NDA (acts to restore
democracy; Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy,
development, peace and unity)

Malaysia
Bersih (electoral reform); Sharia High Court
other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups

Maldives
other: various unregistered political parties

Mali
other: the army; Islamic authorities; rebels in the northern
region; state-run cotton company CMDT; tuaregs

Malta
Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra ro ALDM (against illegal
immigration); Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (encourages
tourism); Alternattiva Demokratika (campaign to reform rent law, and
other campaigns); Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate
in democratic government); Ghazdatal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights);
Nazi Watch Malta (exposing Nazis)
other: environmentalists

Marshall Islands
NA

Mauritania
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM
[Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent
Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE];
Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary
general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists

Mauritius
other: various labor unions

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
Broad Progressive Front or FAP; Businessmen's Coordinating
Council or CCE; Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic
or COPARMEX; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN;
Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National
Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade
Business Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing
Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation
Industries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC;
National Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE; National Syndicate of
Education Workers or SNTE; National Union of Workers or UNT; Popular
Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO; Roman Catholic Church

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA

Moldova
NA

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
other: human rights groups; women's groups

Montenegro
Sandzak People's Movement [Cemal SULFEJIC]

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI];
General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL];
Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National
Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan
Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

Mozambique
Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa, chairman]; Human Rights and
Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia
FRANCO, secretary general]; Institute for Peace and Democracy
(Instituto para Paz e Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS,
president]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e
Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos
Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]

Namibia
Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist
group); National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World
Information Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)

Nauru
Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)

Nepal
other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern
border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy
for individual ethnic groups

Netherlands
Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Rene PAAS];
Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW
[Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses
or MKB [Loek HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV
[Agnes JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY
Kan]; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Ad
VERHOEVEN]

Netherlands Antilles
Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori;
nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups

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

Niger
The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly
Tuareg rebel group

Nigeria
Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU; Campaign for
Democracy or CD; Civil Liberties Organization or CLO; Committee for
the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR; Constitutional Right Project or
CRP; Human Right Africa; National Association of Democratic Lawyers
or NADL; National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS; Nigerian
Bar Association or NBA; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC; Nigerian
Medical Association or NMA; the Press; Universal Defenders of
Democracy or UDD

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
none

Northern Mariana Islands
NA

Norway
Norwegian Aid Committee or NORWAC; Norwegian Association of
the Disabled; Pure Salmon Campaign; The Consumer Council (consumer
advocacy group)
other: environmental groups; media; reform movements

Oman
none

Pakistan
other: military (most important political force); ulema
(clergy); landowners; industrialists; small merchants

Palau
NA

Panama
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council
of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private
Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar
Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or
APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers
Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

Papua New Guinea
Ahora [Andrew MAMOKO] (represents local tribes);
Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien
ASE]; Community Coalition Against Corruption

Paraguay
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of
Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation
of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or
CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers
Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central
or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]

Peru
Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel
MACARIO (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group); Tupac
Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),
Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla
group)

Philippines
AKBAYAN [Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa
HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ALAGAD [Rodante MARROLITA]; ALIF [Acmad
TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Horencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN];
ANAKPAWIS [Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; Association of
Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Sunny Rose MADAMBA, Ernesto
PABLO, and Edgar VALDEZ]; AVE [Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; Bayan Muna [Satur
OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE
and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Emmanuel
Joel VILLANUEVA]; COOP-NATCO [Guillermo CUA]; GABRIELA [Liza MAZA];
Partido Ng Manggagawa [Renato MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the
Philippines [Ernesto GIDAYA]

Pitcairn Islands
none

Poland
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan
GUZ]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop
Jozef MICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]

Portugal
the media

Puerto Rico
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also
known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are
considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for
National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance,
Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

Qatar
none

Romania
other: various human rights and professional associations

Russia
Levada Center (conducts polls); Memorial (human rights group;
Movement Against Illegal Migration; Pamjat (preservation of
historical monuments and recording of history); Russian Orthodox
Church; Russian-Chechen Friendship Society
other: ecology groups; human rights groups; nationalist pragmatists
(no foreign influence over Central Eurasia); neo-Eurasianists
(against Western influence for the area); religious groups;
westernizers (lean towards the West)

Rwanda
IBUKA (association of genocide survivors)

Saint Barthelemy
The Marine Reserve (protection of fish); Rotary Club

Saint Helena
other: private sector; unions

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
NA

Saint Martin
NA

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or
FONG
other: the media

Saudi Arabia
Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)
other: gas companies; religious groups

Senegal
other: labor; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the
Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers

Serbia
NA

Seychelles
Roman Catholic Church
other: trade unions

Sierra Leone
other: student unions; trade unions

Singapore
UNFEM [Saleeman ISMAIL]
other: investment companies; news organizations

Slovakia
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of
Trade Unions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS;
Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic;
National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and
Industry or SOPK; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

Slovenia
Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners or DeSUS
(protecting the rights of the older generation); Slovenian Roma
Association [Jozek Horvat MUC]
other: Catholic Church

Solomon Islands
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force
(MEF); note - these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon
Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

Somalia
other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in
support and in opposition to the transitional government

South Africa
Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU
[Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Party
or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National
Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]
note: note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC

Spain
Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots
organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and
supporting its victims); Basta Ya (Spanish for "Enough is Enough";
grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist
attacks and supporting its victims); Nunca Mais (Galician for "Never
Again"; formed in response to the oil Tanker Prestige oil spill);
Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller
independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; Trade Union Confederation
of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO.
other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free
labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students

Sri Lanka
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai
PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a separate state); Tamil
Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) or Karuna Faction [Vinayagamurthi
MURALITHARAN] (paramilitary breakaway from LTTE and fighting LTTE)
other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese
groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese
Buddhist lay groups

Sudan
Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]; Popular Congress Party or PCP
[Hassan al-TURABI]

Suriname
Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE];
Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE];
Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions; Swaziland and
Solidarity Network or SSN

Sweden
Children's Rights in Society; Central Association of
Salarited Emplyees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO
other: media

Switzerland
NA

Syria
Damascus Declaration National Council [Riyad SEIF, secretary
general] (a broad alliance of opposition groups and individuals
including: Committee for Revival of Civil Society [Michel KILO,
Riyad SEIF], Communist Action Party [Fateh JAMOUS], Kurdish
Democratic Alliance, Kurdish Democratic Front, Liberal Nationalists'
Movement, National Democratic Front, National Democratic Rally, and
Syrian Human Rights Society or HRAS [Fawed FAWUZ]); National
Salvation Front (alliance between former Vice President Abd al-Halim
KHADDAM, the SMB, and other small opposition groups); Syrian Muslim
Brotherhood or SMB [Sadr al-Din al-BAYANUNI] (operates in exile in
London; endorsed the Damascus Declaration, but is not an official
member)

Taiwan
Organization for Taiwan Nation Building; World United
Formosans for Independence
other: environmental groups; independence movement; various business
groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's
legislature have opened public debate on the island's national
identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that the island
currently enjoys sovereign independence and - whatever the ultimate
outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's
people must have the deciding voice; public opinion polls
consistently show a substantial majority of Taiwan people supports
maintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future;
advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island
will eventually unify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan
independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on
Taiwan and entering the UN

Tajikistan
Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo NASREDDINOV] (unregistered
political party); Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV]
(splintered from Iskanderov's DPT); Progressive Party [Sulton
QUVVATOV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV] (splintered
from Narziyev's SPT); Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
other: splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the
base of the party; unregistered political parties

Tanzania
Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF; Free
Zanzibar; Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA

Thailand
People's Alliance for Democracy; Campaign for Democracy
[Pibob THONGCHAI]

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
NA

Tokelau
none

Tonga
Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev.
Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

Trinidad and Tobago
Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]

Tunisia
18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League
for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]

Turkey
Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Ismail Hakki
TOMBUL]; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK
[Suleyman CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association or MUSIAD [Omer BOLAT]; Moral Rights Workers Union or
Hak-Is [Salim USLU]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions or
TISK [Tugurl KUDATGOBILIK]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or
Turk-Is [Salih KILIC]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and
Craftsmen or TESK [Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD [Omer SABANCI]; Turkish Union of
Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat
HISARCIKLIOGLU]

Turkmenistan
NA

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
none

Uganda
Lord's Resistence Group or LRA [Joseph KONY]; Young
Parliamentary Association [Henry BANYENZAKI]; Parliamentary Advocacy
Forum or PAFO; National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda
or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON]; The Ugandan Coalition for Political
Accountability to Wormen or COPAW

Ukraine
Committee of Voters of Ukraine [Ihor POPOV]; Peoples'
Self-Defense [Yuriy LUTSENKO]

United Arab Emirates
NA

United Kingdom
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of
British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress

United States
environmentalists; business groups; labor unions;
churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PAC; health
groups; education groups; cuvuc griyos; youth groups; transportation
groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform
lobbies

Uruguay
Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization);
Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association);
Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization);
PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor
organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association);
Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women
other: Catholic Church; students

Uzbekistan
Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik
(Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the
Protection of Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic
Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] (was banned 9 December 1992);
Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party
or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigora KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of
Uzbekistan [Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights
Organization of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum;
Sunshine Coalition [Sanjar UMAROV, chairman]

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS
groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor
organization dominated by the Democratic Action)

Vietnam
8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's
Democratic Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy
note: these groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by the
government

Virgin Islands
NA

Wallis and Futuna
NA

Western Sahara
none

Yemen
Muslim Brotherhood; Women National Committee
other: conservative tribal groups

Zambia
NA

Zimbabwe
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition [Xolani ZITHA]; National
Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Women of Zimbabwe
Arise or WOZA [Jenny WILLIAMS]; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or
ZCTU [Wellington CHIBEBE]

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2116 Economy - overview

Afghanistan
Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of
conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of
the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of
international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector,
and service sector growth. Real GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2007.
Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely
poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, agriculture,
and trade with neighboring countries. Much of the population
continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water,
electricity, medical care, and jobs. Criminality, insecurity, and
the Afghan Government's inability to extend rule of law to all parts
of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. It will
probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid
and attention to significantly raise Afghanistan's living standards
from its current level, among the lowest in the world. International
pledges made by more than 60 countries and international financial
institutions at the Berlin Donors Conference for Afghan
reconstruction in March 2004 reached $8.9 billion for 2004-09. While
the international community remains committed to Afghanistan's
development, pledging over $24 billion at three donors' conferences
since 2002, Kabul will need to overcome a number of challenges.
Expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium trade generate
roughly $4 billion in illicit economic activity and looms as one of
Kabul's most serious policy concerns. Other long-term challenges
include: budget sustainability, job creation, corruption, government
capacity, and rebuilding war torn infrastructure.

Akrotiri
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the
military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.

Albania
Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the
difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently
adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray
economy and attracting foreign investment. The economy is bolstered
by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from
Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the
towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for more than
one-fifth of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment,
unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient
plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate
infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment,
which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment.
The completion of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved
transmission line between Albania and Montenegro will help relieve
the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to
improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing
barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side,
macroeconomic growth was strong in 2003-07 and inflation is low and
stable.

Algeria
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,
accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over
95% of export earnings. Algeria has the eighth-largest reserves of
natural gas in the world and is the fourth-largest gas exporter; it
ranks 14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent
years have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic
indicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and
building up record foreign exchange reserves. Algeria has decreased
its external debt to less than 10% of GDP after repaying its Paris
Club and London Club debt in 2006. Real GDP has risen due to higher
oil output and increased government spending. The government's
continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and
domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had
little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living
standards. Structural reform within the economy, such as development
of the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure, moves
ahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance.

American Samoa
American Samoa has a traditional Polynesian economy
in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic
activity is strongly linked to the US with which American Samoa
conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing
plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the
primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially
to American Samoa's economic well being. Attempts by the government
to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's
remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating
hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector.
note: as a territory of the US, American Samoa does not treat the US
as an external trade partner

Andorra
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy,
accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million
tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and
by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage
has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain
have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and
lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven"
status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural
production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most
food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep
raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars,
and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is
treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs)
and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

Angola
Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with
record oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production
and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Increased
oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year
from 2004 to 2007. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of
displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction
and agriculture as well. Much of the country's infrastructure is
still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war.
Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the
countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established
after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002.
Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the
people, but half of the country's food must still be imported. In
2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit,
since increased to $7 billion, from China to rebuild Angola's public
infrastructure, and several large-scale projects were completed in
2006. Angola also has large credit lines from Brazil, Portugal,
Germany, Spain, and the EU. The central bank in 2003 implemented an
exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves
to buy kwanzas out of circulation. This policy became more
sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings; it has
significantly reduced inflation. Although consumer inflation
declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2007, the stabilization
policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. Angola
became a member of OPEC in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a
production quota of 1.9 million barrels a day, somewhat less than
the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted. To fully take
advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive
forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will
need to implement government reforms, increase transparency, and
reduce corruption. The government has rejected a formal IMF
monitored program, although it continues Article IV consultations
and ad hoc cooperation. Corruption, especially in the extractive
sectors, and the negative effects of large inflows of foreign
exchange, are major challenges facing Angola.

Anguilla
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends
heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and
remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism
industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector,
contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put
substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector,
which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the
economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on
revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on
favorable weather conditions.

Antarctica
Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad,
account for Antarctica's limited economic activity. Antarctic
fisheries in 2005-06 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 128,081
metric tons (estimated fishing from the area covered by the
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(CCAMLR), which extends slightly beyond the Antarctic Treaty area).
Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish
(Dissostichus eleginoides), is a serious problem. The CCAMLR
determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total
of 36,460 tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2006-07
Antarctic summer, up from the 30,877 visitors the previous year
(estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International
Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO); this does not
include passengers on overflights). Nearly all of them were
passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts
that make trips during the summer. Most tourist trips last
approximately two weeks.

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua has a relatively high GDP per capita in
comparison to most other Caribbean nations. It has experienced solid
growth since 2003, driven by a construction boom in hotels and
housing that which should wind down in 2008. Tourism continues to
dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. The
dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the
domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a
labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and
construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for
export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and
electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium
term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized
world, especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more than
one-third of tourist arrivals. Since taking office in 2004, the
SPENCER government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program,
but will continue to be saddled by its debt burden with a
debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100%.

Arctic Ocean
Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of
natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

Argentina
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly
literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest
countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th
century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and
current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt,
and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external
indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious
economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent
history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default -
the largest in history - on the government's foreign debt in
December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after
taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to
the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002.
The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than
in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real
GDP rebounded to grow by an average 9% annually over the subsequent
five years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity
and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden,
excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary
monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation, however, reached
double-digit levels in 2006 and the government of President Nestor
KIRCHNER responded with "voluntary" price agreements with
businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints. Multi-year price
freezes on electricity and natural gas rates for residential users
stoked consumption and kept private investment away, leading to
restrictions on industrial use and blackouts in 2007.

Armenia
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has
made progress in implementing many economic reforms including
privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies. The
conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region
of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the
early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government launched an
ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that
resulted in positive growth rates. Economic growth has averaged over
13% in recent years. Armenia has managed to reduce poverty, slash
inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and
medium-sized enterprises. Under the old Soviet central planning
system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying
machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister
republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia has
since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from the large
agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Nuclear power plants
built at Metsamor in the 1970s were closed following the 1988 Spitak
Earthquake, though they sustained no damage. One of the two reactors
was re-opened in 1995, but the Armenian government is under
international pressure to close it due to concerns that the Soviet
era design lacks important safeguards. Metsamor provides 40 percent
of the country's electricity - hydropower accounts for about
one-fourth. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in
the energy sector. The electricity distribution system was
privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005.
Construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to
Armenia is halfway completed and is scheduled to be commissioned by
January 2009. Armenia has some mineral deposits (copper, gold,
bauxite). Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other nonferrous metals
are Armenia's highest valued exports. Armenia's severe trade
imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances
from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment.
Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government made some
improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but
anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement.
Despite strong economic growth, Armenia's unemployment rate remains
high. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms in
order to improve its economic competitiveness and to build on recent
improvements in poverty and unemployment, especially given its
economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, Turkey and
Azerbaijan.

Aruba
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy,
with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important.
The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has
resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5
million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the
US. Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times
the 1985 level. In addition, the country's oil refinery reopened in
1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange
earnings, and growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly
following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island
experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004
averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean.
The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high
priority.

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
no economic activity

Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most
heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and
Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the
exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of
aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and
natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).

Australia
Australia has an enviable, strong economy with a per
capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies.
Robust business and consumer confidence and high export prices for
raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy,
particularly in mining states. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low
inflation, a housing market boom, and growing ties with China have
been key factors behind the economy's 16 solid years of expansion.
Drought, robust import demand, and a strong currency have pushed the
trade deficit up in recent years, while infrastructure bottlenecks
and a tight labor market are constraining growth in export volumes
and stoking inflation. Australia's budget has been in surplus since
2002 due to strong revenue growth.

Austria
Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high
standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies,
especially Germany's. The Austrian economy also benefits greatly
from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and
insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe.
The economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial
sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector.
Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors
attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and
proximity to the new EU economies. The outgoing government has
successfully pursued a comprehensive economic reform program, aimed
at streamlining government and creating a more competitive business
environment, further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an
investment location. It has implemented effective pension reforms;
however, lower taxes in 2005-06 led to a small budget deficit in
2006 and 2007. Boosted by strong exports, growth nevertheless
reached 3.3% in both 2006 and 2007, although the economy may slow in
2008 because of the strong euro, high oil prices, and problems in
international financial markets. To meet increased competition -
especially from new EU members and Central European countries -
Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing
knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater
labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging
population.

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan's high economic growth in 2006 and 2007 is
attributable to large and growing oil exports. Azerbaijan's oil
production declined through 1997, but has registered an increase
every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements
(PSAs) with foreign firms, which have committed $60 billion to
long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to
spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first
of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company,
began in November 1997. A consortium of Western oil companies began
pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early
2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's
Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. By 2010 revenues from this project
will double the country's current GDP. Azerbaijan shares all the
formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the
transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable
energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only
recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic
ties and structures are slowly being replaced. Several other
obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for
stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, the
continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region,
pervasive corruption, and elevated inflation. Trade with Russia and
the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance, while
trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term
prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil
and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage
its energy wealth.

Bahamas, The
The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean
countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore
banking. Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and
manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or
indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady
growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels,
resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years,
but tourist arrivals have been on the decline since 2006. Financial
services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian
economy and, when combined with business services, account for about
36% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the government
enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international
businesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculture
combined contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little
growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors.
Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the
fortunes of the tourism sector. Tourism, in turn, depends on growth
in the US, the source of more than 80% of the visitors.

Bahrain
With its highly developed communication and transport
facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with
business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for
over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government
revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries),
underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years.
Aluminum is Bahrain's second major export after oil. Other major
segments of Bahrain's economy are the financial and construction
sectors. Bahrain is focused on Islamic banking and is competing on
an international scale with Malaysia as a worldwide banking center.
Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization
of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on oil. As part of
this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the US implemented a Free
Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf
state. Continued strong growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to
acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its
expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment,
especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground
water resources are long-term economic problems.

Bangladesh
The economy has grown 5-6% over the past few years
despite inefficient state-owned enterprises, delays in exploiting
natural gas resources, insufficient power supplies, and slow
implementation of economic reforms. Bangladesh remains a poor,
overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although more than
half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly
two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector,
with rice as the single-most-important product. Garment exports and
remittances from Bangladeshis working overseas, mainly in the Middle
East and East Asia, fuel economic growth.

Barbados
Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on
sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, production in
recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism, with
about three-quarters of GDP and 80% of exports being attributed to
services. Growth has rebounded since 2003, bolstered by increases in
construction projects and tourism revenues - reflecting its success
in the higher-end segment. The country enjoys one of the highest per
capita incomes in the region and an investment grade rating which
benefits from its political stability and stable institutions.
Offshore finance and information services are important foreign
exchange earners and thrive from having the same time zone as
eastern US financial centers and a relatively highly educated
workforce. The government continues its efforts to reduce
unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to
privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.

Belarus
Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when
President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market
socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed
administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and
expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private
enterprises. Since 2005, the government has re-nationalized a number
of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subject to
pressure by central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes
in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive
application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive"
businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive
policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder; the Gini
coefficient is among the lowest in the world. Because of these
restrictive economic policies, Belarus has had trouble attracting
foreign investment. Nevertheless, GDP growth has been strong in
recent years, reaching nearly 7% in 2007, despite the roadblocks of
a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing,
rate of inflation. Belarus receives heavily discounted oil and
natural gas from Russia and much of Belarus' growth can be
attributed to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices. Trade
with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner - decreased in
2007, largely as a result of a change in the way the Value Added Tax
(VAT) on trade was collected. Russia has introduced an export duty
on oil shipped to Belarus, which will increase gradually through
2009, and a requirement that Belarusian duties on re-exported
Russian oil be shared with Russia - 80% will go to Russia in 2008,
and 85% in 2009. Russia also increased Belarusian natural gas prices
from $47 per thousand cubic meters (tcm) to $100 per tcm in 2007,
and plans to increase prices gradually to world levels by 2011.
Russia's recent policy of bringing energy prices for Belarus to
world market levels may result in a slowdown in economic growth in
Belarus over the next few years. Some policy measures, including
tightening of fiscal and monetary policies, improving energy
efficiency, and diversifying exports, have been introduced, but
external borrowing has been the main mechanism used to manage the
growing pressures on the economy.

Belgium
This modern, private-enterprise economy has capitalized on
its central geographic location, highly developed transport network,
and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is
concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With
few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of
raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its
economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly
three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt
is more than 85% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has
succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is
relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in
January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of
the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-07.
Economic growth and foreign direct investment are expected to slow
down in 2008, due to credit tightening, falling consumer and
business confidence, and above average inflation. However, with the
successful negotiation of the 2008 budget and devolution of power
within the government, political tensions seem to be easing and
could lead to an improvement in the economic outlook for 2008.

Belize
In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy,
tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by
exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and
garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal
policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth
averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered
the economic growth in 2006 and 2007. Major concerns continue to be
the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable foreign debt. In
February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public
external commercial debt, which will reduce interest payments and
relieve liquidity concerns. A key short-term objective remains the
reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

Benin
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past seven
years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase.
Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to
raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign
investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the
development of new food processing systems and agricultural
products, and encourage new information and communication
technology. Specific projects to improve the business climate by
reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system,
and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million
Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001
privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water,
electricity, and agriculture though the government annulled the
privatization of Benin's state cotton company in November 2007 after
the discovery of irregularities in the bidding process. The Paris
Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation,
with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July
2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An
insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's
economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to
increase domestic power production.

Bermuda
Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the
world, more than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is
primarily based on providing financial services for international
business and luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance
companies relocated to the island following the 11 September 2001
attacks and again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005,
contributing to the expansion of an already robust international
business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80%
of its visitors from the US - continues to struggle but remains the
island's number two industry. Most capital equipment and food must
be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although
construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house
in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited with only
20% of the land being arable.

Bhutan
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed,
is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main
livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists
largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged
mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and
other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely
aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and
dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is
technologically backward, with most production of the cottage
industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction,
rely on Indian migrant labor. Model education, social, and
environment programs are underway with support from multilateral
development organizations. Each economic program takes into account
the government's desire to protect the country's environment and
cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious
expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale,
environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and
uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade,
labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower
exports to India had a major impact on growth in 2007.

Bolivia
Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries
in Latin America. Following a disastrous economic crisis during the
early 1980s, reforms spurred private investment, stimulated economic
growth, and cut poverty rates in the 1990s. The period 2003-05 was
characterized by political instability, racial tensions, and violent
protests against plans - subsequently abandoned - to export
Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern
hemisphere markets. In 2005, the government passed a controversial
hydrocarbons law that imposed significantly higher royalties and
required foreign firms then operating under risk-sharing contracts
to surrender all production to the state energy company, which was
made the sole exporter of natural gas. The law also required that
the state energy company regain control over the five companies that
were privatized during the 1990s - a process that is still underway.
In 2006, higher earnings for mining and hydrocarbons exports pushed
the current account surplus to about 12% of GDP and the government's
higher tax take produced a fiscal surplus after years of large
deficits. Debt relief from the G8 - announced in 2005 - also has
significantly reduced Bolivia's public sector debt burden. Private
investment as a share of GDP, however, remains among the lowest in
Latin America, and inflation reached double-digit levels in 2007.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to
Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation.
Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small
and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of
food. The private sector is growing and foreign investment is slowly
increasing, but government spending, at nearly 40% of adjusted GDP,
remains unreasonably high. The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused
production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to
soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at
high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in
2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-07 when GDP
growth exceeded 5% per year. National-level statistics are limited
and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The
konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency
introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the
currency and the banking sector has increased. Implementing
privatization, however, has been slow, particularly in the
Federation, although more successful in the Republika Srpska.
Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments
bureaus were shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Western
Europe, now control most of the banking sector. A sizeable current
account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most
serious macroeconomic problems. On 1 January 2006 a new value-added
tax (VAT) went into effect. The VAT has been successful in capturing
much of the gray market economy and has developed into a significant
and predictable source of revenues for all layers of government.
Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European
Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. The country receives
substantial reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the
international community but will have to prepare for an era of
declining assistance.

Botswana
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic
growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth slowed to
4.7% annually in 2006-07. Through fiscal discipline and sound
management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest
countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita
GDP of nearly $15,000 in 2007. Two major investment services rank
Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has
fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than
one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism,
financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are
other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with
high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially was
23.8% in 2004, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%.
HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and
threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling
off in diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.

Bouvet Island
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve

Brazil
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural,
mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy
outweighs that of all other South American countries and is
expanding its presence in world markets. Having weathered 2001-03
financial turmoil, capital inflows are regaining strength and the
currency has resumed appreciating. The appreciation has slowed
export volume growth, but since 2004, Brazil's growth has yielded
increases in employment and real wages. The resilience in the
economy stems from commodity-driven current account surpluses, and
sound macroeconomic policies that have bolstered international
reserves to historically high levels, reduced public debt, and
allowed a significant decline in real interest rates. A floating
exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and a tight fiscal
policy are the three pillars of the economic program. From 2003 to
2007, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and recorded its first
current account surpluses since 1992. Productivity gains coupled
with high commodity prices contributed to the surge in exports.
Brazil improved its debt profile in 2006 by shifting its debt burden
toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. "LULA" DA
SILVA restated his commitment to fiscal responsibility by
maintaining the country's primary surplus during the 2006 election.
Following his second inauguration, "LULA" DA SILVA announced a
package of further economic reforms to reduce taxes and increase
investment in infrastructure. The government's goal of achieving
strong growth while reducing the debt burden is likely to create
inflationary pressures.

British Indian Ocean Territory All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory earns foreign exchange by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps.

British Virgin Islands
The economy, one of the most stable and
prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism,
generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated
820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005.
In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore
registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and
incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly
400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The
adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which
provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory
gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British
Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.
Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor
soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements.
Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the
British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since
1959.

Brunei
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a
mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government
regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and
natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more
than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia,
and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income
from domestic production. The government provides for all medical
services and free education through the university level and
subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that
steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine
internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the
labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and
tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base
beyond oil and gas.

Bulgaria
Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU on
1 January 2007, has experienced strong growth since a major economic
downturn in 1996. Successive governments have demonstrated
commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but
have failed so far to rein in rising inflation and large current
account deficits. Bulgaria has averaged more than 6% growth since
2004, attracting significant amounts of foreign direct investment,
but corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and
the presence of organized crime remain significant challenges.

Burkina Faso
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked
Burkina Faso has few natural resources and a weak industrial base.
About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture,
which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash
crop and the government has joined with three other cotton producing
countries in the region - Mali, Niger, and Chad - to lobby in the
World Trade Organization for fewer subsidies to producers in other
competing countries. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a
gradual but successful privatization of state-owned enterprises.
Having revised its investment code in 2004, Burkina Faso hopes to
attract foreign investors. Thanks to this new code and other
legislation favoring the mining sector, the country has seen an
upswing in gold exploration and production. While the bitter
internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire is beginning to be
resolved, it is still having a negative effect on Burkina Faso's
trade and employment. In 2007 higher costs for energy and imported
foodstuffs, as well as low cotton prices, dampened a GDP growth rate
that had averaged 6% in the last 10 years. Burkina Faso received a
Millennium Challenge Account threshold grant to improve girls'
education at the primary school level, and appears likely to receive
a grant in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, and land reform.

Burma Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but those efforts stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were rescinded. Despite Burma's increasing oil and gas revenue, socio-economic conditions have deteriorated due to the regime's mismanagement of the economy. Lacking monetary or fiscal stability, the economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including rising inflation, fiscal deficits, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, a distorted interest rate regime, unreliable statistics, and an inability to reconcile national accounts to determine a realistic GDP figure. Most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the results of the 1990 legislative elections. In response to the government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy, the US imposed new economic sanctions in August 2003 including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financial services by US persons. Further, a poor investment climate hampers attracting outside investment slowing the inflow of foreign exchange. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries, especially oil and gas, mining, and timber with the latter especially causing environmental degradation. Other areas, such as manufacturing and services, are struggling with inadequate infrastructure, unpredictable import/export policies, deteriorating health and education systems, and endemic corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003 shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. As of 2007, the largest private banks operated under tight restrictions limiting the private sector's access to formal credit. Moreover, the September 2007 crackdown on prodemocracy demonstrators, including thousands of monks, further strained the economy as the tourism industry, which directly employs about 500,000 people, suffered dramatic declines in foreign visitor levels. In November 2007, the European Union announced new sanctions banning investment and trade in Burmese gems, timber and precious stones, while the United States expanded its sanctions list to include more Burmese government and military officials and their family members, as well as prominent regime business cronies, their family members, and associated companies. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often estimated to be as large as the official economy. Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, better investment and business climates and an improved political situation are needed to promote serious foreign investment, exports, and tourism.

Burundi
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an
underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly
agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on
subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea
exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The
ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather
conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi
minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the
coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the
population. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade
resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000
refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally.
Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 15
adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short
supply. Burundi's GDP grew around 5% annually in 2006-07. Political
stability and the end of the civil war have improved aid flows and
economic activity has increased, but underlying weaknesses - a high
poverty rate, poor education rates, a weak legal system, and low
administrative capacity - risk undermining planned economic reforms.
Burundi will continue to remain heavily dependent on aid from
bilateral and multilateral donors; the delay of funds after a
corruption scandal cut off bilateral aid in 2007 reduced
government's revenues and its ability to pay salaries.

Cambodia
From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew at an average rate of
6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector and
tourism. The US and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement,
which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and
established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing
Cambodian labor laws and international labor standards in the
industry. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile producers were forced
to compete directly with lower-priced producing countries such as
China and India. Better-than-expected garment sector performance led
to more than 9% growth in 2007. Its vibrant garment industry employs
more than 350,000 people and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's
exports. The Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy
supporting high labor standards in an attempt to maintain buyer
interest. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were
found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new
revenue stream for the government if commercial extraction begins.
Mining also is attracting significant investor interest,
particularly in the northeastern parts of the country, and the
government has said opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold,
iron and gems. In 2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed and the first round of
discussions took place in early 2007. The tourism industry continues
to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals reaching 2 million in 2007.
In 2007 the government signed a joint venture agreement with two
companies to form a new national airline. The long-term development
of the economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian
government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors,
including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many
pressing needs. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the
next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the
private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's
demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is less than
21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from
an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.

Cameroon
Because of its modest oil resources and favorable
agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed
primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces
many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries,
such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable
climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has
embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur
business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve
trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the
government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural
adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms,
including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty
reduction programs. In January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce
Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now
totals $1.26 billion. International oil and cocoa prices have a
significant impact on the economy.

Canada
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the
trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its
market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent
living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the
manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the
nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial
and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the
1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes
Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic
integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled
labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic
prospects. Top-notch fiscal management has produced consecutive
balanced budgets since 1997, although public debate continues over
the equitable distribution of federal funds to the Canadian
provinces. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys
a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the
US, which absorbs 80% of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the
US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas,
uranium, and electric power. During 2007, Canada enjoyed good
economic growth, moderate inflation, and the lowest unemployment
rate in more than three decades.

Cape Verde
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource
base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of
long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce,
transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about
three-fourths of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in
rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. About 82%
of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and
tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade
deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants;
remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are
aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign
investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily
on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism,
remittances, and the momentum of the government's development
program. Cape Verde became a member of the WTO in July 2008.

Cayman Islands
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving
offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were
registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500
banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was
opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70%
of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is
aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North
America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with
about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer
goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest
outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the
world.

Central African Republic
Subsistence agriculture, together with
forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African
Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in
outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of
GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the
diamond industry, for 40%. Important constraints to economic
development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy
of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between
the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic
revitalization. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal.
Grants from France and the international community can only
partially meet humanitarian needs.

Chad
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be
boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil
sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies
on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood.
Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position,
high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on
foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private
sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has
been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1
billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also
expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a refinery. The
nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 1.5 billion
barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to
export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk
of Chad's non-oil export earnings.

Chile
Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high
level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation
as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the
democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the
military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the
military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97,
but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary
policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check
and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the
global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession
in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls
and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic
growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects
of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong
financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the
strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Between 2000 and
2007 growth ranged between 2%-6%. Throughout these years Chile
maintained a low rate of inflation with GDP growth coming from high
copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry,
fishing, and mining), and growing domestic consumption. President
BACHELET in 2006 established an Economic and Social Stabilization
Fund to hold excess copper revenues so that social spending can be
maintained during periods of copper shortfalls. This fund probably
surpassed $20 billion at the end of 2007. Chile continues to attract
foreign direct investment, but most foreign investment goes into
gas, water, electricity and mining. Unemployment has exhibited a
downward trend over the past two years, dropping to 7.8% and 7.0% at
the end of 2006 and 2007, respectively. Chile deepened its
longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of
a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January
2004. Chile claims to have more bilateral or regional trade
agreements than any other country. It has 57 such agreements (not
all of them full free trade agreements), including with the European
Union, Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico.

China China's economy during the last quarter century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion, including the sale of minority shares in four of China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets in 2005. After keeping its currency tightly linked to the US dollar for years, China in July 2005 revalued its currency by 2.1% against the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. Cumulative appreciation of the renminbi against the US dollar since the end of the dollar peg reached 15% in January 2008. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2007 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income. Annual inflows of foreign direct investment in 2007 rose to $75 billion. By the end of 2007, more than 5,000 domestic Chinese enterprises had established direct investments in 172 countries and regions around the world. The Chinese government faces several economic development challenges: (a) to sustain adequate job growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) to reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) to contain environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. Economic development has been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior, and approximately 200 million rural laborers have relocated to urban areas to find work. One demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the north - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. In 2007 China intensified government efforts to improve environmental conditions, tying the evaluation of local officials to environmental targets, publishing a national climate change policy, and establishing a high level leading group on climate change, headed by Premier WEN Jiabao. The Chinese government seeks to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil as its double-digit economic growth increases demand. Chinese energy officials in 2007 agreed to purchase five third generation nuclear reactors from Western companies. More power generating capacity came on line in 2006 as large scale investments - including the Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River - were completed.

Christmas Island
Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of
the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in
1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the
creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island,
expected to begin operations in the near future.

Clipperton Island
Although 115 species of fish have been identified
in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic
activity is tuna fishing.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are
the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to
the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must
be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.

Colombia
Colombia's economy has experienced positive growth over the
past five years despite a serious armed conflict. In fact, 2007 is
regarded by policy makers and the private sector as one of the best
economic years in recent history, after 2005. The economy continues
to improve in part because of austere government budgets, focused
efforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth
strategy, improved domestic security, and high commodity prices.
Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE include reforming
the pension system, reducing high unemployment, and funding new
exploration to offset declining oil production. The government's
economic reforms and democratic security strategy, coupled with
increased investment, have engendered a growing sense of confidence
in the economy. However, the business sector continues to be
concerned about failure of the US Congress to approve the signed FTA.

Comoros
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of
three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and
rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low
educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence
level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy
dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture,
including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP,
employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.
The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the
main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government -
which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to
upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and
industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports,
promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. The
political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007.
Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
The economy of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth
- is slowly recovering from two decades of decline. Conflict, which
began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and
government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the
deaths of more than 3.5 million people from violence, famine, and
disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty
about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the
difficult operating environment. Conditions began to improve in late
2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign
troops. The transitional government reopened relations with
international financial institutions and international donors, and
President KABILA has begun implementing reforms, although progress
is slow and the International Monetary Fund curtailed their program
for the DRC at the end of March 2006 because of fiscal overruns.
Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector, and is
not reflected in GDP data. Renewed activity in the mining sector,
the source of most export income, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position
and GDP growth. Government reforms and improved security may lead to
increased government revenues, outside budget assistance, and
foreign direct investment, although an uncertain legal framework,
corruption, and a lack of transparency in government policy are
continuing long-term problems.

Congo, Republic of the
The economy is a mixture of subsistence
agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil, and support
services, and a government characterized by budget problems and
overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the
economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports.
In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the
government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP
growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil
earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing
debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts
have been undertaken with the support of international
organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the
reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted.
Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in
October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on
economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with
international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly
hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in
December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The
current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and
faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and
reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's
GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.

Cook Islands
Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook
Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the
country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets,
lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural
disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing
about one-third of the working population, provides the economic
base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black
pearls are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing
activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and
handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants
and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s
and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated
public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent
reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of
economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt
restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.

Coral Sea Islands
no economic activity

Costa Rica
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism,
agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has remained around
20% for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net that had
been put into place by the government has eroded due to increased
financial constraints on government expenditures. Immigration from
Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The
estimated 300,000-500,000 Nicaraguans estimated to be in Costa Rica
legally and illegally are an important source of (mostly unskilled)
labor, but also place heavy demands on the social welfare system.
Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political
stability and high education levels, as well as the fiscal
incentives offered in the free-trade zones. Exports have become more
diversified in the past 10 years due to the growth of the high-tech
manufacturing sector, which is dominated by the microprocessor
industry. Tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange, as Costa
Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key destination for
ecotourism. The government continues to grapple with its large
internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. Reducing
inflation remains a difficult problem because of rising import
prices, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. Tax and public
expenditure reforms will be necessary to close the budget gap. In
October 2007, a national referendum voted in favor of the US-Central
American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and
exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of
coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive
to fluctuations in international prices for these products, and, to
a lesser extent, in climatic conditions. Despite government attempts
to diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on
agriculture and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the
population. Since 2006, oil and gas production have become more
important engines of economic activity than cocoa. According to IMF
statistics, earnings from oil and refined products were $1.3 billion
in 2006, while cocoa-related revenues were $1 billion during the
same period. Cote d'Ivoire's offshore oil and gas production has
resulted in substantial crude oil exports and provides sufficient
natural gas to fuel electricity exports to Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali
and Burkina Faso. Oil exploration by a number of consortiums of
private companies continues offshore, and President GBAGBO has
expressed hope that daily crude output could reach 200,000 barrels
per day (b/d) by the end of the decade. Since the end of the civil
war in 2003, political turmoil has continued to damage the economy,
resulting in the loss of foreign investment and slow economic
growth. GDP grew by 1.8% in 2006 and 1.7% in 2007. Per capita income
has declined by 15% since 1999.

Croatia
Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics,
Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output
collapsed and the country missed the early waves of investment in
Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin
Wall. Since 2000, however, Croatia's economic fortunes have begun to
improve slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and
6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending.
Inflation over the same period has remained tame and the currency,
the kuna, stable. Nevertheless, difficult problems still remain,
including a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade
deficit and uneven regional development. The state retains a large
role in the economy, as privatization efforts often meet stiff
public and political resistance. While macroeconomic stabilization
has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep
resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from
politicians. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and
structural reform.

Cuba
The government continues to balance the need for economic
loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled
back limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise
efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods,
and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a
lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused
by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. Since late
2000, Venezuela has been providing oil on preferential terms, and it
currently supplies about 100,000 barrels per day of petroleum
products. Cuba has been paying for the oil, in part, with the
services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 20,000
medical professionals. In 2007, high metals prices continued to
boost Cuban earnings from nickel and cobalt production. Havana
continued to invest in the country's energy sector to mitigate
electrical blackouts that had plagued the country since 2004.

Cyprus
The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control
has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts
for 78% of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the
most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the past decade
reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates
with political instability in the region and economic conditions in
Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area under
government control grew by an average of 3.6% per year during the
period of 2000-06, well above the EU average. Cyprus joined the
European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the
euro as its national currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive
austerity program in the preceding years, aimed at paving the way
for the euro, helped turn a soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003)
into a surplus of 1.5% in 2007. As in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few
desalination plants are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the
country received substantial rainfall from 2001-04 alleviating
immediate concerns. Rainfall in 2005 and 2006, however, was well
below average, making water rationing a necessity in 2007.

Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and
prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern
Europe. Growth in 2000-07 was supported by exports to the EU,
primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic
investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role
in underpinning growth as the availability of credit cards and
mortgages increases. The current account deficit has declined to
around 3.3% of GDP as demand for automotive and other products from
the Czech Republic remains strong in the European Union. Rising
inflation from higher food and energy prices are a risk to balanced
economic growth. Significant increases in social spending in the
run-up to June 2006 elections prevented, the government from meeting
its goal of reducing its budget deficit to 3% of GDP in 2007.
Negotiations on pension and additional healthcare reforms are
continuing without clear prospects for agreement and implementation.
Intensified restructuring among large enterprises, improvements in
the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should
strengthen output growth. The pro-business Civic Democratic
Party-led government approved reforms in 2007 designed to cut
spending on some social welfare benefits and reform the tax system
with the aim of eventually reducing the budget deficit to 2.3% of
GDP by 2010. Parliamentary approval for any additional reforms could
prove difficult, however, because of the parliament's even split.
The government withdrew a 2010 target date for euro adoption and
instead aims to meet the eurozone criteria around 2012.

Denmark
The Danish economy has in recent years undergone strong
expansion fueled primarily by private consumption growth, but also
supported by exports and investments. This thoroughly modern market
economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and
corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures,
comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence
on foreign trade. Unemployment is low and capacity constraints are
limiting growth potential. Denmark is a net exporter of food and
energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus.
Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and
further privatization of state assets. The government has been
successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence
criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European
currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but so
far Denmark has decided not to join 15 other EU members in the euro.
Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic
growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through
2007. The controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad
printed in a Danish newspaper in September 2005 led to boycotts of
some Danish exports to the Muslim world, especially exports of dairy
products, but the boycotts did not have a significant impact on the
overall Danish economy. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare
benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish
living standards are among the highest in the world. A major
long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to
retirees.

Dhekelia
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the
military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.

Djibouti
The economy is based on service activities connected with
the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in
the Horn of Africa. Two-thirds of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the
capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty
rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most
food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit
port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling
center. Imports and exports from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia
represent 85% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal.
Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation
is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help
support its balance of payments and to finance development projects.
An unemployment rate of nearly 60% continues to be a major problem.
While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the
Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of
the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of
payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% between
1999 and 2006 because of recession, civil war, and a high population
growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a
multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in
arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet
the stipulations of foreign aid donors.

Dominica
The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily
bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and
international economic developments. Tourism has increased as the
government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination.
In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the
economy - including elimination of price controls, privatization of
the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's
economic and financial crisis of 2001-02 and to meet IMF targets.
This restructuring paved the way for the current economic recovery -
real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and will help to
reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 100% of GDP. In order
to diversify the island's production base, the government is
attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is
researching Dominica's capability to export geothermal energy.

Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has enjoyed strong GDP
growth since 2005, with double digit growth in 2006. In 2007,
exports were bolstered by the nearly 50% increase in nickel prices;
however, prices are expected to fall in 2008, contributing to a
slowdown in GDP growth for the year. Although the country has long
been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco,
in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the
economy's largest employer due to growth in tourism and free trade
zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the source of
nearly three-fourths of exports, and remittances represent about a
tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and
three-quarters of tourism receipts. With the help of strict fiscal
targets agreed to in the 2004 renegotiation of an IMF standby loan,
President FERNANDEZ has stabilized the country's financial
situation, lowering inflation to less than 6%. A fiscal expansion is
expected for 2008 prior to the elections in May and for Tropical
Storm Noel reconstruction. Although the economy is growing at a
respectable rate, high unemployment and underemployment remains an
important challenge. The country suffers from marked income
inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than
one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of
national income. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, which should
boost investment and exports and reduce losses to the Asian garment
industry.

Ecuador
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum
resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's
export earnings and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent
years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with
GDP contracted by more than 6%, with a significant increase in
poverty. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on
its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved
a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption
of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the
economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed,
helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased
non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the
highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined but
remained high at 38% in 2006. In 2006 the government of Alfredo
PALACIO (2005-07) seized the assets of Occidental Petroleum for
alleged contract violations and imposed a windfall revenue tax on
foreign oil companies, leading to the suspension of free trade
negotiations with the US. These measures, combined with chronic
underinvestment in the state oil company, Petroecuador, led to a
drop in petroleum production in 2007. PALACIO's successor, Rafael
CORREA, raised the specter of debt default - but Ecuador has paid
its debt on time. He also decreed a higher windfall revenue tax on
private oil companies, then sought to renegotiate their contracts to
overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This generated economic
uncertainty; private investment has dropped and economic growth has
slowed significantly.

Egypt
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt
is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic
activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has
reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President
Gamel Abdel NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF's government
reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies,
and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP
grew about 5% per year in 2005-06, and topped 7% in 2007. Despite
these achievements, the government has failed to raise living
standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue
providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have
contributed to a sizeable budget deficit - roughly 7.5% of GDP in
2007 - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreign
direct investment has increased significantly in the past two years,
but the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive
pursuit of reforms in order to sustain the spike in investment and
growth and begin to improve economic conditions for the broader
population. Egypt's export sectors - particularly natural gas - have
bright prospects.

El Salvador
The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has
the third largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent
years. Robust growth in non-traditional exports have offset declines
in the maquila exports, while remittances and external aid offset
the trade deficit from high oil prices and strong import demand for
consumer and intermediate goods. El Salvador leads the region in
remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export
income. Implementation in 2006 of the Central America-Dominican
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which El Salvador was the
first to ratify, has strengthened an already positive export trend.
With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El
Salvador lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on
maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy. The current government has
pursued economic diversification, with some success in promoting
textile production, international port services, and tourism through
tax incentives. It is committed to opening the economy to trade and
investment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending
to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In
late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation
signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic
growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region through
investments in education, public services, enterprise development,
and transportation infrastructure.

Equatorial Guinea
The discovery and exploitation of large oil
reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent
years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of
GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence
Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency
earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes
has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government
has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into
agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank
and the IMF have been cut off since 1993, because of corruption and
mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because
of large oil revenues, the government has been trying to agree on a
"shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF.
Government officials and their family members own most businesses.
Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese,
uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2007, led by
oil.

Eritrea
Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced
the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country,
accentuated by the recent implementation of restrictive economic
policies. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the
sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice
(PFDJ). Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is
largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population
involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in
1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero
in 1999 and to -12.1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into
northern Eritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and
loss, including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000
homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most
productive region, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even
during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure,
asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war-damaged
roads and bridges. Since the war ended, the government has
maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the
military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's
development agenda. The government strictly controls the use of
foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private
enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy is heavily
dependent on taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall
and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military
continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's
recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the
country. The government continues to place its hope for additional
revenue on the development of several international mining projects.
Despite difficulties for international companies in working with the
Eritrean government, a Canadian mining company signed a contract
with the GSE in 2007 and plans to begin mineral extraction in 2010.
Eritrea also anticipates opening a free trade zone at the port of
Massawa in 2008. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability
to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low
skills, and more importantly, on the government's willingness to
support a true market economy.

Estonia
Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern
market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels
in Central Europe. The economy benefits from strong electronics and
telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland,
Sweden, and Germany. The current government has pursued relatively
sound fiscal policies, resulting in balanced budgets and low public
debt. In 2007, however, a large current account deficit and rising
inflation put pressure on Estonia's currency, which is pegged to the
euro, highlighting the need for growth in export-generating
industries.

Ethiopia
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on
agriculture, accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of exports, and
80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from
frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical
to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $350 million in 2006,
but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat
to supplement income. The war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and
recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee
production. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief
from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in
December 2005 the IMF voted to forgive Ethiopia's debt to the body.
Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides
long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper
growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use
land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in 2002,
leading to a 3.3% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns
helped agricultural and GDP growth recover during 2004-07.

European Union
Internally, the EU is attempting to lower trade
barriers, adopt a common currency, and move toward convergence of
living standards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's
trade position and its political and economic power. Because of the
great differences in per capita income among member states (from
$7,000 to $69,000) and historic national animosities, the EU faces
difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example,
since 2003 Germany and France have flouted the member states' treaty
obligation to prevent their national budgets from running more than
a 3% deficit. In 2004 and 2007, the EU admitted 10 and two
countries, respectively, that are, in general, less advanced
technologically and economically than the other 15. Eleven
established EU member states introduced the euro as their common
currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later), but the
UK, Sweden, and Denmark chose not to participate. Of the 12 most
recent member states, only Slovenia (1 January 2007) and Cyprus and
Malta (1 January 2008) have adopted the euro; the remaining nine are
legally required to adopt the currency upon meeting EU's fiscal and
monetary convergence criteria.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date, no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

Faroe Islands
The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which
makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. Since 2003 the Faroese
economy has picked up as a result of higher prices for fish and for
housing. Unemployment is minimal and government finances are
relatively sound. Oil finds close to the Islands give hope for
economically recoverable deposits, which could eventually lay the
basis for a more diversified economy and lessen dependence on Danish
economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (about
15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not
far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.

Fiji
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one
of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still
with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from
Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with
400,000 to 500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of
foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union
markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar
subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial
activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged
by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time.
The coup has created a difficult business climate. Tourist arrivals
for 2007 are estimated to be down almost 6%, with substantial job
losses in the service sector. In July 2007 the Reserve Bank of Fiji
announced the economy was expected to contract by 3.1% in 2007.
Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006. The EU
has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps
toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment,
uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's inability to
manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in
Kuwait and Iraq have decreased significantly.

Finland
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market
economy with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France,
Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing -
principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and
electronics industries. Trade is important; exports equal nearly
two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile
phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on
imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for
manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development
is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products.
Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary
occupation for the rural population. High unemployment remains a
persistent problem. In 2007 Russia announced plans to impose high
tariffs on raw timber exported to Finland. The Finnish pulp and
paper industry will be threatened if these duties are put into place
in 2008 and 2009, and the matter is now being handled by the
European Union.

France
France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern
economy that has featured extensive government ownership and
intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The
government has partially or fully privatized many large companies,
banks, and insurers, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as
Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. It maintains a
strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public
transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is
gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain
committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by
means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income
disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and
welfare. Widespread opposition to labor reform has in recent years
hampered the government's ability to revitalize the economy. In
2007, the government launched divisive labor reform efforts that
will continue into 2008. France's tax burden remains one of the
highest in Europe (nearly 50% of GDP in 2005). France brought the
budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit for the first
time in 2007 and has reduced unemployment to roughly 8%. With at
least 75 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most
visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income
in the world from tourism.

French Polynesia
Since 1962, when France stationed military
personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a
subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion
of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the
tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996,
the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism
accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard
currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and
deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector
primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits
substantially from development agreements with France aimed
principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social
services.

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economic activity is limited to
servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations, military
bases, and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed
on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and
Reunion.

Gabon
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of
sub-Saharan African nations. but because of high income inequality,
a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on
timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early
1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues
to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese
exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal
management hobbles the economy. The devaluation of the CFA franc -
its currency - by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time
inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF
provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year
Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning
in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000.
Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal
discipline. France provided additional financial support in January
1997 after Gabon met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF
mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on
off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping
on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The
rebound of oil prices since 1999 have helped growth, but drops in
production have hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains,
and will continue to temper the gains for most of this decade. In
December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to
reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment
agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a
14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received
Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress
depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments
in line with IMF policies.

Gambia, The
The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource
deposits and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the
population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a
major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed
preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi
(currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The
Gambia. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made
it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The
government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta
eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite an
announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans
have been made public that would indicate that the government
intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and
underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic
progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on
responsible government economic management, on continued technical
assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth
in the construction sector.

Gaza Strip
High population density, limited land access, and strict
internal and external security controls have kept economic
conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under
the Palestinian Authority (PA)- even more degraded than in the West
Bank. The beginning of the second intifada in September 2000 sparked
an economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure
policies; these policies, which were imposed to address security
concerns in Israel, disrupted labor and trade access to and from the
Gaza Strip. In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli
military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of
capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread
business closures. The Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in
September 2005 offered some medium-term opportunities for economic
growth, but continued Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which
became more restrictive after Hamas violently took over the
territory in June 2007, have resulted in widespread private sector
layoffs and shortages of most goods.

Georgia
Georgia's economy has sustained robust GDP growth of close
to 10% in 2006 and 12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign
investment and robust government spending. However, a widening trade
deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy.
Areas of recent improvement include increasing foreign direct
investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services
and mining sectors. Georgia's main economic activities include the
cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits,
and hazelnuts; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,
metals, machinery, aircraft and chemicals. The country imports
nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It
has sizeable hydropower capacity, a growing component of its energy
supplies. Despite the severe damage the economy suffered due to
civil strife in the 1990s, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and
World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 2000,
achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia's
GDP growth neared 10% in 2006 and 2007 despite restrictions on
commerce with Russia. Areas of recent improvement include increased
foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction,
banking services, and mining sectors. In addition, the reinvigorated
privatization process has met with success. However, a widening
trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the
economy. Georgia has suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax
revenues; however, the new government is making progress and has
reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax
enforcement, and cracked down on corruption. Government revenues
have increased nearly four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in
customs and financial (tax) enforcement, smuggling is a declining
problem. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages of the
past by renovating hydropower plants and by bringing newly available
natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan. It also has an increased
ability to pay for more expensive gas imports from Russia. The
country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on a determined
effort to reduce regulation, taxes and corruption in order to
attract foreign investment. The construction on the
Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas
pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad are part of a strategy
to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and
Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas, oil and other
goods.

Germany
Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy -
the fifth largest in the world in PPP terms - showed considerable
improvement in 2007 with 2.6% growth. After a long period of
stagnation with an average growth rate of 0.7% between 2001-05 and
chronically high unemployment, stronger growth led to a considerable
fall in unemployment to about 8% near the end of 2007. Among the
most important reasons for Germany's high unemployment during the
past decade were macroeconomic stagnation, the declining level of
investment in plant and equipment, company restructuring, flat
domestic consumption, structural rigidities in the labor market,
lack of competition in the service sector, and high interest rates.
The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy
continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers
from west to east amounting to roughly $80 billion. The former
government of Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER launched a comprehensive
set of reforms of labor market and welfare-related institutions. The
current government of Chancellor Angela MERKEL has initiated other
reform measures, such as a gradual increase in the mandatory
retirement age from 65 to 67 and measures to increase female
participation in the labor market. Germany's aging population,
combined with high chronic unemployment, has pushed social security
outlays to a level exceeding contributions, but higher government
revenues from the cyclical upturn in 2006-07 and a 3% rise in the
value-added tax pushed Germany's budget deficit well below the EU's
3% debt limit. Corporate restructuring and growing capital markets
are setting the foundations that could help Germany meet the
long-term challenges of European economic integration and
globalization, although some economists continue to argue the need
for change in inflexible labor and services markets. Growth may fall
below 2% in 2008 as the strong euro, high oil prices, tighter credit
markets, and slowing growth abroad take their toll.

Ghana
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice
the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even
so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and
technical assistance. Gold and cocoa production, and individual
remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic
economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for
about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly
small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting
from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in
2006. Thematic priorities under its current Growth and Poverty
Reduction Strategy, which also provides the framework for
development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability;
private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good
governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management
along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth
in 2007. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's
agricultural sector.

Gibraltar
Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive
shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an
international conference center. The British military presence has
been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local
economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism
(almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and
duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial
sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of
GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years,
Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a
private sector economy, but changes in government spending still
have a major impact on the level of employment.

Greece
Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector
accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP at least 75%
of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP.
Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in
agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU
aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by
nearly 4.0% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to
infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games,
and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has
sustained record levels of consumer spending. Greece violated the
EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of no more
than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criteria in
2007. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the
euro-zone average, but are falling. The Greek Government continues
to grapple with cutting government spending, reducing the size of
the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems, in
the face of often vocal opposition from the country's powerful labor
unions and the general public. The economy remains an important
domestic political issue in Greece and, while the ruling New
Democracy government has had some success in improving economic
growth and reducing the budget deficit, Athens faces long-term
challenges in its effort to continue its economic reforms,
especially social security reform and privatization.

Greenland
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of
fish and a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government, which
supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector,
including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays
the dominant role in the economy. Several interesting hydrocarbon
and mineral exploration activities are ongoing. Press reports in
early 2007 indicated that two international aluminum companies were
considering building smelters in Greenland to take advantage of
local hydropower potential. Tourism is the only sector offering any
near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season
and high costs. Air Greenland began summer-season direct flights to
the US east coast in May 2007, potentially opening a major new
tourism market.

Grenada
Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign
exchange, especially since the construction of an international
airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and
manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore
financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national
output. Grenada has rebounded from the devastating effects of
Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005), but is now saddled with the
debt burden from the rebuilding process. The agricultural sector,
particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation, has gradually recovered,
and the tourism sector has seen substantial increases in foreign
direct investment as the regional share of the tourism market
increases.

Guam
The economy depends largely on US military spending and
tourism. Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays
amounted to $1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years, the
tourist industry has grown to become the largest income source
following national defense. The Guam economy continues to experience
expansion in both its tourism and military sectors.

Guatemala
Guatemala is the most populous of the Central American
countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Argentina,
Brazil, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about
one-tenth of GDP, two-fifths of exports, and half of the labor
force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products, with sugar
exports benefiting from increased global demand for ethanol. The
1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war,
removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and Guatemala since
then has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization.
On 1 July 2006, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
entered into force between the US and Guatemala and has since
spurred increased investment in the export sector. The distribution
of income remains highly unequal with about 56% of the population
below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing
government revenues, negotiating further assistance from
international donors, upgrading both government and private
financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking and rampant crime,
and narrowing the trade deficit. Given Guatemala's large expatriate
community in the United States, it is the top remittance recipient
in Central America, with inflows serving as a primary source of
foreign income equivalent to nearly two-thirds of exports.

Guernsey
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance -
account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in
this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism,
manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers,
have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and
the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make
Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of
the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey
operates.

Guinea
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural
resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has
almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the
second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over
70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal
arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the
country is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been
sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other
infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political
uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE.
Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut
off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical
advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF,
seeking to return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in
2006-07, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity
prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea
franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like
food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans.
Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes
in February and June 2006.

Guinea-Bissau
One of the five poorest countries in the world,
Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops
have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks
sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood
along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice
is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting
between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta
destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread
damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in
GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war,
trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part
of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF
sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development
of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy.
Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and
other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. Offshore oil
prospecting is underway in several sectors but has not yet led to
commercially viable crude deposits. The inequality of income
distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government
and international donors continue to work out plans to forward
economic development from a lamentably low base. In December 2003,
the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide
emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004,
representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift
and indecision, however, resulted in continued low growth in
2002-06. Higher raw material prices boosted growth to 3.7% in 2007.

Guyana
The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in
2001-07, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors,
a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more
realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued
support of international organizations. Economic recovery since the
2005 flood-related contraction has been buoyed by increases in
remittances and foreign direct investment. Chronic problems include
a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The
government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent
need for expanded public investment. In March 2007, the
Inter-American Development Bank, Guyana's principal donor, canceled
Guyana's nearly $470 million debt, equivalent to nearly 48% of GDP.
The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from
restructuring and partial privatization, and the state-owned sugar
industry will conduct efficiency increasing modernizations. Export
earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen sharply, while the
import bill has risen, driven by higher energy prices. Guyana's
entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in
January 2006 will broaden the country's export market, primarily in
the raw materials sector.

Haiti
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with
80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in
abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the
agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and
remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters,
exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. A
macroeconomic program developed in 2005 with the help of the
International Monetary Fund helped the economy grow 3.5% in 2007,
the highest growth rate since 1999. US economic engagement under the
Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement
(HOPE) Act, passed in December 2006, has boosted the garment and
automotive parts exports and investment by providing tariff-free
access to the US. Haiti suffers from high inflation, a lack of
investment because of insecurity and limited infrastructure, and a
severe trade deficit. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World
Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. The government
relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal
sustainability. Remittances are the primary source of foreign
exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP and more than twice the
earnings from exports.

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
The islands have no indigenous
economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited
fishing in the surrounding waters.

Holy See (Vatican City)
This unique, noncommercial economy is
supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's
Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; by the
sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees
for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications.
Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable
portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers
are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Honduras
Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America and
one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with an
extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and massive
unemployment, is banking on expanded trade under the US-Central
America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and on debt relief under the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Despite
improvements in tax collections, the government's fiscal deficit is
growing due to increases in current expenditures and financial
losses from the state energy and telephone companies. Honduras is
the fastest growing remittance destination in the region with
inflows representing over a quarter of GDP, equivalent to nearly
three-quarters of exports. The economy relies heavily on a narrow
range of exports, notably bananas and coffee, making it vulnerable
to natural disasters and shifts in commodity prices, however,
investments in the maquila and non-traditional export sectors are
slowly diversifying the economy. Growth remains dependent on the
economy of the US, its largest trading partner, and on reduction of
the high crime rate, as a means of attracting and maintaining
investment.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on
international trade. In 2006, the total value of goods and services
trade, including the sizable share of reexports, was equivalent to
400% of GDP. The territory has become increasingly integrated with
mainland China over the past few years through trade, tourism, and
financial links. The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest
trading partner, accounting for 46% of Hong Kong's total trade by
value in 2006. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions,
the number of mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5
million in 2001 to 13.6 million in 2006, when they outnumbered
visitors from all other countries combined. Hong Kong has also
established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms
seeking to list abroad. Bolstered by several successful initial
public offerings in early 2007, by September 2007 mainland companies
accounted for one-third of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange, and more than half of the Exchange's market
capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing
industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown
rapidly and now accounts for 91% of the territory's GDP. Hong Kong's
natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be
imported. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2007, despite
the economy suffering two recessions during the Asian financial
crisis in 1997-98 and the global downturn in 2001-02. Hong Kong
continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining
an arrangement established in 1983.

Hungary
Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to
a market economy, with a per capita income nearly two-thirds that of
the EU-25 average. The private sector accounts for more than 80% of
GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are
widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more
than $60 billion since 1989. Hungary issues investment-grade
sovereign debt. International observers, however, have expressed
concerns over Hungary's fiscal and current account deficits. In
2007, Hungary eliminated a trade deficit that had persisted for
several years. Inflation declined from 14% in 1998 to a low of 3.7%
in 2006, but jumped to 7.8% in 2007. Unemployment has persisted
above 6%. Hungary's labor force participation rate of 57% is one of
the lowest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD). Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic
partner. Policy challenges include cutting the public sector deficit
to 4% of GDP by 2008, from about 6% in 2007. The government's
austerity program of tax hikes and subsidy cuts has reduced
Hungary's large budget deficit, but the reforms have dampened
domestic consumption, slowing GDP growth to about 2% in 2007. The
government will need to pass additional reforms to ensure the
long-term stability of public finances. The government plans to
eventually lower its public sector deficit to below 3% of GDP to
adopt the euro.

Iceland
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically
capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including
generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even
distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources
(except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily
on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and
employs 6% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to
declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for
its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and
ferrosilicon. Substantial foreign investment in the aluminum and
hydropower sectors has boosted economic growth which, nevertheless,
has been volatile and characterized by recurrent imbalances.
Government policies include reducing the current account deficit,
limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising
agricultural and fishing policies, and diversifying the economy. The
government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of
Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing
resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into
manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new
developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial
services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding,
with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. The 2006
closure of the US military base at Keflavik had very little impact
on the national economy; Iceland's low unemployment rate aided
former base employees in finding alternate employment.

India
India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village
farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern
industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major
source of economic growth, accounting for more than half of India's
output with less than one third of its labor force. About
three-fifths of the work force is in agriculture, leading the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to articulate an economic
reform program that includes developing basic infrastructure to
improve the lives of the rural poor and boost economic performance.
The government has reduced controls on foreign trade and investment.
Higher limits on foreign direct investment were permitted in a few
key sectors, such as telecommunications. However, tariff spikes in
sensitive categories, including agriculture, and incremental
progress on economic reforms still hinder foreign access to India's
vast and growing market. Privatization of government-owned
industries remains stalled and continues to generate political
debate; populist pressure from within the UPA government and from
its Left Front allies continues to restrain needed initiatives. The
economy has posted an average growth rate of more than 7% in the
decade since 1997, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points.
India achieved 8.5% GDP growth in 2006, and again in 2007,
significantly expanding production of manufactures. India is
capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in
the English language to become a major exporter of software services
and software workers. Economic expansion has helped New Delhi
continue to make progress in reducing its federal fiscal deficit.
However, strong growth combined with easy consumer credit and a real
estate boom fueled inflation concerns in 2006 and 2007, leading to a
series of central bank interest rate hikes that have slowed credit
growth and eased inflation concerns. The huge and growing population
is the fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem.

Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting
the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas.
It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum
products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its
fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries
for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia,
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly
for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped
in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western
Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production
comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and
offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering
countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand.

Indonesia
Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has been undergoing
significant economic reforms under President YUDHOYONO. Indonesia's
debt-to-GDP ratio has been declining steadily, its foreign exchange
reserves are at an all-time high of over $50 billion, and its stock
market has been one of the three best performers in the world in
2006 and 2007, as global investors sought out higher returns in
emerging markets. The government has introduced significant reforms
in the financial sector, including tax and customs reforms, the
introduction of Treasury bills, and improved capital market
supervision. Indonesia's new investment law, passed in March 2007,
seeks to address some of the concerns of foreign and domestic
investors. Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unemployment,
inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory
environment, and unequal resource distribution among regions.
Indonesia has been slow to privatize over 100 state-owned
enterprises, several of which have monopolies in key sectors. The
non-bank financial sector, including pension funds and insurance,
remains weak. Capital markets are underdeveloped. The high global
price of oil in 2007 increased the cost of domestic fuel and
electricity subsidies, and are contributing to concerns about higher
food prices. Located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" Indonesia remains
vulnerable to volcanic and tectonic disasters. Significant progress
has been made in rebuilding Aceh after the devastating December 2004
tsunami, and the province now shows more economic activity than
before the disaster. Unfortunately, Indonesia suffered new disasters
in 2006 and early 2007 including: a major earthquake near
Yogyakarta, an industrial accident in Sidoarjo, East Java that
created a "mud volcano," a tsunami in South Java, and major flooding
in Jakarta, all of which caused additional damages in the billions
of dollars. Donors are assisting Indonesia with its disaster
mitigation and early warning efforts.

Iran
Iran's economy is marked by an inefficient state sector,
reliance on the oil sector (which provides 85% of government
revenues), and statist policies that create major distortions
throughout. Most economic activity is controlled by the state.
Private sector activity is typically small-scale workshops, farming,
and services. President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD failed to make any
notable progress in fulfilling the goals of the nation's latest
five-year plan. A combination of price controls and subsidies,
particularly on food and energy, continue to weigh down the economy,
and administrative controls, widespread corruption, and other
rigidities undermine the potential for private-sector-led growth. As
a result of these inefficiencies, significant informal market
activity flourishes and shortages are common. High oil prices in
recent years have enabled Iran to amass nearly $70 billion in
foreign exchange reserves. Yet this increased revenue has not eased
economic hardships, which include double-digit unemployment and
inflation - inflation climbed to 26% as of June 2008. The economy
has seen only moderate growth. Iran's educated population, economic
inefficiency and insufficient investment - both foreign and domestic
- have prompted an increasing number of Iranians to seek employment
overseas, resulting in significant "brain drain."

Iraq
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has
traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings.
Although looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined
economy rebuilding efforts, economic activity is beginning to pick
up in areas recently secured by the US military surge. Oil exports
are around levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom, and total
government revenues have benefited from high oil prices. Despite
political uncertainty, Iraq is making some progress in building the
institutions needed to implement economic policy and has negotiated
a debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club and a new Stand-By
Arrangement with the IMF. Iraq has received pledges for $13.5
billion in foreign aid for 2004-07 from outside of the US, more than
$33 billion in total pledges. The International Compact with Iraq
was established in May 2007 to integrate Iraq into the regional and
global economy, and the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to
strengthen its economy. This legislation includes a hydrocarbon law
to establish a modern legal framework to allow Iraq to develop its
resources and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues
within the nation, although both are still bogged down in
discussions. The Central Bank has been successful in controlling
inflation through appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar.
Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as
bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to
Iraq's economic success.

Ireland
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with
growth averaging 6% in 1995-2007. Agriculture, once the most
important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Although
the exports sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, remains a
key component of Ireland's economy, construction has most recently
fueled economic growth along with strong consumer spending and
business investment. Property prices have risen more rapidly in
Ireland in the decade up to 2006 than in any other developed world
economy. Per capita GDP is 40% above that of the four big European
economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg, and in
2007 surpassed that of the United States. The Irish Government has
implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb
price and wage inflation, invest in infrastructure, increase labor
force skills, and promote foreign investment. A slowdown in the
property market, more intense global competition, and increased
costs, however, have compelled government economists to lower
Ireland's growth forecast slightly for 2008. Ireland joined in
circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU
nations.

Isle of Man
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key
sectors of the economy. The government offers incentives to
high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on
the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities
in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing,
once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of
GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the
film industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys
free access to EU markets.

Israel
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with
substantial, though diminishing, government participation. It
depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military
equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively
developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20
years. Israel imports substantial quantities of grain but is largely
self-sufficient in other agricultural products. Cut diamonds,
high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and
vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable
trade deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from
abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's
external debt is owed to the US, its major source of economic and
military aid. Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly in 2001 and
2002 due to the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the
high-technology sector, has grown by about 5% per year since 2003.
The economy grew an estimated 5.4% in 2007, the fastest pace since
2000. The government's prudent fiscal policy and structural reforms
over the past few years have helped to induce strong foreign
investment, tax revenues, and private consumption, setting the
economy on a solid growth path.

Italy
Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the
same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This
capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial
north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed,
welfare-dependent, agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most
raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy
requirements are imported. Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a
tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the
Economic and Monetary Unions and has benefited from lower interest
and inflation rates. The current government has enacted numerous
short-term reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and long-term
growth. Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed
structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and
overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension
system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from
labor unions. But the leadership faces a severe economic constraint:
Italy's official debt remains above 100% of GDP, and the government
has found it difficult to bring the budget deficit down to a level
that would allow a rapid decrease in that debt. The economy
continues to grow by less than the euro-zone average and growth is
expected to decelerate from 1.9% in 2006 and 2007 to under 1.5% in
2008 as the euro-zone and world economies slow.

Jamaica
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which
now account for more than 60% of GDP. The country continues to
derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and
bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 20% of GDP and are
equivalent to tourism revenues. Jamaica's economy, already saddled
with a record of sluggish growth, will suffer an economic setback
from damages caused by Hurricane Dean in August 2007. The economy
faces serious long-term problems: high but declining interest rates,
increased foreign competition, exchange rate instability, a sizable
merchandise trade deficit, large-scale unemployment and
underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 135%. Jamaica's onerous
debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is the result of
government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably
the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. Inflation also has
declined, standing at about 7% at the end of 2007. High unemployment
exacerbates the serious crime problem, including gang violence that
is fueled by the drug trade. The GOLDING administration faces the
difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order
to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious
and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth.

Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural
resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for
employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the
island.

Japan
Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery
of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1%
of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank
of second most technologically powerful economy in the world after
the US and the third-largest economy in the world after the US and
China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. One
notable characteristic of the economy has been how manufacturers,
suppliers, and distributors have worked together in closely-knit
groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the
guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the
urban labor force. Both features have now eroded. Japan's industrial
sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The
tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with
crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient
in rice, Japan must import about 55% of its food on a caloric basis.
Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and
accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades,
overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average in
the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s.
Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely
because of the after effects of overinvestment and an asset price
bubble during the late 1980s that required a protracted period of
time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. From 2000
to 2001, government efforts to revive economic growth proved short
lived and were hampered by the slowing of the US, European, and
Asian economies. In 2002-07, growth improved and the lingering fears
of deflation in prices and economic activity lessened, leading the
central bank to raise interest rates to 0.25% in July 2006, up from
the near 0% rate of the six years prior, and to 0.50% in February
2007. In addition, the 10-year privatization of Japan Post, which
has functioned not only as the national postal delivery system but
also, through its banking and insurance facilities as Japan's
largest financial institution, was completed in October 2007,
marking a major milestone in the process of structural reform.
Nevertheless, Japan's huge government debt, which totals 182% of
GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run
problems. Some fear that a rise in taxes could endanger the current
economic recovery. Debate also continues on the role of and effects
of reform in restructuring the economy, particularly with respect to
increasing income disparities.

Jersey
Jersey's economy is based on international financial
services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector
accounted for about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes,
cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export
crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is
known worldwide and represents an important export income earner.
Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts
for one-quarter of GDP. In recent years, the government has
encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that
an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional
manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements
are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light
taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living
standards come close to those of the UK.

Jordan
Jordan is a small Arab country with insufficient supplies of
water, oil, and other natural resources. Poverty, unemployment, and
inflation are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH II, since
assuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic
reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Since
Jordan's graduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman
has continued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetary
policy, making substantial headway with privatization, and opening
the trade regime. Jordan's exports have significantly increased
under the free trade accord with the US and Jordanian Qualifying
Industrial Zones (QIZ), which allow Jordan to export goods duty free
to the US. In 2006, Jordan reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio
significantly. These measures have helped improve productivity and
have made Jordan more attractive for foreign investment. Before the
US-led war in Iraq, Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq. Since
2003, however, Jordan has been more dependent on oil from other Gulf
nations. The government ended subsidies for petroleum and other
consumer goods in 2008 in an effort to control the budget. The main
challenges facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants,
reducing the budget deficit, attracting investments, and creating
jobs.

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in
territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves
and plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has a
large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain.
Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and
processing of these natural resources. The breakup of the USSR in
December 1991 and the collapse in demand for Kazakhstan's
traditional heavy industry products resulted in a short-term
contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual decline
occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government program of
economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a
substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan
enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - 8% or more per year in
2002-07 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to
economic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. Inflation,
however, jumped to more than 10% in 2007. In the energy sector, the
opening of the Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western
Kazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised
export capacity. In 2006 Kazakhstan completed the Atasu-Alashankou
portion of an oil pipeline to China that is planned in future
construction to extend from the country's Caspian coast eastward to
the Chinese border. The country has embarked upon an industrial
policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on
the oil sector by developing its manufacturing potential. The policy
aims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign
personnel. The government has engaged in several disputes with
foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements;
tensions continue. Upward pressure on the local currency continued
in 2007 due to massive oil-related foreign-exchange inflows. Aided
by strong growth and foreign exchange earnings, Kazakhstan aspires
to become a regional financial center and has created a banking
system comparable to those in Central Europe.

Kenya
The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya
has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary
goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended
Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the
government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A
severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems,
causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output.
As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The IMF, which had
resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again
halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute
several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains
in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low
investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at
1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence,
meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections.
In the key December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old
reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable
economic problems facing the nation. After some early progress in
rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support, the KIBAKI
government was rocked by high-level graft scandals in 2005 and 2006.
In 2006 the World Bank and IMF delayed loans pending action by the
government on corruption. The international financial institutions
and donors have since resumed lending, despite little action on the
government's part to deal with corruption. The scandals have not
weighed down growth, with estimated real GDP growth at more than 6
percent in 2007.

Kiribati
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has
few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were
exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and
fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy
has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is
constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure,
and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more
than one-fifth of GDP. Private sector initiatives and a financial
sector are in the early stages of development. Foreign financial aid
from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China equals more than
10% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad account
for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati receives around $15
million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust
fund.

Korea, North
North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed
and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems.
Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of
years of underinvestment and shortages of spare parts. Industrial
and power output have declined in parallel from pre-1990 levels. Due
in part to severe summer flooding followed by dry weather conditions
in the fall of 2006, the nation suffered its 13th year of food
shortages because of on-going systemic problems including a lack of
arable land, collective farming practices, and persistent shortages
of tractors and fuel. During the summer of 2007, severe flooding
again occurred. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have
allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation
since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to
suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions.
Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for
investment and civilian consumption. Since 2002, the government has
formalized an arrangement whereby private "farmers' markets" were
allowed to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted
some private farming on an experimental basis in an effort to boost
agricultural output. In October 2005, the government tried to
reverse some of these policies by forbidding private sales of grains
and reinstituting a centralized food rationing system. By December
2005, the government terminated most international humanitarian
assistance operations in North Korea (calling instead for
developmental assistance only) and restricted the activities of
remaining international and non-governmental aid organizations such
as the World Food Program. External food aid now comes primarily
from China and South Korea in the form of grants and long-term
concessional loans. During the October 2007 summit, South Korea also
agreed to develop some of North Korea's infrastructure and natural
resources and light industry. Firm political control remains the
Communist government's overriding concern, which will likely inhibit
the loosening of economic regulations.

Korea, South
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible
record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world
economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels
in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea
joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP
per capita is roughly the same as that of Greece and Spain. This
success was achieved by a system of close government/business ties
including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of
specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government
promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense
of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over
consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed
longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model including
high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an
undisciplined financial sector. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, then
recovered by 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3%
in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and
the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had
stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an
impressive 7%, despite anemic global growth. Between 2003 and 2007,
growth moderated to about 4-5% annually. A downturn in consumer
spending was offset by rapid export growth. Moderate inflation, low
unemployment, and an export surplus in 2007 characterize this solid
economy, but inflation and unemployment are increasing in the face
of rising oil prices.

Kosovo
Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown
significant progress in transitioning to a market-based system, but
it is still highly dependent on the international community and the
diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from
the diaspora - located mainly in Germany and Switzerland - account
for about 30% of GDP. Kosovo's citizens are the poorest in Europe
with an average annual per capita income of only $1800 - about
one-third the level of neighboring Albania. Unemployment - at more
than 40% of the population - is a severe problem that encourages
outward migration. Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns
outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence
farming is common - the result of small plots, limited
mechanization, and lack of technical expertise. Economic growth is
largely driven by the private sector - mostly small-scale retail
businesses. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to
privatize 50% of its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by number, and
over 90% of SOEs by value. Minerals and metals - including lignite,
lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety
of construction materials - once formed the backbone of industry,
but output has declined because investment has been insufficient to
replace ageing Eastern Bloc equipment. Technical and financial
problems in the power sector also impedes industrial development.
The US has worked with the World Bank to prepare a commercial tender
for the development of new power generating and mining capacity. The
official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is
also used in the Serb enclaves. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped
keep inflation low. Kosovo has maintained a budget surplus as a
result of efficient tax collection and inefficient budget execution.
While maintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with
the EU and with Kosovo's government to accelerate economic growth,
lower unemployment, and attract foreign investment. In order to help
integrate Kosovo into regional economic structures, UNMIK signed (on
behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the Central Europe Free Trade
Area (CEFTA) in 2006. In February 2008, UNMIK also represented
Kosovo at the newly established Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

Kuwait
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with
self-reported crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 10%
of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of
export revenues, and 80% of government income. High oil prices in
recent years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses
and foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation,
the need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has
not earnestly pushed through new initiatives. Despite its vast oil
reserves, Kuwait experienced power outages during the summer months
in 2006 and 2007 because demand exceeded power generating capacity.
Power outages are likely to worsen, given its high population growth
rates, unless the government can increase generating capacity. In
May 2007 Kuwait changed its currency peg from the US dollar to a
basket of currencies in order to curb inflation and to reduce its
vulnerability to external shocks.

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a
predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat
are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton
are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold,
mercury, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. Following
independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market
reforms such as an improved regulatory system and land reform.
Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of
the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in
production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in
December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and
exports began to increase. The economy is heavily weighted toward
gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold mine
sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and a 0.6% decline in 2005.
GDP grew more than 6% in 2007, partly due to higher gold prices
internationally. The government made steady strides in controlling
its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between
revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more
than 20% in 2007. The government and international financial
institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive medium-term
poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. In 2005, Bishkek
agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and, in 2006, became
eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative.
Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domestic
industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to
future growth.

Laos
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party
Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging
private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely
low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year in 1988-2007
except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial
crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos
remains a country with a underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly
in rural areas. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and
limited external and internal telecommunications, though the
government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with
support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban
areas and in most rural districts. Subsistence agriculture,
dominated by rice, accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of
total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from
international donors and from foreign investment in hydropower and
mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver,
especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam.
Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late
2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US,
allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on
exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization
in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will
improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added
tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, should help streamline
the government's inefficient tax system.

Latvia
Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per
year during 2006-07. The majority of companies, banks, and real
estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable
stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the
World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top
foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account deficit -
more than 22% of GDP in 2007 - and inflation - at nearly 10% per
year - remain major concerns.

Lebanon
The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic
infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended
Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. In
the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical
and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from
domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning national
debt, the Rafiq HARIRI government in the 1990s began an austerity
program, reining in government expenditures, increasing revenue
collection, and privatizing state enterprises, but economic and
financial reform initiatives stalled and public debt continued to
grow despite receipt of more than $2 billion in bilateral assistance
at the 2002 Paris II Donors Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah
conflict in July-August 2006 caused an estimated $3.6 billion in
infrastructure damage, and prompted international donors to pledge
nearly $1 billion in recovery and reconstruction assistance. Donors
met again in January 2007 at the Paris III Donor Conference and
pledged more than $7.5 billion to Lebanon for development projects
and budget support, conditioned on progress on Beirut's fiscal
reform and privatization program. An 18-month political stalemate
and sporadic sectarian and political violence hampered economic
activity, particularly tourism, retail sales, and investment, until
a new government was formed in July 2008.

Lesotho
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on
remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties
from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of
government revenue. However, the government has recently
strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties.
Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 permitted
the sale of water to South Africa and generated royalties for
Lesotho. Lesotho produces about 90% of its own electrical power
needs. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the
past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based
on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and
jute industries, as well as a rapidly expanding apparel-assembly
sector. The latter has grown significantly mainly due to Lesotho
qualifying for the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act. The economy is still primarily based on subsistence
agriculture, especially livestock, although drought has decreased
agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of
income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF. In July 2007,
Lesotho signed a Millennium Challenge Account Compact with the US
worth $362.5 million.

Liberia
Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around the
capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the country, taking capital
and expertise with them, but with the conclusion of fighting and the
installation of a democratically-elected government in 2006, some
have returned. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources,
forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a
producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and
rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in
scope. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and
administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support
from international donors, and encourage private investment.
Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new
sources of revenue for the government. The reconstruction of
infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy
will largely depend on generous financial and technical assistance
from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as
infrastructure and power generation.

Libya
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the
oil sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about
one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantial
revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give
Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of
this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan
officials in the past five years have made progress on economic
reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country
into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN
sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in
December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of
mass destruction. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya
were removed in April 2004, helping Libya attract more foreign
direct investment, mostly in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas
licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the
National Oil Company set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to
3 million bbl/day by 2015. Libya faces a long road ahead in
liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps -
including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and
announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a
transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing
and construction sectors, which account for more than 20% of GDP,
have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to
include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum.
Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural
output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Libya's primary
agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project,
but significant resources are being invested in desalinization
research to meet growing water demands.

Liechtenstein
Despite its small size and limited natural resources,
Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial
service sector and living standards on a par with its large European
neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a
large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum
tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many
holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal
offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The
country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses
the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90%
of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the
European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between
the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May
1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies
with those of an integrated Europe.

Lithuania
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most
trade with Russia, has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998
Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.2% in 2007 while
wages continued to grow at double digit rates, contributing to
rising inflation. Exports and imports also grew strongly, and the
current account deficit rose to nearly 15% of GDP in 2007. Trade has
been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained
membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May
2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities is nearly
complete. Foreign government and business support have helped in the
transition from the old command economy to a market economy.

Luxembourg
This stable, high-income economy - benefiting from its
proximity to France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth,
low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector,
initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to
include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the
financial sector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more
than compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign
owned and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on
small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and
cross-border workers for about 60% of its labor force. Although
Luxembourg, like all EU members, suffered from the global economic
slump in the early part of this decade, the country continues to
enjoy an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP per capita
ranks second in the world, after Qatar. After two years of strong
economic growth in 2006-07, turmoil in the world financial markets
will slow Luxembourg's economy in 2008, but growth will remain above
the European average.

Macau
Macau's economy has enjoyed strong growth in recent years on
the back of its expanding tourism and gaming sectors. Since opening
up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in
2001, the territory has attracted tens of billions of dollars in
foreign investment that have helped transform it into the world's
largest gaming center. In 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed
that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for
75% of total government revenue. The expanding casino sector, and
China's decision beginning in 2002 to relax travel restrictions,
have reenergized Macau's tourism industry, which saw total visitors
grow to 27 million in 2007, up 62% in three years. Macau's strong
economic growth has put pressure its labor market prompting
businesses to look abroad to meet their staffing needs. The
resulting influx of non-resident workers, who totaled one-fifth of
the workforce in 2006, has fueled tensions among some segments of
the population. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has been
in a slow decline. In 2006, exports of textiles and garments
generated only $1.8 billion compared to $6.9 billion in gross gaming
receipts. Macau's textile industry will continue to move to the
mainland because of the termination in 2005 of the Multi-Fiber
Agreement, which provided a near guarantee of export markets,
leaving the territory more dependent on gambling and trade-related
services to generate growth. However, the Closer Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that
came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products
tariff-free access to the mainland. Macau's currency, the Pataca, is
closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also freely accepted
in the territory.

Macedonia
At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least
developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the
total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of
Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government and
eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area.
An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized
Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the
country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth
until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. In 2001,
during a civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of
decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit
spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely
recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then averaged 4% per year during 2003-07,
expanding to 5.1% in 2007. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic
stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in
attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making
extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment
remains high at nearly 35%, but may be overstated based on the
existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20
percent of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics.

Madagascar
Having discarded past socialist economic policies,
Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and
IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy
placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an
extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is
a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of
GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have
boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US.
Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the
primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA
has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002
political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.
Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces
of economic policy for the next few years.

Malawi
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely
populated and least developed countries. The economy is
predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living
in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP
and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is
key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of
exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic
assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor
nations. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status
to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative
process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. In
2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces many challenges
including developing a market economy, improving educational
facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the
rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors
that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President
MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005
President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial
discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and
signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56
million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other
international donors to resume aid as well.

Malaysia
Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself
since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging
multi-sector economy. Since coming to office in 2003, Prime Minister
ABDULLAH has tried to move the economy farther up the value-added
production chain by attracting investments in high technology
industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The Government
of Malaysia is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand to wean
the economy off of its dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports
- particularly of electronics - remain a significant driver of the
economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from
higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic
gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government
subsidies. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in
2005 and the currency appreciated 6% per year against the dollar in
2006-07. Although this has helped to hold down the price of imports,
inflationary pressures began to build in 2007. Healthy foreign
exchange reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk
that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term
similar to the one in 1997. The government presented its five-year
national development agenda in April 2006 through the Ninth Malaysia
Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the allocation of the national
budget from 2006-10. With national elections expected within the
year, ABDULLAH has unveiled a series of ambitious development
schemes for several regions that have had trouble attracting
business investment. Real GDP growth has averaged about 6% per year
under ABDULLAH, but regions outside of Kuala Lumpur and the
manufacturing hub Penang have not fared as well.

Maldives
Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of
GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts.
Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector.
Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the
economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land
and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be
imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production,
boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 7% of GDP. The
Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989
initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the
private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to
allow more foreign investment. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5%
per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a major
tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property
damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP
contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunami
reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped the economy
recover quickly. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as a result
of high oil prices and imports of construction material.
Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing and increasing employment
are the major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term
Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible
global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1
meter or less above sea level.

Mali
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of
its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal
distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the
riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is
nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and
fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm
commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable
to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along
with gold. The government has continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%
devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic
growth to a 5% average in 1996-2007. Worker remittances and external
trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by
continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

Malta
Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic
location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about
20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few
domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade,
manufacturing (especially electronics and pharmaceuticals), and
tourism. Economic recovery of the European economy has lifted
exports, tourism, and overall growth. Malta adopted the euro on 1
January 2008.

Marshall Islands
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this
tiny island economy. The Marshall Islands received more than $1
billion in aid from the US from 1986-2002. Agricultural production,
primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most
important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale
industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The
tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing
less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future
added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports
far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free
Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the
Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made
up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts.
Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline
in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel
licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past
decade.

Mauritania
Half the population still depends on agriculture and
livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and
subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent
droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits
of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The
nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the
world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source
of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near
Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement
resulted in a buildup of foreign debt, which now stands at more than
three times the level of annual exports. In February 2000,
Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong
support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative
Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001
improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing
negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and
fiscal discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km
offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices.
Oil prospects, while initially promising, have failed to
materialize. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of
poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting
privatization of the economy.

Mauritius
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a
low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income
diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist
sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order
of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more
equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered
infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy
rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial
services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and
communications technology, and hospitality and property development.
Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and
accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development
strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of
development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than
32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South
Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has
reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector,
has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Mayotte
Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural
sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not
self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food
requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development
of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance,
an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an
obstacle to the development of tourism.

Mexico
Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar
class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and
agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent
administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads,
telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas
distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-fourth that of
the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the
US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994.
Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries
including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade
Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade
agreements. In 2007, during his first year in office, the Felipe
CALDERON administration was able to garner support from the
opposition to successfully pass a pension and a fiscal reform. The
administration continues to face many economic challenges including
the need to upgrade infrastructure, modernize labor laws, and allow
private investment in the energy sector. CALDERON has stated that
his top economic priorities remain reducing poverty and creating
jobs.

Micronesia, Federated States of
Economic activity consists primarily
of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral
deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The
potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remote location, a
lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder
development. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free
Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the
period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced.
The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual
aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and
the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts
to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term
economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US
assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.

Moldova
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe
despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a
favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral
deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture,
featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import
almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian
energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned
electrical station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut
off power to Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in
disputes over pricing. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and
agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price
Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006.
However, in 2007 growth returned to the 6% level Moldova had
achieved in 2000-05, boosted by Russia's partial removal of the
bans, solid fixed capital investment, and strong domestic demand
driven by remittances from abroad. Economic reforms have been slow
because of corruption and strong political forces backing government
controls. Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU
integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The
granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia
will encourage higher growth rates in 2008, but the agreements are
unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export
success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The
economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural
weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence
of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region
continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.

Monaco
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a
popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant
climate. The principality also is a major banking center and has
successfully sought to diversify into services and small,
high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income
tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for
individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies
that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains
monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone
network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly
comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

Mongolia
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based
on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits.
Copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and
tungsten account for a large part of industrial production and
foreign direct investment. Soviet assistance, at its height
one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw
Mongolia endure both deep recession because of political inaction
and natural disasters, as well as economic growth because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero
or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for
Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to
privatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, 7.5% in 2006,
and 9.9% in 2007 largely because of high copper prices and new gold
production. Mongolia is experiencing its highest inflation rate in
over a decade as consumer prices in 2007 rose 15%, largely because
of increased fuel and food costs. Mongolia's economy continues to be
heavily influenced by its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases
95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric
power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade
with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external
trade - China receives about 70% of Mongolia's exports. Remittances
from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are
sizable, and money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled
its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable
terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997,
seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian
regional economic and trade regimes.

Montenegro
Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and
from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central
bank, used the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as official
currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. The
dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and
Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several
international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. On 18 January 2007, Montenegro
joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own
membership in the World Trade Organization as well as negotiating a
Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in
anticipation of eventual membership. Severe unemployment remains a
key political and economic problem for this entire region.
Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant
industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to
attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.

Montserrat
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has
put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in
June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic
and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled
the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing
limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected
by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of
crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in
relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction
activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid
program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is
expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.

Morocco
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability
to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth
sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas -
despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the
economy. Morocco's GDP growth rate slowed to 2.1% in 2007 as a
result of a draught that severely reduced agricultural output and
necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Continued
dependence on foreign energy and Morocco's inability to develop
small and medium size enterprises also contributed to the slowdown.
Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing
jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco
launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2
billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment
and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums.
Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the
economy to international investors. Despite structural adjustment
programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club,
the dirham is only fully convertible for current account
transactions. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with
the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the
US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job
prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between
the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by
increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

Mozambique
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the
world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal
civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the
government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to
stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance
and with political stability since the multi-party elections in
1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth
rate. Inflation was reduced to single digits during the late 1990s,
and although it returned to double digits in 2000-06, in 2007
inflation had slowed to 8%, while GDP growth reached 7.5%. Fiscal
reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform
of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue
collection abilities. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains
dependent upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget, and
the majority of the population remains below the poverty line.
Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the
country's work force. A substantial trade imbalance persists
although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's
largest foreign investment project to date, has increased export
earnings. At the end of 2007, and after years of negotiations, the
government took over Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa
Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to
Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil war and
unpaid debts. More power is needed for additional investment
projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment
manufacturing that could further close the import/export gap.
Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through
forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a
manageable level. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) signed a Compact with Mozambique; the Mozambican government
moved rapidly to ratify the Compact and propose a plan for funding.

Namibia
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and
processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP,
but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich
alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for
gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of
nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of
uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin,
silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the
population while about half of the population depends on subsistence
agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50%
of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a
major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the
region, hides one of the world's most unequal income distributions.
The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the
Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.
Increased payments from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since
independence, but SACU payments will decline after 2008 as part of a
new revenue sharing formula. Increased fish production and mining of
zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-07, but
growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches and high
costs for metal inputs.

Nauru
Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from
exports of phosphates, now significantly depleted. An Australian
company in 2005 entered into an agreement intended to exploit
remaining supplies. Few other resources exist with most necessities
being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later
major source of support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the
replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term
problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate
deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in
trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's
economic future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds,
the government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government
has frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments.
In 2005, the deterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital
plant continued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government
and economy afloat continued to climb. Few comprehensive statistics
on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying
widely.

Navassa Island
Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur
within refuge waters.

Nepal
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in
the world with almost one-third of its population living below the
poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing
a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for
38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of
agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.
Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict have led to a
decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has
considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and
tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for
foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor,
however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological
backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location,
its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

Netherlands
The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which
depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable
industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable
current account surplus, and an important role as a European
transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food
processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery.
A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 3% of
the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing
industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU
partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The
country continues to be one of the leading European nations for
attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest
investors in the US. The economy experienced a slowdown in 2005 but
in 2006 recovered to the fastest pace in six years on the back of
increased exports and strong investment. The pace of job growth
reached 10-year highs in 2007.

Netherlands Antilles
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore
finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely
tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown
slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high
per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with
other countries in the region. Most of the oil Netherlands Antilles
imports for its refineries come from Venezuela. Almost all consumer
and capital goods are imported, the US, Italy, and Mexico being the
major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the
development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the
health and pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands
provides financial aid to support the economy.

New Caledonia
New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known
nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for
cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition
to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more
than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.
Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the
recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for
the next several years.

New Zealand
Over the past 20 years the government has transformed
New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary
British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy
that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real
incomes - but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder - and
broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the
industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for eight consecutive
years and reached $27,300 in 2007 in purchasing power parity terms.
Consumer and government spending have driven growth in recent years,
and exports picked up in 2006 after struggling for several years.
Exports were equal to about 22% of GDP in 2007, down from 33% of GDP
in 2001. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor
Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and
pensions will increase proportionately to output. Inflationary
pressures have built in recent years and the central bank raised its
key rate 13 times since January 2004 to finish 2007 at 8.25%. A
large balance of payments deficit poses another challenge in
managing the economy.

Nicaragua
Nicaragua has widespread underemployment, one of the
highest degrees of income inequality in the world, and the third
lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. While the
country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability in the past
few years, annual GDP growth has been far too low to meet the
country's needs, forcing the country to rely on international
economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations.
In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt
reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
initiative, and in October 2007, the IMF approved a new poverty
reduction and growth facility (PRGF) program that should create
fiscal space for social spending and investment. The continuity of a
relationship with the IMF reinforces donor confidence, despite
private sector concerns surrounding ORTEGA, which has dampened
investment. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has
been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export
opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Energy
shortages fueled by high oil prices, however, are a serious
bottleneck to growth.

Niger
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking
near last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human
development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy
centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's
largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a
2.9% population growth rate, have undercut the economy. Niger shares
a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the
Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other
members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger
qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary
Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded
an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC
initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service
obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care,
primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and
other programs geared at poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger
received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which
translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in
debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC.
Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor
resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil,
gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Uranium prices have
increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust
infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million
Nigeriens.

Nigeria
Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability,
corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic
management, is undertaking some reforms under a new reform-minded
administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify
the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive
oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange
earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The largely
subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid
population growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and
the country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import
food. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August
2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club
and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic
reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after
failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it
ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. In
the last year the government has begun showing the political will to
implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to
modernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blocking
excessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over the
distribution of earnings from the oil industry. In 2003, the
government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the
privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted
the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a
domestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty
Reduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management. In
November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal
that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in
payments - a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37
billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be subject to
stringent IMF reviews. GDP rose strongly in 2007, based largely on
increased oil exports and high global crude prices. Newly-elected
President YAR'ADUA has pledged to continue the economic reforms of
his predecessor and the proposed budget for 2008 reflects the
administrations emphasis on infrastructure improvements.
Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth. The government is
working toward developing stronger public-private partnerships for
electricity and roads.

Niue
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of
geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall
is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are
used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government
expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The
agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening,
although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists
primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil,
honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent
years has suffered a serious loss of population because of
emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the
International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination
of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in
2002 was US$2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in
January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in
the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

Norfolk Island
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily
increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity
unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural
sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef,
poultry, and eggs.

Northern Mariana Islands
The economy benefits substantially from
financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined
as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist
industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for
roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual
tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but
financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown.
The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment
production is by far the most important industry with the employment
of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US
under duty and quota exemptions.

Norway
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare
capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and
government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as
the vital petroleum sector, through large-scale state enterprises.
The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum,
hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on
its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas
accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia
export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU
during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of
the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget.
The government has moved ahead with privatization. Although
Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000, natural gas production is
still rising. Norwegians realize that once their gas production
peaks they will eventually face declining oil and gas revenues;
accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-and-gas-boosted budget
surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad
and now is valued at more than $250 billion. After lackluster growth
of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 3-5% in 2004-07,
partly due to higher oil prices. Norway's economy remains buoyant.
Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the main
driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and strong
investment spending in the offshore oil and gas sector. Norway's
record high budget surplus and upswing in the labor market in 2007
highlight the strength of its economic position going into 2008.

Oman
Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on
dwindling oil resources, but sustained high oil prices in recent
years have helped build Oman's budget and trade surpluses and
foreign reserves. Oman joined the World Trade Organization in
November 2000 and continues to liberalize its markets. It ratified a
free trade agreement with the US in September 2006, and, through the
Gulf Cooperation Council, seeks similar agreements with the EU,
China and Japan. As a result of its dwindling oil resources, Oman is
actively pursuing a development plan that focuses on
diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the
objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9
percent by 2020. Muscat is attempting to "Omanize" the labor force
by replacing foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman
actively seeks private foreign investors, especially in the
industrial, information technology, tourism, and higher education
fields. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal
manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.

Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world
economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch.
It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and West,
extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals,
and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1996, over 60%
of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation
of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role
in the energy supplies of the US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru.
The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the
wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has led to
fluctuations in new drillings.

Pakistan
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has
suffered from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of
foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with
neighboring India. However, since 2001, IMF-approved reforms - most
notably, privatization of the banking sector - bolstered by generous
foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets, have
generated macroeconomic recovery. Pakistan has experienced GDP
growth in the 6-8% range in 2004-07, spurred by gains in the
industrial and service sectors. Poverty levels have decreased by 10%
since 2001, and Islamabad has steadily raised development spending
in recent years, including a 52% real increase in the budget
allocation for development in FY07. In 2007 the fiscal deficit - a
result of chronically low tax collection and increased spending -
exceeded Islamabad's target of 4% of GDP. Inflation remains the top
concern among the public, jumping from 7.7% in 2007 to more than 11%
during the first few months of 2008, primarily because of rising
world commodity prices. The Pakistani rupee has depreciated since
the proclamation of emergency rule in November 2007.

Palau
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence
agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of
the work force relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.
The Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the
end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up
to $700 million in US aid for the following 15 years in return for
furnishing military facilities. Business and tourist arrivals
numbered 63,000 in 2003. The population enjoys a per capita income
roughly 50% higher than that of the Philippines and much of
Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been
greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the
rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the
willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

Panama
Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a
well-developed services sector that accounts for two-thirds of GDP.
Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free
Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism.
Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion
project that began in 2007 and should be completed by 2014 at a cost
of $5.3 billion (about 30% of current GDP). The expansion project
will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to
accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the
transoceanic crossway and should help to reduce the high
unemployment rate. The government has implemented tax reforms, as
well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements
and development of tourism. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in
December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with
the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's
economic growth.

Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and
the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a
subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits,
including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of
export earnings. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has
expended much of its energy remaining in power. He was the first
prime minister ever to serve a full five-year term. The government
also brought stability to the national budget, largely through
expenditure control; however, it relaxed spending constraints in
2006 and 2007 as elections approached. Numerous challenges still
face the government including regaining investor confidence,
restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic
efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing
relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other
socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including a
worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and chronic law and order and land
tenure issues. Australia will supply more than $300 million in aid
in FY07/08, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

Paracel Islands
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands
for tourism.

Paraguay
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large
informal sector. This sector features both reexport of imported
consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities
of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because
of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures
are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population,
especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural
activity, often on a subsistence basis. On a per capita basis, real
income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute
Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,
corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient
infrastructure. The economy rebounded between 2003 and 2007, posting
modest growth each year, as growing world demand for commodities
combined with high prices and favorable weather to support
Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.

Peru
Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal
region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering
Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the
mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent
fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals
subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of
infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of
inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by more
than 4% per year during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange
rate and low inflation. Growth jumped to 7.5% in 2007, driven by
higher world prices for minerals and metals. Risk premiums on
Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels
in late 2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the
government's prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and
investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance,
underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high. Growth
prospects depend on exports of minerals, textiles, and agricultural
products, and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas
megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking
office, President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora, a program
aimed at promoting economic growth in Peru's southern and central
highlands.

Philippines
The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three
decades with real GDP growth exceeding 7% in 2007. Higher government
spending contributed to the growth, but a resilient service sector
and large remittances from the millions of Filipinos who work abroad
have played an increasingly important role. Economic growth has
averaged 5% since President MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office in 2001.
Nevertheless, the Philippines will need still higher, sustained
growth to make progress in alleviating poverty, given its high
population growth and unequal distribution of income.
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO averted a fiscal crisis by pushing for new revenue
measures and, until recently, tightening expenditures. Declining
fiscal deficits, tapering debt and debt service ratios, as well as
recent efforts to increase spending on infrastructure and social
services have heightened optimism over Philippine economic
prospects. Although the general macroeconomic outlook has improved
significantly, the Philippines continues to face important
challenges and must maintain the reform momentum in order to catch
up with regional competitors, improve employment opportunities, and
alleviate poverty. Longer-term fiscal stability will require more
sustainable revenue sources, rather than non-recurring revenues from
privatization.

Pitcairn Islands
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist
on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps.
The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits
and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas,
yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The
major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to
collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October
2004, more than one-quarter of Pitcairn's small labor force was
arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were
required as lighter crew to load or unload passing ships.

Poland
Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since
1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition
economies. In 2007, GDP grew an estimated 6.5%, based on rising
private consumption, a jump in corporate investment, and EU funds
inflows. GDP per capita is still much below the EU average, but is
similar to that of the three Baltic states. Since 2004, EU
membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major
boost to the economy. Unemployment is falling rapidly, though at
roughly 12.8% in 2007, it remains well above the EU average.
Tightening labor markets, and rising global energy and food prices,
pose a risk to consumer price stability. In December 2007 inflation
reached 4.1% on a year-over-year basis, or higher than the upper
limit of the National Bank of Poland's target range. Poland's
economic performance could improve further if the country addresses
some of the remaining deficiencies in its business environment. An
inefficient commercial court system, a rigid labor code,
bureaucratic red tape, and persistent low-level corruption keep the
private sector from performing up to its full potential. Rising
demands to fund health care, education, and the state pension system
present a challenge to the Polish government's effort to hold the
consolidated public sector budget deficit under 3.0% of GDP, a
target which was achieved in 2007. The PO/PSL coalition government
which came to power in November 2007 plans to further reduce the
budget deficit with the aim of eventually adopting the euro. The new
government has also announced its intention to enact
business-friendly reforms, reduce public sector spending growth,
lower taxes, and accelerate privatization. However, the government
does not have the necessary three-fifths majority needed to override
a presidential veto, and thus may have to water down initiatives in
order to garner enough support to pass its pro-business policies.

Portugal
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly
service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986.
Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized
many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the
economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The
country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and
began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU
member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for
much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-07. GDP per capita stands
at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational
system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity
and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by
lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for
foreign direct investment. The budget deficit surged to an all-time
high of 6% of GDP in 2005, but the government reduced the deficit to
2.6% in 2007 - a year ahead of Portugal's targeted schedule.
Nonetheless, the government faces tough choices in its attempts to
boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keeping the budget
deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the
Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed
agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income.
Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US
firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US
minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy
production and other livestock products as the main source of income
in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an
important source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5
million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to
the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined
again in 2006-07.

Qatar
Qatar is in the midst of an economic boom supported by its
expanding production of natural gas and oil. Economic policy is
focused on development of Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves
and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors.
Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export
earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made
Qatar the highest per-capita income country and one of the world's
fastest growing. Sustained high oil prices and increased natural gas
exports in recent years have helped build Qatar's budget and trade
surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil reserves of more than 15
billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for
22 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas are roughly 25
trillion cubic meters, about 15% of the world total and third
largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign
investment in the development of its gas fields during the last
decade and became the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG)
exporter in 2007.

Romania
Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007,
began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete
industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's
needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year
recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic
consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent
years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's
macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a
middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption
and red tape continue to handicap its business environment.
Inflation rose in 2007 for the first time in eight years, driven in
part by the depreciation of the currency, rising energy costs, a
nation-wide drought affecting food prices, and a relaxation of
fiscal discipline. Romania hopes to adopt the euro by 2014.

Russia Russia ended 2007 with its ninth straight year of growth, averaging 7% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble initially drove this growth, since 2003 consumer demand and, more recently, investment have played a significant role. Over the last six years, fixed capital investments have averaged real gains greater than 10% per year and personal incomes have achieved real gains more than 12% per year. During this time, poverty has declined steadily and the middle class has continued to expand. Russia has also improved its international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis. The federal budget has run surpluses since 2001 and ended 2007 with a surplus of about 3% of GDP. Over the past several years, Russia has used its stabilization fund based on oil taxes to prepay all Soviet-era sovereign debt to Paris Club creditors and the IMF. Foreign debt is approximately one-third of GDP. The state component of foreign debt has declined, but commercial debt to foreigners has risen strongly. Oil export earnings have allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to some $470 billion at yearend 2007, the third largest reserves in the world. During President PUTIN's first administration, a number of important reforms were implemented in the areas of tax, banking, labor, and land codes. These achievements have raised business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects, with foreign direct investment rising from $14.6 billion in 2005 to approximately $45 billion in 2007. In 2007, Russia's GDP grew 8.1%, led by non-tradable services and goods for the domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports. Rising inflation returned in the second half of 2007, driven largely by unsterilized capital inflows and by rising food costs, and approached 12% by year-end. In 2006, Russia signed a bilateral market access agreement with the US as a prelude to possible WTO entry, and its companies are involved in global merger and acquisition activity in the oil and gas, metals, and telecom sectors. Despite Russia's recent success, serious problems persist. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of exports and 30% of government revenues, leaving the country vulnerable to swings in world commodity prices. Russia's manufacturing base is dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized if the country is to achieve broad-based economic growth. The banking system, while increasing consumer lending and growing at a high rate, is still small relative to the banking sectors of Russia's emerging market peers. Political uncertainties associated with this year's power transition, corruption, and lack of trust in institutions continue to dampen domestic and foreign investor sentiment. PUTIN has granted more influence to forces within his government that desire to reassert state control over the economy. Russia has made little progress in building the rule of law, the bedrock of a modern market economy. The government has promised additional legislative amendments to make its intellectual property protection WTO-consistent, but enforcement remains problematic.

Rwanda
Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the
population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the
most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few
natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange
earners are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's
fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population,
particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract
private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made
substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy
to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has
rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Despite Rwanda's fertile
ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population
growth, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive
substantial aid money and obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted
Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005-06. Rwanda also
received Millennium Challenge Account Threshold status in 2006. The
government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce
poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and
domestic investment and pursuing market-oriented reforms, although
energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of
adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to
handicap growth.

Saint Barthelemy
The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon
high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors
primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host
70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The
relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism.
The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant
investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water
resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources
and most manufactured goods. Employment is strong and attracts labor
from Brazil and Portugal.

Saint Helena
The economy depends largely on financial assistance
from the UK, which will amount to about $27 million in FY06/07 or
almost 70% of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns
income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts.
Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek
employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the
Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the
government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4%
of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government
has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and
to stimulate other sectors of the economy. Activities such as
tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have
assumed larger roles in the economy and have contributed to the
recent robust growth. Tourism revenues are now the chief source of
the islands' foreign exchange; about 341,800 tourists visited Nevis
in 2005. The current government is constrained by a high debt
burden, public debt reached 190% of GDP by the end of 2005, largely
attributable to public enterprise losses.

Saint Lucia
The island nation has been able to attract foreign
business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and
tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in
2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects.
Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, with almost 900,000
arrivals in 2007. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in
the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to
revitalize the banana industry. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a
variety of external shocks including declines in European Union
banana preferences, volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters,
and dependence on foreign oil. High debt servicing obligations
constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse
external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though
unemployment needs to be reduced.

Saint Martin
The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with
85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million
visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the
Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No
significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost
all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods
are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States.
Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in
the Caribbean.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The inhabitants have traditionally earned
their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets
operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been
declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing
quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint
Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an
exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding
territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of
what France had sought. France heavily subsidizes the islands to the
great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an
expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming,
crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the
local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for
development of the energy sector.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Economic growth slowed slightly in 2007 after reaching a 10 year high of nearly 7% in 2006, but is expected to remain robust, hinging upon seasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors and a recent increase in construction activity. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2007, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high debt burden - 25 percent of current revenues are directed towards debt servicing.

Samoa
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on
development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and
fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms.
Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90%
of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The
fish catch declined during the El Nino of 2002-03 but returned to
normal by mid-2005. The manufacturing sector mainly processes
agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs
3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly
plant in Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for
25% of GDP; 116,000 tourists visited the islands in 2006. The Samoan
Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector,
encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while
at the same time protecting the environment. Observers point to the
flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future
economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy
state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.

San Marino
The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2006
more than 2.1 million tourists visited San Marino. The key
industries are banking, clothing and apparel, electronics, and
ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per
capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to
those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much
of its food.

Sao Tome and Principe
This small, poor island economy has become
increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa
production has substantially declined in recent years because of
drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most
manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of
food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external
debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt
rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in
December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
program, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt
burden. In August 2005, Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3
million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist
industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in
recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price
controls and subsidies. Sao Tome is optimistic about the development
of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich
Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split
with Nigeria. The first production licenses were sold in 2004,
though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's
receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a
year. Real GDP growth exceeded 6% in 2007, as a result of increases
in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong
government controls over major economic activities. It possesses
more than 20% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the
largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The
petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of
GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the
private sector. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an
important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and
service sectors. High oil prices have boosted growth, government
revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling
Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging
private sector growth - especially in power generation,
telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to
lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase
employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly
40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high,
and the large youth population generally lacks the education and
technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially
boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure
development, and government salaries. As part of its effort to
attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia
acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of
negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six
"economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote
development and diversification.

Senegal
In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious
economic reform program with the support of the international donor
community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's
currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the
French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been
steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in
1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform
program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during
1995-2007. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single
digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union
(WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with
a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High
unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee
Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was
also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in
2006 and 2007. The phosphate industry has struggled for two years to
secure capital, and reduced output has directly impacted GDP. In
2007, Senegal signed agreements for major new mining concessions for
iron, zircon, and gold with foreign companies. Firms from Dubai have
agreed to manage and modernize Dakar's maritime port, and create a
new special economic zone. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside
donor assistance. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal has benefited from eradication
of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector
debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing,
Policy Support Initiative program.

Serbia
MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended
period of economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's
infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left
the economy only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of
former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the
Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government
implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform
program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000,
a down-sized Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the
international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World
Bank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June
2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. In November
2001, the Paris Club agreed to reschedule the country's $4.5 billion
public debt and wrote off 66% of the debt. In July 2004, the London
Club of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt just over
half the total owed. Belgrade has made only minimal progress in
restructuring and privatizing its holdings in major sectors of the
economy, including energy and telecommunications. It has made
halting progress towards EU membership and is currently pursuing a
Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels. Serbia is
also pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization.
Unemployment remains an ongoing political and economic problem.

Seychelles
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this
Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the
pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the
upper-middle income group of countries. Growth has been led by the
tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and
provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna
fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign
investment to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time,
the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by
promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale
manufacturing. Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the
tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War and once again
following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US.
Economic growth slowed in 1998-2002 and fell in 2003-04, due to
sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2005-07. Real GDP
grew by 5.8% in 2007, driven by tourism and a boom in
tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to
depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10%
in the first 9 months of 2007.

Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with
tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses
substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its
physical and social infrastructure is not well developed, and
serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development.
Nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence
agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw
materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market.
Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency
earnings accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The
fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace
and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is
essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement
government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and
Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and
reduce inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led
to a revival of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of
bauxite and rutile mining.

Singapore
Singapore has a highly developed and successful
free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free
environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of
the four largest West European countries. The economy depends
heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics and
information technology products. It was hard hit from 2001-03 by the
global recession, by the slump in the technology sector, and by an
outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which
curbed tourism and consumer spending. Fiscal stimulus, low interest
rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous
growth in 2004-07 with real GDP growth averaging 7% annually. The
government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less
vulnerable to the global demand cycle for information technology
products - it has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and
medical technology production - and will continue efforts to
establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.

Slovakia
Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from
a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA
government made excellent progress during 2001-04 in macroeconomic
stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly
complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands,
and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom
with business friendly policies such as labor market liberalization
and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive sector has
been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in
2001-07 despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an
unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 8.6% in 2007 but remains the
economy's Achilles heel. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and
will be the second of the new EU member states to adopt the euro in
2009 if it continues to meet euro adoption criteria in 2008. Despite
its 2006 pre-election promises to loosen fiscal policy and reverse
the previous DZURINDA government's pro-market reforms, FICO's
cabinet has thus far been careful to keep a lid on spending in order
to meet euro adoption criteria. The FICO government is pursuing a
state-interventionist economic policy, however, and has pushed to
regulate energy and food prices.

Slovenia
Slovenia, which on 1 January 2007 became the first 2004
European Union entrant to adopt the euro, is a model of economic
success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita
GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a
well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the
Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and
the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU.
Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed
for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and
have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became
the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to
donor partner at the World Bank. In December 2007, Slovenia was
invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite
its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia
has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively
high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and
legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in
China, India, and elsewhere.

Solomon Islands
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture,
fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most
manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The
islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead,
zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of the Regional
Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic
violence, the closing of key businesses, and an empty government
treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore
law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as
the economy rebuilds.

Somalia
Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia
has maintained a healthy informal economy, largely based on
livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and
telecommunications. Agriculture is the most important sector, with
livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of
export earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent
upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the
population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are
Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and
machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial
sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has
largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Somalia's service
sector also has grown. Telecommunication firms provide wireless
services in most major cities and offer the lowest international
call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking
sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the
country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances
annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from
food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate
and are supported with private-security militias. Somalia's arrears
to the IMF continued to grow in 2006-07. Statistics on Somalia's
GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed
skeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami caused an
estimated 150 deaths and resulted in destruction of property in
coastal areas.

South Africa
South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with
an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial,
legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock
exchange that is 17th largest in the world; and modern
infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to
major urban centers throughout the region. Growth has been robust
since 2004, as South Africa has reaped the benefits of macroeconomic
stability and a global commodities boom. However, unemployment
remains high and outdated infrastructure has constrained growth. At
the end of 2007, South Africa began to experience an electricity
crisis because state power supplier Eskom suffered supply problems
with aged plants, necessitating "load-shedding" cuts to residents
and businesses in the major cities. Daunting economic problems
remain from the apartheid era - especially poverty, lack of economic
empowerment among the disadvantaged groups, and a shortage of public
transportation. South African economic policy is fiscally
conservative but pragmatic, focusing on controlling inflation,
maintaining a budget surplus, and using state-owned enterprises to
deliver basic services to low-income areas as a means to increase
job growth and household income.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Some fishing takes
place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from
harvesting finfish and krill. The islands receive income from
postage stamps produced in the UK, sale of fishing licenses, and
harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels. Tourism from
specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.

Southern Ocean
Fisheries in 2005-06 landed 128,081 metric tons, of
which 83% (106,591 tons) was krill (Euphausia superba) and 9.7%
(12,364 tons) Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides),
compared to 147,506 tons in 2004-05 of which 86% (127,035 tons) was
krill and 8% (11,821 tons) Patagonian toothfish (estimated fishing
from the area covered by the Convention of the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which extends slightly
beyond the Southern Ocean area). International agreements were
adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated
fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376
metric tons of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. In the 2006-07
Antarctic summer, 35,552 tourists visited the Southern Ocean,
compared to 29,799 in 2005-2006 (estimates provided to the Antarctic
Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators
(IAATO), and does not include passengers on overflights and those
flying directly in and out of Antarctica).

Spain
The Spanish economy boomed from 1986 to 1990 averaging 5%
annual growth. After a European-wide recession in the early 1990s,
the Spanish economy resumed moderate growth starting in 1994.
Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita
basis is equal to that of the leading West European economies. The
center-right government of former President Jose Maria AZNAR
successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of
countries launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1
January 1999. The AZNAR administration continued to advocate
liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and
introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell steadily
under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 7.6%. Growth
averaging more than 3% annually during 2003-07 was satisfactory
given the background of a faltering European economy. The Socialist
president, Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO, has made mixed progress in
carrying out key structural reforms, which need to be accelerated
and deepened to sustain Spain's economic growth. Despite the
economy's relative solid footing significant downside risks remain
including Spain's continued loss of competitiveness, the potential
for a housing market collapse, the country's changing demographic
profile, and a decline in EU structural funds.

Spratly Islands
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing.
The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins
suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is
largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential
reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Sri Lanka
In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and
its import substitution trade policy for more market-oriented
policies, export-oriented trade, and encouragement of foreign
investment. Recent changes in government, however, have brought some
policy reversals. Currently, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party has
a more statist economic approach, which seeks to reduce poverty by
steering investment to disadvantaged areas, developing small and
medium enterprises, promoting agriculture, and expanding the already
enormous civil service. The government has halted privatizations.
Although suffering a brutal civil war that began in 1983, Sri Lanka
saw GDP growth average 4.5% in the last 10 years with the exception
of a recession in 2001. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took
about 31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000
displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of
property. Government spending and reconstruction drove growth to
more than 7% in 2006 but reduced agriculture output probably slowed
growth to about 6 percent in 2007. Government spending and loose
monetary policy drove inflation to nearly 16% in 2007. Sri Lanka's
most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel,
food and beverages, port construction, telecommunications, and
insurance and banking. In 2006, plantation crops made up only about
15% of exports (compared with more than 90% in 1970), while textiles
and garments accounted for more than 60%. About 800,000 Sri Lankans
work abroad, 90% of them in the Middle East. They send home more
than $1 billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the
north and east for an independent homeland continues to cast a
shadow over the economy.

Sudan
Sudan's economy is booming on the back of increases in oil
production, high oil prices, and large inflows of foreign direct
investment. GDP growth registered more than 10% per year in 2006 and
2007. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been working with the IMF to
implement macroeconomic reforms, including a managed float of the
exchange rate. Sudan began exporting crude oil in the last quarter
of 1999. Agricultural production remains important, because it
employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP. The
Darfur conflict, the aftermath of two decades of civil war in the
south, the lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and a
reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture ensure
much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for
years despite rapid rises in average per capita income. In January
2007, the government introduced a new currency, the Sudanese Pound,
at an initial exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds.

Suriname
The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with
exports of alumina, gold, and oil accounting for about 85% of
exports and 25% of government revenues, making the economy highly
vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The short-term economic
outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and
on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining
sectors. Suriname has received aid for these projects from
Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund. Suriname's
economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued
commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the
introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote
competition. In 2000, the government of Ronald VENETIAAN, returned
to office and inherited an economy with inflation of over 100% and a
growing fiscal deficit. He quickly implemented an austerity program,
raised taxes, attempted to control spending, and tamed inflation.
These economic policies are likely to remain in effect during
VENETIAAN's third term. Prospects for local onshore oil production
are good as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling
was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie)
signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Maersk, and Occidental.
Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.

Svalbard
Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The
treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories equal rights to
exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although
US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past,
the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The
settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian
state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian
population on the island, runs many of the local services, and
provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.

Swaziland
In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture
occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing
sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp
remain important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar
industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in
response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in
importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines
remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short
border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South
Africa from which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports
and to which it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is
pegged to the South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary
policy to South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African
Customs Union, which may equal as much as 70% of government revenue
this year, and worker remittances from South Africa substantially
supplement domestically earned income. Swaziland is not poor enough
to merit an IMF program; however, the country is struggling to
reduce the size of the civil service and control costs at public
enterprises. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for
foreign investment. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate,
Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium
enterprises and attract foreign direct investment is acute.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist
as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population
needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and nearly
two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.

Sweden
Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th
century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a
mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits.
It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external
communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and
iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented
toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of
industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50%
of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP and
2% of employment. Sweden is in the midst of a sustained economic
upswing, boosted by increased domestic demand and strong exports.
This and robust finances have offered the center-right government
considerable scope to implement its reform program aimed at
increasing employment, reducing welfare dependence, and streamlining
the state's role in the economy. The government plans to sell $31
billion in state assets during the next three years to further
stimulate growth and raise revenue to pay down the federal debt. In
September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro
system concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty.

Switzerland
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern
market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force,
and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European
economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic
practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their
international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safehaven for
investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and
has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the
anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth stagnated during
the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05, and jumped to 2.9% in
2006, and 2.6% in 2007. Unemployment has remained at less than half
the EU average.

Syria
The Syrian economy grew by an estimated 3.3% in real terms in
2007 led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors, which together
account for about one-half of GDP. Higher crude oil prices countered
declining oil production and led to higher budgetary and export
receipts. Damascus has implemented modest economic reforms in the
past few years, including cutting lending interest rates, opening
private banks, consolidating all of the multiple exchange rates,
raising prices on some subsidized items, most notably gasoline and
cement, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange - which is set
to begin operations in 2009. In October 2007, for example, Damascus
raised the price of subsidized gasoline by 20%, and may institute a
rationing system in 2008. In addition, President ASAD signed
legislative decrees to encourage corporate ownership reform, and to
allow the Central Bank to issue Treasury bills and bonds for
government debt. Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled
by the government. Long-run economic constraints include declining
oil production, high unemployment and inflation, rising budget
deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy
use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion,
and water pollution.

Taiwan
Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually
decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by the
authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large, state-owned
banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have
provided the primary impetus for industrialization. The island runs
a large trade surplus, and its foreign reserves are among the
world's largest. Despite restrictions on cross-strait links, China
has overtaken the US to become Taiwan's largest export market and
its second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the
island's number one destination for foreign direct investment.
Strong trade performance in 2007 pushed Taiwan's GDP growth rate
above 5%, and unemployment is below 4%.

Tajikistan
Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among
the 15 former Soviet republics. Only 7% of the land area is arable.
Cotton is the most important crop, but this sector is burdened with
debt and an obsolete infrastructure. Mineral resources include
silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a
large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete
factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil
war (1992-97) severely damaged the already weak economic
infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and
agricultural production. While Tajikistan has experienced steady
economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds of the population
continues to live in abject poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6%
in 2004, but dropped to 8% in 2005, 7% in 2006, and 7.8% in 2007.
Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to uneven
implementation of structural reforms, corruption, weak governance,
widespread unemployment, seasonal power shortages, and the external
debt burden. Continued privatization of medium and large state-owned
enterprises could increase productivity. A debt restructuring
agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002 including a $250
million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million debt. Tajikistan
ranks third in the world in terms of water resources per head, but
suffers winter power shortages due to poor management of water
levels in rivers and reservoirs. Completion of the Sangtuda I
hydropower dam - built with Russian investment - and the Sangtuda II
and Rogun dams will add substantially to electricity output. If
finished according to Tajik plans, Rogun will be the world's tallest
dam. Tajikistan has also received substantial infrastructure
development loans from the Chinese government to improve roads and
an electricity transmission network. To help increase north-south
trade, the US funded a $36 million bridge which opened in August
2007 and links Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The
economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than
40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work
force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated
crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured
the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods.
The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to
rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to
alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup
in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of
minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase
private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and
solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 7%
in 2007.

Thailand
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise
economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand appears to
have fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis. The
country was one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04. Boosted
by strong export growth, the Thai economy grew 4.5% in 2007. Bangkok
has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners
in an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. By 2007,
the tourism sector had largely recovered from the major 2004
tsunami. Following the military coup in September 2006, investment
and consumer confidence stagnated due to the uncertain political
climate that lasted through the December 2007 elections. Foreign
investor sentiment was further tempered by a 30% reserve requirement
on capital inflows instituted in December 2006, and discussion of
amending Thailand's rules governing foreign-owned businesses.
Economic growth in 2007 was due almost entirely to robust export
performance - despite the pressure of an appreciating currency.
Exports have performed at record levels, rising nearly 17% in 2006
and 12% in 2007. Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular
automobile production - and farm output are driving these gains.

Timor-Leste
In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure
of Timor-Leste was laid waste by Indonesian troops and
anti-independence militias. Three hundred thousand people fled
westward. Over the next three years a massive international program,
manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police
officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural
areas. By the end of 2005, refugees had returned or had settled in
Indonesia. The country continues to face great challenges in
rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil
administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the
work force. The development of oil and gas resources in offshore
waters has begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule
and above expectations - the result of high petroleum prices. The
technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create
jobs for the unemployed because there are no production facilities
in Timor. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005 the National
Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to
serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the
value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The
Fund held assets of US$1.8 billion as of September 2007. The
mid-2006 outbreak of violence and civil unrest disrupted both
private and public sector economic activity and created 100,000
internally displaced persons - about 10 percent of the population.
While real non-oil GDP growth in 2006 was negative, the economy
probably rebounded in 2007. The underlying economic policy challenge
the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift
the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and reduce poverty. In
late 2007, the new government announced plans aimed at increasing
spending, reducing poverty, and improving the country's
infrastructure, but it continues to face capacity constraints. In
the short term, the government must also address continuing problems
related to the crisis of 2006, especially the displaced Timorese.

Togo
This small, sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both
commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment
for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be
imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export
earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is the
world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The government's
decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to
implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment,
and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly.
Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased
openness in government financial operations, progress toward
legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors.
Togo is working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility (PRGF) that could eventually lead to a debt reduction plan.
Economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production,
underinvestment in phosphate mining, and strained relations with
donors.

Tokelau
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack
of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine
agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid
from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public
services with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The
principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.

Tonga
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has
a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans,
and yams are the main crops, and agricultural exports, including
fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a
high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country
remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan
communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the
second-largest source of hard currency earnings following
remittances. The government is emphasizing the development of the
private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is
committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a
reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social
services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in
inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service
expenditures are major issues facing the government.

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as
an excellent investment site for international businesses and has
one of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin
America. Recent growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied
natural gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and steel. Additional
petrochemical, aluminum, and plastics projects are in various stages
of planning. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer
of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon these
resources but it also supplies manufactured goods, notably food and
beverages, as well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gas
account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% of
employment. The country is also a regional financial center, and
tourism is a growing sector, although it is not proportionately as
important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits
from a growing trade surplus. Economic growth reached 12.6% in 2006
and 5.5% in 2007 as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and LNG remained
high, and as foreign direct investment continued to grow to support
expanded capacity in the energy sector.

Tunisia
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural,
mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of
economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the
past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social
policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia
relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over
the past decade, reached 6.3% in 2007 because of development in
non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production,
and strong growth in the services sector. However, Tunisia will need
to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment
opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as
the growing population of university graduates. Broader
privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,
and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.

Turkey
Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry
and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that still
accounts for more than 35% of employment. It has a strong and
rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major
role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The
largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which accounts
for one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competition
in international markets with the end of the global quota system.
However, other sectors, notably the automotive and electronics
industries, are rising in importance within Turkey's export mix.
Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong
expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994,
1999, and 2001. The economy is turning around with the
implementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%,
followed by roughly 5% annual growth from 2005-07. Inflation fell to
7.7% in 2005 - a 30-year low - but climbed back to 8.5% in 2007.
Despite the strong economic gains from 2002-07, which were largely
due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing,
and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a high
current account deficit and high external debt. Further economic and
judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost
foreign direct investment. The stock value of FDI currently stands
at about $85 billion. Privatization sales are currently approaching
$21 billion. Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan
pipeline in May 2006, marking a major milestone that will bring up
to 1 million barrels per day from the Caspian to market. In 2007,
Turkish financial markets weathered significant domestic political
turmoil, including turbulence sparked by controversy over the
selection of former Foreign Minister Abdullah GUL as Turkey's 11th
president. Economic fundamentals are sound, marked by strong
economic growth and foreign direct investment. Turkey's high current
account deficit leaves the economy vulnerable to destabilizing
shifts in investor confidence, however.

Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a largely desert country with intensive
agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources.
One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it was
the world's 10th-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years
have led to an almost 50% decline in cotton exports. With an
authoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally based
social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to
economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its
inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. From
1998-2005, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate
export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive
short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports
rose by an average of roughly 15% per year from 2003-07, largely
because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall
prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread
internal poverty, a poor educational system, government misuse of
oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt
market-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economic
statistics were state secrets. The new government has established a
State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other figures are
subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP
growth is uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOW
has sought to improve the health and education systems, ordered
unification of the country's dual currency exchange rate, begun
decreasing state subsidies for gasoline, signed an agreement to
build a gas line to China, and created a special tourism zone on the
Caspian Sea. All of these moves hint that the new post-NYYAZOW
government will work to create a friendlier foreign investment
environment.

Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on
tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital
goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the
leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters
of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of
government revenue also include fees from offshore financial
activities and customs receipts.

Tuvalu
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of
nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral
resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the
primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and public
sector workers make up the majority of those employed. About 15% of
the adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroad
and remittances are a vital source of income, contributing around $4
million in 2006. Substantial income is received annually from the
Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF), an international trust fund established in
1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and
South Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservative
withdrawals, this fund grew from an initial $17 million to an
estimated value of $77 million in 2006. The TFF contributed nearly
$9 million towards the government budget in 2006 and is an important
cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. The US
Government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of
payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to ensure
financial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuing
public sector reforms, including privatization of some government
functions and personnel cuts. Tuvalu also derives royalties from the
lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name, with revenue of more than
$2 million in 2006. A minor source of government revenue comes from
the sale of stamps and coins. With merchandise exports only a
fraction of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placed
on fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances from
overseas workers, official transfers, and income from overseas
investments. Growing income disparities and the vulnerability of the
country to climatic change are among leading concerns for the nation.

Uganda
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile
soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper,
cobalt, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is the most important
sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee
accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government
- with the support of foreign countries and international agencies -
has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking
currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing
prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The
policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and
boosting production and export earnings. During 1990-2001, the
economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment
in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for
production and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved
domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan
entrepreneurs. Growth continues to be solid, despite variability in
the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export, and a consistent
upturn in Uganda's export markets. In 2000, Uganda qualified for
enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth
$1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These
amounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up to
about $2 billion.

Ukraine
After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the
most important economic component of the former Soviet Union,
producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic.
Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities
of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,
its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for
example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the
former USSR. Shortly after independence was ratified in December
1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a
legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to
reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform
efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to
less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for
energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have
made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine
depends on imports to meet about three-fourths of its annual oil and
natural gas requirements. A dispute with Russia over pricing in late
2005 and early 2006 led to a temporary gas cut-off; Ukraine
concluded a deal with Russia in January 2006 that almost doubled the
price Ukraine pays for Russian gas. Outside institutions -
particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace
and scope of reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most
tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more
economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more
improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing
capital markets, and improving the legislative framework. Ukraine's
economy remains buoyant despite political turmoil between the Prime
Minister and President. Real GDP growth reached about 7% in 2006-07,
fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top export - and
by strong domestic consumption, spurred by rising pensions and
wages. Although the economy is likely to expand in 2008, long-term
growth could be threatened by the government's plans to reinstate
tax, trade, and customs privileges and to maintain restrictive grain
export quotas.

United Arab Emirates
The UAE has an open economy with a high per
capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Despite largely
successful efforts at economic diversification, nearly 40% of GDP is
still directly based on oil and gas output. Since the discovery of
oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a
profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert
principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The
government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure
expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector
involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to
undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US.
The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and
zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. Higher oil
revenue, strong liquidity, housing shortages, and cheap credit in
2005-07 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and
consumer inflation. Rising prices are increasing the operating costs
for businesses in the UAE and adversely impacting government
employees and others on fixed incomes. Dependence on oil and a large
expatriate workforce are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's
strategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification and
creating more opportunities for nationals through improved education
and increased private sector employment.

United Kingdom
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center,
is one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies of Western
Europe. Over the past two decades, the government has greatly
reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare
programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient
by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less
than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and
oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one
of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services,
particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by
far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to
decline in importance. Since emerging from recession in 1992,
Britain's economy has enjoyed the longest period of expansion on
record; growth has remained in the 2-3% range since 2004, outpacing
most of Europe. The economy's strength has complicated the Labor
government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that the
economy is doing well outside of EMU, and public opinion polls show
a majority of Britons are opposed to the euro. The BROWN government
has been speeding up the improvement of education, health services,
and affordable housing at a cost in higher taxes and a widening
public deficit.

United States
The US has the largest and most technologically
powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000. In
this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms
make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments
buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private
marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their
counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand
capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new
products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their
rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US
firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances,
especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military
equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War
II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual
development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the
bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of
those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay
raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975,
practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top
20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11
September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The
war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the
subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national
resources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004-07 was
undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. Hurricane
Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August
2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year.
Soaring oil prices in 2005-2007 threatened inflation and
unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end
2007. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption.
Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic
infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging
population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of
family income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise trade
deficit reached a record $847 billion in 2007. Together, these
problems caused a marked reduction in the value and status of the
dollar worldwide in 2007.

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
no economic activity

Uruguay
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented
agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of
social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during
1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn,
stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems
of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in
2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in
Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and a
massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped
by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis.
The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged,
and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF
helped stem the damage. Uruguay in 2007 improved its debt profile by
paying off $1.1 billion in IMF debt, and continues to follow the
orthodox economic plan set by the Fund in 2005. The construction of
a pulp mill in Fray Bentos, which represents the largest foreign
direct investment in Uruguay's history at $1.2 billion, came online
in November 2007 and is expected to add 1.6% to GDP and boost
already rising exports. The economy has grown strongly since 2004 as
a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a strong
peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates.

Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11%
consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than
60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities.
Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and
fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as
the major source of export earnings. Other major export earners
include gold, natural gas, and oil. Following independence in
September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style
command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and
prices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate,
the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not
decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in
the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of
society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted Article
VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency
convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of
borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also
led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity.
The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility,
especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia and
China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry may boost growth
prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and
Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included
provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses
have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining,
telecom, and oil and gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian
Economic Community (EurASEC), both organizations dominated by
Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign
companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and
have frozen their assets.

Vanuatu
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on
small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the
population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with
more than 60,000 visitors in 2005, are other mainstays of the
economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known
petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the
local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic
development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity
exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from
main markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign
concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its
offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up
efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort
development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially
livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New
Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

Venezuela
Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which
account for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the
federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strike
between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economic
consequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003
- but economic output since then has recovered strongly. Fueled by
high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP in
2006 by about 9% and in 2007 by about 8%. This spending, combined
with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic
credit, has created a consumption boom but has come at the cost of
higher inflation-roughly 20 percent in 2007. Imports also have
jumped significantly. Embolden by his December 2006 reelection,
President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2007 nationalized firms in the petroleum,
communications, and electricity sectors, which reduced foreign
influence in the economy. Although voters in December 2007 rejected
CHAVEZ's proposed constitutional changes, CHAVEZ still has
significant control of the economy and has indicated he intends to
continue to consolidate and centralize authority over the economy by
implementing "21st Century Socialism."

Vietnam
Vietnam is a densely-populated developing country that in
the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the
loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the
rigidities of a centrally-planned economy. Economic stagnation
marked the period after reunification from 1975 to 1985. In 1986,
the Sixth Party Congress approved a broad economic reform package
that introduced market reforms and set the groundwork for Vietnam's
improved investment climate. Substantial progress was achieved from
1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of
development and significantly reducing poverty. The 1997 Asian
financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy
and temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress toward
a market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from
1997 to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial
crisis and a global recession. Since 2001, Vietnamese authorities
have reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and
international integration. They have moved to implement the
structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce
more competitive, export-driven industries. The economy grew 8.5% in
2007. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and
entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in
December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade
and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US increased 900% from
2001 to 2007. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007, following over
a decade long negotiation process. WTO membership has provided
Vietnam an anchor to the global market and reinforced the domestic
economic reform process. Among other benefits, accession allows
Vietnam to take advantage of the phase-out of the Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles and
clothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Agriculture's share of
economic output has continued to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to
less than 20% in 2007. Deep poverty, defined as a percent of the
population living under $1 per day, has declined significantly and
is now smaller than that of China, India, and the Philippines.
Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor
force that is growing by more than one-and-a-half million people
every year. In an effort to stem high inflation which took off in
2007, early in 2008 Vietnamese authorities began to raise benchmark
interest rates and reserve requirements. Hanoi is targeting an
economic growth rate of 7.5-8% during the next four years.

Virgin Islands
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting
for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million
visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum
refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch
assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at
Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being
imported. International business and financial services are small
but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to
substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve
fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private
sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to
protect the environment.

Wake Island
Economic activity is limited to providing services to
military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food
and manufactured goods must be imported.

Wallis and Futuna
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence
agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture
(coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing.
About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come
from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to
Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate
workers in New Caledonia.

West Bank
The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the
Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in
economic conditions since the second intifada began in September
2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure
policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in
response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and
trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002,
Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of
capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread
business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to
the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse
of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's
financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade
opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank
and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international
community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during
March 2006 - June 2007 has interrupted the provision of PA social
services and the payment of PA salaries. Since June the Fayyad
government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the
provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high
levels of international assistance.

Western Sahara
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing,
and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the
population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable
agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban
population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are
substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government
controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara.
Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006
allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco,
including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara.
Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for
oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the
Polisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similar
exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come
into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over
Western Sahara.

World
Global output rose by 5.2% in 2007, led by China (11.4%),
India (9.2%), and Russia (8.1%). The 14 other successor nations of
the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experienced
widely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued as
strong performers, in the 8%-10% range of growth. From 2006 to 2007
growth rates slowed in all the major industrial countries except for
the United Kingdom (3.1%). Analysts attribute the slowdown to
uncertainties in the financial markets and lowered consumer
confidence. Worldwide, nations varied widely in their growth
results. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock
economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over
international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology.
Internally, the central government often finds its control over
resources slipping as separatist regional movements - typically
based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in many of the successor
states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in
India, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada. Externally, the central
government is losing decisionmaking powers to international bodies,
notably the EU. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult
political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs
in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek
employment. The addition of 80 million people each year to an
already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution,
desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of
their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized
countries devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the
poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of
view, are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the
euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January
1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse,
poses economic risks because of varying levels of income and
cultural and political differences among the participating nations.
The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a
growing risk to global prosperity, illustrated, for example, by the
reallocation of resources away from investment to anti-terrorist
programs. The opening of war in March 2003 between a US-led
coalition and Iraq added new uncertainties to global economic
prospects. After the initial coalition victory, the complex
political difficulties and the high economic cost of establishing
domestic order in Iraq became major global problems that continued
through 2007.

Yemen
Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world,
reported average annual growth in the range of 3-4% from 2000
through 2007. Its economic fortunes depend mostly on declining oil
resources, but the country is trying to diversify its earnings. In
2006 Yemen began an economic reform program designed to bolster
non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. As a result
of the program, international donors pledged about $5 billion for
development projects. In addition, Yemen has made some progress on
reforms over the last year that will likely encourage foreign
investment. Oil revenues probably increased in 2007 as a result of
higher prices.

Zambia
Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent
years, with real GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year.
Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved
the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the
industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to
return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has
increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and
foreign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under
the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of
approximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Zambia experienced a
bumper harvest in 2007, which helped to boost GDP and agricultural
exports and contain inflation. Although poverty continues to be
significant problem in Zambia, its economy has strengthened,
featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency,
decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.

Zimbabwe
The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of
difficult economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainable
fiscal deficit, an overvalued official exchange rate,
hyperinflation, and bare store shelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement in
the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds of
millions of dollars from the economy. The government's land reform
program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged the
commercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports and
foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs, turning Zimbabwe
into a net importer of food products. The EU and the US provide food
aid on humanitarian grounds. Badly needed support from the IMF has
been suspended because of the government's arrears on past loans and
the government's unwillingness to enact reforms that would stabilize
the economy. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe routinely prints money to
fund the budget deficit, causing the official annual inflation rate
to rise from 32% in 1998, to 133% in 2004, 585% in 2005, passed
1000% in 2006, and 26000% in November 2007. Private sector estimates
of inflation in 2007 are well above 100,000%. Meanwhile, the
official exchange rate fell from approximately 1 (revalued)
Zimbabwean dollar per US dollar in 2003 to 30,000 per US dollar in
2007.

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2117 Pipelines (km)

Afghanistan
gas 466 km (2007)

Albania
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2007)

Algeria
condensate 1,532 km; gas 13,861 km; liquid petroleum gas
2,408 km; oil 6,878 km (2007)

Angola
gas 234 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 896 km;
oil/gas/water 5 km (2007)

Argentina
gas 28,657 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 5,607 km;
refined products 3,052 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2007)

Armenia
gas 2,036 km (2007)

Australia
condensate/gas 469 km; gas 26,719 km; liquid petroleum gas
240 km; oil 3,720 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2007)

Austria
gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2007)

Azerbaijan
gas 3,857 km; oil 2,436 km (2007)

Bahrain
gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2007)

Bangladesh
gas 2,644 km (2007)

Belarus
gas 5,250 km; oil 1,528 km; refined products 1,730 km (2007)

Belgium
gas 1,562 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2007)

Bolivia
gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,475 km;
refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2007)

Brazil
condensate/gas 244 km; gas 12,070 km; liquid petroleum gas
351 km; oil 5,214 km; refined products 4,410 km (2007)

Brunei
gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2007)

Bulgaria
gas 2,500 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2007)

Burma
gas 2,790 km; oil 558 km (2007)

Cameroon
gas 27 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1,110 km (2007)

Canada
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980
km (2006)

Chad
oil 250 km (2007)

Chile
gas 2,550 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum
gas 539 km; oil 1,002 km; refined products 757 km; unknown
(oil/water) 97 km (2007)

China
gas 26,344 km; oil 17,240 km; refined products 6,106 km (2007)

Colombia
gas 4,329 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,145 km (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
gas 62 km; oil 71 km (2007)

Congo, Republic of the gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 758 km (2007)

Costa Rica
refined products 242 km (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
condensate 102 km; gas 245 km; oil 112 km (2007)

Croatia
gas 1,556 km; oil 583 km (2007)

Cuba
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2007)

Czech Republic
gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km
(2007)

Denmark
condensate 11 km; gas 4,073 km; oil 617 km; oil/gas/water 2
km (2007)

Ecuador
extra heavy crude oil 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,389 km;
refined products 1,185 km (2007)

Egypt
condensate 483 km; condensate/gas 74 km; gas 6,466 km; liquid
petroleum gas 957 km; oil 5,518 km; oil/gas/water 37 km; refined
products 895 km (2007)

Equatorial Guinea condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 80 km; oil 54 km (2007)

Estonia
gas 859 km (2007)

Finland
gas 694 km (2007)

France
gas 14,665 km; oil 3,032 km; refined products 4,947 km (2007)

Gabon
gas 384 km; oil 1,427 km (2007)

Georgia
gas 1,591 km; oil 1,253 km (2007)

Germany
condensate 37 km; gas 25,094 km; oil 3,546 km; refined
products 3,828 km (2007)

Ghana
oil 13 km; refined products 316 km (2007)

Greece
gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2007)

Guatemala
oil 480 km (2007)

Hungary
gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2007)

India
condensate/gas 9 km; gas 7,488 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,861
km; oil 7,883 km; refined products 6,422 km (2007)

Indonesia
condensate 963 km; condensate/gas 81 km; gas 9,003 km; oil
7,471 km; oil/gas/water 77 km; refined products 1,365 km (2007)

Iran
condensate 7 km; condensate/gas 397 km; gas 19,161 km; liquid
petroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,438 km; refined products 7,936 km (2007)

Iraq
gas 2,250 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,509 km;
refined products 1,637 km (2007)

Ireland
gas 1,855 km (2007)

Israel
gas 160 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2007)

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

Japan
gas 3,939 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2007)

Jordan
gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2007)

Kazakhstan
condensate 658 km; gas 11,082 km; oil 10,376 km; refined
products 1,095 km (2007)

Kenya
refined products 900 km (2007)

Korea, North
oil 154 km (2007)

Korea, South
gas 1,482 km; refined products 827 km (2007)

Kuwait
gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2007)

Laos
refined products 540 km (2007)

Latvia
gas 948 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2007)

Lebanon
gas 43 km (2007)

Libya
condensate 882 km; gas 3,425 km; oil 6,956 km (2007)

Liechtenstein
gas 20 km (2007)

Lithuania
gas 1,695 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2007)

Luxembourg
gas 155 km (2007)

Macedonia
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2007)

Malaysia
condensate 282 km; gas 5,273 km; oil 1,750 km;
oil/gas/water 19 km; refined products 114 km (2007)

Mexico
gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km;
oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)

Moldova
gas 1,980 km (2007)

Morocco
gas 720 km; oil 439 km (2007)

Mozambique
gas 964 km; refined products 278 km (2007)

Netherlands
condensate 81 km; gas 7,394 km; oil 578 km; refined
products 716 km (2007)

New Zealand
condensate 331 km; gas 1,896 km; liquid petroleum gas
172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 260 km (2007)

Nicaragua
oil 54 km (2007)

Nigeria
condensate 124 km; gas 3,071 km; liquid petroleum gas 156
km; oil 4,347 km; refined products 3,949 km (2007)

Norway
condensate 508 km; gas 6,529 km; oil 2,444 km; oil/gas/water
457 km (2007)

Oman
gas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)

Pakistan
gas 10,398 km; oil 2,076 km (2007)

Papua New Guinea
oil 264 km (2007)

Peru
gas 1,181 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 61 km; liquid natural
gas 106 km; liquid petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,749 km; refined
products 13 km (2007)

Philippines
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2007)

Poland
gas 13,552 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2007)

Portugal
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2007)

Qatar
condensate 322 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,970 km; liquid
petroleum gas 87 km; oil 741 km (2007)

Romania
gas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007)

Russia
condensate 122 km; gas 158,699 km; oil 72,347 km; refined
products 13,658 km (2007)

Saudi Arabia
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas
1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km (2007)

Senegal
gas 43 km (2007)

Serbia
gas 1,921 km; oil 393 km (2007)

Singapore
gas 139 km; refined products 8 km (2007)

Slovakia
gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2007)

Slovenia
gas 840 km; oil 11 km (2007)

South Africa
condensate 100 km; gas 1,177 km; oil 992 km; refined
products 1,379 km (2007)

Spain
gas 7,858 km; oil 622 km; refined products 3,445 km (2007)

Sudan
gas 156 km; oil 4,070 km; refined products 1,613 km (2007)

Suriname
oil 50 km (2007)

Sweden
gas 798 km (2007)

Switzerland
gas 1,781 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2007)

Syria
gas 2,794 km; oil 2,000 km (2007)

Taiwan
condensate 25 km; gas 661 km (2007)

Tajikistan
gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2007)

Tanzania
gas 287 km; oil 891 km (2007)

Thailand
gas 4,381 km; refined products 320 km (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago condensate 245 km; gas 1,320 km; oil 563 km (2007)

Tunisia
gas 2,665 km; oil 1,235 km; refined products 353 km (2007)

Turkey
gas 7,511 km; oil 3,636 km (2007)

Turkmenistan
gas 6,441 km; oil 1,361 km (2007)

Ukraine
gas 33,721 km; oil 4,514 km; refined products 4,211 km (2007)

United Arab Emirates
condensate 520 km; gas 2,908 km; liquid
petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refined
products 156 km (2007)

United Kingdom
condensate 567 km; condensate/gas 22 km; gas 18,980
km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil 4,930 km; oil/gas/water 165 km;
refined products 4,444 km (2007)

United States
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km
(2006)

Uruguay
gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)

Uzbekistan
gas 9,725 km; oil 868 km (2007)

Venezuela
extra heavy crude oil 992 km; gas 5,400 km; oil 7,607 km;
refined products 1,650 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2007)

Vietnam
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 510 km; oil 49 km; refined
products 206 km (2007)

Yemen
gas 71 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,309 km (2007)

Zambia
oil 771 km (2007)

Zimbabwe
refined products 270 km (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2118 Political parties and leaders

Afghanistan
Afghanistan Peoples' Treaty Party [Sayyed Amir TAHSEEN];
Afghanistan's Islamic Mission Organization [Abdul Rasoul SAYYAF];
Afghanistan's Islamic Nation Party [Toran Noor Aqa Ahmad ZAI];
Afghanistan's National Islamic Party [Rohullah LOUDIN];
Afghanistan's Welfare Party [Meer Asef ZAEEFI]; Afghan Social
Democratic Party [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; Afghan Society for the Call to
the Koran and Sunna [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Comprehensive
Movement of Democracy and Development of Afghanistan Party [Sher
Mohammad BAZGAR]; Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Tawos ARAB];
Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Kabir RANJBAR]; Elites People
of Afghanistan Party [Abdul Hamid JAWAD]; Freedom and Democracy
Movement of Afghanistan [Abdul Raqib Jawid KOHISTANEE]; Freedom
Party of Afghanistan [Ilaj Abdul MALEK]; Freedom Party of
Afghanistan [Dr. Ghulam Farooq NEJRABEE]; Hizullah-e-Afghanistan
[Qari Ahmad ALI]; Human Rights Protection and Development Party of
Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATI]; Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan
[Mohammad Kabir MARZBAN]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan [Mohammad
Ali JAWID]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Mukhtar
MUFLEH]; Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Khalid FAROOQI];
Islamic Party of the Afghan Land [Mohammad Hassan FEROZKHEL];
Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hussain
ANWARY]; Islamic Society of Afghanistan [Ustad RABBANI]; Islamic
Unity of the Nation of Afghanistan Party [Qurban Ali URFANI];
Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim KHALILI]; Islamic
Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ];
Labor and Progress of Afghanistan Party [Zulfiqar OMID]; Muslim
People of Afghanistan Party [Besmellah JOYAN]; Muslim Unity Movement
Party of Afghanistan [Wazir Mohammad WAHDAT]; National and Islamic
Sovereignty Movement Party of Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI];
National Congress Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Latif PEDRAM];
National Country Party [Ghulam MOHAMMAD]; National Development Party
of Afghanistan [Dr. Aref BAKTASH]; National Freedom Seekers Party
[Abdul Hadi DABEER]; National Independence Party of Afghanistan [Taj
Mohammad WARDAK]; National Islamic Fighters Party of Afghanistan
[Amanat NINGARHAREE]; National Islamic Front of Afghanistan [Pir
Sayed Ahmad GAILANEE]; National Islamic Moderation Party of
Afghanistan [Qara Bik Eized YAAR]; National Islamic Movement of
Afghanistan [Sayed NOORULLAH]; National Islamic Unity Party of
Afghanistan [Mohammad AKBAREE]; National Movement of Afghanistan
[Ahmad Wali MASOOUD]; National Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid
ARYAN]; National Patch of Afghanistan Party [Sayed Kamal SADAT];
National Peace Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Shah Mohammood Popal
ZAI]; National Peace & Islamic Party of the Tribes of Afghanistan
[Abdul Qaher SHARIATEE]; National Peace & Unity Party of Afghanistan
[Abdul Qader IMAMI]; National Prosperity and Islamic Party of
Afghanistan [Mohammad Osman SALEKZADA]; National Prosperity Party
[Mohammad Hassan JAHFAREE]; National Solidarity Movement of
Afghanistan [Pir Sayed Eshaq GAILANEE]; National Solidarity Party of
Afghanistan [Sayed Mansoor NADREEI]; National Sovereignty Party
[Sayed Mustafa KAZEMI]; National Stability Party [Mohammad Same
KHAROTI]; National Stance Party [Habibullah JANEBDAR]; National
Tribal Unity Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANI];
National United Front [Burhanuddin RABBANI] (a coalition); National
Unity Movement [Sultan Mohammad GHAZI]; National Unity Movement of
Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH]; National Unity Party of
Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid JALILI]; New Afghanistan Party [Mohammad
Yunis QANUNI]; Peace and National Welfare Activists Society [Shamsul
Haq Noor SHAMS]; Peace Movement [Shahnawaz TANAI]; People's
Aspirations Party of Afghanistan [Ilhaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];
People's Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan [Feda Mohammad EHSAS];
People's Liberal Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan [Ajmal
SUHAIL]; People's Message Party of Afghanistan [Noor Aqa WAINEE];
People's Movement of the National Unity of Afghanistan [Abdul Hakim
NOORZAI]; People's Party of Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah ASAR]; People's
Prosperity Party of Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad ZAREEF]; People's
Sovereignty Movement of Afghanistan [Hayatullah SUBHANEE]; People's
Uprising Party of Afghanistan [Sayed Zahir Qayed Omul BELADI];
People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASIQ]; People's
Welfare Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; Progressive
Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Wali ARYA]; Republican Party
[Sebghatullah SANJAR]; Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq
NEMAT]; The Afghanistan's Mujahid Nation's Islamic Unity Movement
[Saeedullah SAEED]; The People of Afghanistan's Democratic Movement
[Sharif NAZARI]; Tribes Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad
Zarif NASERI]; Understanding and Democracy Party of Afghanistan
[Ahamad SHAHEEN]; United Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Wasil RAHIMEE];
United Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Wahidullah SABAWOON]; Young
Afghanistan's Islamic Organization [Sayed Jawad HUSSINEE]; Youth
Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; note -
includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice

Albania
Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI];
Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of
Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD
[Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality
Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or BLD
[Arjan STAROVA]; Movement for National Development or LZhK [Dashamir
SHEHI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Artur ROSHI];
New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or
PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social
Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration
or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for
Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]

Algeria
Ahd 54 [Ali Fauzi REBAINE]; Algerian National Front or FNA
[Moussa TOUATI]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April
1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; National
Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed
OUYAHIA]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National
Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general];
National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Mohamed BOULAHIA];
National Renewal Party or PRA [Mohamed BENSMAIL]; Rally for Culture
and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda
Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait
AHMED]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace
Movement or MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa
HANOUNE]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted
in March 1997

American Samoa
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party
[Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]

Andorra
Andorran Democratic Center Party (formerly Democratic Party
or PD) and Century 21 or CDA and S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Party
of Andorra or PLA [Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA] (formerly Liberal Union
or UL); Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY]
(formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND)

Angola
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed
between Ngola KABANGU and Lucas NGONDA]; National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party)
[Isaias SAMAKUVA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or
MPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS];
Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but only won a few seats; they and more than 100 other smaller
parties have little influence in the National Assembly

Anguilla
Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor
BANKS] (a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the
Anguilla National Alliance or ANA); Anguilla United Movement or AUM
[Hubert HUGHES]; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS];
Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD];
Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; Barbuda People's
Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; Barbuda People's Movement for
Change [Arthur NIBBS]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin
SPENCER] (a coalition of three parties - Antigua Caribbean
Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM,
United National Democratic Party or UNDP)

Argentina
Coalicion Civica (a broad coalition loosely affiliated
with Elisa CARRIO); Front for Victory or FV (a broad coalition,
including elements of the UCR and numerous provincial parties)
[Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad
coalition of approximately 12 parties including PRO); Justicialist
Front or FJ; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political
organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Gerardo MORALES];
Republican Proposal or PRO (including Federal Recreate Movement or
RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY] and Commitment for Change or CPC
[Mauricio MACRI]); Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union
For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincial parties

Armenia
Armenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABYAN];
Armenian People's Party [Tigran KARAPETYAN]; Armenian Ramkavar
Azadagan Party Alliance or HRAK (includes former Dashink Party,
National Revival Party, and Ramkavar Liberal Party); Armenian
Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN];
Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISYAN]; National Democratic Party
[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen
MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN]; People's Party
of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Prosperous Armenia [Gagik
TSAROUKYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Republican Party of
Armenia or HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir)
[Artur BAGHDASARIAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant
KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]

Aruba
Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban
Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic
Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA
[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's
Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy
or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform
or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]

Australia
Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob
BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party
[Jodeen CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party
[Malcolm TURNBULL]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]

Austria
Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Stefan PETZNER];
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERER]; Freedom Party of
Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party
of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER
BELLEN]

Azerbaijan
Azadliq (Freedom) coalition (Popular Front Party, Liberal
Party, Citizens' Development Party); Azerbaijan Democratic Party or
ADP [Sardar JALALOGLU]; Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (ADRP)
Youth Movement [Ramin HAJILI]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF, now
split in two [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform" APF party; Mirmahmud
MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" APF party]; Azerbaijan Public Forum
[Eldar NAMAZOV]; Citizens' Development Party [Ali ALIYEV]; Civil
Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Dalga Youth Movement
[Vafa JAFAROVA]; Green Party [Mais GULALIYEV and Tarana MAMMADOVA];
Hope (Umid) Party [Iqbal AGAZADE]; Ireli Youth Movement [Jeyhun
OSMANLI, Roya TALIBOVA, Farhad MAMMADOV, Elnara GARIBOVA, Elnur
MAMMADOV, Ziya ALIYEV]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV]; Liberal
Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Magam Youth Movement
[Emin HUSEYNOV]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; Musavat
(Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Musavat Party Youth Movement
[Elnur MAMMADLI]; National Democratic Party or Grey Wolves
(Nationalist, Pan-Turkic) [Iskender HAMIDOV]; Open Society Party
[Rasul GULIYEV, in exile in the US]; Party for National Independence
of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Ayaz RUSTAMOV]; Popular Front Party Youth
Movement [Seymur KHAZIYEV]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or
SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)]; Turkish
Nationalist Party [Vugar BAYTURAN]; United Azerbaijan Party [Karrar
ABILOV]; United Azerbaijan National Unity Party [Hajibaba AZIMOV];
United Party [Tahir KARIMLI]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party [President
Ilham ALIYEV]; Yeni Azerbaijan Party Youth Movement [Ramil HASANOV];
Yox (No) Youth Movement [Ali ISMAYILOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties;

Bahamas, The
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM];
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Bahrain
political parties prohibited but political societies were
legalized per a July 2005 law

Bangladesh
Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist
Party or BCP [Manjurul A. KHAN]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP
[Khaleda ZIA]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI];
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Matiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya
Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party
(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]; Liberal Democratic Party or
LDP [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY and Oli AHMED]

Barbados
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]; Democratic Labor
Party or DLP [David THOMPSON]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP
[David COMISSIONG]

Belarus
pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail
SHIMANSKY]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic
Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolay ULAKHOVICH,
chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergey GAYDUKEVICH];
Party of Labor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party
[Vladimir ALEXANDROVICH]
opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party
(unregistered) [Pavel SEVERINETS]; Belarusian Party of Communists or
PKB [Sergey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered)
[Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV, Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front
or BPF [Vintsyuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada
[Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada
(People's Assembly) or BSDPH [Aleksandr KOZULIN; Anatoliy LEVKOVICH,
acting]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and Progress
(unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or UCP
[Anatoliy LEBEDKO]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH,
chairperson]
other opposition includes: Christian Conservative BPF [Zyanon
PAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party of
Popular Accord [Sergey YERMAKK]; Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]

Belgium
Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV
[Marianne THYSSEN]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; Flemish
Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Groen! [Mieke
VOGELS] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or
N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A
[Caroline GENNEZ]; VlaamsProgressieven (Flemish Progressives) or VP
[Bettina GEYSEN] - formerly Spirit; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest)
or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center or
CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS]; Reform
Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI
RUPO]; other minor parties

Belize
National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National
Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or
PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United
Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People
or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito
BAUTISTA]

Benin
Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of Progress
Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP
[Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO];
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie
for an Emerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or
IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movement
for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for
Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social
Democrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for the Relief or UPR
[Issa SALIFOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS
[Sacca LAFIA]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Bermuda
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda
Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]

Bhutan
Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or
DPT [Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Sangay NGEDUP]

Bolivia
Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz BARRIOS]; Movement
Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]; Movement Without
Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; National Revolutionary Movement or
MNR [Mirta QUEVEDO]; National Unity [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana];
Poder Democratico Nacional or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA
Ramirez]; Social Alliance [Rene JOAQUINO]

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or
SNSD [Milorad DODIK]; Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic
Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croat Christian Democratic
Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Marin TOPIC]; Croat Party
of Rights or HSP [Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS
[Marko TADIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina
or HDZ-BH [Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 1990 or HDZ1990
[Bozo LJUBIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 100 or HDZ100; Croatian
Peoples Union [Milenko BRKIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ
[Rifet DOLIC]; Democratic Peoples Alliance or DNS [Marko PAVIC];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiative
or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBH
[Haris SILAJDZIC]; Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman
TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Serb
Democratic Party or SDS [Mladen BOSIC]; Serb Radical Party of the
Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical
Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social
Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Social
Democratic Union or SDU [Sejfudin TOKIC]; Socialist Party of
Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]

Botswana
Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu
SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE];
Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana
National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or
BPP; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the
United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence
Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union
[D. K. KWELE]

Brazil
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy
Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Roberto JEFFERSON];
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz];
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo DOS SANTOS];
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Sergio GUERRA];
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Governor Eduardo Henrique Accioly
CAMPOS]; Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]; Communist
Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor
Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI]; the Democrats or DEM (formerly
Liberal Front Party or PFL) [Federal Deputy Rodrigo MAIA]; Freedom
and Socialism Party or PSOL [Heloisa HELENA]; Green Party or PV
[Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS
[Paulo Roberto MATOS]; Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique
de Oliveira RESENDE]; Liberal Front Party or PFL (now known as the
Democrats or DEM); National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha
FILHO]; Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio TAMER]; Popular
Socialist Party or PPS [Federal Deputy Fernando CORUJA]; Progressive
Party or PP [Francisco DORNELLES]; Social Christian Party or PSC
[Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Ricardo Jose
Ribeiro BERZOINI]

British Virgin Islands
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn
SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United
Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T.
O'NEAL]

Brunei
National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin
Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin
Haji Ahmad] were deregistered; parties are small and have limited
activity

Bulgaria
ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by
the Attack National Union); Attack National Union [Volen SIDEROV];
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia
MOZER]; Bulgarian New Democracy [Borislav RALCHEV]; Bulgarian
People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU); Bulgarian
Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens for the European
Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Tsvetan TSVETANOV]; Coalition for
Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei
STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir
KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed
DOGAN]; National Movement for Stability and Progress or NMSS [Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2);
New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Petar
STOYANOV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI];
United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition of center-right
parties dominated by UDF)

Burkina Faso
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and
Federation or ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Citizen's Popular Rally
or RPC [Antoine QUARE]; Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or
CFD-B [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress
or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and
Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African
Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and
Progress/Socialist Party or PDP/PS [Ali LANKOANDE]; Party for
Democracy and Socialism or PDS [Felix SOUBEIGA]; Party for National
Rebirth or PAREN [Oumar DJIGUIMDE]; Rally for the Development of
Burkina or RDB [Antoine KARGOUGOU]; Rally of Ecologists of Burkina
Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO]; Republican Party for Integration and
Solidarity or PARIS [Cyril GOUNGOUNGA]; Union for Democracy and
Social Progress or UDPS [Fidele HIEN]; Union for Rebirth - Sankarist
Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende STANISLAS]; Union for the Republic or
UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]; Union of Sankarist Parties or UPS
[Ernest Nongma OUEDRAOGO]

Burma
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, AUNG SAN SUU
KYI]; National Unity Party or NUP (pro-regime) [TUN YE]; Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other
smaller parties

Burundi
governing parties: Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU
[Leonce NGENDAKUMANA]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy
- Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Jeremie
NGENDAKUMANA]; Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:
National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD [Leonard
NYANGOMA]; National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of
the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party
for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]

Cambodia
Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United
Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative
Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Norodom Ranariddh Party or
NRP [Norodom RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]

Cameroon
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA];
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or RDPC [Paul BIYA]; Movement
for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement
for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel
YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari
BELLO BOUBA]; Progressive Movement or MP; Social Democratic Front or
SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin
Frederic KODOCK]

Canada
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada
[Stephen HARPER] (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the
Progressive Conservative Party); Green Party [Elizabeth MAY];
Liberal Party [Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Cape Verde
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV
[Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change
or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID);
Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES]; Democratic
Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]; Democratic and Independent
Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement for
Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES]; Party for Democratic Convergence
or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS
[Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]

Cayman Islands
United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH];
People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no
national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were
formed for the 2000 elections

Central African Republic
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP
[Jacques MBOLIEDAS]; Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Andre
KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic
Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic
Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Londo Association or LONDO;
Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO];
Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC
[Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed president); National
Convergence or KNK; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel
GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy
MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Chad
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire
KOUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh
KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar
Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh
AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol
Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Chile
Alliance for Chile (Alianza) or APC (including National
Renewal or RN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena] and Independent Democratic Union
or UDI [Hernan LARRAIN Fernandez]); Coalition of Parties for
Democracy (Concertacion) or CPD (including Christian Democratic
Party or PDC [Soledad ALVEAR], Socialist Party or PS [Camilo
ESCALONA Medina], Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR Chacra],
Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ
Urrutia]); Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]; Humanist
Party [Marilen CABRERA Olmos]

China
Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao]; eight registered
small parties controlled by CCP

Christmas Island
none

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none

Colombia
Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Efrain Jose CEPEDA
Sarabia]; Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz];
Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo]; Radical Change or CR
[German VARGAS Lleras]; Social National Unity Party or U Party
[Carlos GARCIA Orjuela]
note: Colombia has 15 formally recognized political parties, and
numerous unofficial parties that did not meet the vote threshold in
the March 2006 legislative elections required for recognition

Comoros
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI
Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of
parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the
Union President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed
RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie
et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la
Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement
National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid
AFFRAITANE]

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Christian Democrat Party or PDC
[Jose ENDUNDO]; Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD [Azarias
RUBERWA]; Convention of Christian Democrats or CDC; Forces of
Renewal or FR [Mbusa NYAMWISI]; Movement for the Liberation of the
Congo or MLC [Jean-Pierre BEMBA]; People's Party for Reconstruction
and Democracy or PPRD [Joseph KABILA]; Social Movement for Renewal
or MSR [Pierre LUMBI]; Unified Lumumbist Party or PALU [Antoine
GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne
TSHISEKEDI]; Union of Mobutuist Democrats or UDEMO [MOBUTU Nzanga]

Congo, Republic of the
Action Movement for Renewal or MAR; Congolese
Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel
MAMPOUYA]; Congolese Labour Party or PCT; Movement for Solidarity
and Development or MSD; Pan-African Union for Social Development or
UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or
RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy
and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for
Democracy and Republic or UDR; United Democratic Forces or FDU
[Sebastian EBAO]; many less important parties

Cook Islands
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic
Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]

Costa Rica
Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen
Action Party or PAC [Epsy CAMPBELL Barr]; Costa Rican Renovation
Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party
or PFD [Marco NUNEZ Gonzalez]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos
Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS
Fallas]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO
Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth];
National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora];
National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National
Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO Fernandez];
National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas];
National Restoration Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO Hernandez];
National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora]; Nationalist
Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic
Union or UP [Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Social Christian Unity
Party or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party or
UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU
[Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]

Cote d'Ivoire
Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Theodore MEL EG];
Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE];
Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Pascale Affi N'GUESSAN]; Ivorian
Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Opposition Movement of the
Future or MFA [Innocent Augustin ANAKY]; Rally of the Republicans or
RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote
d'Ivoire or UDPCI [Toikeuse MABRI]; over 144 smaller registered
parties

Croatia
Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or
HDSSB [Vladimir SISLJAGIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo
SANADER]; Croatian Party of the Right or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian
Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or
HSU [Vladimir JORDAN]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC];
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Djurdja ADLESIC]; Independent
Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian
Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Social Democratic Party
of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]

Cuba
Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]

Cyprus
area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO
[Marios KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS];
European Democracy or EURO.DI [Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from
For Europe which merged with New Horizons); European Party or
EURO.KO [Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK
[Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS];
Movement for Social Democrats or EDEK [Yannakis OMIROU]; Political
Movement of Hunters [Michalis PAFITANIS]; Progressive Party of the
Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS];
United Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Liberation Party or
TKP [Huseyin ANGOLEMLI]; Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Kazim
ONGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform
Party or OP [Turgay AVCI]; National Unity Party or UBP [Tahsin
ERTUGRULOGLU]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New
Party or YP [Huseyin TURAN]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];
Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Oguz OZEN]; Peace and Democratic
Movement or BDH [Mustafa AKINCI]; Renewal Progress Party or YAP
[Ertugrul HASIPOGLU]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit
SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Isset IZCAN]

Czech Republic
Association of Independent Candidates-European
Democrats or SNK-ED [Helmut DOHNALEK]; Christian Democratic
Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Jiri CUNEK]; Civic
Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek TOPOLANEK]; Communist Party of
Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech FILIP]; Czech Social Democratic
Party or CSSD [Jiri PAROUBEK]; Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or
US-DEU [Jan CERNY]; Green Party [Martin BURSIK]; Independent
Democrats (NEZDEM) [Vladimir ZELEZNY]; Party of Open Society (SOS)
[Pavel NOVACEK]; Path of Change [Jiri LOBKOWITZ]

Denmark
Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was
Christian People's Party); Conservative Party [Bendt BENDTSEN]
(sometimes known as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's
Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; New
Alliance [Naser KHADER]; Red-Green Unity List (Alliance) [collective
leadership] (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of
Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle
THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER];
Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]

Djibouti
Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh];
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti
Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la
Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD];
People's Progress Assembly or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing
party); Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon
FARAH]; Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD; Union for a
Presidential Majority or UMP (a coalition of parties including RPP,
FRUD, PND, and PPSD); Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ

Dominica
Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica
Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers
Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

Dominican Republic
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel
FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon
ALBURQUERQUE]; National Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO,
Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC
[Enrique ANTUN]

Ecuador
Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado];
Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero];
Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and
Democratic Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and
National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik
Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge
GUAMAN]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua];
Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist
Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian
Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or
PS-FA [Gustavo AYALA Cruz]

Egypt
National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed
Hosni MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu
[Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow
Party [Moussa Mustafa MOUSSA]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the
government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are
listed

El Salvador
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER];
Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA] (formerly United
Democratic Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front
or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro
CRUZ ZEPEDA]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio
SACA Gonzalez]; Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene
AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar
HERNANDEZ Carcamo]

Equatorial Guinea
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS
[Placido MICO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE
(ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress
of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of
Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP

Eritrea
People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS
Afworki] (the only party recognized by the government); note - a
National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in
January 2001, but the full National Assembly has yet to debate or
vote on it

Estonia
Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR];
Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's
Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian Reform Party
(Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's
Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG]; Social Democratic Party (formerly
People's Party Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR]; Union of Pro
Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

Ethiopia
Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP; Benishangul Gumuz
People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [Mulualem BESSE];
Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP [AYELE Chamisso]
(awarded to AYELE by the National Electoral Board on 11 January
2008, but AYELE has virtually no support among former CUD MPs, other
CUD MPs must now be affiliated with their original CUD-precursor
parties); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF
[MELES Zenawi] (an alliance of Amhara National Democratic Movement
or ANDM, Oromo People's Democratic Organization or OPDO, the South
Ethiopian People's Democratic Front or SEPDF, and Tigrayan Peoples'
Liberation Front or TPLF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement
or GNDM; Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM [BULCHA
Demeksa]; Omoro People's Congress or OPC [IMERERA Gudina]; Somali
People's Democratic Party or SPDP; United Ethiopian Democratic
Forces or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]

European Union
Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic
Green Left or EUL/NGL [Francis WURTZ]; European People's
Party-European Democrats or EPP-ED [Joseph DAUL]; Group of the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE [Graham R.
WATSON]; Group of Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA
[Monica FRASSONI and Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT]; Identity, Tradition,
Sovereignty Group or ITS [Bruno GOLLNISCH]; Independence/Democracy
Group or IND/DEM [Jens-Peter BONDE and Nigel FARAGE]; Socialist
Group in the European Parliament or PES [Martin SCHULZ]; Union for
Europe of the Nations Group or UEN [Brian CROWLEY and Cristiana
MUSCARDINI]

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none; all independents

Faroe Islands
Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari
P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]; Republican Party
[Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union
Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]

Fiji
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni
RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor
Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP
(became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP;
Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR;
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or
POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL
[Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Finland
Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats
or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left
Alliance or VAS [Martti KORHONEN] (composed of People's Democratic
League and Democratic Alternative); National Coalition
(conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic
Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP
[Stefan WALLIN]; True Finns [Timo SOINI]

France
Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously
Union for French Democracy or UDF); Democratic and Social European
Rally or RDSE [Pierre LAFFITTE] (mainly Radical Republican and
Socialist Parties, and PRG); French Communist Party or PCF
[Marie-George BUFFET]; Greens [Cecile DUFLOT]; Left Radical Party or
PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET] (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS
and the Left Radical Movement or MRG); Movement for France or MPF
[Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN];
New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles
PASQUA]; Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean Pierre
CHEVENEMENT and Georges SARRE]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois
HOLLANDE]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [Patrick DEVEDJIAN,
Jean-Claude GAUDIN, Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Pierre MEHAIGNERIE];
Radical Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO]

French Polynesia
Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU
and Philip SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This
Country is Yours); Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia
(Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api)
[Emile VERNAUDON]; Our Home alliance; People's Rally for the
Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE];
Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]

Gabon
Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface
ASSELE]; Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide
Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE
[Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG
(former sole party) [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for
Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]; Gabonese Union for Democracy
and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of
Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or
RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; Party of Development
and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and
Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG
[Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]

Gambia, The
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or
APRC (the ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambia People's
Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for
Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National
Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation
Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for
Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]; United Democratic
Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

Georgia
Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's
Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
[Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome ZOURABICHVILI];
Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia
(Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva
NATELASHVILI]; National Council-New Rights (a bloc uniting a
nine-party alliance with New Rights); National Democratic Party or
NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement-Democratic Front [Mikheil
SAAKASHVILI] (bloc composed of National Movement and
Burjanadze-Democrats); National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New
Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI];
Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki
ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI
and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

Germany
Alliance '90/Greens [Claudia ROTH and Cem OEZDEMIR];
Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social
Union or CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Guido
WESTERWELLE]; Left Party or Die Linke [Lothar BISKY and Oskar
LAFONTAINE]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Franz MUENTEFERING]

Ghana
Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic
Freedom Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian
Living Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP
[Dan LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena
ADJEI]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's
National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party
[Kyeretwie OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]

Gibraltar
Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social
Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or
GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]

Greece
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos
ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New
Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS];
Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU];
Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]

Greenland
Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Finn KARLSEN] (a conservative
party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit
[Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood)
[Josef MOTZFELDT] (a leftist party favoring complete independence
from Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate
List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official
platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social
democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and
greater autonomy from Denmark)

Grenada
Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD];
National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National
Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]

Guam
Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party
[Philip J. FLORES] (controls the legislature)

Guatemala
Center of Social Action or CASA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democracy
Front or FRENTE [Alfonso CABRERA]; Democratic Union or UD [Manuel
CONDE Orellana]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENGRO];
Grand National Alliance or GANA [Alfredo VILLA]; Guatemalan National
Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Hector NUILA]; Guatemalan Republican
Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; National Advancement Party or PAN
[Ruben Dario MORALES]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvaro COLOM
Caballeros]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. Otto PEREZ Molina];
Unionista Party or PU [Fritz GARCIA]; Unity of National Change or
UCN [Sidney SHAW]

Guernsey
none; all independents

Guinea
National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY];
Party for Unity and Progress or PUP (the governing party) [Lansana
CONTE]; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO];
Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of
Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of
Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress of Guinea
or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for Progress and
Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]

Guinea-Bissau
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau
and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Party for Social
Renewal or PRS [Kumba YALA]; Democratic Social Front or FDS;
Electoral Union or UE; Guinea-Bissau Civic Forum/Social Democracy or
FCGSD [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG;
Guinea-Bissau Socialist Democratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE];
Labor and Solidarity Party or PST [Iancuba INDJAI]; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Party for Renewal
and Progress or PRP; Progress Party or PP [Ibrahima SOW]; Union for
Change or UM [Amine SAAD]; Union of Guinean Patriots or UPG
[Francisca VAZ]; United Platform or UP (coalition formed by PCD,
FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB); United Popular Alliance or APU; United
Social Democratic Party or PUSD

Guyana
Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj
RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All
Party [C.N. SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R
[Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or
PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi
DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey
JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance
or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]

Haiti
Artibonite in Action or LAAA [Youri LATORTUE]; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention
for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; Cooperative Action to
Build Haiti or KONBA [Evans LESCOUFALIR]; Democratic Alliance or
ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition composed of KID and PPRH); Effort and
Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph
JASME]; For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL]; Front for Hope or
L'ESPWA [Rene PREVAL] (alliance of ESKAMP, PLB, and grass-roots
organizations Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, the Central Plateau
Peasants' Group, and Kombit Sudest); Haitian Christian Democratic
Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian
Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre
Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together or Tet-Ansanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT];
Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc
FLEURINORD]; Justice for Peace and National Development or JPDN
[Rigaud DUPLAN]; Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Rudy HERIVEAUX]; Liberal Party
of Haiti or PLH [Gehy MICHEL]; Merging of Haitian Social Democratic
Parties or FUSION or FPSDH [Serge GILLES] (coalition of Ayiti
Capable, Haitian National Revolutionary Party, and National Congress
of Democratic Movements); Mobilization for Haiti's Development or
MPH [Samir MOURRA]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN
[Hubert de RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN
[Jean Henold BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in
Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Christian Union for the
Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Marie Claude GERMAIN]; National
Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN [Guy PHILIPPE]; New
Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open
the Gate Party or PLB [Anes LUBIN]; Popular Party for the Renewal of
Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN]; Struggling People's Organization or
OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians
or UNITE [Edouard FRANCISQUE]

Holy See (Vatican City)
none

Honduras
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Felicito AVILA];
Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Cesar HAM]; Liberal Party or PL
[Patricia RODAS]; National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Jorge
AQUILAR Paredes]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Porfirio LOBO]

Hong Kong
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL
[Frederick FUNG Kin-kee]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung];
Civic Party [KUAN Hsin-chi]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment
and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM Yiu Cheng]; Democratic Party
[Albert HO]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing]; League of Social
Democrats [Raymond WONG]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun]
note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic
Party, Frontier Party, League of Social Democrats; pro-Beijing -
DAB, Liberal Party, The Alliance (a group of five generally
pro-government and pro-business Legco members from functional
constituencies); there is no political party ordinance, so there are
no registered political parties; politically active groups register
as societies or companies

Hungary
Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor FODOR]; Christian
Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Zsolt SEMJEN]; Hungarian Civic
Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic
Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP
[Ferenc GYURCSANY]

Iceland
Independence Party or IP [Geir H. HAARDE]; Left-Green
Movement or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon
KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Gudni AGUSTSSON]; Social
Democratic Alliance or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR] (includes
People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's
List)

India
Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata Party
or BJP [Rajnath SINGH]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK];
Communist Party of India or CPI [Ardhendu Bhushan BARDHAN];
Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI-M [Prakash KARAT]; Dravida
Munnetra Kazagham or DMK [M. KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National Congress
or INC [Sonia GANDHI]; Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) [Sharad YADAV];
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM [Shibu SOREN]; Left Front (an alliance
of Indian leftist parties); Lok Jan Shakti Party or LJSP [Ram Vilas
PASWAN]; Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or MDMK [V.
Gopalswamy VAIKO]; Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR];
Pattali Makkal Katchi or PMK [S. RAMADOSS]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or
RJD [Laloo Prasad YADAV]; Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh
YADAV]; Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]; Shiv Sena
or SS [Bal THACKERAY]; Telangana Rashtriya Samithi or TRS [K.
Chandrashekhar RAO]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU];
United Progressive Alliance or UPA [Sonia GANDHI] (India's ruling
party coalition of 12 political parties); note - India has dozens of
national and regional political parties; only parties or coalitions
with four or more seats in the People's Assembly are listed

Indonesia
Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [MS KABAN]; Democratic
Party or PD [Hadi UTOMO]; Functional Groups Party or Golkar [Yusuf
KALLA]; Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI
Sukarnoputri]; National Awakening Party or PKB; National Mandate
Party or PAN [Sutrisno BACHIR]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS
[Tifatul SEMBIRING]; United Development Party or PPP [Suryadharma
ALI]

Iran
formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in
Iran and most conservatives still prefer to work through political
pressure groups rather than parties, and often political parties or
coalitions are formed prior to elections and disbanded soon
thereafter; a loose pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad
Front, which includes political parties as well as less formal
groups and organizations, achieved considerable success at elections
to the sixth Majles in early 2000; groups in the coalition include:
Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), Executives of Construction
Party (Kargozaran), Solidarity Party, Islamic Labor Party, Mardom
Salari, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO), and
Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition participated in
the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; following his defeat in
the 2005 presidential elections, former MCS Secretary General and
sixth Majles Speaker Mehdi KARUBI formed the National Trust Party; a
new conservative group, Islamic Iran Developers Coalition
(Abadgaran), took a leading position in the new Majles after winning
a majority of the seats in February 2004; following the 2004 Majles
elections, traditional and hardline conservatives have attempted to
close ranks under the United Front of Principlists; the IIPF has
repeatedly complained that the overwhelming majority of its
candidates have been unfairly disqualified from the 2008 elections

Iraq
Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization
[Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali
Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI];
General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent
Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid
MAJEED]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi
Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats
or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP
[Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI];
Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National
Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi
al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad
al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad
al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz
al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI];
Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic
Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; National Reconciliation
and Liberation Party [Mishan al-JABBURI]; Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR]
(not an organized political party, but it fields independent
candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmed
al-RISHAWI]
note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front,
Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were
only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the
various Iraqi political parties

Ireland
Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green
Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive
Democrats [Mary HARNEY, acting leader]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS];
Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]

Isle of Man
Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin
Party [Peter KARRAN]; Man Labor Party; Man Nationalist Party (Mec
Vannin) [Bernard MOFFATT]
note: most members sit as independents

Israel
Balad [Azmi BISHARA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
(HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]; GIL (Pensioners) [Rafael "Rafi" EITAN];
Kadima [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; Labor Party [Ehud BARAK]; Likud
[Binyamin NETANYAHU]; Meretz-Yachad [Haim ORON]; National Democratic
Assembly (Balad) [Jamal ZAHALKA]; National Union (NU)/National
Religious Party (NRP) [Binyamin ELON]; SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; Torah
and Shabbat Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN]; United Arab List
[Ibrahim SARSUR]; Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

Italy
Silvio BERLUSCONI coalition: People of Freedom or PdL [Silvio
BERLUSCONI]; Lega Nord or LN [Umberto BOSSI]; Movement for Autonomy
or MpA [Raffaele LOMBARDO]
Walter VELTRONI coalition: Democratic Party or PD [Walter VELTRONI];
Italy of Values or IdV [Antonio DI PIETRO]
other non-allied parties: Union of the Centre or UdC [Savino
PEZZOTTA]

Jamaica
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING]; People's
National Party or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]; National Democratic
Movement or NDM [Michael WILLIAMS]

Japan
Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Ichiro OZAWA]; Japan
Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Komeito [Akihiro OTA]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDP [Taro ASO]; Social Democratic Party or SDP
[Mizuho FUKUSHIMA]

Jersey
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents

Jordan
al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU
BAKR]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN]; Arab Socialist
Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad
DABBUR]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF
[Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FAURI];
Jordanian Arab Ansar Party; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian
Arab Party; Jordanian Citizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist
Party [Munir HAMARINAH]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party;
Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH]; Jordanian
Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA]; Jordanian
Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH]; Jordanian Green Party
[Muhammad BATAYNEH]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman
Jiryis HANNA]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People's Committees
Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd) [Ahmad YUSUF];
Jordanian Rafah Party; Jordanian Renaissance Party; Mission Party;
Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH]; National Action Party (Haqq)
[Tariq al-KAYYALI]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi
MAJALI]; National Popular Democratic Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI];
Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI]

Kazakhstan
Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, Zeynulla
ALSHIMBAYEV, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, Yerkin ONGARBAYEV, Tolegan
SYDYKOV] (formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan); Agrarian and
Industrial Union of Workers Block or AIST (Agrarian Party and Civic
Party); Ak Zhol Party (Bright Path) [Alikhan BAIMENOV]; Auyl
(Village) [Gani KALIYEV]; Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK
[Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan
[Vladislav KOSAREV]; National Social Democratic Party
(NSDP)[Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Nur-Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV] (the
Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan); Patriots' Party
[Gani KASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA]

Kenya
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya
[Musikari KOMBO]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or
FORD-People [Simeon NYACHAE]; Kenya African National Union or KANU
[Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-Kenya
[Raphael TUJU]; Orange Democratic Movement or ODM [Raila ODINGA];
Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]; Party
of National Unity or PNU [Mwai KIBAKI]; Shirikisho Party of Kenya or
SPK [Chirau Ali MWAKWERE]

Kiribati
Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON];
Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati
or MKP; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups
because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party
structures

Korea, North
major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong
Il]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP
control), Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

Korea, South
Creative Korea Party or CKP [MOON Kook-hyun];
Democratic Labor Party or DLP [CHUN Young-se]; Grand National Party
or GNP [PARK Hee-tae]; Liberty Forward Party or LFP [LEE Hoi-chang];
Democratic Party or DP [CHUNG Sye-kyun] (formerly the United
Democratic Party or UDP)

Kosovo
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Mark
KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush
HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Kososvo and
Metohija or SDSKIM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Autonomous Liberal Party of
SLS [Slobodan PETROVIC]; Bosniak Vakat Coalition [Dzezair MURATI];
Citizens' Initiative of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALILI]; Council of
Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo or SNSDKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC];
Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI]; Democratic
League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Party of Ashkali
of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit RAHMANI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK
[Hashim THACI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir
YAGCILAR]; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet
NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party or ND [Branislav GRBIC]; New Kosovo
Alliance or AKR [Behxhet PACOLLI]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK
[Emrush XHEMAJLI]; Reform Party Ora; Serb National Party or SNS
[Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS
[Dragisa MIRIC]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi
MERXHA]; Democratic Action Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Serbian List
for Kosovo and Metohija [Oliver IVANOVIC]; Serbian National Council
of Northern Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Bosniaks [Dzezair MURAIT]; Democratic Party Vatan [Sadik
IDRIZI]; Gorani Citizens Initiative [Mursel HALJILJI]; Serbian
People Party [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of
Kosovo and Metohija [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serb Liberal Party [Slobodan
PETROVIC]; Independent League of Social-Democrats of Kosovo and
Metohija [Ljubisa ZIVIC]

Kuwait
none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal
but is not forbidden by law

Kyrgyzstan
Ak Jol [Avtandil ARABAYEV, Elmira IBRAIMOVA, Vladimir
NIFADYEV, co-chairs]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba
(Banner National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken
(Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan
or DDK [Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek
TURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet
SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Ishak
MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV];
Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and
Unity [Tabaldy OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan
KARABAYEV]; Social Democratic Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV]; Union of
Democratic Forces [Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]

Laos
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason];
other parties proscribed

Latvia
First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS,
Ivars GODMANIS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL
[Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National
Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS];
Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS, Nils USAKOVS]; Latvian
Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris
BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; New
Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE,
Krisjanis KARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union
of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]

Lebanon
14 March Coalition: Democratic Gathering Bloc [Walid
JUNBLATT, leader of Progressive Socialist Party]; Democratic Left
[Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future
Movement Bloc [Sa'ad HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese
Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc
8 March Coalition: Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI,
leader of Amal Movement]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN];
Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah
Party [Hassan NASRALLAH]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Ussama SAAD];
Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Syrian Ba'th Party [Sayez SHUKR]; Syrian
Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]
Independent: Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]; Tashnaq

Lesotho
Alliance of Congress Parties or ACP; All Basotho Convention
or ABC [Thomas THABANE]; Basotholand African Congress or BAC
[Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane
MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justin Metsing
LEKHANYA]; Kopanang Basotho Party or KPB [Pheelo MOSALA]; Lesotho
Congress for Democracy or LCD (the governing party) [Pakalitha
MOSISILI]; Lesotho Education Party or LEP [Thabo PITSO]; Lesotho
Workers Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or
MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony
MANYELI]; New Lesotho Freedom Party or NLFP [Manapo MAJARA]; Popular
Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic
Union or SDU [Bofihla NKUEBE]; Social Democratic Party of SDP
[Masitise SELESO]

Liberia
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL [H. Varney
SHERMAN]; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH];
Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party or
NPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF]

Libya
none

Liechtenstein
Patriotic Union or VU [Adolf HEEB] (was Fatherland
Union); Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; The Free
List or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]

Lithuania
Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Viktor MUNTIANAS]; Coalition
of Labor Party and Youth or KDP+J [Viktor USPASKICH]; Electoral
Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; Homeland
Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS];
Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union or LVLS [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE];
Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Arturas ZUOKAS]; Liberal Movement
or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]; National Revival or TPP [Arunas
VALINSKAS]; New Union (Social Liberal) or NS [Arturas PAULAUSKAS];
Order and Justice Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Social Democratic
Party or LSDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS]; Young Lithuania and New
Nationalists [Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]

Luxembourg
Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR [Robert
MENLEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Francois BILTGEN]
(also known as Christian Social Party or PCS); Democratic Party or
DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg
Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; dei Lenk/la Gauche
(the Left); other minor parties

Macau
Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development
Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG
On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New
Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no
registered political parties; politically active groups register as
societies or companies

Macedonia
Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic League of
Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or
PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan
STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic
Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of
Albanians or BDSh [BardYL MAHMUTI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for
Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or
BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; For a Better Macedonia coalition [Nikola
GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE, SP, Democratic Union, Democratic
Renewal of Macedonia, Democratic Party of Turks, Democratic Party of
Serbs, SR, and smaller parties); Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Gjorgji TRENDAFILOV];
League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party
or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National
Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni
SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party
for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for
European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or
PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or
SDSM [Zoran ZAEV (until May 2009)]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or
SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila
SKERINSKA] (includes SDSM, NSDP, LDP, Liberal Party and smaller
parties); Union of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; United Party for
Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Madagascar
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA
[Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or
PSDUM [Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action
for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO];
Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or
TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or
RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

Malawi
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD; Congress for National Unity
or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA];
Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party
or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or
MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC [Gwandaguluwe
CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP);
Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA];
National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National
Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People's Progressive Movement or
PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu
CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]

Malaysia
National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition)
consists of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or
PGRM [KOH Tsu Koon - acting]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti
Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian
Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy
VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti
Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka
Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak
or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif
Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti
Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United
Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi];
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan
Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK];
People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or
PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP
[William MAWAN])
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition)
consists of the following parties:: Democratic Action Party (Parti
Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of
Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang];
People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH
Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]

Maldives
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI];
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon
Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER];
Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]; note -
political parties were allowed to register in June 2005

Mali
Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised
mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); African Solidarity
for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary
general]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of
political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to
support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance for
Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE]; Convergence 2007 [Soumeylou
Boubeye MAIGA]; Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a
coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to
oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); National
Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]; Party
for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for
National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]; Patriotic Movement for
Renewal or MPR [Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or
RDT; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]; Sudanese
Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE];
Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY];
Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]

Malta
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD
[Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [acting leader Charles
MANGION]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Marshall Islands
traditionally there have been no formally organized
political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions
or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters,
formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings"
have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein
Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa
TOMEING]

Mauritania
Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent
moderate Islamists); Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or
CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist
Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD,
RFD, UFP); Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS;
Democratic Renewal or RD; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or
HATEM-PMUC; Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated
with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP,
RDU); National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE;
Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular
Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of
Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy
and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for
Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA] (formerly
ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS); Socialist
and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress
or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD;
Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP

Mauritius
Alliance Sociale or AS [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing
coalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor
Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement
or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or
MMSM [Madan DOLLOO]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Nando
BODHA]; Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti
Mauricien Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues
Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples
Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Mayotte
Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular
Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR
[Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for
Democracy or FRAP; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM
[Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar
SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of
French Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri
JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Mexico
Convergence for Democracy or CD [Luis MALDONADO Venegas];
Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Beatriz PAREDES]; Labor
Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]; Mexican Green Ecological
Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action
Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [German MARTINEZ Cazares];
New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA [Jorge Antonio
KAHWAGI Macari]; Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la
Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Leonel COTA Montano]; Social
Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (Partido Alternativa
Socialdemocrata y Campesina) or Alternativa [Alberto BEGNE Guerra]

Micronesia, Federated States of
no formal parties

Moldova
Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA];
Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir
VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; Liberal
Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; National Liberal Party or
PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim
URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS];
Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

Monaco
Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the
Future of Monaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM;
Monaco Together

Mongolia
Democratic Party or DP [Norovyn ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanji BAYAR]

Montenegro
Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition
for European Montenegro or DPS-SDP (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC]
(includes Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]
and Social Democratic Party of SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]); Coalition
SNP-NS-DSS (bloc) (includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan
MILIC], People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], and
Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]);
Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [Mehmet
BARHDI]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA];
Liberals and the Bosniak Party (bloc) [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] (includes
Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] and Bosniak
Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]); Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa
MEDOJEVIC]; Serbian List (bloc) [Andrija MANDIC] (includes Party of
Serb Radicals or SSR [Dusko SEKULIC], People's Socialist Party or
NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC], and Serbian People's Party of Montenegro or
SNS [Andrija MANDIC])

Montserrat
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS];
Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY];
New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Morocco
Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of
Liberties or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj
[Abdellah EL HARIF]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS
[Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI];
Citizen's Initiatives for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU];
Constitutional Union or UC [Mohamed ABIED]; Democratic and
Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social
Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD;
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic
Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD
[Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL
ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI];
Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and
Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party
[Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE];
National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National
Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National
Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union
of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd
[Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail
ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party
of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER];
Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development
Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC
[Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP

Mozambique
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de
Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA];
Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional
Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA]

Namibia
Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic
Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor
Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement
for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO
[Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo
HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa
National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; South West Africa
People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Nauru
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal);
Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; note - loose multiparty system

Nepal
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI];
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as
PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI]; Communist Party of
Nepal (ML) [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal (Unified) [Raj
Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Ganesh SHAH];
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Amrit
Kumar BOHARA]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN];
Janamorcha Nepal [Amik SHERCHAN]; Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum
[Upendra YADAV]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Pashupati
Shumsher RANA] (also called Rastriya Prajatantra Party or RPP);
Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar
Dal [Vinod DANGI]; Nepal Rastriya Party [Khushilal YADAV]; Nepal
Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi) [Shyam Sundar GUPTA]; Nepal Workers
and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress
Party or NCP [Girija Prasad KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Bharat
Prasad MAHATO]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra BAHADUR K.C.]; Rastriya
Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or
RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA] (split from RPP in March 2005); Rastriya
Prajatantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party (Mahato)
[Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem
Bahadur SINGH]; Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch [Kamal
CHHARAHANG]; Terai Madhesi Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]

Netherlands
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter
BALKENENDE]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or
D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor
Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert
WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's
Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE];
Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES]; Socialist Party
[Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties

Netherlands Antilles
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB
[Jopi ABRAHAM]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic
Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];
Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson
PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles
Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I
Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or
PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily
de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE
LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS];
Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands
People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.
Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party
[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.
Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party
[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

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

New Zealand
ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette
FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP
[John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New
Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James
(Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Nicaragua
Conservative Party or PC [Azalia AVILES Salmeron]; Liberal
Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Nicaraguan
Liberal Alliance or ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Sandinista National
Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista
Renovation Movement or MRS [Enrique SAENZ Navarrete]

Niger
Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama
[Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing
Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social
Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social
Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE];
Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU];
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou
MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI];
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID];
Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]

Nigeria
Accord Party [Ikra Aliyu BILBIS]; Action Congress or AC
[Hassan ZUMI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA];
All Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE]; All
Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]; Democratic
People's Party or DPP [Jeremiah USENI]; Fresh Democratic Party
[Chris OKOTIE]; Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU]; Movement for the
Restoration and Defense of Democracy or MRDD [Mohammed Gambo
JIMETA]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples
Democratic Party or PDP [vacant]; Peoples Progressive Alliance
[Clement EBRI]; Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe
MUSA]; Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United
Nigeria Peoples Party or UNPP [Mallam Selah JAMBO]

Niue
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or
NPP [Young VIVIAN]

Norfolk Island
none

Northern Mariana Islands
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL];
Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S.
REYES]

Norway
Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party
[Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party
[Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party
[Siv JENSEN]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Oman
none

Pakistan
Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN];
Balochistan National Party-Hayee Group or BNP-H [Dr. Hayee BALOCH];
Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Moheem Khan BALOCH];
Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL];
Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP; Jamiat Ahle Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR];
Jamaat-i Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam
Fazlur Rehman or JUI-F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Sami-ul
HAQ or JUI-S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i Pakistan or JUP [Shah
Faridul HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e Amal or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED];
Muttahida Qaumi Movement or MQM [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National Alliance
or NA [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI] (merged with PML); National Peoples
Party or NPP; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan
ACHAKZAI]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan
Muslim League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz Sharif or PML-N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League
or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; Pakistan Peoples Party-SHERPAO or
PPP-S [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan Peoples Party
Parliamentarians or PPPP [Bilawal Bhutto ZARDARI, chairman; Asif Ali
ZARDARI, co-chairman]; Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN];
Tehrik-i Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Palau
none

Panama
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Nationalist Republican
Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA
[Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic
Union Party or PU (combination of the Liberal National Party or PLN
and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal
GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian
Democratic Party or PDC)

Papua New Guinea
National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE];
Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua
New Guinea Party or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Democratic
Movement or PDM [Michael OGIO]; People's Action Party or PAP
[Gabriel KAPRIS]; United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] (2007)

Paraguay
Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for
Change) or APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana -
Colorado Party or ANR [Jose Alberto ALDERETE]; Movimiento Union
Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana];
Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas
Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS;
Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido
Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais
Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]

Peru
Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple); Central Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC (a
coalition of Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional
de Independientes) [Victor Andres GARCIA Belaunde]; National
Renovation Party (Partido Renovacion Nacional) [Rafael REY];
National Restoration Party (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto
LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN (a coalition of
Partido Popular Cristiano and Partido Solidaridad Nacional) [Lourdes
FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP [Alejandro TOLEDO
Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP
[Alan GARCIA] (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular
Revolucionaria Americana or APRA); Peruvian Nationalist Party
(Partido Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; Union
for Peru (Union por el Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque]

Philippines
Genuine Opposition or GO (coalition of oppositon parties
formed to contest the 2007 elections); Kabalikat Ng Malayang
Pilipino or Kampi [Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino
(Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng
Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE
VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista [Manuel
VILLAR]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN];
PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam
Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang
Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA];
Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]

Pitcairn Islands
none

Poland
Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Democratic Left Alliance
or SLD [Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI]; Democratic Party or PD [Janusz
ONYSZKIEWICZ]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Henryk
KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; League of
Polish Families or LPR [Sylwester CHRUSZCZ]; Left and Democrats or
LiD [Wojciech OLEJNICZAK] (a coalition formed by the SLD, PD, SDPL,
and UP); Polish People's Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]; Samoobrona
or SO [Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL
[Bartosz DOMINIK, acting]; Union of Labor or UP [Andrzej SPYCHALSKI]

Portugal
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo
PORTAS]; Green Ecologist Party (The Greens) or PEV [leadership
commission elected by members]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP
[Jeronimo DE SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES
Carvalho Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Manuela
FERREIRA Leite]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA];
Unitarian Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes
PCP and PEV)

Puerto Rico
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National
Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive
Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic
Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican
Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)

Qatar
none

Romania
Conservative Party or PC [Daniela POPA] (formerly Humanist
Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC];
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO];
National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania
Mare Party (Greater Romania Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA] (formerly Party
of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR)

Russia
Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy
Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Just Russia [Sergey MIRONOV]; Liberal
Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich
ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Patriots of Russia [Gennadiy SEMIGIN]; People's Union
[Sergey BABURIN]; Right Cause [Leonid Yakovlevich GOZMAN, Boris
Yuriyevich TITOV, and Georgiy Georgiyevich BOVT] (registration
pending; formed from merger of Union of Right Forces, Democratic
Party of Russia, and Civic Force); United Russia [Vladimir
Vladimirovich PUTIN]; Yabloko Party [Sergey Sergeyevich MITROKHIN]

Rwanda
Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA];
Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA];
Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially
banned); Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal
Party or PL [Protais MITALI]; Party for Democratic Renewal
(officially banned); Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

Saint Barthelemy
Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES];
Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN]; Saint-Barth
d'Abord! or SBA [Bruno MAGRAS]; Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy
[Karine MIOT-RICHARD]

Saint Helena
none

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance
AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's
Action Movement or PAM [Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor
Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS]

Saint Lucia
National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia
Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or
SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher
HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Stephenson KING]

Saint Martin
Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING];
Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON];
Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Archipelago Tomorrow or AD affiliated with
UDF/RPR list; Cap sur l'Avenir affiliated with PRG; Left Radical
Party or PRG; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP);
Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2000/Avenir Miquelon or SPM 2000/AM;
Socialist Party or PS; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim
EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the
coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for
National Unity or MNU)

Samoa
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi
TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];
Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party
or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or
SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]

San Marino
Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of
the Center; Freedom List; Ideas in Movement or IM [Alessandro
ROSSI]; National Alliance or AN [Glauco SANSOVINI]; New Socialist
Party [Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats [Claudio
FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Pier Marino
MENICUCCI]; San Marino Popular Alliance of Democrats or AP [Roberto
GIORGETTI]; San Marino Socialist Party or PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI];
Socialists for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]; Union of Moderates;
United Left

Sao Tome and Principe
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM
[Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI
[[Patrice TROVOADA]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New
Way Movement or NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim
NEVES]; Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties

Saudi Arabia
none

Senegal
African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP];
And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS
[Landing SAVANE]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha
NIASSE]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr.
Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or
FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC
[Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath
DANSOKHO]; Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA]; National Democratic Rally or RND
[Madior DIOUF]; People's Labor Party or PTP [Elhadji DIOUF]; Reform
Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS
[Abdoulaye WADE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI
Coalition [Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for
Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]

Serbia
Coalition of Albanians of the Presevo Valley or KAPD [Riza
HALIMI]; Coalition for Sandzak or KZS [Sulejman UGLJANIN];
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Ragmi MUSTAFA]; Democratic
Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party or DS
[Boris TADIC]; Democratic Union of the Valley or BDL [Skender
DESTANI]; For a European Serbia [Boris TADIC]; Force of Serbia
Movement or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC]; League
of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASTOR]; Liberal Democratic
Party or LDP [Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Movement for Democratic Progress
or LPD [Jonuz MUSLIU]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Party of
Democratic Action or PVD [Riza HALIMI]; Roma Party or RP [Srdjan
SAJN]; Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian
Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ (currently on trial at The
Hague), but Tomislav NIKOLIC is acting leader]; Socialist Party of
Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]; Union of Roma of Serbia or URS [Rajko
DJURIC]

Seychelles
Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW];
Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the
United Opposition or UO); Seychelles People's Progressive Front or
SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)

Sierra Leone
All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace
and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON]; People's Movement
for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI]; Sierra Leone
People's Party or SLPP [Solomon BEREWA]; numerous others

Singapore
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Singapore
Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic
Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee
Lian]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore
National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP

Slovakia
Parties in the Parliament: Christian Democratic Movement or
KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert
FICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Pal CSAKY]; People's
Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir
MECIAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU-DS [Mikulas
DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]; Parties outside
the Parliament: Agrarian Party of the Provinces or ASV [Jozef
VASKEBA]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter TATAR]; Free Forum
[Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Hope or NADEJ [Alexandra NOVOTNA]; Left-wing
Bloc or LB [Jozef KALMAN]; Mission 21 - New Christian Democracy or
MISIA 21 [Ivan SIMKO]; Movement for Democracy or HZD [Jozef GRAPA];
New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party of the Democratic
Left or SDL [Ladislav KOZMON]; Prosperita Slovenska or PS [Frantisek
A. ZVRSKOVEC]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Vladimir DADO]; Slovak
National Coalition or SLNKO [Vitazoslav MORIC]; Slovak People's
Party or SLS [Jozef SASIK]; Union of the Workers of Slovakia or ZRS
[Jan LUPTAK]

Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Katarina KRESAL]; New
Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS
[Janez JANSA]; Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS
[Karl ERJAVEC]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC];
Slovene People's Party or SLS [Bojan SROT]; Slovene Youth Party or
SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR] (formerly
ZLSD); ZARES [Gregor Golobic]

Solomon Islands
Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas
CHAN]; Christian Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA];
LAFARI Party [John GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's
Alliance Party or PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or
SOCRED [Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David
QUAN]; Solomon Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon
Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands
Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for
Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir
Peter KENILOREA]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid
coalitions

Somalia
none

South Africa
African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth
MESHOE]; African National Congress or ANC [Jacob ZUMA]; Democratic
Alliance or DA [Helen ZILLE]; Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter
MULDER]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI]; New
National Party or NNP; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Motsoko
PHEKO]; United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

Spain
Aragonese Party or CHA [Bizen FUSTER]; Basque Nationalist
Party or PNV [Inigo URKULLU]; Basque Solidarity or EA [Begona
ERRAZTI]; Canarian Coalition or CC [Jose Torres STINGA] (a coalition
of five parties); Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro]
(a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC
[Artur MAS i Gavarro] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC
[Josep Antoni DURAN i LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a
Senate coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV,
EUA); Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA
Gonzalez]; Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan SAURA i
Laporta]; Navarra yes or Na Bai [Uxue BARKOS Berruezo] (a coalition
of four Navarran parties); Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey];
Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Josep-Lluis CAROD-ROVIRA];
Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis Rodriguez
ZAPATERO]; United Left or IU [Gaspar LLAMAZARES Trigo] (a coalition
of parties including the PCE and other small parties)

Sri Lanka
All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [G.PONNAMBALAM]; Ceylon
Workers Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP
[D. GUNASEKERA]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas
DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF
[Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa
AMARASINGHE]; Lanka Sama Samaja Party or LSSP [Tissa VITHARANA];
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) or MEP [D.
GUNAWARDENE]; National Heritage Party or JHU [Ellawala METHANANDA];
National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation
Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [D. SIDHARTHAN]; Sri Lanka
Freedom Party or SLFP [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO
[Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R.
SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V.
ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil
WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]

Sudan
National Congress Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR]; Sudan
People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva Mayardit KIIR]; and
elements of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA including
factions of the Democratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI]
and Umma Party [SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]; note - all political parties
listed above in the Government of National Unity

Suriname
Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of
Suriname or APS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of the 21st
Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen
Nanan PANDAY], Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL],
Trefpunt 2000 or T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); General Interior
Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; National Democratic
Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and
Development or NF (a coalition that includes A-Combination or A-Com,
Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91, an independent,
business-oriented party [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname
or NPS [Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien
SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese
Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and
Development in Unity or DOE [Marten SCHALKWIJK]; People's Alliance
for Progress or VVV (a coalition of Democratic National Platform
2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal
and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and
Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for
Progression, Justice, and Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN],
Pendawalima or PL [Raymond SAPOEN]); Progressive Laborers and
Farmers Union or PALU [Jim HOK]; Progressive Political Party or PPP
[Surinder MUNGRA]; Seeka [Paul ABENA]; Union of Progressive
Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj PANDAY]

Swaziland
the status of political parties, previously banned, is
unclear under the new (2006) Constitution and currently being
debated - the following are considered political associations;
African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA,
president]; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM; Ngwane National
Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's
United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]

Sweden
Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party
[Goran HAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but
party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left
Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party
[Jan BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT];
Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]

Switzerland
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti
Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I
Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER];
Christian Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische
Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or
PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida
Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY];
Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der
Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio
Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social Democratic
Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti
Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida
Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR]; Swiss
People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union
Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,
Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER]; and other minor
parties

Syria
legal parties: National Progressive Front or NPF [President
Bashar al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH] (includes Arab Socialist
Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD]; Socialist
Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Arab
Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party (two
branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social
Nationalist Party [Ali QANSU]; Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez
ISMAIL])
opposition parties not legally recognized:: Arab Democratic
Socialist Union Party [Hasan Abdul AZIM]; Arab Socialist Movement;
Democratic Ba'th Party [Ibrahim MAHKOS]; People's Democratic Party
[Riad al TURK]; Revolutionary Workers' Party [Abdul Hafeez al HAFEZ]
Kurdish parties (considered illegal): Kurdish Democratic Front
[Abdul Hamid DARWISH] (includes four parties); Kurdish Coordination
[Abdul Hakim BASHAR] (includes Azadi Party [Kheirudin MURAD], Future
Party [Masha'l TAMMO], Yekity Party [Hasam SALE])
other parties: Nahda Party [Abdul Aziz al MISLET]; Syrian Democratic
Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]

Taiwan
Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen];
Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [WU Po-hsiung]; Non-Partisan
Solidarity Union or NPSU [CHANG Po-ya]; People First Party or PFP
[James SOONG]

Tajikistan
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV];
Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October
2005); Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin
KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimzon BOBOYEV]; People's
Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social
Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or
SPT [Mirhuseyn NARZIYEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi
SHABDOLOV]

Tanzania
Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and
Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
(Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or
CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA]
(unregistered); Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga
MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

Thailand
Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT
Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Matchima Thippatai
(Middle Way Party) [ANONGWAN Therpsuthin] - disbanded; Motherland
Party (Peua Pandin Party); People's Power Party (Palang Prachachon
Party) or PPP [SOMCHAI Wongsawat, acting] - disbanded; Royalist
People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai Thai Party
(Thai Unity Party) [CHETTA Thanacharo, also spelled CHETTHA
Thanajaro]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN
SILPA-ARCHA] - disbanded

Timor-Leste
Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National
Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO];
National Democratic Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM
[Cornelio DA Conceicao GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda
BORGES]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari
ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco
Xavier do AMARAL]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mario
CARRASCALAO]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN]
(also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)

Togo
Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO];
Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party
for Renewal or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the
Believers of Peace and Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic
Convergence or CPP; Rally for the Support for Development and
Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or
RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE]; Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for
Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces
for a Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]

Tokelau
none

Tonga
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti
UATA]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]

Trinidad and Tobago
Congress of the People [Winston DOOKERAN];
Democratic Action Congress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES] (only active in
Tobago); Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Gerald YETMING]
(coalition of NAR, DDPT, MND); Movement for National Development or
MND [Garvin NICHOLAS]; National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR
[Dr. Carson CHARLES]; People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick
MANNING]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]

Tunisia
Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional
Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique)
or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI];
Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben
JAFAAR]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal
Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist
Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP
[Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Maya JERIBI];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]; note - the
Islamist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

Turkey
Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party) or Anavatan [Erkan
MUMCU]; Democratic Left Party or DSP [Mehmet Zeki SEZER]; Democratic
Society Party or DTP [Nurettin DEMIRTAS]; Felicity Party or SP
[Recai KUTAN] (sometimes translated as Contentment Party); Justice
and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]; Nationalist
Action Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI] (sometimes translated as
Nationalist Movement Party); People's Rise Party (Halkin Yukselisi
Partisi) or HYP [Yasar Nuri OZTURK]; Republican People's Party or
CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; Social Democratic People's Party or SHP [Murat
KARAYALCIN]; True Path Party or DYP [Mehmet AGAR] (sometimes
translated as Correct Way Party); Young Party or GP [Cem Cengiz UZAN]
note: the parties listed above are some of the more significant of
the 49 parties that Turkey had on 1 December 2004

Turkmenistan
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Gurbanguly
BERDIMUHAMEDOW]
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the
two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been National
Democratic Movement of Turkmenistan (NDMT) and the United Democratic
Party of Turkmenistan (UDPT); NDMT was led by former Foreign
Minister Boris SHIKHMURADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the
wake of the 25 November 2002 attack on President NYYAZOW's motorcade

Turks and Caicos Islands
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd
SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

Tuvalu
there are no political parties but members of Parliament
usually align themselves in informal groupings

Uganda
Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or
DP [Kizito SSEBAANA]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Kizza
BESIGYE]; Justice Forum or JEEMA [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA];
National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; Peoples
Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI]; Ugandan People's Congress
or UPC [Miria OBOTE]
note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's
transition to a multi-party political system

Ukraine
Christian Democratic Union [Volodymyr STRETOVYCH]; Communist
Party of Ukraine or CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; European Party of Ukraine
[Mykola KATERYNCHUK]; Fatherland Party (Batkivshchyna) [Yuliya
TYMOSHENKO]; Forward Ukraine! [Viktor MUSIYAKA]; Labor Party of
Ukraine [Mykola SYROTA]; People's Union Our Ukraine [Vyacheslav
KYRYLENKO]; Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy
KINAKH]; Party of the Defenders of the Fatherland [Yuriy Karmazin];
People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) [Borys TARASYUK]; People's Party
[Volodymyr LYTVYN]; PORA! (It's Time!) party [Vladyslav KASKIV];
Progressive Socialist Party [Natalya VITRENKO]; Reforms and Order
Party [Viktor PYNZENYK]; Party of Regions [Viktor YANUKOVYCH];
Republican Party [Yuriy BOYKO]; Sobor [Anatoliy MATVIYENKO]; Social
Democratic Party [Yevhen KORNICHUK]; Social Democratic Party
(United) or SDPU(o) [Yuriy ZAHORODNIY]; Socialist Party of Ukraine
or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ]; Ukrainian People's Party [Yuriy KOSTENKO];
Viche [Inna BOHOSLOVSKA]

United Arab Emirates
none

United Kingdom
Conservative [David CAMERON]; Democratic Unionist
Party (Northern Ireland) [Peter ROBINSON]; Labor Party [Gordon
BROWN]; Liberal Democrats [Nick CLEGG]; Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru)
[Ieuan Wyn JONES]; Scottish National Party or SNP [Alex SALMOND];
Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS]; Social Democratic and
Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Mark DURKAN]; Ulster
Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Sir Reg EMPEY]

United States
Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party;
Libertarian Party [William (Bill) REDPATH]; Republican Party [Robert
M. (Mike) DUNCAN]

Uruguay
Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the
Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge
BROVETTO] (a broad governing coalition that includes Movement of the
Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA], New Space Party (Nuevo
Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza
Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo
FERNANDEZ], the Communist Party [Marina ARISMENDI], Uruguayan
Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente
Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Julio
Maria SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE
and Jorge LARRANAGA]

Uzbekistan
Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom
TASHMUHAMMEDOVA]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly
Tiklanish) or MTP [Hurshid DOSMUHAMMEDOV]; Fidokorlar National
Democratic Party (Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]; Liberal
Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV; People's
Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin
RUSTAMOV]

Vanuatu
Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES]; Jon Frum
Movement or JF [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP
[Barak SOPE]; Nagriamel movement or NAG [Havo MOLI]; Namangi Aute or
NA [Paul TELUKLUK]; National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI];
People's Action Party or PAP [Peter VUTA]; People's Progressive
Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN]; Shepherds Alliance Party [leader NA];
Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuatu Family First
Party or VFFP [Eta RORI]; Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua
KALSAKAU]; Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU];
Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu
Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Vanuatu Republican
Farmers Party or VPRFP [Jean RAVOU]

Venezuela
A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or
COPEI [Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV
[Jeronimo CARRERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup];
Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio
BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; United
Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela
Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael
GARCIA]

Vietnam
Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other
parties proscribed

Virgin Islands
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent
Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary
SPRAUVE]

Wallis and Futuna
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux
de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis
LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni
UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la
Democratie Francaise or UDF

Yemen
General People's Congress or GPC [Abdul-Kader BAJAMMAL];
Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Mohammed Abdullah AL-YADOUMI
(acting)]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdal Malik al-MAKHLAFI];
National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM]; Yemeni
Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]; note - there are at least
seven more active political parties

Zambia
All Peoples Congress Party [Winright NGONDO]; Forum for
Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]; Heritage Party or
HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger
CHONGWE]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA];
National Democratic Focus or NDF; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael
SATA]; Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan
PULE]; Reform Party [Nevers MUMBA]; United Democratic Alliance or
UDA; United Liberal Party or ULP [Sakwiba SIKOTA]; United National
Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for
National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]; Zambia Democratic
Congress or ZADECO [Langton SICHONE]; Zambian Republican Party or
ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]

Zimbabwe
African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA];
Movement for Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI,
anti-Senate faction; Arthur MUTAMBARA, pro-Senate faction]; Peace
Action is Freedom for All or PAFA; United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA];
United People's Party or UPP [Daniel SHUMBA]; Zimbabwe African
National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe
African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel
MUGABE]; Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA];
Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance or ZIYA

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2119 Population

Afghanistan
32,738,376 (July 2008 est.)

Akrotiri
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of
Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and
UK-based contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents

Albania
3,619,778 (July 2008 est.)

Algeria
33,769,668 (July 2008 est.)

American Samoa
64,827 (July 2008 est.)

Andorra
82,627 (July 2008 est.)

Angola
12,531,357 (July 2008 est.)

Anguilla
14,108 (July 2008 est.)

Antarctica
no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent
and summer-only staffed research stations
note: 28 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate
through their National Antarctic Program a number of seasonal-only
(summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its
nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region
covered by the Antarctic Treaty); these stations' population of
persons doing and supporting science or engaged in the management
and protection of the Antarctic region varies from approximately
4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000
personnel, including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard
research, are present in the waters of the treaty region; peak
summer (December-February) population - 4,219 total; Argentina 667,
Australia 200, Brazil 40, Bulgaria 15, Chile 237, China 70, Czech
Republic 20, Ecuador 26, Finland 20, France 100, France and Italy
jointly 45, Germany 90, India 65, Italy 90, Japan 125, South Korea
70, NZ 85, Norway 44, Peru 28, Poland 40, Romania 3, Russia 429,
South Africa 80, Spain 28, Sweden 20, Ukraine 24, UK 205, US 1,293,
Uruguay 60 (2007-2008); winter (June-August) station population -
1,088 total; Argentina 176, Australia 62, Brazil 12, Chile 96, China
29, France 26, France and Italy jointly 13, Germany 9, India 25,
Italy 2, Japan 40, South Korea 18, NZ 10, Norway 7, Poland 12,
Russia 148, South Africa 10, Ukraine 12, UK 37, US 337, Uruguay 9
(2008); research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area
(south of 60 degrees south latitude) by National Antarctic Programs:
year-round stations - 38 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
Chile 4, China 2, France 1, France and Italy jointly 1, Germany 1,
India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 5,
South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (2008); a range of
seasonal-only (summer) stations, camps, and refuges - Argentina,
Australia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador,
Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New
Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Ukraine, UK, US, and Uruguay (2007-2008); in addition, during the
austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as
tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses
in support of research (March 2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
84,522 (July 2008 est.)

Argentina
40.482 million (July 2008 est.)

Armenia
2,968,586 (July 2008 est.)

Aruba
101,541
note: estimate based on a revision of the base population,
fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-1999
migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is
assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent
with the 2000 census (July 2008 est.)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only

Australia
21,007,310 (July 2008 est.)

Austria
8,205,533 (July 2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
8,177,717 (July 2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
307,451
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Bahrain 718,306 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Bangladesh
153,546,896 (July 2008 est.)

Barbados
281,968 (July 2008 est.)

Belarus
9,685,768 (July 2008 est.)

Belgium
10,403,951 (July 2008 est.)

Belize
301,270 (July 2008 est.)

Benin
8,532,547
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Bermuda
66,536 (July 2008 est.)

Bhutan
682,321
note: the Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first
modern census of Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook
population estimates for this country, which were on the order of
three times the total population reported here, were based on
Bhutanese government publications that did not include the census
(July 2008 est.)

Bolivia
9,247,816 (July 2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
4,590,310 (July 2008 est.)

Botswana
1,842,323
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Bouvet Island
uninhabited

Brazil
196,342,592
note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a
population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this
country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant
mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

British Indian Ocean Territory
no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in
the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,
were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and
1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a
British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in
November 2004, approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and
civilian contractors were living on the island of Diego Garcia

British Virgin Islands
24,041 (July 2008 est.)

Brunei
381,371 (July 2008 est.)

Bulgaria
7,262,675 (July 2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
15,264,735
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Burma
47,758,180
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Burundi
8,691,005
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Cambodia
14,241,640
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Cameroon
18,467,692
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Canada
33,212,696 (July 2008 est.)

Cape Verde
426,998 (July 2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
47,862
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2008 est.)

Central African Republic
4,444,330
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Chad
10,111,337 (July 2008 est.)

Chile
16,454,143 (July 2008 est.)

China
1,330,044,544 (July 2008 est.)

Christmas Island
1,402 (July 2007 est.)

Clipperton Island
uninhabited

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
596 (July 2007 est.)

Colombia
45,013,672 (July 2008 est.)

Comoros
731,775 (July 2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
66,514,504
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
3,903,318
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Cook Islands
12,271 (July 2008 est.)

Coral Sea Islands
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological
station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)

Costa Rica
4,195,914 (July 2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
20,179,602
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Croatia
4,491,543 (July 2008 est.)

Cuba
11,423,952 (July 2008 est.)

Cyprus
792,604 (July 2008 est.)

Czech Republic
10,220,911 (July 2008 est.)

Denmark
5,484,723 (July 2008 est.)

Dhekelia
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of
Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK
Based Contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents

Djibouti
506,221 (July 2008 est.)

Dominica
72,514 (July 2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
9,507,133 (July 2008 est.)

Ecuador
13,927,650 (July 2008 est.)

Egypt
81,713,520 (July 2008 est.)

El Salvador
7,066,403 (July 2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
616,459 (July 2008 est.)

Eritrea
5,502,026 (July 2008 est.)

Estonia
1,307,605 (July 2008 est.)

Ethiopia
82,544,840
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

European Union
491,018,683 (July 2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
3,140 (July 2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
48,668 (July 2008 est.)

Fiji
931,741 (July 2008 est.)

Finland
5,244,749 (July 2008 est.)

France
total: 64,057,792
note: 62,150,775 in metropolitan France (July 2008 est.)

French Polynesia
283,019 (July 2008 est.)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
no indigenous inhabitants
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): has no permanent
residents but has a meteorological station
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): is uninhabited but
is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research
cabin for short stays
Iles Crozet: are uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the
Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession
Iles Kerguelen: 50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at
Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): uninhabitable
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses):
a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each
possession; visited by scientists
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): uninhabited, except for visits by
scientists

Gabon
1,485,832
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Gambia, The
1,735,464 (July 2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
1,500,202 (July 2008 est.)

Georgia
4,630,841 (July 2008 est.)

Germany
82,369,552 (July 2008 est.)

Ghana
23,382,848
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Gibraltar
28,002 (July 2008 est.)

Greece
10,722,816 (July 2008 est.)

Greenland
57,564 (July 2008 est.)

Grenada
90,343 (July 2008 est.)

Guam
175,877 (July 2008 est.)

Guatemala
13,002,206 (July 2008 est.)

Guernsey
65,726 (July 2008 est.)

Guinea
9,806,509 (July 2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
1,503,182 (July 2008 est.)

Guyana
770,794
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Haiti
8,924,553
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
uninhabited

Holy See (Vatican City)
824 (July 2008 est.)

Honduras
7,639,327
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Hong Kong
7,018,636 (July 2008 est.)

Hungary
9,930,915 (July 2008 est.)

Iceland
304,367 (July 2008 est.)

India
1,147,995,904 (July 2008 est.)

Indonesia
237,512,352 (July 2008 est.)

Iran
65,875,224 (July 2008 est.)

Iraq
28,221,180 (July 2008 est.)

Ireland
4,156,119 (July 2008 est.)

Isle of Man
76,220 (July 2008 est.)

Israel
7,112,359
note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank,
about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and fewer than
177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)

Italy
58,145,320 (July 2008 est.)

Jamaica
2,804,332 (July 2008 est.)

Jan Mayen
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and
the weather and coastal services radio station

Japan
127,288,416 (July 2008 est.)

Jersey
91,533 (July 2008 est.)

Jordan
6,198,677 (July 2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
15,340,533 (July 2008 est.)

Kenya
37,953,840
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Kiribati
110,356 (July 2008 est.)

Korea, North
23,479,088 (July 2008 est.)

Korea, South
48,379,392 (July 2008 est.)

Kosovo
2,126,708 (2007 est.)

Kuwait 2,596,799 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
5,356,869 (July 2008 est.)

Laos
6,677,534 (July 2008 est.)

Latvia
2,245,423 (July 2008 est.)

Lebanon
3,971,941 (July 2008 est.)

Lesotho
2,128,180
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Liberia
3,334,587 (July 2008 est.)

Libya 6,173,579 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
34,498 (July 2008 est.)

Lithuania
3,565,205 (July 2008 est.)

Luxembourg
486,006 (July 2008 est.)

Macau
545,674 (July 2008 est.)

Macedonia
2,061,315 (July 2008 est.)

Madagascar
20,042,552 (July 2008 est.)

Malawi
13,931,831
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Malaysia
25,274,132 (July 2008 est.)

Maldives
385,925 (July 2008 est.)

Mali
12,324,029 (July 2008 est.)

Malta
403,532 (July 2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
63,174 (July 2008 est.)

Mauritania
3,364,940 (July 2008 est.)

Mauritius
1,274,189 (July 2008 est.)

Mayotte
216,306 (July 2008 est.)

Mexico
109,955,400 (July 2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
107,665 (July 2008 est.)

Moldova
4,324,450 (July 2008 est.)

Monaco
32,796 (July 2008 est.)

Mongolia
2,996,081 (July 2008 est.)

Montenegro
678,177 (July 2008 est.)

Montserrat
5,079
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2008 est.)

Morocco
34,343,220 (July 2008 est.)

Mozambique
21,284,700
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997
Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2008
est.)

Namibia
2,088,669
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Nauru
13,770 (July 2008 est.)

Navassa Island uninhabited note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

Nepal
29,519,114 (July 2008 est.)

Netherlands
16,645,313 (July 2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
225,369 (July 2008 est.)

New Caledonia
224,824 (July 2008 est.)

New Zealand
4,173,460 (July 2008 est.)

Nicaragua
5,785,846 (July 2008 est.)

Niger
13,272,679 (July 2008 est.)

Nigeria
146,255,312
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Niue
1,444 (July 2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
2,128 (July 2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
86,616 (July 2008 est.)

Norway
4,644,457 (July 2008 est.)

Oman 3,311,640 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Pakistan
172,800,048 (July 2008 est.)

Palau
21,093 (July 2008 est.)

Panama
3,309,679 (July 2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
5,931,769 (July 2008 est.)

Paracel Islands no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Paraguay
6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)

Peru
29,180,900 (July 2008 est.)

Philippines
96,061,680 (July 2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
48 (July 2008 est.)

Poland
38,500,696 (July 2008 est.)

Portugal
10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
3,958,128 (July 2008 est.)

Qatar
824,789 (July 2008 est.)

Romania
22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)

Russia
140,702,096 (July 2008 est.)

Rwanda
10,186,063
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Saint Barthelemy
7,492 (July 2008 est.)

Saint Helena
7,601
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are
inhabited (July 2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
39,817 (July 2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
159,585 (July 2008 est.)

Saint Martin
29,376 (July 2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
7,044 (July 2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
118,432 (July 2008 est.)

Samoa
217,083
note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a
highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in
the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in
the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993
number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures
(July 2008 est.)

San Marino
29,973 (July 2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
206,178 (July 2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia 28,146,656 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Senegal 12,853,259 (July 2008 est.)

Serbia 10,159,046 note: all population data includes Kosovo (July 2008 est.)

Seychelles
82,247 (July 2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
6,294,774 (July 2008 est.)

Singapore
4,608,167 (July 2008 est.)

Slovakia
5,455,407 (July 2008 est.)

Slovenia
2,007,711 (July 2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
581,318 (July 2008 est.)

Somalia
9,558,666
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in
1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is
complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements
in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2008 est.)

South Africa
48,782,756
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
no indigenous
inhabitants
note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March
2001 replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British
Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird
Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

Spain
40,491,052 (July 2008 est.)

Spratly Islands
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several
claimant states

Sri Lanka
21,128,772
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and
armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand
Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils
have sought refuge in the West (July 2008 est.)

Sudan
40,218,456 (July 2008 est.)

Suriname
475,996 (July 2008 est.)

Svalbard
2,165 (July 2008 est.)

Swaziland
1,128,814
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Sweden
9,045,389 (July 2008 est.)

Switzerland
7,581,520 (July 2008 est.)

Syria
19,747,586
note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and
about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2008 est.)

Taiwan
22,920,946 (July 2008 est.)

Tajikistan
7,211,884 (July 2008 est.)

Tanzania
40,213,160
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Thailand
65,493,296
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
1,108,777
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2008 est.)

Togo
5,858,673
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Tokelau
1,433 (July 2008 est.)

Tonga
119,009 (July 2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
1,047,366 (July 2008 est.)

Tunisia
10,383,577 (July 2008 est.)

Turkey
71,892,808 (July 2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
5,179,571 (July 2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
22,352 (July 2008 est.)

Tuvalu
12,177 (July 2008 est.)

Uganda
31,367,972
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Ukraine
45,994,288 (July 2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
4,621,399
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that
included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of
non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2008 est.)

United Kingdom
60,943,912 (July 2008 est.)

United States
303,824,640 (July 2008 est.)

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
no indigenous
inhabitants
note: public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and
Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and
educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Johnston Atoll: in previous years, an average of 1,100 US military
and civilian contractor personnel were present; as of May 2005 all
US government personnel had left the island
Midway Islands: approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish
and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the
atoll
Palmyra Atoll: four to 20 Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife
staff, and researchers

Uruguay
3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
27,345,026 (July 2008 est.)

Vanuatu
215,446 (July 2008 est.)

Venezuela
26,414,816 (July 2008 est.)

Vietnam
86,116,560 (July 2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
109,840 (July 2008 est.)

Wake Island
no indigenous inhabitants
note: since super typhoon IOKE, a small military contingent along
with 75 contractor personnel have returned to the island to conduct
clean-up and restore basic operations on the island (July 2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
15,237 (July 2008 est.)

West Bank
2,407,681
note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the
West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)

Western Sahara
393,831
note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility,
mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data
from neighboring countries (July 2008 est.)

World
6,706,993,152 (July 2008 est.)

Yemen
23,013,376 (July 2008 est.)

Zambia
11,669,534
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
11,350,111
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2120 Ports and terminals

Afghanistan
Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Albania
Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Algeria
Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel,
Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda

American Samoa
Pago Pago

Angola
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe

Anguilla
Blowing Point, Road Bay

Antarctica
there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica;
most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are
transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and
helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal
stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), and Palmer (64 43 S,
64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office
under "Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection
in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage
is sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and
authorization procedures adopted by the states parties to the
Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to
all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude south, have to be
complied with (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Committee on
Antarctica (HCA), a special hydrographic commission of International
Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic
surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it
coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate
charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of
navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member
State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which
contributes resources and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area;
members of HCA are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China,
Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia,
South Africa, Spain, UK, and US (2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
Saint John's

Arctic Ocean
Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Argentina
Arroyo Seco, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta
Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin

Aruba
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
none; offshore anchorage only

Atlantic Ocean
Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp
(Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca
(Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal),
Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas
(Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal),
London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal
(Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran
(Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de
Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg
(Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)

Australia
Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point,
Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney

Austria
Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Azerbaijan
Baku (Baki)

Bahamas, The
Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Bahrain
Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Bangladesh
Chittagong, Mongla Port

Barbados
Bridgetown

Belarus
Mazyr

Belgium
Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge

Belize
Belize City, Big Creek

Benin
Cotonou

Bermuda
Hamilton, Saint George

Bolivia
Puerto Aguirre (inland port on the Paraguay/Parana waterway
at the Bolivia/Brazil border); Bolivia has free port privileges in
maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski
Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje

Bouvet Island
none; offshore anchorage only

Brazil
Guaiba, Ilha Grande, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Santos, Sao
Sebastiao, Tubarao

British Indian Ocean Territory
Diego Garcia

British Virgin Islands
Road Town

Brunei
Lumut, Muara, Seria

Bulgaria
Burgas, Varna

Burma
Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe

Burundi
Bujumbura

Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Cameroon
Douala, Limboh Terminal

Canada
Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier,
Quebec City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver

Cape Verde
Porto Grande

Cayman Islands
Cayman Brac, George Town

Central African Republic
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Chile
Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San
Vicente, Valparaiso

China
Dalian, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,
Shenzhen, Tianjin

Christmas Island
Flying Fish Cove

Clipperton Island
none; offshore anchorage only

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Port Refuge

Colombia
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo

Comoros
Mayotte, Mutsamudu

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma,
Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Congo, Republic of the
Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo,
Pointe-Noire

Cook Islands
Avatiu

Coral Sea Islands
none; offshore anchorage only

Costa Rica
Caldera, Puerto Limon

Cote d'Ivoire
Abidjan, Espoir, San-Pedro

Croatia
Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)

Cuba
Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

Cyprus
area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos;
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia

Czech Republic
Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Denmark
Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia,
Kalundborg

Djibouti
Djibouti

Dominica
Portsmouth, Roseau

Dominican Republic
Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina,
Santo Domingo

Ecuador
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Egypt
Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Sidi Kurayr,
Suez

El Salvador
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco

Equatorial Guinea
Bata, Malabo

Eritrea
Assab, Massawa

Estonia
Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu

Ethiopia
Ethiopia is landlocked and uses ports of Djibouti in
Djibouti and Berbera in Somalia

European Union
Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila
(Romania), Bremen (Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania),
Copenhagen (Denmark), Galati (Romania), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg
(Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain),
Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille
(France), Naples (Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga
(Latvia), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn
(Estonia), Tulcea (Romania), Varna (Bulgaria)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Stanley

Faroe Islands
Torshavn, Vagur

Fiji
Lautoka, Suva

Finland
Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Raahe,
Rauma, Turku

France
Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes,
Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg

French Polynesia
Papeete

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
none; offshore anchorage only

Gabon
Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Port-Gentil

Gambia, The
Banjul

Gaza Strip
Gaza

Georgia
Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Germany
Bremen, Bremerhaven, Duisburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Lubeck,
Rostock, Wilhemshaven

Ghana
Tema

Gibraltar
Gibraltar

Greece
Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Greenland
Sisimiut

Grenada
Saint George's

Guam
Apra Harbor

Guatemala
Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Guernsey
Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Guinea
Conakry, Kamsar

Guinea-Bissau
Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Guyana
Georgetown

Haiti
Cap-Haitien

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
none; offshore anchorage only

Honduras
La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hungary
Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs
(2003)

Iceland
Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik

India
Chennai, Haldia, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta),
Mormugao, Mumbai (Bombay), New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam

Indian Ocean
Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban
(South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India)
Melbourne (Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South
Africa)

Indonesia
Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh,
Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok

Iran
Assaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e-Eman Khomeyni

Iraq
Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

Ireland
Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes

Isle of Man
Douglas, Ramsey

Israel
Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

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

Jamaica
Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky
Point

Jan Mayen
none; offshore anchorage only

Japan
Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Tomakomai, Yohohama

Jersey
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Jordan
Al 'Aqabah

Kazakhstan
Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen
(Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Kenya
Mombasa

Kiribati
Betio

Korea, North
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong,
Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang,
Wonsan

Korea, South
Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan

Kuwait
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina'
'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi

Kyrgyzstan
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Latvia
Riga, Ventspils

Lebanon
Beirut, Tripoli

Liberia
Buchanan, Monrovia

Libya
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf,
Tripoli, Zawiyah

Lithuania
Klaipeda

Luxembourg
Mertert

Macau
Macau

Madagascar
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Malawi
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Malaysia
Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Labuan, George Town
(Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas

Maldives
Male

Mali
Koulikoro

Malta
Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Marshall Islands
Majuro

Mauritania
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Mauritius
Port Louis

Mayotte
Dzaoudzi

Mexico
Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina
Cruz, Tampico, Veracruz

Micronesia, Federated States of
Tomil Harbor

Monaco
Monaco

Montenegro
Bar

Montserrat
Little Bay, Plymouth

Morocco
Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi

Mozambique
Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Namibia
Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Nauru
Nauru

Navassa Island
none; offshore anchorage only

Netherlands
Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Netherlands Antilles
Bopec Terminal, Willemstad

New Caledonia
Noumea

New Zealand
Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga,
Wellington, Whangarei

Nicaragua
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff

Nigeria
Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos

Niue
none; offshore anchorage only

Norfolk Island
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Northern Mariana Islands
Saipan, Tinian

Norway
Bergen, Borg Havn, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo,
Sture

Oman
Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Pacific Ocean
Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong (China), Kao-hsiung
(Taiwan), Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South
Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China),
Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington
(NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Pakistan
Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim

Palau
Koror

Panama
Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Papua New Guinea
Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak

Paracel Islands
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island being expanded

Paraguay
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Peru
Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note -
Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the
Amazon and its tributaries

Philippines
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila, Nasipit
Harbor

Pitcairn Islands
Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)

Poland
Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Portugal
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines

Puerto Rico
Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan

Qatar
Doha, Ra's Laffan

Romania
Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Russia
Azov, Kaliningrad, Kavkaz, Nakhodka, Novorossiysk, Primorsk,
Saint Petersburg, Vostochnyy

Rwanda
Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Saint Helena
Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Basseterre

Saint Lucia
Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint-Pierre

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Kingstown

Samoa
Apia

Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome

Saudi Arabia
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Senegal
Dakar

Seychelles
Victoria

Sierra Leone
Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Singapore
Singapore

Slovakia
Bratislava, Komarno

Slovenia
Koper

Solomon Islands
Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor

Somalia
Berbera, Kismaayo

South Africa
Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay,
Saldanha Bay

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Grytviken

Southern Ocean
McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica
note: few ports or harbors exist on southern side of Southern Ocean;
ice conditions limit use of most to short periods in midsummer; even
then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most
Antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and,
except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private
vessels; vessels in any port south of 60 degrees south are subject
to inspection by observers under Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty;
The Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica (HCA), a special
hydrographic commission of International Hydrographic Organization
(IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical
charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and
facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other
aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region;
membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government
has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources
and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area; members of HCA are
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, France,
Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, UK, and US (2007)

Spain
Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona,
Valencia

Spratly Islands
none; offshore anchorage only

Sri Lanka
Colombo

Sudan
Port Sudan

Suriname
Paramaribo, Wageningen

Svalbard
Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden

Sweden
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund,
Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby

Switzerland
Basel

Syria
Latakia, Tartus

Taiwan
Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Taichung

Tanzania
Dar es Salaam

Thailand
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Timor-Leste
Dili

Togo
Kpeme, Lome

Tokelau
none; offshore anchorage only

Tonga
Nuku'alofa

Trinidad and Tobago
Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain

Tunisia
Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Turkey
Aliaga, Diliskelesi, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mercin Limani,
Nemrut Limani

Turkmenistan
Turkmenbasy

Turks and Caicos Islands
Grand Turk, Providenciales

Tuvalu
Funafuti

Uganda
Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Ukraine
Feodosiya, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa,
Yuzhnyy

United Arab Emirates
Mina' Zayid (Abu Dhabi), Al Fujayrah, Mina'
Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al
Khaymah), Khawr Fakkan (Sharjah)

United Kingdom
Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London,
Southampton, Teesport (England), Forth Ports, Hound Point
(Scotland), Milford Haven (Wales)

United States
Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long
Beach, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands, and Kingman Reef: none; offshore anchorage only
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island
Midway Islands: Sand Island
Palmyra Atoll: West Lagoon

Uruguay
Montevideo

Uzbekistan
Termiz (Amu Darya)

Vanuatu
Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Venezuela
La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon

Vietnam
Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay

Wake Island
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Wallis and Futuna
Leava, Mata-Utu

Western Sahara
Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)

World
top ten container ports (TEUs): Singapore - 24,792,400; Hong
Kong - 23,539,000; Shanghai - 21,710,000; Shenzhen (China) -
18,468,890; Busan (South Korea) - 12,030,000; Kaohsiung (Taiwan) -
9,774,670; - Rotterdam - 9,603,000; Dubai (UAE) - 8,923,465; Hamburg
- 8,861,545; Los Angeles - 8,469,853 (2006)

Yemen
Aden, Hudaydah, Mukalla

Zambia
Mpulungu

Zimbabwe
Binga, Kariba

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2121 Railways (km)

Albania total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Algeria
total: 3,973 km
standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2006)

Angola
total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)

Argentina
total: 31,902 km
broad gauge: 20,858 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 7,922 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Armenia
total: 839 km
broad gauge: 839 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2006)

Australia
total: 38,550 km
broad gauge: 3,727 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 20,519 km 1.435-m gauge (1,877 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,074 km 1.067-m gauge (2,453 km electrified)
dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2006)

Austria
total: 6,383 km
standard gauge: 5,924 km 1.435-m gauge (3,772 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 371 km 1.000-m gauge; 88 km 0.760-m gauge (25 km
electrified) (2006)

Azerbaijan
total: 2,122 km
broad gauge: 2,122 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2006)

Bangladesh
total: 2,768 km
broad gauge: 946 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Belarus
total: 5,512 km
broad gauge: 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 15 km 1.435 m (2006)

Belgium
total: 3,536 km
standard gauge: 3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2006)

Benin
total: 758 km
narrow gauge: 758 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Bolivia
total: 3,504 km
narrow gauge: 3,504 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 608 km
standard gauge: 608 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Botswana
total: 888 km
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Brazil
total: 29,295 km
broad gauge: 4,932 km 1.600-m gauge (939 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,773 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
dual gauge: 396 km 1.000 m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km
electrified) (2006)

Bulgaria
total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

Burkina Faso
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire
(2006)

Burma
total: 3,955 km
narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Cambodia
total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Cameroon
total: 987 km
narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Canada
total: 48,068 km
standard gauge: 48,068 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Chile
total: 6,585 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

China
total: 75,438 km
standard gauge: 75,438 km 1.435-m gauge (20,151 km electrified)
(2005)

Colombia
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 5,138 km
narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Costa Rica
total: 278 km
narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railway network is in use (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000 meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina
Faso (2006)

Croatia
total: 2,726 km
standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (1,199 km electrified) (2006)

Cuba
total: 4,226 km
standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified)
note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;
about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge
(2006)

Czech Republic
total: 9,597 km
standard gauge: 9,597 km 1.435-m gauge (3,041 km electrified) (2006)

Denmark
total: 2,644 km
standard gauge: 2,644 km 1.435-m gauge (636 km electrified) (2007)

Djibouti
total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railway)
narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but
remains largely inoperable (2006)

Dominican Republic
total: 517 km
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge
note: additional 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m,
0.889 m, and 0.762-m gauges (2006)

Ecuador
total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Egypt
total: 5,063 km
standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2006)

El Salvador
total: 562 km
narrow gauge: 562 km 0.914-m gauge
note: railways not in operation since 2005 because of disuse and
high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2007)

Eritrea
total: 306 km
narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2006)

Estonia
total: 968 km
broad gauge: 968 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (2006)

Ethiopia
total: 699 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis
Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 699 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but
remains largely inoperable (2006)

European Union
total: 236,436 km
broad gauge: 28,250 km
standard gauge: 200,401 km
narrow gauge: 7,771 km
other: 23 km (2007)

Fiji
total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used
to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2006)

Finland
total: 5,741 km
broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2006)

France
total: 29,370 km
standard gauge: 29,203 km 1.435-m gauge (14,778 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Gabon
total: 814 km
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Georgia
total: 1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2006)

Germany
total: 48,215 km
standard gauge: 47,962 km 1.435-m gauge (20,278 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 229 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km
0.750-m gauge (2006)

Ghana
total: 953 km
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Greece
total: 2,571 km
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail
system) (2006)

Guatemala
total: 886 km
narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Guinea
total: 837 km
standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Honduras
total: 699 km
narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Hungary
total: 8,057 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,802 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

India
total: 63,221 km
broad gauge: 46,807 km 1.676-m gauge (17,343 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 13,290 km 1.000-m gauge (165 km electrified); 3,124 km
0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2006)

Indonesia
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km
0.750-m gauge (2006)

Iran
total: 8,367 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 8,273 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (2006)

Iraq
total: 2,272 km
standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Ireland
total: 3,237 km
broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat
Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants)
(2006)

Isle of Man
total: 65 km
standard gauge: 7 km 1.067-m gauge (7 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 58 km 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified)
note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2006)

Israel
total: 853 km
standard gauge: 853 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

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

Japan
total: 23,474 km
standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,182 km
1.067-m gauge (13,334 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 km
electrified) (2006)

Jordan
total: 505 km
narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2006)

Kazakhstan
total: 13,700 km
broad gauge: 13,700 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2006)

Kenya
total: 2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Korea, North
total: 5,235 km
standard gauge: 5,235 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2006)

Korea, South
total: 3,472 km
standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,342 km electrified) (2006)

Kosovo
total: 430 km (2005)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Latvia
total: 2,303 km
broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Lebanon
total: 401 km
standard gauge: 319 km 1.435 m
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050 m
note: rail system became unusable because of damage done during
fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2006)

Liberia
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: sections of railway are inoperable because of damage suffered
during the civil war (2008)

Libya
0 km
note: Libya has announced plans to build seven lines totaling 2,757
km of 1.435-m gauge track (2006)

Liechtenstein
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and
Switzerland (2006)

Lithuania
total: 1,771 km
broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Luxembourg
total: 275 km
standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2006)

Macedonia
total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2006)

Madagascar
total: 854 km
narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Malawi
total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Malaysia
total: 1,890 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2006)

Mali
total: 729 km
narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Mauritania
717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Mexico
total: 17,665 km
standard gauge: 17,665 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Moldova
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Mongolia
total: 1,810 km
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2006)

Montenegro
total: 250 km
standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2006)

Morocco
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)

Mozambique
total: 3,123 km
narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2006)

Namibia
total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Nepal
total: 59 km
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2006)

Netherlands
total: 2,797 km
standard gauge: 2,797 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2006)

New Zealand
total: 4,128 km
narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2006)

Nicaragua
total: 6 km
narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Nigeria
total: 3,505 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Norway
total: 4,114 km
standard gauge: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2008)

Pakistan
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Panama
total: 355 km
standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Paraguay
total: 36 km
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Peru
total: 1,989 km
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Philippines
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2006)

Poland
total: 23,072 km
broad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 22,443 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational;
11,910 km electrified) (2006)

Portugal
total: 2,786 km
broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Puerto Rico
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Romania
total: 11,385 km
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2006)

Russia
total: 87,157 km
broad gauge: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)
note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve
industries (2006)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 50 km
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2006)

Saudi Arabia
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2006)

Senegal
total: 906 km
narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2006)

Serbia
total: 3,379 km
standard gauge: 3,379 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 1,254 km) (2006)

Slovakia
total: 3,662 km
broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2006)

Slovenia
total: 1,229 km
standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2006)

South Africa
total: 20,872 km
narrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (8,931 km electrified); 436 km
0.610-m gauge (2006)

Spain
total: 14,974 km
broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,099 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,928 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km
0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2006)

Sri Lanka
total: 1,449 km
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2006)

Sudan
total: 5,978 km
narrow gauge: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for
cotton plantations (2006)

Swaziland
total: 301 km
narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)

Sweden
total: 11,528 km
standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km electrified) (2006)

Switzerland
total: 4,839 km
standard gauge: 3,561 km 1.435-m gauge (3,195 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,268 km 1.000-m gauge (1,274 km electrified); 10 km
0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2006)

Syria
total: 2,711 km
standard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2006)

Taiwan
total: 1,588 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,093 km 1.067-m gauge
note: 150 km .762-m gauge (belonging primarily to Taiwan Sugar
Corporation and Taiwan Forestry Bureau; some to other entities)
(2007)

Tajikistan
total: 482 km
broad gauge: 482 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Tanzania
total: 3,690 km
narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Thailand
total: 4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Togo
total: 568 km
narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Tunisia
total: 2,153 km
standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
dual gauge: 8 km 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2006)

Turkey
total: 8,697 km
standard gauge: 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (1,920 km electrified) (2006)

Turkmenistan
total: 2,440 km
broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Uganda
total: 1,244 km
narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Ukraine
total: 22,473 km
broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2006)

United Kingdom
total: 16,567 km
broad gauge: 303 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland)
standard gauge: 16,264 km 1.435-m gauge (5,361 km electrified) (2006)

United States
total: 226,612 km
standard gauge: 226,612 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Uruguay
total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in
partial use (2006)

Uzbekistan
total: 3,950 km
broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2006)

Venezuela
total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Vietnam
total: 2,600 km
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-m
gauges (2006)

World
total: 1,370,782 km (2006)

Zambia
total: 2,157 km
narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority
(TAZARA) (2006)

Zimbabwe total: 3,077 km narrow gauge: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2006)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2122 Religions (%)

Afghanistan
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%

Albania
Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current
statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were
closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November
1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Algeria
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%

American Samoa
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant and other 30%

Andorra
Roman Catholic (predominant)

Angola
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
(1998 est.)

Anguilla
Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%,
Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or
unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)

Antigua and Barbuda
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%,
Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist
7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other
2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)

Argentina
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing),
Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Armenia
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi
(monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Aruba
Roman Catholic 80.8%, Protestant 9%, other (includes Hindu,
Muslim, Confucian, Jewish) 5.6%, none or unspecified 4.6%

Australia
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%,
Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none
15.3% (2001 Census)

Austria
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other
3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)

Azerbaijan
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;
percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

Bahamas, The
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%,
Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other
Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)

Bahrain
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8%
(2001 census)

Bangladesh
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

Barbados
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%,
Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian
7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)

Belarus
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

Belgium
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

Belize
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%,
Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist
3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)

Benin
Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%,
other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%,
other 15.5% (2002 census)

Bermuda
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%,
unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)

Bhutan
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%

Bolivia
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%,
other 14%

Botswana
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%,
none 20.6% (2001 census)

Brazil
Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%,
Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%,
none 7.4% (2000 census)

British Virgin Islands
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%,
Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2%
(1991)

Brunei
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other
(includes indigenous beliefs) 10%

Bulgaria
Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian
1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)

Burkina Faso
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic) 10%

Burma
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%),
Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Burundi
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),
indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%

Cambodia
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

Cameroon
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Canada
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United
Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other
Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16%
(2001 census)

Cape Verde
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs),
Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Cayman Islands
Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian
and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day
Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentacostal 5.3%, other Christian
2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified
1.1% (1999 census)

Central African Republic
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%,
Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority

Chad
Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%,
other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)

Chile
Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%,
other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)

China
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%
note: officially atheist (2002 est.)

Christmas Island
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21%
(1997)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Colombia
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Comoros
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant
20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects
and indigenous beliefs) 10%

Congo, Republic of the
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Cook Islands
Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic
16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints
3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3%
(2001 census)

Costa Rica
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Cote d'Ivoire
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none
16.7% (2008 est)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim
(70%) and Christian (20%)

Croatia
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%,
Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Cuba
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented

Cyprus
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and
Armenian Apostolic) 4%

Czech Republic
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%,
unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Denmark
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes
Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%

Djibouti
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Dominica
Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal
5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or
unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

Dominican Republic
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Ecuador
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Egypt
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

El Salvador
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003
est.)

Equatorial Guinea
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman
Catholic, pagan practices

Eritrea
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Estonia
Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian
(including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%,
none 6.1% (2000 census)

Ethiopia
Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim
32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)

European Union
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other
1.3% (2006 census)

Faroe Islands
Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified
16.2% (2006 administrative data)

Fiji
Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly
of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%), Hindu 34%
(Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%), Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%.
other 2.8%), other or unspecified 5.6%, none 0.3% (1996 census)

Finland
Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%,
other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)

France
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,
Buddhist, pagan

French Polynesia
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no
religion 6%

Gabon
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%

Gambia, The
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Gaza Strip
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%

Georgia
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian
3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)

Germany
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%,
unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Ghana
Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant
18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%,
other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Gibraltar
Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other
Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or
unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)

Greece
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Greenland
Evangelical Lutheran

Grenada
Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

Guam
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)

Guatemala
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Guernsey
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Guinea
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Guinea-Bissau
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%

Guyana
Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican
6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness
1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3%
(2002 census)

Haiti
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal
4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%
note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo

Holy See (Vatican City)
Roman Catholic

Honduras
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Hong Kong
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Hungary
Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek
Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%,
unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)

Iceland
Lutheran Church of Iceland 82.1%, Roman Catholic Church
2.4%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.3%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%,
other Christian 2.8%, other religions 0.9%, unaffiliated 2.6%, other
or unspecified 5.5% (2006 est.)

India
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other
1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Indonesia
Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu
1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)

Iran
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%

Iraq
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%

Ireland
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other
Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Isle of Man
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Israel
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other
Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

Italy
Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third
practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish
communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)

Jamaica
Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal
9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church
of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of
Prophecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic
2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)

Japan
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including
Christian 0.7%)

Jersey
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian

Jordan
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but
some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several
small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Kazakhstan
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Kenya
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous
beliefs 10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for
the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous
beliefs vary widely

Kiribati
Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, other
(includes Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints,
Church of God) 8% (1999)

Korea, North
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian
and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom

Korea, South
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic
6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995
census)

Kosovo
Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic

Kuwait
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian,
Hindu, Parsi) 15%

Kyrgyzstan
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

Laos
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005
census)

Latvia
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other
0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)

Lebanon
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or
Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite
Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic,
Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt,
Protestant), other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognized

Lesotho
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Liberia
Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Libya
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%

Liechtenstein
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%,
other 6.2% (June 2002)

Lithuania
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant
(including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other
or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Luxembourg
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish,
and Muslim) 13% (2000)

Macau
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997
est.)

Macedonia
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian
0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)

Madagascar
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Malawi
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998
census)

Malaysia
Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%,
Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%,
other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)

Maldives
Sunni Muslim

Mali
Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%

Malta
Roman Catholic 98%

Marshall Islands
Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman
Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian
3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

Mauritania
Muslim 100%

Mauritius
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other
Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Mayotte
Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%

Mexico
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified
13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)

Micronesia, Federated States of
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%,
other 3%

Moldova
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5%
(2000)

Monaco
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Mongolia
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim
4%, none 40% (2004)

Montenegro
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%,
unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)

Montserrat
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Morocco
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Mozambique
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%,
other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

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

Nauru
Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru
Independent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4%
(2002 census)

Nepal
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other
0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world

Netherlands
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%,
other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Netherlands Antilles
Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%,
Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other
or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

New Caledonia
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

New Zealand
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian
10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other
Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Nicaragua
Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%,
Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)

Niger
Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian)
20%

Nigeria
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Niue
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely
related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints
8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)

Norfolk Island
Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church
in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian
5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)

Northern Mariana Islands
Christian (Roman Catholic majority,
although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Norway
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%,
other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

Oman
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim,
Hindu) 25%

Pakistan
Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian
and Hindu) 5%

Palau
Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8%
(indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness
0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4%
(2000 census)

Panama
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Papua New Guinea
Roman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%,
United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%,
Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other
Protestant 8.9%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000
census)

Paraguay
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian
1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)

Peru
Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian
0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Philippines
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%,
Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other
1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Pitcairn Islands
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Poland
Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox
1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)

Portugal
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%,
unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)

Puerto Rico
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Qatar
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

Romania
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%,
Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and
Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and
unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)

Russia
Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%
(2006 est.)
note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large
populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy
of over seven decades of Soviet rule

Rwanda
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim
4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Saint Barthelemy
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness

Saint Helena
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,
Roman Catholic

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Saint Lucia
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%,
Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%,
other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001
census)

Saint Martin
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman
Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other
Protestant) 12%

Samoa
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,
Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist
3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%,
unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

San Marino
Roman Catholic

Sao Tome and Principe
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New
Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Saudi Arabia
Muslim 100%

Senegal
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous
beliefs 1%

Serbia
Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim
3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)

Seychelles
Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day
Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other
non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)

Sierra Leone
Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%

Singapore
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%,
Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000
census)

Slovakia
Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic
4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

Slovenia
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian
0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002
census)

Solomon Islands
Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South
Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church
10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other
2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

Somalia
Sunni Muslim

South Africa
Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%,
Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%,
Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none
15.1% (2001 census)

Spain
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%

Sri Lanka
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%,
unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Sudan
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and
Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%

Suriname
Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian),
Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%

Swaziland
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous
ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes
Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%

Sweden
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox,
Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%

Switzerland
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%,
Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%,
none 11.1% (2000 census)

Syria
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%,
Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Taiwan
mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Tajikistan
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Tanzania
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs
35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Thailand
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1%
(2000 census)

Timor-Leste
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

Togo
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%

Tokelau
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%,
other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Tonga
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Trinidad and Tobago
Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%,
Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist
4%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9%
(2000 census)

Tunisia
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Turkey
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians
and Jews)

Turkmenistan
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%

Turks and Caicos Islands
Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%,
Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Tuvalu
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Uganda
Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%,
Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other
3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)

Ukraine
Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian
Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%,
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%,
Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes
Christian, Hindu) 4%

United Kingdom
Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian,
Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or
none 23.1% (2001 census)

United States
Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%,
other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other
or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%,
nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%,
other 1.1% (2006)

Uzbekistan
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

Vanuatu
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous
beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%,
unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Venezuela
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Vietnam
Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%,
Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

Virgin Islands
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%,
other 7%

Wallis and Futuna
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

West Bank
Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian
and other 8%

Western Sahara
Muslim

World
Christians 33.32% (of which Roman Catholics 16.99%,
Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.53%, Anglicans 1.25%), Muslims 21.01%,
Hindus 13.26%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.35%, Jews 0.23%, Baha'is
0.12%, other religions 11.78%, non-religious 11.77%, atheists 2.32%
(2007 est.)

Yemen
Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small
numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Zambia
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous
beliefs 1%

Zimbabwe
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%,
Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2123 Suffrage

Afghanistan
18 years of age; universal

Albania
18 years of age; universal

Algeria
18 years of age; universal

American Samoa
18 years of age; universal

Andorra
18 years of age; universal

Angola
18 years of age; universal

Anguilla
18 years of age; universal

Antigua and Barbuda
18 years of age; universal

Argentina
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Armenia
18 years of age; universal

Aruba
18 years of age; universal

Australia
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Austria
16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of
age in 2007

Azerbaijan
18 years of age; universal

Bahamas, The
18 years of age; universal

Bahrain
20 years of age; universal

Bangladesh
18 years of age; universal

Barbados
18 years of age; universal

Belarus
18 years of age; universal

Belgium
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Belize
18 years of age; universal

Benin
18 years of age; universal

Bermuda
18 years of age; universal

Bhutan
18 years of age; universal

Bolivia
18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21
years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
18 years of age, universal

Botswana
18 years of age; universal

Brazil
voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;
compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military
conscripts do not vote

British Virgin Islands
18 years of age; universal

Brunei
18 years of age for village elections; universal

Bulgaria
18 years of age; universal

Burkina Faso
universal

Burma
18 years of age; universal

Burundi
NA years of age; universal (adult)

Cambodia
18 years of age; universal

Cameroon
20 years of age; universal

Canada
18 years of age; universal

Cape Verde
18 years of age; universal

Cayman Islands
18 years of age; universal

Central African Republic
21 years of age; universal

Chad
18 years of age; universal

Chile
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

China
18 years of age; universal

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
18 years of age; universal

Comoros
18 years of age; universal

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Congo, Republic of the
18 years of age; universal

Cook Islands
NA years of age; universal (adult)

Costa Rica
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age; universal

Croatia
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Cuba
16 years of age; universal

Cyprus
18 years of age; universal

Czech Republic
18 years of age; universal

Denmark
18 years of age; universal

Djibouti
18 years of age; universal

Dominica
18 years of age; universal

Dominican Republic
18 years of age, universal and compulsory;
married persons regardless of age; note - members of the armed
forces and national police cannot vote

Ecuador
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons
ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Egypt
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

El Salvador
18 years of age; universal

Equatorial Guinea
18 years of age; universal

Eritrea
18 years of age; universal

Estonia
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Ethiopia
18 years of age; universal

European Union
18 years of age; universal

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
18 years of age; universal

Faroe Islands
18 years of age; universal

Fiji
21 years of age; universal

Finland
18 years of age; universal

France
18 years of age; universal

French Polynesia
18 years of age; universal

Gabon
21 years of age; universal

Gambia, The
18 years of age; universal

Georgia
18 years of age; universal

Germany
18 years of age; universal

Ghana
18 years of age; universal

Gibraltar
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have
been residents six months or more

Greece
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Greenland
18 years of age; universal

Grenada
18 years of age; universal

Guam
18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US
presidential elections

Guatemala
18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of
the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks
on election day

Guernsey
18 years of age; universal

Guinea
18 years of age; universal

Guinea-Bissau
18 years of age; universal

Guyana
18 years of age; universal

Haiti
18 years of age; universal

Holy See (Vatican City)
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Honduras
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Hong Kong
direct election - 18 years of age for a number of
non-executive positions; universal for permanent residents living in
the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect
election - limited to about 220,000 members of functional
constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, central government bodies, and municipal
organizations

Hungary
18 years of age; universal

Iceland
18 years of age; universal

India
18 years of age; universal

Indonesia
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless
of age

Iran
16 years of age; universal

Iraq
18 years of age; universal

Ireland
18 years of age; universal

Isle of Man
16 years of age; universal

Israel
18 years of age; universal

Italy
18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections,
where minimum age is 25)

Jamaica
18 years of age; universal

Japan
20 years of age; universal

Jersey
16 years of age; universal

Jordan
18 years of age; universal

Kazakhstan
18 years of age; universal

Kenya
18 years of age; universal

Kiribati
18 years of age; universal

Korea, North
17 years of age; universal

Korea, South
19 years of age; universal

Kosovo
18 years of age; universal

Kuwait
NA years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the
military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were
allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been
citizens for 20 years

Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age; universal

Laos
18 years of age; universal

Latvia
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Lebanon
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for
women at age 21 with elementary education

Lesotho
18 years of age; universal

Liberia
18 years of age; universal

Libya
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Liechtenstein
18 years of age; universal

Lithuania
18 years of age; universal

Luxembourg
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Macau
direct election 18 years of age for some non-executive
positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the
past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations
registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and
a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings,
municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Macedonia
18 years of age; universal

Madagascar
18 years of age; universal

Malawi
18 years of age; universal

Malaysia
21 years of age; universal

Maldives
21 years of age; universal

Mali
18 years of age; universal

Malta
18 years of age; universal

Marshall Islands
18 years of age; universal

Mauritania
18 years of age; universal

Mauritius
18 years of age; universal

Mayotte
18 years of age; universal

Mexico
18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Micronesia, Federated States of
18 years of age; universal

Moldova
18 years of age; universal

Monaco
18 years of age; universal

Mongolia
18 years of age; universal

Montenegro
18 years of age; universal

Montserrat
18 years of age; universal

Morocco
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Mozambique
18 years of age; universal

Namibia
18 years of age; universal

Nauru
20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Nepal
18 years of age; universal

Netherlands
18 years of age; universal

Netherlands Antilles
18 years of age; universal

New Caledonia
18 years of age; universal

New Zealand
18 years of age; universal

Nicaragua
16 years of age; universal

Niger
18 years of age; universal

Nigeria
18 years of age; universal

Niue
18 years of age; universal

Norfolk Island
18 years of age; universal

Northern Mariana Islands 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Norway
18 years of age; universal

Oman
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and
security forces are not allowed to vote

Pakistan
18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved
parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Palau
18 years of age; universal

Panama
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Papua New Guinea
18 years of age; universal

Paraguay
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Peru
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70;
note - for the first time in recent elections, members of the
military and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006
elections

Philippines
18 years of age; universal

Pitcairn Islands 18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Poland
18 years of age; universal

Portugal
18 years of age; universal

Puerto Rico
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Qatar
18 years of age; universal

Romania
18 years of age; universal

Russia
18 years of age; universal

Rwanda
18 years of age; universal

Saint Barthelemy
18 years of age, universal

Saint Helena
NA years of age

Saint Kitts and Nevis
18 years of age; universal

Saint Lucia
18 years of age; universal

Saint Martin
18 years of age, universal

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
18 years of age; universal

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
18 years of age; universal

Samoa
21 years of age; universal

San Marino
18 years of age; universal

Sao Tome and Principe
18 years of age; universal

Saudi Arabia
21 years of age; male

Senegal
18 years of age; universal

Serbia
18 years of age; universal

Seychelles
17 years of age; universal

Sierra Leone
18 years of age; universal

Singapore
21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Slovakia
18 years of age; universal

Slovenia
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Solomon Islands
21 years of age; universal

Somalia
18 years of age; universal

South Africa
18 years of age; universal

Spain
18 years of age; universal

Sri Lanka
18 years of age; universal

Sudan
17 years of age; universal

Suriname
18 years of age; universal

Swaziland
18 years of age

Sweden
18 years of age; universal

Switzerland
18 years of age; universal

Syria
18 years of age; universal

Taiwan
20 years of age; universal

Tajikistan
18 years of age; universal

Tanzania
18 years of age; universal

Thailand
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Timor-Leste
17 years of age; universal

Togo
NA years of age; universal (adult)

Tokelau
21 years of age; universal

Tonga
21 years of age; universal

Trinidad and Tobago
18 years of age; universal

Tunisia
18 years of age; universal except for active government
security forces (including the police and the military), people with
mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months
in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended
sentence of more than six months

Turkey
18 years of age; universal

Turkmenistan
18 years of age; universal

Turks and Caicos Islands
18 years of age; universal

Tuvalu
18 years of age; universal

Uganda
18 years of age; universal

Ukraine
18 years of age; universal

United Arab Emirates
none

United Kingdom
18 years of age; universal

United States
18 years of age; universal

Uruguay
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Uzbekistan
18 years of age; universal

Vanuatu
18 years of age; universal

Venezuela
18 years of age; universal

Vietnam
18 years of age; universal

Virgin Islands
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Wallis and Futuna
18 years of age; universal

Western Sahara
none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign
not yet completed

Yemen
18 years of age; universal

Zambia
18 years of age; universal

Zimbabwe
18 years of age; universal

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2124 Telephone system

Afghanistan
general assessment: limited landline telephone service;
an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone
networks in major cities
domestic: aided by the presence of multiple providers,
mobile-cellular telephone service is improving rapidly
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul,
Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international
and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)

Albania
general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines,
the density of main lines remains low with roughly 10 lines per 100
people; cellular telephone use is widespread and generally
effective; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density is
approximately 75 telephones per 100 persons
domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile
phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003, two companies
were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of
Albania's neighbors; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005;
Internet cafes are popular in Tirana and have started to spread
outside the capital
international: country code - 355; submarine cable provides
connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; the Trans-Balkan Line, a
combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides
additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey;
international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when
necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to
Italy and Greece (2007)

Algeria
general assessment: a weak network of fixed-main lines,
which remains low at less than 10 telephones per 100 persons, is
partially offset by the rapid increase in mobile cellular
subscribership; in 2007, combined fixed-line and mobile telephone
density surpassed 90 telephones per 100 persons
domestic: privatization of Algeria's telecommunications sector began
in 2000; three mobile cellular licenses have been issued and, in
2005, a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won a 15-year
license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; the
license will allow Orascom to develop high-speed data and other
specialized services and contribute to meeting the large unfulfilled
demand for basic residential telephony; Internet broadband services
began in 2003 with approximately 200,000 subscribers in 2006
international: country code - 213; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4
fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Italy, France,
Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia;
participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 51 (Intelsat,
Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2007)

American Samoa
general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone
services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)

Andorra
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections
between exchanges
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and
Spain

Angola
general assessment: system inadequate; fewer than one
fixed-line per 100 persons; combined fixed line and mobile telephone
density exceeded 25 telephones per 100 persons in 2007
domestic: state-owned telecom had monopoly for fixed-lines until
2005; demand outstripped capacity, prices were high, and services
poor; Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan company, became the first
private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network;
Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993
and the network has been extended to larger towns; a
privately-owned, mobile-cellular service provider began operations
in 2001
international: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2007)

Anguilla
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other
islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin
Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin
(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) (2007)

Antarctica
general assessment: local systems at some research
stations
domestic: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number
of locations
international: country code - none allocated; via satellite
(including mobile Inmarsat and Iridium systems) to and from all
research stations, ships, aircraft, and most field parties (2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
general assessment: NA
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-268; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other
islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin
Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric
scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe (2007)

Argentina
general assessment: by opening the telecommunications
market to competition and foreign investment with the
"Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina
encouraged the growth of modern telecommunications technology;
fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being installed between all major
cities; major networks are entirely digital and the availability of
telephone service is improving; fixed-line telephone density is
gradually increasing reaching nearly 25 lines per 100 people in
2007; mobile telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
and has reached a level of 100 telephones per 100 persons
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic
satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;
more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone
use is rapidly expanding; broadband services are gaining ground
international: country code - 54; landing point for the Atlantis-2,
UNISUR, and South America-1 optical submarine cable systems that
provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US;
satellite earth stations - 112; 2 international gateways near Buenos
Aires (2007)

Armenia
general assessment: telecommunications investments have made
major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated
telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100%
privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion;
mobile-cellular services monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a
second provider began operations in mid-2005
domestic: reliable modern landline and mobile-cellular services are
available across Yerevan in major cities and towns; significant but
ever-shrinking gaps remain in mobile-cellular coverage in rural areas
international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the
Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional
international service is available by microwave radio relay and
landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of
Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by
satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3
(2007)

Aruba
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications
system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless
service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM
submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US
Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the
west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio
relay links (2007)

Australia
general assessment: excellent domestic and international
service
domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of
radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of
mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the
Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine
cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite
earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific
Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar,
5 other) (2007)

Austria
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the
mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the
late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone
applications and Internet services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in
addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals)
(2007)

Azerbaijan
general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable
expansion and modernization; teledensity of 15 main lines per 100
persons is low; mobile-cellular penetration is increasing and is
currently about 50 telephones per 100 persons
domestic: fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other telecom
services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly
and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the
mobile-cellular market with three providers in 2006; satellite
service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan
international: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cable
and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2
(2007)

Bahamas, The
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas
Domestic Submarine Network links 14 of the islands and is designed
to satisfy increasing demand for voice and broadband internet
services
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable
that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)

Bahrain
general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network
with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides
links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to
Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite
earth station - 1 (2007)

Bangladesh
general assessment: inadequate for a modern country;
fixed-line telephone density remains less than 1 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
and is approaching 25 per 100 persons
domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems
include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some
fiber-optic cable in cities
international: country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4
fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6;
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2007)

Barbados
general assessment: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50
per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 85 per
100 persons
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other
islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin
Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat
-Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
(2007)

Belarus
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in
upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; state-owned Beltelcom
is the sole provider of fixed-line local and long distance service;
fixed-line teledensity of roughly 35 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone density of about 60 per 100 persons;
modernization of the network progressing with roughly two-thirds of
switching equipment now digital
domestic: fixed-line penetration is improving although rural areas
continue to be underserved; 3 GSM wireless networks are experiencing
rapid growth; strict government controls on telecommunications
technologies
international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the
Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line,
and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic
segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and
Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this
infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations (2007)

Belgium
general assessment: highly developed, technologically
advanced, and completely automated domestic and international
telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of
submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)

Belize
general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line
teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density
of about 40 per 100 persons
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic
telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and
Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth
station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2007)

Benin
general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line network
characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment with fixed-line
teledensity stuck at 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership is increasing
domestic: system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular
connections; multiple mobile-cellular providers
international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Bermuda
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic
trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; landing point for the
Atlantica-1 telecommunications submarine cable that extends from the
US to Brazil; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)

Bhutan
general assessment: urban towns and district headquarters
have telecommunications services
domestic: very low teledensity; domestic service is very poor
especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international telephone and
telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2007)

Bolivia
general assessment: privatization begun in 1995; reliability
has steadily improved; new subscribers face bureaucratic
difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other
cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly; fixed-line
teledensity of 7 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density
of 35 per 100 persons
domestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs
digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic
cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded
international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
general assessment: post-war reconstruction
of the telecommunications network, aided by a internationally
sponsored program under ERBD, resulted in sharp increases in the
number of main telephone lines available; mobile cellular
subscribership has been increasing rapidly
domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 25 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone density exceeds 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2007)

Botswana
general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth
of mobile-cellular service and participation in regional
development; system is fully digital with fiber-optic cables linking
the major population centers in the east; fixed-line connections
declined in recent years and now stand at roughly 8 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone density currently is about 80 per 100
persons
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations;
mobile-cellular service is growing fast
international: country code - 267; international calls are made via
satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international
exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) (2007)

Brazil
general assessment: good working system; fixed-line
connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and
stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive mobile cellular
technology is a major driver in expanding telephone service to the
low-income segment of the population with mobile-cellular telephone
density reaching nearly 65 per 100 persons
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 64 earth stations; mobile-cellular usage has
more than tripled in the past 5 years
international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of
submarine cables that provide direct links to South and Central
America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean
region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur
Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station (2007)

British Indian Ocean Territory general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)

British Virgin Islands
general assessment: worldwide telephone
service
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable
to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable
provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean
(2007)

Brunei
general assessment: service throughout the country is
excellent; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle
East, Western Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway
submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will
provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Bulgaria
general assessment: an extensive but antiquated
telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality
has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line
monopoly terminated in 2005 when alternative fixed-line operators
were given access to its network; a drop in fixed-line connections
in recent years has been more than offset by a sharp increase in
mobile-cellular telephone use fostered by multiple service
providers; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now
exceeds the population
domestic: a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects
switching centers in most of the regions; the others are connected
by digital microwave radio relay
international: country code - 359; submarine cable provides
connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable
and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania,
and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the
Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions) (2007)

Burkina Faso
general assessment: services only fair; in 2006 the
government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company
and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the
company; fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is
increasing rapidly from a low base
domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Burma
general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government
domestic: system barely capable of providing basic service; cellular
phone system is grossly underdeveloped with a subscribership base of
less than 1 per 100 persons
international: country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2,
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2007)

Burundi
general assessment: primitive system; telephone density one
of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well
less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing but
remains at a meager 3 per 100 persons
domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Cambodia
general assessment: mobile-phone systems are widely used in
urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network;
fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition among service
providers, is increasing and stands at nearly 20 per 100 persons
domestic: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh
and other provincial cities; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly
expanding in rural areas
international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline
and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and
major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Indian Ocean region) (2007)

Cameroon
general assessment: fixed-line connections stand at less
than 1 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated, and
connections with many parts of the country are unreliable;
mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor condition
and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, increased more
than 6-fold between 2002 and 2007 reaching a subscribership base of
25 per 100 persons
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Canada
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern
technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to
the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic
Ocean region) (2007)

Cape Verde
general assessment: effective system, extensive
modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT);
fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing
Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in
1998; broadband services launched in 2004
international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2
fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to
South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2007)

Cayman Islands
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of
competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1
submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and
parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides
connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Central African Republic
general assessment: limited telephone
service; fixed-line connections for well less than 1 per 100 persons
coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 3 per 100 persons;
most fixed-line and cellular telephone services are concentrated in
Bangui
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Chad
general assessment: primitive system with high costs and low
telephone density; fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000
persons coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 9 per 100
persons
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Chile
general assessment: privatization begun in 1988; most advanced
telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system
based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; fixed-line
connections have dropped in recent years as mobile-cellular usage
continues to increase, reaching a level of 85 telephones per 100
persons
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite
system with 3 earth stations
international: country code - 56; submarine cables provide links to
the US and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

China
general assessment: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and
many towns; nonetheless, by the end of 2006, more than 95% of
China's villages had been connected to the telephone network; China
continues to develop its telecommunications infrastructure, and is
partnering with foreign providers to expand its global reach; 3 of
China's 6 major telecommunications operators are part of an
international consortium which, in December 2006, signed an
agreement with Verizon Business to build the first next-generation
fiber optic submarine cable system directly linking the US mainland
and China
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
telephone systems have been installed; mobile-cellular
subscribership is increasing rapidly; the number of Internet users
reached 253 million in 2008; a domestic satellite system with 55
earth stations is in place
international: country code - 86; a number of submarine cables
provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat -
Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2007)

Christmas Island
general assessment: service provided by the
Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system
in February 2005
international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
general assessment: connected within
Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular
network is in operation
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite
earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)

Colombia
general assessment: modern system in many respects;
telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple
providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services;
fixed-line connections stand at about 18 per 100 persons; mobile
cellular usage is about 75 per 100 persons; competition among
cellular service providers is resulting in falling local and
international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in
the market share of fixed line services
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking
50 cities
international: country code - 57; submarine cables provide links to
the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America;
satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully
digitalized international switching centers) (2007)

Comoros
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay
and HF radiotelephone communication stations; fixed-line connections
only about 3 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage about 5 per 100
persons
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications
to Madagascar and Reunion

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
general assessment: inadequate;
state-owned fixed-line operator has been unable to expand fixed-line
connections and there are now fewer than 10,000 connections - less
than 1 per 1000 persons; given the backdrop of a wholly inadequate
fixed-line infrastructure, the use of cellular services has surged
and subscribership in 2007 reached 6.6 million - 10 per 100 persons
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
general assessment: services barely adequate
for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire,
and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order; fixed-line
infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1 connection per 100
persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line infrastructure,
mobile-cellular subscribership has surged reaching 35 per 100 persons
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable
international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Cook Islands
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers
international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Costa Rica
general assessment: good domestic telephone service in
terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone service;
state-run monopoly provider is struggling with the demand for new
lines, resulting in long waiting times
domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,
fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is
available
international: country code - 506; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic
telecommunications submarine cable and the MAYA-1 submarine cable
that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave
System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
general assessment: well developed by African
standards; telecommunications sector privatized in late 1990s and
operational fixed-lines have more than quadrupled since that time;
with multiple cellular service providers competing in the market,
cellular usage has increased sharply to roughly 40 per 100 persons
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized
international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean) (2007)

Croatia
general assessment: the telecommunications network has
improved steadily since the mid-1990s; the number of fixed telephone
lines holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; the number of
cellular telephone subscriptions exceeds the population
domestic: more than 90 percent of local lines are digital
international: country code - 385; digital international service is
provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in
the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2
fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk
line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable
provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2007)

Cuba
general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and
the establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and
Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;
wireless service is expensive and must be paid in convertible pesos
which effectively limits mobile cellular subscribership
domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 95% of
switches digitized by end of 2006; fixed telephone line density
remains low, at less than 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular
service expanding but remains at only about 2 per 100 persons
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not
linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)

Cyprus
general assessment: excellent in both area under government
control and area administered by Turkish Cypriots
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish
Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of
submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide
connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia;
tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1
Arabsat)

Czech Republic
general assessment: privatization and modernization
of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is
advancing steadily; access to the fixed-line telephone network
expanded throughout the 1990s but the number of fixed line
connections has been dropping since then; mobile telephone usage
increased sharply beginning in the mid-1990s and the number of
cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population
domestic: virtually all exchanges now digital; existing copper
subscriber systems enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
(ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals;
trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2
Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2007)

Denmark
general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph
services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems
international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine
cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth
stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat
(Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station
and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access

Djibouti
general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of
Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections
to outlying areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network; mobile cellular coverage is
primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city
international: country code - 253; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the
Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat -
Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat); Medarabtel regional microwave radio
relay telephone network (2007)

Dominica
general assessment: NA
domestic: fully automatic network
international: country code - 1-767; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF
radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF
radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Dominican Republic
general assessment: relatively efficient system
based on island-wide microwave radio relay network
domestic: fixed telephone line density is about 10 per 100 persons;
multiple providers of mobile cellular service with a subscribership
of roughly 60 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic
telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and
Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Ecuador
general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: fixed-line services provided by three state-owned
enterprises; plans to transfer the state-owned operators to private
ownership have repeatedly failed; fixed-line density stands at about
13 per 100 persons; mobile cellular use has surged and has a
subscribership of nearly 75 per 100 persons
international: country code - 593; landing point for the PAN-AM
submarine telecommunications cable that provides links to the west
coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending
onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Egypt
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive
upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Telecom Egypt, the
landline monopoly, has been increasing service availability and in
2007 fixed-line density stood at 14 per 100 persons; as of 2007
there were three mobile-cellular networks and service is expanding
rapidly
domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay
international: country code - 20; landing point for both the
SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; linked to the
international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the
Globe); satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter
to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in
Medarabtel (2007)

El Salvador
general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service
providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2007 mobile-cellular
density stood at nearly 90 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line
services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave
System (2007)

Equatorial Guinea
general assessment: digital fixed-line network in
most major urban areas and good mobile coverage
domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2007 stood
at about 40 percent of the population
international: country code - 240; international communications from
Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Eritrea
general assessment: inadequate; combined fixed-line and
mobile cellular subscribership is only about 2 per 100 persons
domestic: inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is
seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002)
international: country code - 291; note - international connections
exist

Estonia
general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint
business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial
fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in
the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools
and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of
the population files income-tax returns online, and online voting
was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections
domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet
services is available throughout the country
international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland,
Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched
service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)

Ethiopia
general assessment: inadequate telephone system; the number
of fixed lines and mobile telephones is increasing from a very small
base; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is only about 2
per 100 persons
domestic: open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in
the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; 2 domestic satellites provide the
national trunk service
international: country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti;
microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

European Union
note - see individual country entries of member states

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other
countries

Faroe Islands
general assessment: good international communications;
good domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog)
and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1
Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands,
linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic
submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable

Fiji
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and
international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose
telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio
communications center
domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited
islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone
exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular
density is about 60 per 100 persons
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links
between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite
earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Finland
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive
cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; submarine cables provide links to
Estonia and Sweden; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat
transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

France
general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive
introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US;
satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5
antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone
communications with more than 20 countries
overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe
- 590; Martinique - 596; Reunion - 262

French Polynesia
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Gabon
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and
improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with
multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 80 per
100 persons in 2007
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Gambia, The
general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data
network is available; two mobile-cellular service providers
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire;
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 50
telephones per 100 persons in 2007
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Gaza Strip
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL
company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2004)

Georgia
general assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network
has only limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular
providers provide services to an increasing subscribership
throughout the country
domestic: cellular telephone networks now cover the entire country;
urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; rural telephone
density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a
fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi; nationwide pager
service is available
international: country code - 995; the Georgia-Russia fiber optic
submarine cable provides connectivity to Russia; international
service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through
the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service
are available

Germany
general assessment: Germany has one of the world's most
technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of
intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly
backward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back to
World War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of the
western part
domestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic
telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic
cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic
satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available,
expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign
countries
international: country code - 49; Germany's international service is
excellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cable
facilities as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2001)

Ghana
general assessment: outdated and unreliable fixed-line
infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra; competition among
multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with
subscribership about 35 per 100 persons and rising
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has
been installed
international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its
neighbors (2007)

Gibraltar
general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system
and adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio
relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Greece
general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all
areas; good mobile telephone and international service
domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire
connections; submarine cable to offshore islands
international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables
provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East,
and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2
Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)

Greenland
general assessment: adequate domestic and international
service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay;
totally digitalized in 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12
Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)

Grenada
general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and
Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

Guam
general assessment: modern system, integrated with US
facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service
and local access to the Internet
international: country code - 1-671; major landing point for
submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific
communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia);
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Guatemala
general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the
city of Guatemala
domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the
late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity
11 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity 80 per 100 persons
international: country code - 502; landing point for both the
Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber
optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to
South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US;
connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Guernsey
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine cable

Guinea
general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines,
small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio
relay system
domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains
inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for
nationwide links; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is
about 2 per 100 persons
international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Guinea-Bissau
general assessment: small system
domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone, and cellular communications; fixed-line teledensity
less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 20
per 100 in 2007
international: country code - 245

Guyana
general assessment: fair system for long-distance service
domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines; fixed-line
teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons; many areas still lack
fixed-line telephone services; mobile-cellular teledensity reached
37 per 100 persons in 2005
international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Haiti
general assessment: domestic facilities barely adequate;
international facilities slightly better; telephone density in Haiti
remains the lowest in the Latin American and Caribbean region
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service;
combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 25 per 100
persons
international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Holy See (Vatican City)
general assessment: automatic digital
exchange
domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system

Honduras
general assessment: inadequate system
domestic: beginning in 2003, private sub-operators allowed to
provide fixed-lines in order to expand telephone coverage;
fixed-line teledensity has increased to about 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone service has been increasing rapidly and
subscribership in 2006 exceeded 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 504; landing point for both the
Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 fiber
optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to
South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to
Central American Microwave System

Hong Kong
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent
domestic and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine
cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East,
and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China

Hungary
general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized
and is capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication
service
domestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunk
services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave
radio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was
initiated in 1996; competition among mobile-cellular service
providers has led to a sharp increase in the use of mobile cellular
phones since 2000 and a decrease in the number of fixed-line
connections
international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable
connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch
is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small aperture
terminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals

Iceland
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is
modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations,
fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network
domestic: liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning
in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the
mobile services segment of the market
international: country code - 354; the CANTAT-3 and FARICE-1
submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Canada, the Faroe
Islands, UK, Denmark, and Germany; a planned new section of the
Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable will provide additional
connectivity to Canada, US, and Ireland; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

India
general assessment: recent deregulation and liberalization of
telecommunications laws and policies have prompted rapid growth;
local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of
the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban
areas; steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission
of private and private-public investors, but combined fixed and
mobile telephone density remains low at about 30 for each 100
persons nationwide and much lower for persons in rural areas; rapid
growth in cellular service with modest declines in fixed lines
domestic: mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized
nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles each
with about three private service providers and one state-owned
service provider; in recent years significant trunk capacity added
in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest
domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system
(INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture
terminals (VSAT)
international: country code - 91; a number of major international
submarine cable systems, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at
Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Sea-Me-We-4 with a landing site at
Chennai, Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with a landing
site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with a
landing site at Cochin, the i2i cable network linking to Singapore
with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata
Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a
significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and
data traffic; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); 9 gateway exchanges operating
from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai
(Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam
(2008)

Indonesia
general assessment: domestic service fair, international
service good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system; coverage provided by
existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone
kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile cellular subscribership
growing rapidly
international: country code - 62; landing point for both the
SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks that provide
links throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Iran
general assessment: currently being modernized and expanded
with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing
the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service
to several thousand villages, not presently connected
domestic: the addition of new fiber cables and modern switching and
exchange systems installed by Iran's state-owned telecom company
have improved and expanded the main line network greatly; main line
availability has more than doubled to nearly 24 million lines since
2000; additionally, mobile service has increased dramatically
serving nearly 30 million subscribers in 2007
international: country code - 98; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE
with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG);
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan
through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion
to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria,
Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9
Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2007)

Iraq
general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely
disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international
connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and
international communications through fiber optic links are in
progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly with an
estimated 14 million current users in 2007
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003
continue; additional switching capacity is improving access;
cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which
are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving
country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop licenses have been
issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line
infrastructure
international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2
Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik -
Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave
radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and
Turkey; planned international fiber-optic connections to Iran
(terrestrial) with a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable (2007)

Ireland
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and
microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; landing point for the
Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and
UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Isle of Man
general assessment: NA
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite
earth station, submarine cable

Israel
general assessment: most highly developed system in the
Middle East although not the largest
domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay;
all systems are digital; four privately-owned mobile-cellular
service providers with countrywide coverage; mobile-cellular
teledensity is 140 per 100 persons
international: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to
Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

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

Jamaica
general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone
network
domestic: the 1999 agreement to open the market for
telecommunications services resulted in rapid growth in
mobile-cellular telephone usage while the number of fixed-lines in
use has declined; combined mobile-cellular teledensity now exceeds
100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-876; the Fibralink submarine cable
network provides enhanced delivery of business and broadband traffic
and is linked to the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1)
submarine cable in the Dominican Republic; the link to ARCOS-1
provides seamless connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean,
Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2006)

Japan
general assessment: excellent domestic and international
service
domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of
every kind
international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat
(Pacific and Indian Ocean regions

Jersey
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey and UK

Jordan
general assessment: service has improved recently with
increased use of digital switching equipment; microwave radio relay
transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk
lines; growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas
is reducing use of fixed-line services; Internet penetration remains
modest and slow-growing
domestic: 1995 telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line
services to private competition; in 2005, monopoly over fixed-line
services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was
opened to competition; mobile-cellular usage is increasing rapidly
and teledensity reached 80 per 100 persons in 2007
international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides
links to Asia, Middle East, Europe; satellite earth stations - 33 (3
Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals);
fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link
with Egypt and Syria; participant in Medarabtel (2007)

Kazakhstan
general assessment: inherited an outdated
telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring
modernization
domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of
fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line
teledensity is about 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is
increasing rapidly and subscriptions now exceed 80 per 100 persons
international: country code - 7; international traffic with other
former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave
radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations
- 2 Intelsat (2007)

Kenya
general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line telephone system is
small and inefficient; trunks are primarily microwave radio relay;
business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal
(VSAT) system
domestic: no recent growth in fixed-line infrastructure and the sole
provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for privatization; multiple
providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a
boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage
international: country code - 254; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat

Kiribati
general assessment: generally good quality national and
international service
domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati
(Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF
radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999
international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the
Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should
improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Pacific Ocean)

Korea, North
general assessment: inadequate system; currently no
mobile cellular telephone services
domestic: fiber-optic links installed between cities; telephone
directories unavailable; mobile cellular service, initiated in 2002,
terminated in 2004; in January 2008 Orascom Telecom, an Egyptian
company, announced that it had been granted a commercial license to
provide mobile telephone services in North Korea
international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1
Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other
international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2008)

Korea, South
general assessment: excellent domestic and
international services featuring rapid incorporation of new
technologies
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership exceeds 140 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a
full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in
e-commerce
international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Pacific Ocean and 2
Indian Ocean; 3 Inmarsat - 1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean)

Kuwait
general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular
telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well
supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6
(3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat -
Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat)

Kyrgyzstan
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is
growing; fixed line penetration remains low and concentrated in
urban areas
domestic: multiple mobile cellular service providers with growing
coverage; mobile cellular subscribership reached 40 per 100 persons
in 2007
international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS
countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other
countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway
switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1
Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by the
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2007)

Laos
general assessment: service to general public is poor but
improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to
communicate with remote areas
domestic: multiple service providers; mobile cellular usage growing
rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership
about 25 per 100 persons
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2007)

Latvia
general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing
competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed
lines is decreasing as wireless telephone service expands
domestic: number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly
since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 125 per 100
persons
international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now
connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
(2007)

Lebanon
general assessment: repair of the telecommunications system,
severely damaged during the civil war, now complete
domestic: two wireless networks provide good service; political
instability hampers privatization and deployment of new
technologies; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership
50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 961; submarine cable link to Cyprus;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic
Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2007)

Lesotho
general assessment: rudimentary system consisting of a
modest but growing number of landlines, a small microwave radio
relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system;
mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding
domestic: privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho tasked with providing
an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a
target not met; mobile-cellular service is expanding with a
subscribership approaching 25 per 100 persons; rural services are
scant
international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Liberia
general assessment: the limited services available are found
almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; coverage extended to a
number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular
network operators
domestic: fixed line service stagnant and extremely limited;
mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity
approaching 20 per 100 persons
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Libya
general assessment: telecommunications system is being
modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in
1996; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approached 90
telephones per 100 persons in 2007
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to
France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2007)

Liechtenstein
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay

Lithuania
general assessment: adequate; being modernized to provide
improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted
in a steady decline in the number of main line subscriptions;
mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to about 135 per 100
persons while fixed-line teledensity has dropped to 22 per 100
persons
international: country code - 370; major international connections
to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further
transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland
(2007)

Luxembourg
general assessment: highly developed, completely
automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: fixed line teledensity over 50 per 100 persons; nationwide
cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular phones
virtually saturated
international: country code - 352 (2007)

Macau
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone
services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with
mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 190 per 100 persons in 2008;
fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in
decline
international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle
East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Macedonia
general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular
segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in
fixed-line telephone subscriptions
domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density
approaching 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 389 (2007)

Madagascar
general assessment: system is above average for the
region; Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the
late 1990s, but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is
poorly developed; have added more than 50,000 new fixed lines since
2005
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile telephone density only
about 12 per 100 persons
international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;
satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1
Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)

Malawi
general assessment: rudimentary
domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 1 per 100 persons;
privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step
in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in
2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network
coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile
cellular subscribership roughly 8 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Malaysia
general assessment: modern system; international service
excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic
satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line and
mobile cellular teledensity exceeds 110 per 100 persons
international: country code - 60; landing point for several major
international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to
Asia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)

Maldives
general assessment: telephone services have improved; each
island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile
cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership
approaching 90 per 100 persons
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax
service
international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth
station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Mali
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
provides only minimal service
domestic: fixed-line availability is gradually increasing, but
subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; increasing use
of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas;
mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to 20 per 100
persons
international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

Malta
general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal
requirements; fixed-line teledensity 50 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 per 100 persons
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to
Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Marshall Islands
general assessment: digital switching equipment;
modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, international
calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
and mini-satellite telephones
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications
system on Kwajalein (2005)

Mauritania
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire
lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone
communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was
privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line
services; fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity
approaching 40 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1
Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat)

Mauritius
general assessment: small system with good service
domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005;
fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
services launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2007 reaching 75 per
100 persons
international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE
submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where
it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further
links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF
radiotelephone links to several countries

Mayotte
general assessment: small system administered by French
Department of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communications to Comoros

Mexico
general assessment: adequate telephone service for business
and government, but the population is poorly served; mobile
subscribers far outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite
system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay
network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable
domestic: low telephone density with about 18 fixed lines per 100
persons; privatized in December 1990; despite the opening to
competition in January 1997, Telmex remains dominant; legal
challenges to Telmex's alleged anti-competitive behavior in the
mobile and fixed-line markets culminated in a World Trade
Organization ruling in 2004 against Mexico prompting some
strengthening of the powers granted Mexico's telecom regulator;
mobile cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons
international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine
cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain,
and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and
the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central
America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving
Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much
of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat,
numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American
Microwave System of trunk connections (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Moldova
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service
outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait
for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular
telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a
CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100
persons
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3
(Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2007)

Monaco
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system

Mongolia
general assessment: network is improving with international
direct dialing available in many areas
domestic: very low fixed-line density; there are multiple mobile
cellular service providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
a fiber-optic network is also being installed that will improve
broadband and communication services between major urban centers
international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Montenegro
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with
access to European satellites
domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 2 providers with
national coverage, is growing rapidly
international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect
the national system

Montserrat
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad

Morocco
general assessment: modern system with all important
capabilities; however, density is low with only 7 fixed lines
available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is
approaching 60 per 100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;
principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national
network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural
service employs microwave radio relay
international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides
connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave
radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable
and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel;
fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2007)

Mozambique
general assessment: fair system with an extremely low
density of less than 1 fixed line per 100 persons
domestic: the telecommunications sector is shackled with a heavy
state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and
charges; stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid
growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now
includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from
Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national
highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor,
and from Nampula to Nacala
international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Namibia
general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line
and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 45 per 100 persons
domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and
connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular
network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of
Namibia by area
international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South
Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to
other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East
(SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth
stations - 4 Intelsat (2007)

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

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

Netherlands
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular
telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third
generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
technology
international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to
the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1
Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
general assessment: generally adequate
facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems
provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and
the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)

New Caledonia
general assessment: NA
domestic: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia
and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly
increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and
access to international networks
international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)

New Zealand
general assessment: excellent domestic and international
systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable
system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite
earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)

Nicaragua
general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign
investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now
uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of
the formerly state-owned telecommunications company
domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and
mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags
behind other Central American countries; connected to Central
American Microwave System
international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides
connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean,
and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Niger
general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio
telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links
concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity only
about 7 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth
stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Nigeria
general assessment: further expansion and modernization of
the fixed-line telephone network is needed
domestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002
resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1
per 100 persons; wireless telephony has grown rapidly, in part
responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple
service providers operate nationally; mobile-cellular teledensity
reached 30 per 100 persons in 2007
international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean) (2007)

Niue
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: country code - 683 (2001)

Norfolk Island
general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with
Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

Northern Mariana Islands
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Norway
general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most
advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the
prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular-mobile
systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems;
submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe;
satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note -
Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Oman
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to
remote villages using wireless local loop systems; fixed-line and
mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing; open-wire,
microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite
system with 8 earth stations
international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the
Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide
connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2007)

Pakistan
general assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure
is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments into
fixed-line and mobile networks; mobile-cellular subscribership has
skyrocketed, reaching some 88 million in 2008, up from only about
300,000 in 2000; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the
country to aid in network growth; main line availability has risen
only marginally over the same period and there are still
difficulties getting main line service to rural areas
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite networks
international: country code - 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia,
the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat
(1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international
gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio
relay to neighboring countries (2008)

Palau
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Panama
general assessment: domestic and international facilities
well developed
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is
approaching 90 per 100 persons
international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM
submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and
parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to
the Central American Microwave System (2007)

Papua New Guinea
general assessment: services are minimal;
facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available;
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 6 per 100
persons
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and
Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service (2007)

Paraguay
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal
switching center is in Asuncion
domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in
provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion
of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple
providers
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Peru
general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 9 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple
providers, has increased to roughly 55 telephones per 100 persons;
nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite
system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 51; the South America-1 (SAM-1) and
Pan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links to parts
of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Philippines
general assessment: good international radiotelephone
and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service
adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations; cellular
communications now dominate the industry; combined fixed-line and
mobile-cellular telephone density about 60 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables
together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and
Europe; multiple international gateways (2007)

Pitcairn Islands
general assessment: satellite phone services
domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1
(Inmarsat)

Poland
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications
network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in
2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned
company, is dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony
domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided
by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning
operations in late 2006; cellular coverage is generally good with
some gaps in the east; fixed-line service is growing slowly and
still lags in rural areas
international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with
automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to
Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2007)

Portugal
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has
achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed
capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave
radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables
provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa,
the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores (1998)

Puerto Rico
general assessment: modern system integrated with that
of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with
high-speed data capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide
connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

Qatar
general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density
is roughly 165 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides
links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter
to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Romania
general assessment: domestic and international service
improving rapidly, especially in wireless telephony
domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic;
liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications;
fixed-line teledensity is roughly 20 telephones per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity now slightly exceeds 100 telephones per
100 persons
international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System
provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth
stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate
in Bucharest (2007)

Russia
general assessment: the telephone system is experiencing
significant changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to
offer communication services; access to digital lines has improved,
particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are
improving; Russia has made progress toward building the
telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy;
the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1
million in 1998 to 170 million in 2007; a large demand for main line
service remains unsatisfied, but fixed-line operators continue to
grow their services
domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint
Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the
telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital
infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are
available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are
still outdated, inadequate, and low density
international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally
by undersea fiber optic cables; digital switches in several cities
provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite
earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat,
Inmarsat, and Orbita systems

Rwanda
general assessment: small, inadequate telephone system
primarily serves business and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular
telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF
radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
density is only about 7 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 250; international connections employ
microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite
communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations -
1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax
service)

Saint Barthelemy
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable
provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Saint Helena
general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic digital network
international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island)
- 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data
communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4,
Saint Helena - 1)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
general assessment: good interisland and
international connections
domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable;
construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in
November 2004
international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by
the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean
fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables

Saint Lucia
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic
System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)
submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls
internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique
and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to
Barbados

Saint Martin
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable
provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with
most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French
domestic satellite system

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 telephones per
100 persons
international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic
System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)
submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also
provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados;
SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat
earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Samoa
general assessment: adequate
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 50 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

San Marino
general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian
international network

Sao Tome and Principe
general assessment: local telephone network of
adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
approaching 20 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Saudi Arabia
general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and
fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been
increasing rapidly
international: country code - 966; landing point for the
international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable
networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and
US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE,
Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite
earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Senegal
general assessment: good system
domestic: above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network;
nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a
call-center industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line services
in rural areas needed; mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly;
microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk
system
international: country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides
connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Serbia
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications
network has been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999
war and transition to a competitive market-based system; network was
only 65% digitalized in 2005
domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboring
states; GSM wireless service, available through multiple providers
with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best
telecommunications service limited to urban centers
international: country code - 381

Seychelles
general assessment: effective system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is
nearly 125 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications
between islands in the archipelago
international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone
communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal
countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Sierra Leone
general assessment: marginal telephone service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects
Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing
rapidly from a small base
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Singapore
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless
service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular
teledensity is about 165 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations -4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2007)

Slovakia
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern
telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent
years with the growth in cellular services
domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is
being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger
cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services
international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in
Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is
participating in several international telecommunications projects
that will increase the availability of external services

Slovenia
general assessment: well-developed telecommunications
infrastructure
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 386

Solomon Islands
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Somalia
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was
almost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war;
private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and
charge the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in
Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: country code - 252; international connections are
available from Mogadishu by satellite (2001)

South Africa
general assessment: the system is the best developed
and most modern in Africa
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is
nearly 110 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped
open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links,
fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and
wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town,
Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber
optic cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic
Ocean)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Spain
general assessment: well developed, modern facilities;
fixed-line teledensity is about 45 per 100 persons
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is
nearly 170 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide
connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA
Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries

Sri Lanka
general assessment: telephone services have improved
significantly and are available in most parts of the country
domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital
microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area
and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is
strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership
is increasing; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
is about 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4
submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle
East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean)

Sudan
general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards
and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have
expanded substantially
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone
communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite
system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 249; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2000)

Suriname
general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about
90 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Svalbard
general assessment: probably adequate
domestic: local telephone service
international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of
unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)

Swaziland
general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced
system
domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing; combined
fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity approaching 40 telephones
per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped,
open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Sweden
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications
infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line,
mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetration
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice
traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some
additional telephone channels
international: country code - 46; submarine cables provide links to
other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and
Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth
station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
and Norway)

Switzerland
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications
infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services
domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity
and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 100 per
100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Syria
general assessment: fair system currently undergoing
significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic
technology
domestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increased
markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing rapidly and
teledensity about 35 wireless telephones per 100 persons; coaxial
cable and microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 963; submarine cable connection to
Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in
Medarabtel

Taiwan
general assessment: provides telecommunications service for
every business and private need
domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
international: country code - 886; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the
US; satellite earth stations - 2

Tajikistan
general assessment: poorly developed and not well
maintained; many towns are not linked to the national network
domestic: the domestic telecommunications network has historically
been under funded and poorly maintained; main line availability has
not changed significantly since 1998; cellular telephone use is
growing but geographic coverage remains limited
international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave
radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to
international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth
stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2006)

Tanzania
general assessment: telecommunications services are
inadequate; system operating below capacity and being modernized for
better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under
construction
domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1
connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by
multiple providers, is increasing; trunk service provided by
open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and
fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Thailand
general assessment: high quality system, especially in
urban areas like Bangkok
domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and
commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and
outpacing fixed lines
international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable
systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East,
Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)

Timor-Leste
general assessment: rudimentary service limited to urban
areas
domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence
associated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services;
mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urban
areas
international: country code - 670; international service is
available in major urban centers

Togo
general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave
radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a
mobile-cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional
system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly
15 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie

Tokelau
general assessment: modern satellite-based communications
system
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa;
government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth
stations - 3

Tonga
general assessment: competition between Tonga
Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications
Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT
recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for
telephone, Internet, and television
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched
network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
general assessment: excellent international
service; good local service
domestic: mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 telephones per 100
persons
international: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide
connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric
scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Tunisia
general assessment: above the African average and continuing
to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;
Internet access available
domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line
network, the government has awarded a concession to build and
operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition
between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in
lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in
subscribership; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include
multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone
services also leading to a surge in subscribership; overall
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 90 telephones
per 100 persons
international: country code - 216; a landing point for the
SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio
relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2
international gateway digital switches

Turkey
general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and
expansion especially with cellular telephones
domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid
increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of
technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both
fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating
communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a
domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to
mobile-cellular telephone service is growing rapidly
international: country code - 90; international service is provided
by the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-optic
cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey with
Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite
earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in
the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)

Turkmenistan
general assessment: poorly developed
domestic: Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign investors, is
planning to upgrade the country's telephone exchanges and install a
new digital switching system; mobile-cellular usage remains limited
international: country code - 993; linked by cable and microwave
radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased
connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new
telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new
exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey
via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
(2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands
general assessment: fully digital system
with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service
available
international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable
provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)

Tuvalu
general assessment: serves particular needs for internal
communications
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: country code - 688; international calls can be made
by satellite

Uganda
general assessment: seriously inadequate; mobile cellular
service is increasing rapidly, but the number of main lines is still
deficient; e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellular
systems for short-range traffic
international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and
Tanzania

Ukraine
general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development
plan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international
connections, and the mobile-cellular system
domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a
telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair;
more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be
satisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk system
is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital
and a majority of regional centers now have digital switching
stations; improvements in local networks and local exchanges
continue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding
rapidly
international: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a
part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3
Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic
Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries;
additional international service is provided by the
Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and
by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat,
and Intersputnik satellite systems

United Arab Emirates
general assessment: modern fiber-optic
integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of
mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable
international: country code - 971; linked to the international
submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing
point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable
networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

United Kingdom
general assessment: technologically advanced domestic
and international system
domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and
fiber-optic systems
international: country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US;
satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3
Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat;
at least 8 large international switching centers

United States
general assessment: a large, technologically advanced,
multipurpose communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of
telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; multiple ocean cable systems
provide international connectivity; satellite earth stations - 61
Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
regions) (2000)

Uruguay
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and
mobile-cellular teledensity is 115 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system
provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Uzbekistan
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious
need of modernization
domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and
telephone density is low; the state-owned telecommunications
company, Uzbektelecom, is working on improving main line services;
mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber base more
than doubling in 2007 to 5.8 million
international: country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave
radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased
connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the
completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE)
fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian
facilities for international communications (2007)

Vanuatu
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Venezuela
general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent
substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;
substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;
installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of
digital multimedia services; fixed-line teledensity 20 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular teledensity more than 90 per 100 persons
international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide
connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1
PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in
the construction of an international fiber-optic network (2007)

Vietnam
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort
into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system,
but its performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern
neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially
increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international: country code - 84; a landing point for the
SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable
systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduled
for completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links to
Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)

Virgin Islands
general assessment: modern system with total digital
switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: full range of services available
international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to
US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth
stations - NA

Wake Island
general assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSN
circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA

Wallis and Futuna
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 681

West Bank
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL
company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2004)

Western Sahara
general assessment: sparse and limited system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by
microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to
Rabat, Morocco

World
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA

Yemen
general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have
been made to create a national telecommunications network
domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay,
cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM mobile-cellular telephone
systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by
regional standards
international: country code - 967; landing point for the
international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1
Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2
Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti

Zambia
general assessment: facilities are aging but still among the
best in Sub-Saharan Africa
domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger
towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation
and network coverage is improving; Internet service is widely
available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated
by private firms
international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Zimbabwe
general assessment: system was once one of the best in
Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000
outstanding requests for connection despite an equally large number
of installed but unused main lines
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop
installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet
connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns
and for some of the smaller ones
international: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and
Gweru)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2125 Terrain

Afghanistan
mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Albania
mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Algeria
mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,
discontinuous coastal plain

American Samoa
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited
coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Andorra
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Angola
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Anguilla
flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Antarctica
about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock,
with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain
ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include
parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic
Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers
form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice
shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Antigua and Barbuda
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands,
with some higher volcanic areas

Arctic Ocean
central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar
icepack that, on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure
ridges may be three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern in
the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from
the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between
Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas
during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter
and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about
50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the
remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges
(Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)

Argentina
rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to
rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western
border

Armenia
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast
flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Aruba
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
low with sand and coral

Atlantic Ocean
surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea,
Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October
to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of
currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre
in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire
Atlantic basin

Australia
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Austria
in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Azerbaijan
large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much
of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north,
Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Bahamas, The
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Bahrain
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
escarpment

Bangladesh
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Barbados
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Belarus
generally flat and contains much marshland

Belgium
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills,
rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Belize
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Benin
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Bermuda
low hills separated by fertile depressions

Bhutan
mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Bolivia
rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano),
hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Bosnia and Herzegovina
mountains and valleys

Botswana
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
Desert in southwest

Bouvet Island
volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Brazil
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,
mountains, and narrow coastal belt

British Indian Ocean Territory
flat and low (most areas do not
exceed two meters in elevation)

British Virgin Islands
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic
islands steep, hilly

Brunei
flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland
in west

Bulgaria
mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Burkina Faso
mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in
west and southeast

Burma
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Burundi
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some
plains

Cambodia
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Cameroon
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau
in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Canada
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Cape Verde
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Cayman Islands
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Central African Republic
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau;
scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Chad
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
northwest, lowlands in south

Chile
low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in
east

China
mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains,
deltas, and hills in east

Christmas Island
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central
plateau

Clipperton Island
coral atoll

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
flat, low-lying coral atolls

Colombia
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Comoros
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low
hills

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
vast central basin is a low-lying
plateau; mountains in east

Congo, Republic of the
coastal plain, southern basin, central
plateau, northern basin

Cook Islands
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in
south

Coral Sea Islands
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Costa Rica
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including
over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

Cote d'Ivoire
mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in
northwest

Croatia
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border,
low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Cuba
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains
in the southeast

Cyprus
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered
but significant plains along southern coast

Czech Republic
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains,
hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east
consists of very hilly country

Denmark
low and flat to gently rolling plains

Djibouti
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Dominica
rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Dominican Republic
rugged highlands and mountains with fertile
valleys interspersed

Ecuador
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands
(sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Egypt
vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

El Salvador
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central
plateau

Equatorial Guinea
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic

Eritrea
dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending
highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling
plains

Estonia
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Ethiopia
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great
Rift Valley

European Union
fairly flat along the Baltic and Atlantic coast;
mountainous in the central and southern areas

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
rocky, hilly, mountainous with
some boggy, undulating plains

Faroe Islands
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of
coast

Fiji
mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Finland
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes
and low hills

France
metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling
hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially
Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the
seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

French Polynesia
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with
reefs

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the
center floor of the volcano is a large plateau
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in
shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs
on the eastern side; has active thermal springs
Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is
divided into two groups of islands
Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is
composed of rugged terrain of high mountains, hills, valleys, and
plains with a number of peninsulas stretching off its coasts
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow
(15 m) lagoon
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and
sandy
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic
seamount

Gabon
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Gambia, The
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Gaza Strip
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Georgia
largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the
north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi
(Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River
Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains,
foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Germany
lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Ghana
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Gibraltar
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Greece
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands

Greenland
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,
mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Grenada
volcanic in origin with central mountains

Guam
volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat
coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in
center, mountains in south

Guatemala
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau

Guernsey
mostly level with low hills in southwest

Guinea
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Guinea-Bissau
mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Guyana
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Haiti
mostly rough and mountainous

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky

Holy See (Vatican City)
urban; low hill

Honduras
mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Hong Kong
hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Hungary
mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on
the Slovakian border

Iceland
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields;
coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

India
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain
along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Indian Ocean
surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad,
circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique
reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low
atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer
air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast
winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from
cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and
northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated
by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian
Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge

Indonesia
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains

Iran
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Iraq
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in
south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran
and Turkey

Ireland
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged
hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Isle of Man
hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Israel
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Italy
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Jamaica
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Jan Mayen
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Japan
mostly rugged and mountainous

Jersey
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Jordan
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great
Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Kazakhstan
extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from
the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia

Kenya
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift
Valley; fertile plateau in west

Kiribati
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Korea, North
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow
valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Korea, South
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
and south

Kosovo
flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea
level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of
2,000 to 2,500 m

Kuwait
flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Kyrgyzstan
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins
encompass entire nation

Laos
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Latvia
low plain

Lebanon
narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Lesotho
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Liberia
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast

Libya
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Liechtenstein
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third

Lithuania
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Luxembourg
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow
valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast

Macau
generally flat

Macedonia
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and
valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country
bisected by the Vardar River

Madagascar
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Malawi
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills,
some mountains

Malaysia
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Maldives
flat, with white sandy beaches

Mali
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna
in south, rugged hills in northeast

Malta
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal
cliffs

Marshall Islands
low coral limestone and sand islands

Mauritania
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
hills

Mauritius
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau

Mayotte
generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic
peaks

Mexico
high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus;
desert

Micronesia, Federated States of islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Moldova
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Monaco
hilly, rugged, rocky

Mongolia
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains
in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Montenegro
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain
backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Montserrat
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal
lowland

Morocco
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas
of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Mozambique
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus
in northwest, mountains in west

Namibia
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
Desert in east

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

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

Nepal
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill
region, rugged Himalayas in north

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

Netherlands Antilles
generally hilly, volcanic interiors

New Caledonia
coastal plains with interior mountains

New Zealand
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

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

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

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

Niue
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Norfolk Island
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Northern Mariana Islands
southern islands are limestone with level
terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Norway
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken
by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply
indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Oman
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Pacific Ocean
surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated
by a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents)
and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre;
in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest

Pakistan
flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west

Palau
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of
Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs

Panama
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Papua New Guinea
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling
foothills

Paracel Islands
mostly low and flat

Paraguay
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran
Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the
river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Peru
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Philippines
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal
lowlands

Pitcairn Islands
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with
cliffs

Poland
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Portugal
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in
south

Puerto Rico
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north;
mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most
coastal areas

Qatar
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
gravel

Romania
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of
Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from
the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Russia
broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous
forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern
border regions

Rwanda
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with
altitude declining from west to east

Saint Barthelemy
hilly, almost completely surrounded by
shallow-water reefs, with 20 beaches

Saint Helena
the islands of this group result from volcanic activity
associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44
dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly
circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply
dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the
coastal cliffs

Saint Kitts and Nevis
volcanic with mountainous interiors

Saint Lucia
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
mostly barren rock

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
volcanic, mountainous

Samoa
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands
and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky,
rugged mountains in interior

San Marino
rugged mountains

Sao Tome and Principe
volcanic, mountainous

Saudi Arabia
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Senegal
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
southeast

Serbia
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the
east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient
mountains and hills

Seychelles
Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky,
hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Sierra Leone
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country,
upland plateau, mountains in east

Singapore
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water
catchment area and nature preserve

Slovakia
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and
lowlands in the south

Slovenia
a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain
region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys
with numerous rivers to the east

Solomon Islands
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Somalia
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

South Africa
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow
coastal plain

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
most of the islands,
rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South
Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains;
the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active
volcanoes

Southern Ocean
the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 m over
most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the
Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep,
its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m);
the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million
sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than
a sixfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current
(21,000 km in length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's
largest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of
water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers

Spain
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills;
Pyrenees in north

Spratly Islands
flat

Sri Lanka
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in
south-central interior

Sudan
generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south,
northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Suriname
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Svalbard
wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west
coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and
north coasts

Swaziland
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Sweden
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Switzerland
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with
a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Syria
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;
mountains in west

Taiwan
eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently
rolling plains in west

Tajikistan
Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western
Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Tanzania
plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
south

Thailand
central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains
elsewhere

Timor-Leste
mountainous

Togo
gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern
plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Tokelau
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Tonga
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral
formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Trinidad and Tobago
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Tunisia
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south
merges into the Sahara

Turkey
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain;
several mountain ranges

Turkmenistan
flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to
mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran;
borders Caspian Sea in west

Turks and Caicos Islands low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Tuvalu
very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Uganda
mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Ukraine
most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and
plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians),
and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

United Arab Emirates
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling
sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

United Kingdom
mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to
rolling plains in east and southeast

United States
vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in
Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
low and nearly level
sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs that have developed
at the top of submerged volcanic mountains, which in most cases rise
steeply from the ocean floor

Uruguay
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Uzbekistan
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad,
flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya,
Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east
surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral
Sea in west

Vanuatu
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow
coastal plains

Venezuela
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest;
central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Vietnam
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands;
hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Virgin Islands
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little
level land

Wake Island
atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and
Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former
crater, islands are part of the rim

Wallis and Futuna
volcanic origin; low hills

West Bank
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,
but barren in east

Western Sahara
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or
sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast

World
the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924 m in
the Pacific Ocean

Yemen
narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged
mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the
desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Zambia
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Zimbabwe
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high
veld); mountains in east

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2127 Total fertility rate (children born/woman)

Afghanistan
6.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Albania
2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Algeria
1.82 children born/woman (2008 est.)

American Samoa
3.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Andorra
1.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Angola
6.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Anguilla
1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
2.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Argentina
2.37 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Armenia
1.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Aruba
1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Australia
1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Austria
1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
2.05 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
2.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bahrain
2.53 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Barbados
1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Belarus
1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Belgium
1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Belize
3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Benin
5.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bermuda
1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bhutan
2.48 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bolivia
2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Botswana
2.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Brazil
2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
1.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Brunei
1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
6.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Burma
1.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Burundi
6.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cambodia
3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cameroon
4.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Canada
1.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
3.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Chad
5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Chile
1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

China
1.77 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
2.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Comoros
4.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
5.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
3.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
2.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Croatia
1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cuba
1.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cyprus
1.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Denmark
1.74 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Djibouti
5.14 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Dominica
2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
2.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ecuador
2.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Egypt
2.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

El Salvador
3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
5.16 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Eritrea
4.84 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Estonia
1.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
6.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

European Union
1.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Fiji
2.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Finland
1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

France
1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gabon
4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
5.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Georgia
1.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Germany
1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ghana
3.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Greece
1.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Greenland
2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Grenada
2.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guam
2.55 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guatemala
3.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guernsey
1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guinea
5.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
4.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guyana
2.03 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Haiti
4.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Honduras
3.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hungary
1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Iceland
1.91 children born/woman (2008 est.)

India
2.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Indonesia
2.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Iran
1.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Iraq
3.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ireland
1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Israel
2.77 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Italy
1.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Jamaica
2.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Japan
1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Jersey
1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Jordan
2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kenya
4.7 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kiribati
4.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Korea, North
2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Korea, South
1.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kuwait
2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Laos
4.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Latvia
1.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Lebanon
1.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Lesotho
3.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Liberia
5.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Libya
3.15 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Lithuania
1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Macau
0.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Macedonia
1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Madagascar
5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Malawi
5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Malaysia
2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Maldives
1.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mali
7.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Malta
1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
3.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mauritania
5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mauritius
1.83 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mayotte
5.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mexico
2.37 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Moldova
1.26 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Monaco
1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mongolia
2.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Montserrat
1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Morocco
2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mozambique
5.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Namibia
2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nauru
2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nepal
3.91 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Netherlands
1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
2.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)

New Zealand
2.11 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
2.63 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Niger
7.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nigeria
5.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Niue
NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
1.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Norway
1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Oman
5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Pakistan
3.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Palau
2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Panama
2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
3.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Paraguay
3.8 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Peru
2.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Philippines
3.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA (2008 est.)

Poland
1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Portugal
1.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Qatar
2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Romania
1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Russia
1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Rwanda
5.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
1.56 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
2.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Samoa
4.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

San Marino
1.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
3.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Senegal
4.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Serbia
1.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Seychelles
1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
5.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Singapore
1.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Slovakia
1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Slovenia
1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
3.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Somalia
6.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

South Africa
2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Spain
1.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sudan
4.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Suriname
2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Svalbard
NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
3.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sweden
1.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Switzerland
1.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Syria
3.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Taiwan
1.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tanzania
4.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Thailand
1.64 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
3.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Togo
4.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tokelau
NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
2.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tunisia
1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Turkey
1.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
3.07 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Uganda
6.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ukraine
1.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

United States
2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Uruguay
1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Venezuela
2.52 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Vietnam
1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
3.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
NA 5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

World
2.61 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Yemen
6.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Zambia
5.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
3.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2128 Government type

Afghanistan
Islamic republic

Albania
emerging democracy

Algeria
republic

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as
its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the
president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are
represented locally by coprinces' representatives

Angola
republic; multiparty presidential regime

Anguilla
NA

Antarctica Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Delhi, India in April/May 2007; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2007, there were 46 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 18 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management and 6) liability arising from environmental emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Antigua and Barbuda constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government

Argentina
republic

Armenia
republic

Aruba
parliamentary democracy

Australia
federal parliamentary democracy

Austria
federal republic

Azerbaijan
republic

Bahamas, The
constitutional parliamentary democracy

Bahrain
constitutional monarchy

Bangladesh
parliamentary democracy

Barbados
parliamentary democracy

Belarus
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Belgium
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional
monarchy

Belize
parliamentary democracy

Benin
republic

Bermuda
parliamentary; self-governing territory

Bhutan
in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty
relationship with India

Bolivia
republic

Bosnia and Herzegovina
emerging federal democratic republic

Botswana
parliamentary republic

Brazil
federal republic

British Virgin Islands
NA

Brunei
constitutional sultanate

Bulgaria
parliamentary democracy

Burkina Faso
parliamentary republic

Burma
military junta

Burundi
republic

Cambodia
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Cameroon
republic; multiparty presidential regime

Canada
constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary
democracy and a federation

Cape Verde
republic

Cayman Islands
British crown colony

Central African Republic
republic

Chad
republic

Chile
republic

China
Communist state

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Comoros
republic

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
republic

Congo, Republic of the
republic

Cook Islands
self-governing parliamentary democracy

Costa Rica
democratic republic

Cote d'Ivoire
republic; multiparty presidential regime established
1960
note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing
agreement mandated by international mediators

Croatia
presidential/parliamentary democracy

Cuba
Communist state

Cyprus
republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in
July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government; on 15
November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared
independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey

Czech Republic
parliamentary democracy

Denmark
constitutional monarchy

Djibouti
republic

Dominica
parliamentary democracy

Dominican Republic
democratic republic

Ecuador
republic

Egypt
republic

El Salvador
republic

Equatorial Guinea
republic

Eritrea
transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the
Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National
Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a
Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a
constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the
transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997,
did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential
elections; parliamentary elections were scheduled in December 2001,
but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is
the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)

Estonia
parliamentary republic

Ethiopia
federal republic

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
republic

Finland
republic

France
republic

French Polynesia
NA

Gabon
republic; multiparty presidential regime

Gambia, The
republic

Georgia
republic

Germany
federal republic

Ghana
constitutional democracy

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
parliamentary republic

Greenland
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Grenada
parliamentary democracy

Guam
NA

Guatemala
constitutional democratic republic

Guernsey
parliamentary democracy

Guinea
republic

Guinea-Bissau
republic

Guyana
republic

Haiti
republic

Holy See (Vatican City)
ecclesiastical

Honduras
democratic constitutional republic

Hong Kong
limited democracy

Hungary
parliamentary democracy

Iceland
constitutional republic

India
federal republic

Indonesia
republic

Iran
theocratic republic

Iraq
parliamentary democracy

Ireland
republic, parliamentary democracy

Isle of Man
parliamentary democracy

Israel
parliamentary democracy

Italy
republic

Jamaica
constitutional parliamentary democracy

Japan
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

Jersey
parliamentary democracy

Jordan
constitutional monarchy

Kazakhstan
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little
power outside the executive branch

Kenya
republic

Kiribati
republic

Korea, North
Communist state one-man dictatorship

Korea, South
republic

Kosovo
republic

Kuwait
constitutional emirate

Kyrgyzstan
republic

Laos
Communist state

Latvia
parliamentary democracy

Lebanon
republic

Lesotho
parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Liberia
republic

Libya
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state

Liechtenstein
constitutional monarchy

Lithuania
parliamentary democracy

Luxembourg
constitutional monarchy

Macau
limited democracy

Macedonia
parliamentary democracy

Madagascar
republic

Malawi
multiparty democracy

Malaysia
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament
consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;
all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka
and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and
Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government;
powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution;
under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain
constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own
immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of
Representatives; Sarawak has 31 seats

Maldives
republic

Mali
republic

Malta
republic

Marshall Islands
constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21
October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Mauritania
Democratic Republic

Mauritius
parliamentary democracy

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
federal republic

Micronesia, Federated States of constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Moldova
republic

Monaco
constitutional monarchy

Mongolia
mixed parliamentary/presidential

Montenegro
republic

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
constitutional monarchy

Mozambique
republic

Namibia
republic

Nauru
republic

Nepal
democratic republic

Netherlands
constitutional monarchy

Netherlands Antilles
parliamentary

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
parliamentary democracy

Nicaragua
republic

Niger
republic

Nigeria
federal republic

Niue
self-governing parliamentary democracy

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Norway
constitutional monarchy

Oman
monarchy

Pakistan
federal republic

Palau
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Panama
constitutional democracy

Papua New Guinea
constitutional parliamentary democracy

Paraguay
constitutional republic

Peru
constitutional republic

Philippines
republic

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
republic

Portugal
republic; parliamentary democracy

Puerto Rico
commonwealth

Qatar
emirate

Romania
republic

Russia
federation

Rwanda
republic; presidential, multiparty system

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
parliamentary democracy

Saint Lucia
parliamentary democracy

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
parliamentary democracy

Samoa
parliamentary democracy

San Marino
republic

Sao Tome and Principe
republic

Saudi Arabia
monarchy

Senegal
republic

Serbia
republic

Seychelles
republic

Sierra Leone
constitutional democracy

Singapore
parliamentary republic

Slovakia
parliamentary democracy

Slovenia
parliamentary republic

Solomon Islands
parliamentary democracy

Somalia
no permanent national government; transitional,
parliamentary federal government

South Africa
republic

Spain
parliamentary monarchy

Sri Lanka
republic

Sudan
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress
Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a
power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in
1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national
elections in 2009

Suriname
constitutional democracy

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
monarchy

Sweden
constitutional monarchy

Switzerland
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a
federal republic

Syria
republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime

Taiwan
multiparty democracy

Tajikistan
republic

Tanzania
republic

Thailand
constitutional monarchy

Timor-Leste
republic

Togo
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
constitutional monarchy

Trinidad and Tobago
parliamentary democracy

Tunisia
republic

Turkey
republican parliamentary democracy

Turkmenistan
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little
power outside the executive branch

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy

Uganda
republic

Ukraine
republic

United Arab Emirates
federation with specified powers delegated to
the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member
emirates

United Kingdom
constitutional monarchy

United States
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic
tradition

Uruguay
constitutional republic

Uzbekistan
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little
power outside the executive branch

Vanuatu
parliamentary republic

Venezuela
federal republic

Vietnam
Communist state

Virgin Islands
NA

Wallis and Futuna
NA

Western Sahara
legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty
unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front
(Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de
Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a
government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR),
led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between
Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring
northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario
guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979;
Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since
asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile
was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984;
guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored
cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council
Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in
Western Sahara or MINURSO

Yemen
republic

Zambia
republic

Zimbabwe
parliamentary democracy

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2129 Unemployment rate (%)

Afghanistan
40% (2005 est.)

Albania
13.2% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance
of near-subsistence farming (2007 est.)

Algeria
11.8% (2007 est.)

American Samoa
29.8% (2005)

Andorra
0% (1996 est.)

Angola
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more
than half the population (2001 est.)

Anguilla
8% (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda
11% (2001 est.)

Argentina
8.5% (2007 est.)

Armenia
7.1% (2007 est.)

Aruba
6.9% (2005 est.)

Australia
4.4% (2007 est.)

Austria
4.4% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
1% official rate (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
7.6% (2006 est.)

Bahrain
15% (2005 est.)

Bangladesh
2.5% (includes underemployment) (2007 est.)

Barbados
10.7% (2003 est.)

Belarus
1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number of
underemployed workers (2005)

Belgium
7.5% (2007 est.)

Belize
9.4% (2006)

Benin
NA%

Bermuda
2.1% (2004 est.)

Bhutan
2.5% (2004)

Bolivia
7.5% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to 25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)

Botswana
7.5% (2007 est.)

Brazil
9.3% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
3.6% (1997)

Brunei
4% (2006)

Bulgaria
7.7% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
77% (2004)

Burma
5.2% (2007 est.)

Burundi
NA%

Cambodia
2.5% (2000 est.)

Cameroon
30% (2001 est.)

Canada
6% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
21% (2000 est.)

Cayman Islands
4.4% (2004)

Central African Republic
8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Chad
NA%

Chile
7% (2007 est.)

China
4% unemployment in urban areas; substantial unemployment and
underemployment in rural areas (2007 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
60% (2000 est.)

Colombia
11.2% (2007 est.)

Comoros
20% (1996 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA%

Congo, Republic of the
NA%

Cook Islands
13.1% (2005)

Costa Rica
4.6% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of
the civil war

Croatia
11.8% (2007 est.)

Cuba
1.8% (2007 est.)

Cyprus
3.9% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
6.6% (2007 est.)

Denmark
2.8% (2007 est.)

Djibouti
59% in urban areas, 83% in rural areas (2007 est.)

Dominica
23% (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic
15.6% (2007 est.)

Ecuador
8.8% (2007 est.)

Egypt
9.1% (2007 est.)

El Salvador
6.2% official rate; but the economy has much
underemployment (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
30% (1998 est.)

Eritrea
NA%

Estonia
4.7% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
NA%

European Union
8.5% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) full employment; labor shortage (2001)

Faroe Islands
2.1% (2006)

Fiji
7.6% (1999)

Finland
6.9% (2007 est.)

France
7.9% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
11.7% (2005)

Gabon
21% (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
NA%

Gaza Strip
34.8% (2006)

Georgia
13.6% (2006 est.)

Germany
9%
note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate
for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office
estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8% (2007 est.)

Ghana
11% (2000 est.)

Gibraltar
3% (2005 est.)

Greece
8.3% (2007 est.)

Greenland
9.3% (2005 est.)

Grenada
12.5% (2000)

Guam
11.4% (2002 est.)

Guatemala
3.2% (2005 est.)

Guernsey
0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Guinea
NA%

Guinea-Bissau
NA%

Guyana
9.1% (understated) (2000)

Haiti
widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than
two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)

Honduras
27.8% (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
4% (2007 est.)

Hungary
7.3% (2007 est.)

Iceland
1% (2007 est.)

India
7.2% (2007 est.)

Indonesia
9.1% (2007 est.)

Iran
12% according to the Iranian government (2007 est.)

Iraq
18% to 30% (2006 est.)

Ireland
4.6% (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
1.5% (December 2006 est.)

Israel
7.3% (2007 est.)

Italy
6.2% (2007 est.)

Jamaica
9.9% (2007 est.)

Japan
3.8% (2007 est.)

Jersey
2.2% (2006 est.)

Jordan
13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%
(2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
7.3% (2007 est.)

Kenya
40% (2001 est.)

Kiribati
2% official rate; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Korea, North
NA%

Korea, South
3.3% (2007 est.)

Kosovo
43% (2007 est.)

Kuwait
2.2% (2004 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
18% (2004 est.)

Laos
2.4% (2005 est.)

Latvia
5.7% (2007 est.)

Lebanon
20% (2006 est.)

Lesotho
45% (2002)

Liberia
85% (2003 est.)

Libya
30% (2004 est.)

Liechtenstein
1.3% (September 2002)

Lithuania
3.5%
note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7%
(2007 est.)

Luxembourg
4.4% (2007 est.)

Macau
3.1% (2006)

Macedonia
34.9% (2007 est.)

Malawi
NA%

Malaysia
3.2% (2007 est.)

Maldives
NEGL% (2003 est.)

Mali
30% (2004 est.)

Malta
6.4% (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
30.9% (2000 est.)

Mauritania
20% (2004 est.)

Mauritius
8.8% (2007 est.)

Mayotte
25.4% (2005)

Mexico
3.7% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
22% (2000 est.)

Moldova
2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are
employed abroad (2007 est.)

Monaco
0% (2005)

Mongolia
3% (2007)

Montenegro
14.7% (2007 est.)

Montserrat
6% (1998 est.)

Morocco
9.8% (2007 est.)

Mozambique
21% (1997 est.)

Namibia
5.2% (2007 est.)

Nauru
90% (2004 est.)

Nepal
42% (2004 est.)

Netherlands
4.6% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
17% (2002 est.)

New Caledonia
17.1% (2004)

New Zealand
3.6% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
4.9% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2007 est.)

Niger
NA%

Nigeria
4.9% (2007 est.)

Niue
12% (2001)

Northern Mariana Islands
3.9% (2001)

Norway
2.5% (2007 est.)

Oman
15% (2004 est.)

Pakistan
5.6% plus substantial underemployment (2007 est.)

Palau
4.2% (2005 est.)

Panama
6.4% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
1.9% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Paraguay
5.6% (2007 est.)

Peru
6.9% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2007
est.)

Philippines
7.3% (2007 est.)

Poland
12.8% (2007 est.)

Portugal
8% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
12% (2002)

Qatar
0.7% (2007 est.)

Romania
4.1% (2007 est.)

Russia
6.2% (2007 est.)

Rwanda
NA%

Saint Helena
14% (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
4.5% (1997)

Saint Lucia
20% (2003 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
10.3% (1999)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
15% (2001 est.)

Samoa
NA%

San Marino
3.8% (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe
NA%

Saudi Arabia
13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some
estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)

Senegal
48% (2007 est.)

Serbia
18.8% (2007 est.)

Seychelles
2% (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
NA%

Singapore
2.1% (2007 est.)

Slovakia
8.4% (2007 est.)

Slovenia
7.7% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
NA%

Somalia
NA%

South Africa
24.3% (2007 est.)

Spain
8.3% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
6% (2007 est.)

Sudan
18.7% (2002 est.)

Suriname
9.5% (2004)

Swaziland
40% (2006 est.)

Sweden
6.1% (2007 est.)

Switzerland
2.8% (2007 est.)

Syria
9% (2007 est.)

Taiwan
3.9% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
2.4% official rate; actual unemployment is higher (2007
est.)

Tanzania
NA%

Thailand
1.4% (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas
reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001 est.)

Togo
NA%

Tokelau
NA%

Tonga
13% (FY03/04 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
4.5% (2007 est.)

Tunisia
14.1% (2007 est.)

Turkey
9.9% plus underemployment of 4% (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
60% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
10% (1997 est.)

Tuvalu
NA%

Uganda
NA%

Ukraine
2.3% officially registered; large number of unregistered or
underemployed workers; the International Labor Organization
calculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is nearly 7% (2007
est.)

United Arab Emirates
2.4% (2001)

United Kingdom
5.3% (2007 est.)

United States
4.6% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
9.2% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
0.8% officially by the Ministry of Labor, plus another
20% underemployed (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
1.7% (1999)

Venezuela
8.5% (2007 est.)

Vietnam
4.3% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
6.2% (2004)

Wallis and Futuna
15.2% (2003)

West Bank
18.6% (2006)

Western Sahara
NA%

World
30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many
non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12%
unemployment (2007 est.)

Yemen
35% (2003 est.)

Zambia
50% (2000 est.)

Zimbabwe
80% (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2137 Military - note

Akrotiri
Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British
Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

American Samoa
defense is the responsibility of the US

Andorra
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Anguilla
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Antarctica
the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military
nature, such as the establishment of military bases and
fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the
testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military
personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other
peaceful purposes

Argentina
the Argentine military is a well-organized force
constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the
country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military
is implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the ground
forces lighter and more responsive (2008)

Aruba
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
defense is the responsibility of
Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal
Australian Air Force

Barbados
the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based
Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land
element is to defend the island against external aggression; the
Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small
regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it
increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to
prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)

Bermuda
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Bouvet Island
defense is the responsibility of Norway

British Indian Ocean Territory
defense is the responsibility of the
UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016

British Virgin Islands
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Cayman Islands
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Christmas Island
defense is the responsibility of Australia

Clipperton Island
defense is the responsibility of France

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
defense is the responsibility of Australia;
the territory has a five-person police force

Cook Islands
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in
consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Coral Sea Islands
defense is the responsibility of Australia

Cuba
the collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the Cuban Army of its
major economic and logistic support, and had a significant impact on
equipment numbers and serviceability; the army remains well trained
and professional in nature; while the lack of replacement parts for
its existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel have
increasingly affected operational capabilities, Cuba remains able to
offer considerable resistance to any regional power (2008)

Dhekelia
includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station
connected by a roadway

European Union
the five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by
France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has deployed
troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and assumed
command of the ISAF in Afghanistan in August 2004; Eurocorps
directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the
Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR in Bosnia and
Herzegovina; in November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally
committed to creating 13 1,500-man battle groups by the end of 2007,
to respond to international crises on a rotating basis; 22 of the
EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops; France, Italy, and the
UK formed the first of three battle groups in 2005; Norway, Sweden,
Estonia, and Finland established the Nordic Battle Group effective 1
January 2008; nine other groups are to be formed; a rapid-reaction
naval EU Maritime Task Group was stood up in March 2007 (2007)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) defense is the responsibility of the UK

Faroe Islands
defense is the responsibility of Denmark

French Polynesia
defense is the responsibility of France

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
defense is the responsibility of
France

Georgia
a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in
the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer
group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia

Gibraltar
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal
Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces
in 1992

Greenland
defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Guam
defense is the responsibility of the US

Guernsey
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
defense is the responsibility of
Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols

Holy See (Vatican City) defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Hong Kong
defense is the responsibility of China

Iceland
Iceland has no standing military force; under a 1951
bilateral agreement - still valid - its defense was provided by the
US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik;
however, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of
October 2006; although wartime defense of Iceland remains a NATO
commitment, in April 2007, Iceland and Norway signed a bilateral
agreement providing for Norwegian aerial surveillance and defense of
Icelandic airspace (2008)

Isle of Man
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Jan Mayen
defense is the responsibility of Norway

Jersey
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Kiribati
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance
is provided by Australia and NZ

Laos
serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao
People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and
ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal
security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups;
together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the
government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state
machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil
unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has
upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no
perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong
ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)

Lesotho
Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent
sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice,
external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of
the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public
Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the
defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's
cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities
and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a
small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a
planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous
resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF
(2008)

Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is
interested in European security policy and is an active member of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Macau
defense is the responsibility of China

Maldives
the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small
size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent
external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the
Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive
economic zone (2008)

Marshall Islands
defense is the responsibility of the US

Mayotte
defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent
of French forces is stationed on the island

Micronesia, Federated States of
defense is the responsibility of the
US

Monaco
defense is the responsibility of France

Montenegro
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully
professional armed forces

Montserrat
defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Navassa Island
defense is the responsibility of the US

Netherlands Antilles defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

New Caledonia
defense is the responsibility of France

Niue
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Norfolk Island
defense is the responsibility of Australia

Northern Mariana Islands
defense is the responsibility of the US

Palau
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of
Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is
granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed
any military forces there (2008)

Panama
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA
abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by
creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's
Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary
establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external
aggression"

Paracel Islands
occupied by China

Pitcairn Islands
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Puerto Rico
defense is the responsibility of the US

Saint Barthelemy
defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Helena
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Saint Martin
defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
defense is the responsibility of France

Samoa
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;
informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider
any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

San Marino
defense is the responsibility of Italy

Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force
with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly
ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered
simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or
replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working
conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have
been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups;
these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at
improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns;
command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of
Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)

South Africa
with the end of apartheid and the establishment of
majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and
ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National
Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was
considered complete

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
defense is the
responsibility of the UK

Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small
islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Svalbard
Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty
on 9 February 1920

Tokelau
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Turkey
a "National Security Policy Document" adopted in October 2005
increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security,
augmenting the General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie
General Command (Jandarma); the TSK leadership continues to play a
key role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey's
secular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about any
pro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EU
accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in
establishing required civilian supremacy over the military; primary
domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition
in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (the
Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposed
establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of the
Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force
2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained
forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable
of joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasing
international peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of a
NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in
Afghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval
power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond
Turkey's coastal waters; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO,
multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of
territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications; the
Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept"
in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile
defense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern
deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and
establishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)

Turks and Caicos Islands
defense is the responsibility of the UK

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges defense is the responsibility of the US

Virgin Islands
defense is the responsibility of the US

Wake Island
defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air
Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the
island; the launch support facility is administered by the US
Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Wallis and Futuna
defense is the responsibility of France

Yemen
a Coast Guard was established in 2002

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2138 Communications - note

Afghanistan
Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as
well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul (2005)

Bouvet Island
automatic meteorological station

Coral Sea Islands there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

French Southern and Antarctic Lands one or more meteorological stations on each possession; note - meteorological station on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) is important for forecasting cyclones

Saint Helena
South Africa maintains a meteorological station on
Gough Island

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2140 Government - note

French Polynesia
under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has
acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and
justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and
defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are
fashioned after those of the French prime minister

Malawi
no party has a majority in the fractured legislature

New Zealand
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native
flightless bird, represents New Zealand

Solomon Islands
by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission
to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and
troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had
been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical
advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the
region

Somalia
although an interim government was created in 2004, other
regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control
various regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic
of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia and the semi-autonomous State
of Puntland in northeastern Somalia

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2142 Country name

Afghanistan
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan

Akrotiri
conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Akrotiri

Albania
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Algeria
conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of
Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
Sha'biyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir

American Samoa
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS

Andorra
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra

Angola
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola

Anguilla
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla

Antarctica
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina

Armenia
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic

Aruba
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional long form: Territory of
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Australia
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

Austria
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich

Azerbaijan
conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: Azarbaycan
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Bahamas, The
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas

Bahrain
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun

Bangladesh
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Banladesh
local short form: Banladesh
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan

Barbados
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados

Belarus
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
local short form: Byelarus'
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Belgium
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form: Belgique/Belgie

Belize
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras

Benin
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey

Bermuda
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands

Bhutan
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul

Bolivia
conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovina conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
local long form: Republic of Botswana
local short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland

Bouvet Island
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island

Brazil
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil

British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional long form: British
Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT

British Virgin Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI

Brunei
conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei

Bulgaria
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
local long form: Republika Balgariya
local short form: Balgariya

Burkina Faso
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
local long form: none
local short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Burma
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the
US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of
Myanmar)
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the
name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision
was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US
Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the
Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Burundi
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
former: Urundi

Cambodia
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic
pronunciation)
local short form: Kampuchea
former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of
Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Cameroon
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of
Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Canada
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada

Cape Verde
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde

Cayman Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Central African Republic
conventional long form: Central African
Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR

Chad
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form: Tchad/Tshad

Chile
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile

China
conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhongguo
abbreviation: PRC

Christmas Island
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas
Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Clipperton Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion

Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Colombia
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia

Comoros
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Union des Comores
local short form: Comores

Congo, Democratic Republic of the conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo local short form: none former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation: DRC

Congo, Republic of the conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: none former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

Cook Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands

Coral Sea Islands
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Costa Rica
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica

Cote d'Ivoire
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
note: pronounced coat-div-whar
former: Ivory Coast

Croatia
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska
former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Cuba
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba

Cyprus
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Kypros/Kibris
note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern
part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Czech Republic
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Cesko

Denmark
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark

Dhekelia
conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Dhekelia

Djibouti
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti
local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Dominica
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica

Dominican Republic
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: The Dominican
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: La Dominicana

Ecuador
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador

Egypt
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)

El Salvador
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial
Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee
equatoriale
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale
former: Spanish Guinea

Eritrea
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Estonia
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Ethiopia
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: Ityop'iya
former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation: FDRE

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Faroe Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar

Fiji
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form: Fiji/Viti

Finland
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
local short form: Suomi/Finland

France
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique francaise
local short form: France

French Polynesia
conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French
Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
conventional long form:
Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
abbreviation: TAAF

Gabon
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique gabonaise
local short form: Gabon

Gambia, The
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia

Gaza Strip
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Georgia
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Germany
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland
former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Ghana
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast

Gibraltar
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar

Greece
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece

Greenland
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Grenada
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada

Guam
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
local long form: Guahan
local short form: Guahan

Guatemala
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala

Guernsey
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey

Guinea
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea

Guinea-Bissau
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea

Guyana
conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana

Haiti
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d' Ayiti
local short form: Haiti/Ayiti

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional long form: Territory
of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation: HIMI

Holy See (Vatican City) conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

Honduras
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras

Hong Kong
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
local short form: Xianggang
abbreviation: HK

Hungary
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag

Iceland
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydveldid Island
local short form: Island

India
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India
local long form: Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya
local short form: India/Bharat

Indonesia
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form: Indonesia
local long form: Republik Indonesia
local short form: Indonesia
former: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch East Indies

Iran
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia

Iraq
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al-Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq

Ireland
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire

Isle of Man
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
abbreviation: I.O.M.

Israel
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el

Italy
conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
local short form: Italia
former: Kingdom of Italy

Jamaica
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica

Jan Mayen
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Japan
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan
local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form: Nihon/Nippon

Jersey
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey

Jordan
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan

Kazakhstan
conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form: Qazaqstan
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Kenya
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya
local short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa

Kiribati
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
local long form: Republic of Kiribati
local short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands

Korea, North
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of
Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: Choson
abbreviation: DPRK

Korea, South
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: Han'guk
abbreviation: ROK

Kosovo
conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosova)
local short form: Kosova (Kosovo)
former: Kosovo and Metohija Autonomous Province

Kuwait
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt

Kyrgyzstan
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Laos
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: none

Latvia
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Lebanon
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: Lubnan
former: Greater Lebanon

Lesotho
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
local short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Liberia
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Libya
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
local short form: none

Liechtenstein
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

Lithuania
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Luxembourg
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg

Macau
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Macedonia
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia

Madagascar
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic

Malawi
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland

Malaysia
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
local long form: none
local short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaya

Maldives
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Mali
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Malta
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta

Marshall Islands
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall
Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
local short form: Marshall Islands
abbreviation: RMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands
District

Mauritania
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah

Mauritius
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius

Mayotte
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

Mexico
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico

Micronesia, Federated States of
conventional long form: Federated
States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
local short form: none
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and
Yap Districts
abbreviation: FSM

Moldova
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet
Socialist Republic

Monaco
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco

Mongolia
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia

Montenegro
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: none
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of
Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro

Montserrat
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat

Morocco
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib

Mozambique
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa

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

Nauru
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
local long form: Republic of Nauru
local short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

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

Nepal
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal
local short form: Nepal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Niue
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like
new-wee
former: Savage Island

Norfolk Island
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Northern Mariana Islands conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands abbreviation: CNMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District

Norway
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge

Oman
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman

Pakistan
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Palau
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

Panama
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama

Papua New Guinea
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua
New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Paracel Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Paraguay
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

Peru
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru

Philippines
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas

Pitcairn Islands
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie,
and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Poland
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska

Portugal
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal

Puerto Rico
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Qatar
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Romania
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania

Russia
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form: Rossiya
former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Rwanda
conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda, German East Africa

Saint Barthelemy
conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of
Saint Barthelemy
conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy
local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy
local short form: Saint-Barthelemy

Saint Helena conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena

Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

Saint Lucia conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Saint Martin
conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint
Martin
conventional short form: Saint Martin
local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
local short form: Saint-Martin

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
conventional long form: Territorial
Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa

San Marino
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Saudi Arabia
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Senegal
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal
former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation

Serbia
conventional long form: Republic of Serbia
conventional short form: Serbia
local long form: Republika Srbija
local short form: Srbija
former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

Seychelles
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles

Sierra Leone
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
local short form: Sierra Leone

Singapore
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore

Slovakia
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko

Slovenia
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Solomon Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Somalia
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed
local short form: Soomaaliya
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

South Africa
conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa
former: Union of South Africa
abbreviation: RSA

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional long form:
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: SGSSI

Spain
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local long form: Reino de Espana
local short form: Espana

Spratly Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Sri Lanka
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di
Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai
former: Serendib, Ceylon

Sudan
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Suriname
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

Svalbard
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)

Swaziland
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
local short form: eSwatini

Sweden
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige

Switzerland
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German);
Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian);
Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera
(Italian); Svizra (Romansh)

Syria
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

Taiwan
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: T'ai-wan
former: Formosa

Tajikistan
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Tanzania
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Thailand
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam

Timor-Leste
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste
conventional short form: Timor-Leste
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];
Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor

Togo
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togoland

Tokelau
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau

Tonga
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

Trinidad and Tobago
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis

Turkey
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye

Turkmenistan
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Turks and Caicos Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI

Tuvalu
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
local long form: none
local short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands
note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's
eight traditionally inhabited islands

Uganda
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda

Ukraine
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
local short form: Ukrayina
former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic

United Arab Emirates
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE

United Kingdom
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England,
Scotland, and Wales
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK

United States
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
conventional long
form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis
Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Palmyra Atoll

Uruguay
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Uzbekistan
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Vanuatu
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Venezuela
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela

Vietnam
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV

Virgin Islands
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI

Wake Island
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island

Wallis and Futuna
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis
and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna

West Bank
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank

Western Sahara
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
former: Spanish Sahara

Yemen
conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: Yemen
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form: Al Yaman
former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

Zambia
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia

Zimbabwe
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2144 Location

Afghanistan
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Akrotiri
Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of
Cyprus

Albania
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian
Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the
north

Algeria
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Morocco and Tunisia

American Samoa
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Andorra
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Angola
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Anguilla
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Antarctica
continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Antigua and Barbuda
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Arctic Ocean
body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America,
mostly north of the Arctic Circle

Argentina
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Armenia
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Aruba
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian
Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island

Atlantic Ocean
body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern
Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere

Australia
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South
Pacific Ocean

Austria
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Azerbaijan
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus
range

Bahamas, The
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Bahrain
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi
Arabia

Bangladesh
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma
and India

Barbados
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of
Venezuela

Belarus
Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Belgium
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and
the Netherlands

Belize
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico

Benin
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria
and Togo

Bermuda
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of South Carolina (US)

Bhutan
Southern Asia, between China and India

Bolivia
Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic
Sea and Croatia

Botswana
Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Bouvet Island
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the
Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Brazil
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

British Indian Ocean Territory
archipelago in the Indian Ocean,
south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia

British Virgin Islands
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Brunei
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Bulgaria
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey

Burkina Faso
Western Africa, north of Ghana

Burma
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Burundi
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cambodia
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between
Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Cameroon
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Canada
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on
the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on
the north, north of the conterminous US

Cape Verde
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal

Cayman Islands
Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman
Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268
km northwest of Jamaica

Central African Republic
Central Africa, north of Democratic
Republic of the Congo

Chad
Central Africa, south of Libya

Chile
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean,
between Argentina and Peru

China
Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow
Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Christmas Island
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean,
south of Indonesia

Clipperton Island
Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean,
1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the
Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia
to Sri Lanka

Colombia
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea,
between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Ecuador and Panama

Comoros
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of
the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern
Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Congo, Republic of the
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Cook Islands
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Coral Sea Islands
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of
Australia

Costa Rica
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Cote d'Ivoire
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Ghana and Liberia

Croatia
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Cuba
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Cyprus
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Czech Republic
Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Denmark
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea,
on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major
islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)

Dhekelia
Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus
near Famagusta

Djibouti
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea,
between Eritrea and Somalia

Dominica
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and
Tobago

Dominican Republic
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of
Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of Haiti

Ecuador
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the
Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Egypt
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and
includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

El Salvador
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Guatemala and Honduras

Equatorial Guinea
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra,
between Cameroon and Gabon

Eritrea
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and
Sudan

Estonia
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Ethiopia
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

European Union
Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west
and Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Southern South America, islands in
the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Faroe Islands
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and
Norway

Fiji
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Finland
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

France
metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of
Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of
the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

French Polynesia
Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean
about half way between South America and Australia

French Southern and Antarctic Lands southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Gabon
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,
between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Gambia, The
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
Senegal

Gaza Strip
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel

Georgia
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey
and Russia

Germany
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea,
between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Ghana
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote
d'Ivoire and Togo

Gibraltar
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar,
which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on
the southern coast of Spain

Greece
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Greenland
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean
and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Grenada
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Guam
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Guatemala
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras
(Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Guernsey
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest
of France

Guinea
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Guinea-Bissau
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Senegal

Guyana
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Suriname and Venezuela

Haiti
Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola,
between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the
Dominican Republic

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
islands in the Indian Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Holy See (Vatican City)
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Honduras
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North
Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Hong Kong
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Hungary
Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Iceland
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

India
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Indian Ocean
body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia,
and Australia

Indonesia
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean

Iran
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and
the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Iraq
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Ireland
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Isle of Man
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland

Israel
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt
and Lebanon

Italy
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Jamaica
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Jan Mayen
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Japan
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and
the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Jersey
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of
France

Jordan
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Kazakhstan
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of
the Ural River in eastern-most Europe

Kenya
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia
and Tanzania

Kiribati
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean,
straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between
Hawaii and Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed
that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert
Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line
Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the
International Date Line

Korea, North
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and
South Korea

Korea, South
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Kosovo
Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

Kuwait
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and
Saudi Arabia

Kyrgyzstan
Central Asia, west of China

Laos
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Latvia
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and
Lithuania

Lebanon
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel
and Syria

Lesotho
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Liberia
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Libya
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Tunisia

Liechtenstein
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Lithuania
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia
and Russia

Luxembourg
Western Europe, between France and Germany

Macau
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Macedonia
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Madagascar
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Mozambique

Malawi
Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Malaysia
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and
northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia,
Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Maldives
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,
south-southwest of India

Mali
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Malta
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Sicily (Italy)

Marshall Islands
Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29
atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands
in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and
Australia

Mauritania
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Senegal and Western Sahara

Mauritius
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

Mayotte
Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel,
about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Mexico
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of
Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific
Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Micronesia, Federated States of
Oceania, island group in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to
Indonesia

Moldova
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Monaco
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the
southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Mongolia
Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Montenegro
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Montserrat
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of
Puerto Rico

Morocco
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Mozambique
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel,
between South Africa and Tanzania

Namibia
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Angola and South Africa

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

Navassa Island
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west
of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti

Nepal
Southern Asia, between China and India

Netherlands
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium
and Germany

Netherlands Antilles
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean
Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the
coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie
east of the US Virgin Islands

New Caledonia
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia

New Zealand
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast
of Australia

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

Niger
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

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

Niue
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Norfolk Island
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia

Northern Mariana Islands
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific
Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Norway
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Oman
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and
Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Pacific Ocean
body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia,
Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Pakistan
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on
the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Palau
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
southeast of the Philippines

Panama
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Papua New Guinea
Oceania, group of islands including the eastern
half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Paracel Islands
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs
in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central
Vietnam to the northern Philippines

Paraguay
Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Peru
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean,
between Chile and Ecuador

Philippines
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine
Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Pitcairn Islands
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
midway between Peru and New Zealand

Poland
Central Europe, east of Germany

Portugal
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
west of Spain

Puerto Rico
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Qatar
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi
Arabia

Romania
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine

Russia
Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part
of Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North
Pacific Ocean

Rwanda
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saint Barthelemy
located approximately 125 miles northwest of
Guadeloupe

Saint Helena
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway
between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm
northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2300 nm southwest
of Saint Helena

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about
one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Lucia
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Martin
island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Northern North America, islands in the
North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Caribbean, islands between the
Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Samoa
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

San Marino
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Sao Tome and Principe
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea,
straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Saudi Arabia
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red
Sea, north of Yemen

Senegal
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Serbia
Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Seychelles
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Sierra Leone
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Liberia

Singapore
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Slovakia
Central Europe, south of Poland

Slovenia
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea,
between Austria and Croatia

Solomon Islands
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific
Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Somalia
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia

South Africa
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent
of Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Southern South America,
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Southern Ocean
body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and
Antarctica

Spain
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains,
southwest of France

Spratly Islands
Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the
South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam
to the southern Philippines

Sri Lanka
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Sudan
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and
Eritrea

Suriname
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between French Guiana and Guyana

Svalbard
Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents
Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Swaziland
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Sweden
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Switzerland
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Syria
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon
and Turkey

Taiwan
Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,
Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the
Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Tajikistan
Central Asia, west of China

Tanzania
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya
and Mozambique

Thailand
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf
of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Timor-Leste
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser
Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note
- Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the
Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of
Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Togo
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and
Ghana

Tokelau
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Tonga
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Tunisia
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Algeria and Libya

Turkey
Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of
Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe),
bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering
the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Turkmenistan
Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran
and Kazakhstan

Turks and Caicos Islands
Caribbean, two island groups in the North
Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Tuvalu
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia

Uganda
Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Ukraine
Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland,
Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

United Arab Emirates
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the
Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

United Kingdom
Western Europe, islands including the northern
one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean
and the North Sea, northwest of France

United States
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean
and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Oceania
Baker Island: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,830 nm (3,389 km)
southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Howland Island: island in the North Pacific Ocean 1,815 nm (3,361
km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and
Australia
Jarvis Island: island in the South Pacific Ocean 1,305 nm (2,417 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Cook Islands
Johnston Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1,328 km)
southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the
Marshall Islands
Kingman Reef: reef in the North Pacific Ocean 930 nm (1,722 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Midway Islands: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,260 nm (2,334 km)
northwest of Honolulu near the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago,
about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Palmyra Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 960 nm (1,778 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

Uruguay
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Argentina and Brazil

Uzbekistan
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Vanuatu
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Venezuela
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Vietnam
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of
Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Virgin Islands
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Wake Island
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Wallis and Futuna
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

West Bank
Middle East, west of Jordan

Western Sahara
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Mauritania and Morocco

Yemen
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red
Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Zambia
Southern Africa, east of Angola

Zimbabwe
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2145 Map references

Afghanistan
Asia

Akrotiri
Middle East

Albania
Europe

Algeria
Africa

American Samoa
Oceania

Andorra
Europe

Angola
Africa

Anguilla
Central America and the Caribbean

Antarctica
Antarctic Region

Antigua and Barbuda
Central America and the Caribbean

Arctic Ocean
Arctic Region

Argentina
South America

Armenia
Asia

Aruba
Central America and the Caribbean

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Southeast Asia

Atlantic Ocean
Political Map of the World

Australia
Oceania

Austria
Europe

Azerbaijan
Asia

Bahamas, The
Central America and the Caribbean

Bahrain
Middle East

Bangladesh
Asia

Barbados
Central America and the Caribbean

Belarus
Europe

Belgium
Europe

Belize
Central America and the Caribbean

Benin
Africa

Bermuda
North America

Bhutan
Asia

Bolivia
South America

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Europe

Botswana
Africa

Bouvet Island
Antarctic Region

Brazil
South America

British Indian Ocean Territory
Political Map of the World

British Virgin Islands
Central America and the Caribbean

Brunei
Southeast Asia

Bulgaria
Europe

Burkina Faso
Africa

Burma
Southeast Asia

Burundi
Africa

Cambodia
Southeast Asia

Cameroon
Africa

Canada
North America

Cape Verde
Political Map of the World

Cayman Islands
Central America and the Caribbean

Central African Republic
Africa

Chad
Africa

Chile
South America

China
Asia

Christmas Island
Southeast Asia

Clipperton Island
Political Map of the World

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Southeast Asia

Colombia
South America

Comoros
Africa

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Africa

Congo, Republic of the
Africa

Cook Islands
Oceania

Coral Sea Islands
Oceania

Costa Rica
Central America and the Caribbean

Cote d'Ivoire
Africa

Croatia
Europe

Cuba
Central America and the Caribbean

Cyprus
Middle East

Czech Republic
Europe

Denmark
Europe

Dhekelia
Middle East

Djibouti
Africa

Dominica
Central America and the Caribbean

Dominican Republic
Central America and the Caribbean

Ecuador
South America

Egypt
Africa

El Salvador
Central America and the Caribbean

Equatorial Guinea
Africa

Eritrea
Africa

Estonia
Europe

Ethiopia
Africa

European Union
Europe

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
South America

Faroe Islands
Europe

Fiji
Oceania

Finland
Europe

France
metropolitan France: Europe
French Guiana: South America
Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean
Reunion: World

French Polynesia
Oceania

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Antarctic Region, Africa

Gabon
Africa

Gambia, The
Africa

Gaza Strip
Middle East

Georgia
Asia

Germany
Europe

Ghana
Africa

Gibraltar
Europe

Greece
Europe

Greenland
Arctic Region

Grenada
Central America and the Caribbean

Guam
Oceania

Guatemala
Central America and the Caribbean

Guernsey
Europe

Guinea
Africa

Guinea-Bissau
Africa

Guyana
South America

Haiti
Central America and the Caribbean

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Antarctic Region

Holy See (Vatican City)
Europe

Honduras
Central America and the Caribbean

Hong Kong
Southeast Asia

Hungary
Europe

Iceland
Arctic Region

India
Asia

Indian Ocean
Political Map of the World

Indonesia
Southeast Asia

Iran
Middle East

Iraq
Middle East

Ireland
Europe

Isle of Man
Europe

Israel
Middle East

Italy
Europe

Jamaica
Central America and the Caribbean

Jan Mayen
Arctic Region

Japan
Asia

Jersey
Europe

Jordan
Middle East

Kazakhstan
Asia

Kenya
Africa

Kiribati
Oceania

Korea, North
Asia

Korea, South
Asia

Kosovo
Europe

Kuwait
Middle East

Kyrgyzstan
Asia

Laos
Southeast Asia

Latvia
Europe

Lebanon
Middle East

Lesotho
Africa

Liberia
Africa

Libya
Africa

Liechtenstein
Europe

Lithuania
Europe

Luxembourg
Europe

Macau
Southeast Asia

Macedonia
Europe

Madagascar
Africa

Malawi
Africa

Malaysia
Southeast Asia

Maldives
Asia

Mali
Africa

Malta
Europe

Marshall Islands
Oceania

Mauritania
Africa

Mauritius
Political Map of the World

Mayotte
Africa

Mexico
North America

Micronesia, Federated States of
Oceania

Moldova
Europe

Monaco
Europe

Mongolia
Asia

Montenegro
Europe

Montserrat
Central America and the Caribbean

Morocco
Africa

Mozambique
Africa

Namibia
Africa

Nauru
Oceania

Navassa Island
Central America and the Caribbean

Nepal
Asia

Netherlands
Europe

Netherlands Antilles
Central America and the Caribbean

New Caledonia
Oceania

New Zealand
Oceania

Nicaragua
Central America and the Caribbean

Niger
Africa

Nigeria
Africa

Niue
Oceania

Norfolk Island
Oceania

Northern Mariana Islands
Oceania

Norway
Europe

Oman
Middle East

Pacific Ocean
Political Map of the World

Pakistan
Asia

Palau
Oceania

Panama
Central America and the Caribbean

Papua New Guinea
Oceania

Paracel Islands
Southeast Asia

Paraguay
South America

Peru
South America

Philippines
Southeast Asia

Pitcairn Islands
Oceania

Poland
Europe

Portugal
Europe

Puerto Rico
Central America and the Caribbean

Qatar
Middle East

Romania
Europe

Russia
Asia

Rwanda
Africa

Saint Barthelemy
Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Helena
Africa

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Lucia
Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Martin
Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
North America

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Central America and the Caribbean

Samoa
Oceania

San Marino
Europe

Sao Tome and Principe
Africa

Saudi Arabia
Middle East

Senegal
Africa

Serbia
Europe

Seychelles
Africa

Sierra Leone
Africa

Singapore
Southeast Asia

Slovakia
Europe

Slovenia
Europe

Solomon Islands
Oceania

Somalia
Africa

South Africa
Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Antarctic Region

Southern Ocean
Antarctic Region

Spain
Europe

Spratly Islands
Southeast Asia

Sri Lanka
Asia

Sudan
Africa

Suriname
South America

Svalbard
Arctic Region

Swaziland
Africa

Sweden
Europe

Switzerland
Europe

Syria
Middle East

Taiwan
Southeast Asia

Tajikistan
Asia

Tanzania
Africa

Thailand
Southeast Asia

Timor-Leste
Southeast Asia

Togo
Africa

Tokelau
Oceania

Tonga
Oceania

Trinidad and Tobago
Central America and the Caribbean

Tunisia
Africa

Turkey
Middle East

Turkmenistan
Asia

Turks and Caicos Islands
Central America and the Caribbean

Tuvalu
Oceania

Uganda
Africa

Ukraine
Asia, Europe

United Arab Emirates
Middle East

United Kingdom
Europe

United States
North America

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Oceania

Uruguay
South America

Uzbekistan
Asia

Vanuatu
Oceania

Venezuela
South America

Vietnam
Southeast Asia

Virgin Islands
Central America and the Caribbean

Wake Island
Oceania

Wallis and Futuna
Oceania

West Bank
Middle East

Western Sahara
Africa

World
Physical Map of the World, Political Map of the World,
Standard Time Zones of the World

Yemen
Middle East

Zambia
Africa

Zimbabwe
Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2146 Irrigated land (sq km)

Afghanistan
27,200 sq km (2003)

Albania
3,530 sq km (2003)

Algeria
5,690 sq km (2003)

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
NA

Angola
800 sq km (2003)

Anguilla
NA

Antigua and Barbuda
NA

Argentina
15,500 sq km (2003)

Armenia
2,860 sq km (2003)

Aruba
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
0 sq km

Australia
25,450 sq km (2003)

Austria
40 sq km (2003)

Azerbaijan
14,550 sq km (2003)

Bahamas, The
10 sq km (2003)

Bahrain
40 sq km (2003)

Bangladesh
47,250 sq km (2003)

Barbados
50 sq km (2003)

Belarus
1,310 sq km (2003)

Belgium
400 sq km (2003)

Belize
30 sq km (2003)

Benin
120 sq km (2003)

Bermuda
NA

Bhutan
400 sq km (2003)

Bolivia
1,320 sq km (2003)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
30 sq km (2003)

Botswana
10 sq km (2003)

Bouvet Island
0 sq km

Brazil
29,200 sq km (2003)

British Indian Ocean Territory
0 sq km

British Virgin Islands
NA

Brunei
10 sq km (2003)

Bulgaria
5,880 sq km (2003)

Burkina Faso
250 sq km (2003)

Burma
18,700 sq km (2003)

Burundi
210 sq km (2003)

Cambodia
2,700 sq km (2003)

Cameroon
260 sq km (2003)

Canada
7,850 sq km (2003)

Cape Verde
30 sq km (2003)

Cayman Islands
NA

Central African Republic
20 sq km (2003)

Chad
300 sq km (2003)

Chile
19,000 sq km (2003)

China
545,960 sq km (2003)

Christmas Island
NA

Clipperton Island
0 sq km

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
9,000 sq km (2003)

Comoros
NA

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
110 sq km (2003)

Congo, Republic of the
20 sq km (2003)

Cook Islands
NA

Coral Sea Islands
0 sq km

Costa Rica
1,080 sq km (2003)

Cote d'Ivoire
730 sq km (2003)

Croatia
110 sq km (2003)

Cuba
8,700 sq km (2003)

Cyprus
400 sq km (2003)

Czech Republic
240 sq km (2003)

Denmark
4,490 sq km (2003)

Djibouti
10 sq km (2003)

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
2,750 sq km (2003)

Ecuador
8,650 sq km (2003)

Egypt
34,220 sq km (2003)

El Salvador
450 sq km (2003)

Equatorial Guinea
NA

Eritrea
210 sq km (2003)

Estonia
40 sq km (2003)

Ethiopia
2,900 sq km (2003)

European Union
168,050 sq km (2003 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
0 sq km

Fiji
30 sq km (2003)

Finland
640 sq km (2003)

France
total: 26,190 sq km;
metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2003)

French Polynesia
10 sq km (2003)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
0 sq km

Gabon
70 sq km (2003)

Gambia, The
20 sq km (2003)

Gaza Strip
150 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)

Georgia
4,690 sq km (2003)

Germany
4,850 sq km (2003)

Ghana
310 sq km (2003)

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
14,530 sq km (2003)

Greenland
NA

Grenada
NA

Guam
NA

Guatemala
1,300 sq km (2003)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
950 sq km (2003)

Guinea-Bissau
250 sq km (2003)

Guyana
1,500 sq km (2003)

Haiti
920 sq km (2003)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
0 sq km

Holy See (Vatican City)
0 sq km

Honduras
800 sq km (2003)

Hong Kong
20 sq km (1998 est.)

Hungary
2,300 sq km (2003)

Iceland
NA

India
558,080 sq km (2003)

Indonesia
45,000 sq km (2003)

Iran
76,500 sq km (2003)

Iraq
35,250 sq km (2003)

Ireland
NA

Isle of Man
0 sq km

Israel
1,940 sq km (2003)

Italy
27,500 sq km (2003)

Jamaica
250 sq km (2002)

Jan Mayen
0 sq km

Japan
25,920 sq km (2003)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
750 sq km (2003)

Kazakhstan
35,560 sq km (2003)

Kenya
1,030 sq km (2003)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
14,600 sq km (2003)

Korea, South
8,780 sq km (2003)

Kuwait
130 sq km (2003)

Kyrgyzstan
10,720 sq km (2003)

Laos
1,750 sq km (2003)

Latvia
200 sq km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not
irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land
has been improved by drainage (2003)

Lebanon
1,040 sq km (2003)

Lesotho
30 sq km (2003)

Liberia
30 sq km (2003)

Libya
4,700 sq km (2003)

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
70 sq km (2003)

Luxembourg
NA

Macau
NA

Macedonia
550 sq km (2003)

Madagascar
10,860 sq km (2003)

Malawi
560 sq km (2003)

Malaysia
3,650 sq km (2003)

Maldives
NA

Mali
2,360 sq km (2003)

Malta
20 sq km (2003)

Marshall Islands
0 sq km

Mauritania
490 sq km (2002)

Mauritius
220 sq km (2003)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
63,200 sq km (2003)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA

Moldova
3,000 sq km (2003)

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
840 sq km (2003)

Montenegro
NA

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
14,450 sq km (2003)

Mozambique
1,180 sq km (2003)

Namibia
80 sq km (2003)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
11,700 sq km (2003)

Netherlands
5,650 sq km (2003)

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Caledonia
100 sq km (2003)

New Zealand
2,850 sq km (2003)

Nicaragua
610 sq km (2003)

Niger
730 sq km (2003)

Nigeria
2,820 sq km (2003)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
NA

Norway
1,270 sq km (2003)

Oman
720 sq km (2003)

Pakistan
182,300 sq km (2003)

Palau
NA

Panama
430 sq km (2003)

Papua New Guinea
NA

Paracel Islands
0 sq km

Paraguay
670 sq km (2003)

Peru
12,000 sq km (2003)

Philippines
15,500 sq km (2003)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
1,000 sq km (2003)

Portugal
6,500 sq km (2003)

Puerto Rico
400 sq km (2003)

Qatar
130 sq km (2002)

Romania
30,770 sq km (2003)

Russia
46,000 sq km (2003)

Rwanda
90 sq km (2003)

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
30 sq km (2003)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
10 sq km (2003)

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
100 sq km (2003)

Saudi Arabia
16,200 sq km (2003)

Senegal
1,200 sq km (2003)

Serbia
NA

Seychelles
NA

Sierra Leone
300 sq km (2003)

Singapore
NA

Slovakia
1,830 sq km (2003)

Slovenia
30 sq km (2003)

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
2,000 sq km (2003)

South Africa
14,980 sq km (2003)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
0 sq km

Spain
37,800 sq km (2003)

Spratly Islands
0 sq km

Sri Lanka
7,430 sq km (2003)

Sudan
18,630 sq km (2003)

Suriname
510 sq km (2003)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
500 sq km (2003)

Sweden
1,150 sq km (2003)

Switzerland
250 sq km (2003)

Syria
13,330 sq km (2003)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
7,220 sq km (2003)

Tanzania
1,840 sq km (2003)

Thailand
49,860 sq km (2003)

Timor-Leste
1,065 sq km (2003)

Togo
70 sq km (2003)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
NA

Trinidad and Tobago
40 sq km (2003)

Tunisia
3,940 sq km (2003)

Turkey
52,150 sq km (2003)

Turkmenistan
18,000 sq km (2003)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
90 sq km (2003)

Ukraine
22,080 sq km (2003)

United Arab Emirates
760 sq km (2003)

United Kingdom
1,700 sq km (2003)

United States
223,850 sq km (2003)

Uruguay
2,100 sq km (2003)

Uzbekistan
42,810 sq km (2003)

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
5,750 sq km (2003)

Vietnam
30,000 sq km (2003)

Virgin Islands
NA

Wake Island
0 sq km

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

Western Sahara
NA

World
2,770,980 sq km (2003)

Yemen
5,500 sq km (2003)

Zambia
1,560 sq km (2003)

Zimbabwe
1,740 sq km (2003)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2147 Area (sq km)

Afghanistan total: 647,500 sq km land: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km

Akrotiri total: 123 sq km note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

Albania
total: 28,748 sq km
land: 27,398 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km

Algeria
total: 2,381,740 sq km
land: 2,381,740 sq km
water: 0 sq km

American Samoa total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island

Andorra
total: 468 sq km
land: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Angola
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Anguilla
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Antarctica
total: 14 million sq km
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km
ice-covered) (est.)
note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North
America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the
subcontinent of Europe

Antigua and Barbuda total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 442.6 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

Arctic Ocean
total: 14.056 million sq km
note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,
East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara
Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies

Argentina
total: 2,766,890 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km

Armenia
total: 29,743 sq km
land: 28,454 sq km
water: 1,289 sq km

Aruba
total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island

Atlantic Ocean
total: 76.762 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador
Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the
Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Australia
total: 7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Austria
total: 83,870 sq km
land: 82,444 sq km
water: 1,426 sq km

Azerbaijan
total: 86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 sq km
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Bahamas, The
total: 13,940 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km

Bahrain
total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Bangladesh
total: 144,000 sq km
land: 133,910 sq km
water: 10,090 sq km

Barbados
total: 431 sq km
land: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Belarus
total: 207,600 sq km
land: 207,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Belgium
total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Belize
total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Benin
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km

Bermuda
total: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Bhutan
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Bolivia
total: 1,098,580 sq km
land: 1,084,390 sq km
water: 14,190 sq km

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 51,209.2 sq km
land: 51,197 sq km
water: 12.2 sq km

Botswana
total: 600,370 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km

Bouvet Island
total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Brazil
total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 sq km
water: 55,455 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,
Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao
Paulo

British Indian Ocean Territory total: 54,400 sq km land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km water: 54,340 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands

British Virgin Islands
total: 153 sq km
land: 153 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited
islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda,
Jost van Dyke

Brunei
total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km

Bulgaria
total: 110,910 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km
water: 360 sq km

Burkina Faso
total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Burma
total: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 sq km

Burundi
total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km

Cambodia
total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km

Cameroon
total: 475,440 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

Canada
total: 9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km

Cape Verde
total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Cayman Islands
total: 262 sq km
land: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Central African Republic
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Chad
total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km

Chile
total: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez

China
total: 9,596,960 sq km
land: 9,326,410 sq km
water: 270,550 sq km

Christmas Island
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Clipperton Island
total: 6 sq km
land: 6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Colombia
total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

Comoros
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 2,345,410 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km

Congo, Republic of the
total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km

Cook Islands
total: 236.7 sq km
land: 236.7 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Coral Sea Islands
total: less than 3 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most
important

Costa Rica total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 322,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km

Croatia
total: 56,542 sq km
land: 56,414 sq km
water: 128 sq km

Cuba
total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Cyprus
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Czech Republic
total: 78,866 sq km
land: 77,276 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km

Denmark
total: 43,094 sq km
land: 42,394 sq km
water: 700 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major
islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and
Greenland

Dhekelia
total: 130.8 sq km
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves

Djibouti
total: 23,000 sq km
land: 22,980 sq km
water: 20 sq km

Dominica
total: 754 sq km
land: 754 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Dominican Republic
total: 48,730 sq km
land: 48,380 sq km
water: 350 sq km

Ecuador
total: 283,560 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands

Egypt
total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

El Salvador
total: 21,040 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
water: 320 sq km

Equatorial Guinea
total: 28,051 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Eritrea
total: 121,320 sq km
land: 121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Estonia
total: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Ethiopia
total: 1,127,127 sq km
land: 1,119,683 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km

European Union
total: 4,324,782 sq km

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Faroe Islands
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Fiji
total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Finland
total: 338,145 sq km
land: 304,473 sq km
water: 33,672 sq km

France
total: 643,427 sq km; 547,030 sq km (metropolitan France)
land: 640,053 sq km; 545,630 sq km (metropolitan France)
water: 3,374 sq km; 1,400 sq km (metropolitan France)
note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French
Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion

French Polynesia
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land: 3,660 sq km
water: 507 sq km

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 sq km; land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 sq km;
land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Iles Crozet: total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0
sq km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km;
water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq
km; water - 0 sq km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Gabon
total: 267,667 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km

Gambia, The
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km

Gaza Strip
total: 360 sq km
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Georgia
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Germany
total: 357,021 sq km
land: 349,223 sq km
water: 7,798 sq km

Ghana
total: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km

Gibraltar
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Greece
total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km

Greenland
total: 2,166,086 sq km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km
ice-covered) (2000 est.)

Grenada
total: 344 sq km
land: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Guam
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Guatemala
total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km

Guernsey
total: 78 sq km
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other
smaller islands

Guinea
total: 245,857 sq km
land: 245,857 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Guinea-Bissau
total: 36,120 sq km
land: 28,000 sq km
water: 8,120 sq km

Guyana
total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km

Haiti
total: 27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Holy See (Vatican City)
total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Honduras
total: 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km

Hong Kong
total: 1,092 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
water: 50 sq km

Hungary
total: 93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km

Iceland
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km

India
total: 3,287,590 sq km
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 sq km

Indian Ocean
total: 68.556 million sq km
note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea,
Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea,
Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of
Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Indonesia
total: 1,919,440 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km

Iran
total: 1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km

Iraq
total: 437,072 sq km
land: 432,162 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km

Ireland
total: 70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km

Isle of Man
total: 572 sq km
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Israel
total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km

Italy
total: 301,230 sq km
land: 294,020 sq km
water: 7,210 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

Jamaica
total: 10,991 sq km
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Jan Mayen
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Japan
total: 377,835 sq km
land: 374,744 sq km
water: 3,091 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,
Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and
Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Jersey
total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Jordan
total: 92,300 sq km
land: 91,971 sq km
water: 329 sq km

Kazakhstan
total: 2,717,300 sq km
land: 2,669,800 sq km
water: 47,500 sq km

Kenya
total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km

Kiribati
total: 811 sq km
land: 811 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands

Korea, North
total: 120,540 sq km
land: 120,410 sq km
water: 130 sq km

Korea, South
total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km

Kosovo
total: 10,887 sq km
land: 10,887 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Kuwait
total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Kyrgyzstan
total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km

Laos
total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

Latvia
total: 64,589 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
water: 1,000 sq km

Lebanon
total: 10,400 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
water: 170 sq km

Lesotho
total: 30,355 sq km
land: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Liberia
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km

Libya
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Liechtenstein
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Lithuania
total: 65,300 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km

Luxembourg
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Macau
total: 28.2 sq km
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Macedonia
total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km

Madagascar
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km

Malawi
total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km

Malaysia
total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km

Maldives
total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Mali
total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km

Malta
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Marshall Islands
total: 181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and
includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,
Rongelap, and Utirik

Mauritania
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km

Mauritius
total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues

Mayotte
total: 374 sq km
land: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Mexico
total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km
water: 49,510 sq km

Micronesia, Federated States of total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)

Moldova
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km

Monaco
total: 1.95 sq km
land: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Mongolia
total: 1,564,116 sq km
land: 1,554,731 sq km
water: 9,385 sq km

Montenegro
total: 14,026 sq km
land: 13,812 sq km
water: 214 sq km

Montserrat
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Morocco
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Mozambique
total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km

Namibia
total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Navassa Island
total: 5.4 sq km
land: 5.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Nepal
total: 147,181 sq km
land: 143,181 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km

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

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

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

New Zealand
total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,021 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

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

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

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

Niue
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Norfolk Island
total: 34.6 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Northern Mariana Islands total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Norway
total: 323,802 sq km
land: 307,442 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km

Oman
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Pacific Ocean
total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East
China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other
tributary water bodies

Pakistan
total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km

Palau
total: 458 sq km
land: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Panama
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km

Papua New Guinea
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Paracel Islands
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km

Paraguay
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

Peru
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km

Philippines
total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km

Pitcairn Islands
total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Poland
total: 312,679 sq km
land: 304,459 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km

Portugal
total: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Puerto Rico
total: 13,790 sq km
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km

Qatar
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Romania
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km

Russia
total: 17,075,200 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km

Rwanda
total: 26,338 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km

Saint Barthelemy
21 sq km

Saint Helena
total: 413 sq km
land: Saint Helena Island 122 sq km; Ascension Island 90 sq km;
Tristan da Cunha island group 201 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis
93 sq km)
land: 261 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Saint Lucia
total: 616 sq km
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Saint Martin
total: 54.4 sq km
land: 54.4 sq km
water: NEGL

Saint Pierre and Miquelon total: 242 sq km land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344
sq km)
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Samoa
total: 2,944 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
water: 10 sq km

San Marino
total: 61.2 sq km
land: 61.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 1,001 sq km
land: 1,001 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Saudi Arabia
total: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Senegal
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km

Serbia
total: 77,474 sq km
land: 77,474 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Seychelles
total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Sierra Leone
total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km

Singapore
total: 692.7 sq km
land: 682.7 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Slovakia
total: 48,845 sq km
land: 48,800 sq km
water: 45 sq km

Slovenia
total: 20,273 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km

Solomon Islands
total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km

Somalia
total: 637,657 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km

South Africa
total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince
Edward Island)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
total: 3,903 sq km
land: 3,903 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia
Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist
of 11 islands

Southern Ocean
total: 20.327 million sq km
note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake
Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and
other tributary water bodies

Spain
total: 504,782 sq km
land: 499,542 sq km
water: 5,240 sq km
note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17
autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary
Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of
Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera

Spratly Islands
total: less than 5 sq km
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South
China Sea

Sri Lanka
total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
water: 870 sq km

Sudan
total: 2,505,810 sq km
land: 2.376 million sq km
water: 129,810 sq km

Suriname
total: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km

Svalbard
total: 61,020 sq km
land: 61,020 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Swaziland
total: 17,363 sq km
land: 17,203 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Sweden
total: 449,964 sq km
land: 410,934 sq km
water: 39,030 sq km

Switzerland
total: 41,290 sq km
land: 39,770 sq km
water: 1,520 sq km

Syria
total: 185,180 sq km
land: 184,050 sq km
water: 1,130 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

Taiwan
total: 35,980 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands

Tajikistan
total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Tanzania
total: 945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Thailand
total: 514,000 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km

Timor-Leste
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km

Togo
total: 56,785 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km

Tokelau
total: 10 sq km
land: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Tonga
total: 748 sq km
land: 718 sq km
water: 30 sq km

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Tunisia
total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km

Turkey
total: 780,580 sq km
land: 770,760 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km

Turkmenistan
total: 488,100 sq km
land: 488,100 sq km
water: NEGL

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Tuvalu
total: 26 sq km
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Uganda
total: 236,040 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km

Ukraine
total: 603,700 sq km
land: 603,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

United Arab Emirates
total: 83,600 sq km
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km

United Kingdom
total: 244,820 sq km
land: 241,590 sq km
water: 3,230 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands

United States
total: 9,826,630 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 664,707 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
total - 6,959.41 sq
km; emergent land - 22.41 sq km; submerged - 6,937 sq km
Baker Island: total - 129.1 sq km; emergent land - 2.1 sq km;
submerged - 127 sq km
Howland Island: total - 138.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 136 sq km
Jarvis Island: total - 152 sq km; emergent land - 5 sq km; submerged
- 147 sq km
Johnston Atoll: total - 276.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 274 sq km
Kingman Reef: total - 1,958.01 sq km; emergent land - 0.01 sq km;
submerged - 1,958 sq km
Midway Islands: total - 2,355.2 sq km; emergent land - 6.2 sq km;
submerged - 2,349 sq km
Palmyra Atoll: total - 1,949.9 sq km; emergent land - 3.9 sq km;
submerged - 1,946 sq km

Uruguay
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km

Uzbekistan
total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km

Vanuatu
total: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Venezuela
total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

Vietnam
total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km

Virgin Islands
total: 1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq km

Wake Island
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Wallis and Futuna total: 274 sq km land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

West Bank
total: 5,860 sq km
land: 5,640 sq km
water: 220 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter
of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and
Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of
depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967

Western Sahara
total: 266,000 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km

World
total: 510.072 million sq km
land: 148.94 million sq km
water: 361.132 million sq km
note: 70.9% of the world's surface is water, 29.1% is land

Yemen
total: 527,970 sq km
land: 527,970 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR
or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of
Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)

Zambia
total: 752,614 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km

Zimbabwe
total: 390,580 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2149 Diplomatic representation in the US

Afghanistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Akrotiri
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Albania
chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

Algeria
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah BAALI
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174

American Samoa
none (territory of the US)

Andorra
chief of mission: Ambassador Carles FONT-ROSSELL
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630

Angola
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York

Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami

Argentina
chief of mission: Ambassador Hector Marcos TIMERMAN
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York

Armenia
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Aruba
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note -
Mr. Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Australia
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New
York, San Francisco

Austria
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of
Mission Andreas Riecken
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Azerbaijan
chief of mission: Ambassador Yashar ALIYEV
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Bahamas, The
chief of mission: Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Bahrain
chief of mission: Ambassador Houda Ezra Ibrahim NUNU
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York

Bangladesh
chief of mission: Ambassador M. Humayun KABIR
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-7830/2771
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Barbados
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles

Belarus
chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
consulate(s) general: New York

Belgium
chief of mission: Ambassador Dominique STRUYE DE SWIELANDE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Atlanta

Belize
chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Benin
chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

Bermuda
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Bhutan
none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has
consular jurisdiction in the US; address: 763 First Avenue, New
York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551
consulate(s) general: New York

Bolivia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Erika DUENAS
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Oklahoma City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC

Bosnia and Herzegovina chief of mission: Ambassador Bisera TURKOVIC chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Botswana
chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Brazil
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar PATRIOTA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, San Francisco

British Indian Ocean Territory
none (overseas territory of the UK)

British Virgin Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Angela SHIM
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560

Bulgaria
chief of mission: Ambassador Latechezar PETKOV
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174
FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Burkina Faso
chief of mission: Ambassador Paramanga Ernest YONLI
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882

Burma
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT
LWIN
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general: New York

Burundi
chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578

Cambodia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
MENG EANG NAY
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

Cameroon
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826

Canada
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSON
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix,
San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson
consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New
Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)

Cape Verde
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston

Cayman Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Central African Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel
TOUABOY
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Chad
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

Chile
chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZ
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

China
chief of mission: Ambassador ZHOU Wenzhong
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco

Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Colombia
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico),
Washington, DC

Comoros
chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to
the UN Mohamed TOIHIRI
chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418,
New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida
MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note -
Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609

Congo, Republic of the
chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

Cook Islands
none (self-governing in free association with New
Zealand)

Coral Sea Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Costa Rica
chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily
closed), Washington, DC
consulate(s): San Francisco

Cote d'Ivoire
chief of mission: Ambassador Yao Charles KOFFI
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
FAX: [1] (202) 244-3088

Croatia
chief of mission: Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Cuba
none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss
Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Jorge BOLANOS Suarez; address:
Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518; FAX: [1] (202)
797-8521

Cyprus
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is
Hilmi AKIL; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone
[1] (202) 887-6198

Czech Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Petr KOLAR
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Denmark
chief of mission: Ambassador Friis Arne PETERSEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Dhekelia
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Djibouti
chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

Dominica
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - Judith Ann
ROLLE (Charge d'Affaires)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
consulate(s) general: New York

Dominican Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Flavio Dario ESPINAL
Jacobo
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto
Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto
Rico)

Ecuador
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver,
Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC

Egypt
chief of mission: Ambassador (designate) Sameh SHOUKRY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

El Salvador
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez
chancery: 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Elizabeth (New
Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2),
Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington
(DC), Woodbridge (Virginia), Woodstock (Georgia)

Equatorial Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE
ONDO
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

Eritrea
chief of mission: Ambassador GHIRMAI Ghebremariam
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)

Estonia
chief of mission: Ambassador Vaino REINART
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York

Ethiopia
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ASSEFA
chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

European Union
chief of mission: Ambassador John BRUTON
chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500
FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Faroe Islands
none (self-governing overseas administrative division
of Denmark)

Fiji
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - Penijamini R.
LOMALOMA (Charge d'Affaires)
chancery: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325

Finland
chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

France
chief of mission: Ambassador Pierre VIMONT
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC

French Polynesia
none (overseas lands of France)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
none (overseas territory of
France)

Gabon
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos BOUNGOU
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s): New York

Gambia, The
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Abdul Rahman COLE
chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Georgia
chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE
chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

Germany
chief of mission: Ambassador Klaus SCHARIOTH
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Ghana
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Kwame BAWUAH-EDUSEI
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
consulate(s) general: New York

Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros P. MALLIAS
chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston

Greenland
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of
Denmark)

Grenada
chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
consulate(s) general: New York

Guam
none (territory of the US)

Guatemala
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, Providence, San Francisco

Guernsey
none (British crown dependency)

Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688

Guinea-Bissau
chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not
have official representation in Washington, DC

Guyana
chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
consulate(s) general: New York

Haiti
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond JOSEPH
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Juan
(Puerto Rico)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
none (territory of Australia)

Holy See (Vatican City)
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio
Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036

Honduras
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES BERMUDEZ
chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702
FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco
honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville

Hong Kong
none (special administrative region of China); Hong Kong
Economic and Trade Office in Washington and two other cities carries
out normal liaison and communication with the US Government and
other US entities

Hungary
chief of mission: Ambassador Ferenc SOMOGYI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Iceland
chief of mission: Ambassador Albert JONSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York

India
chief of mission: Ambassador Ranendra SEN
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note -
Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Indonesia
chief of mission: Ambassador SUDJADNAN Parnohadiningrat
chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco

Iran
none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani
Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209
Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202)
965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073

Iraq
chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600
FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129

Ireland
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Isle of Man
none (British crown dependency)

Israel
chief of mission: Ambassador Salai MERIDOR
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco

Italy
chief of mission: Ambassador Giovanni CASTELLANETA
chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
consulate(s): Detroit

Jamaica
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony JOHNSON
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Japan
chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,
Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle

Jersey
none (British crown dependency)

Jordan
chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein,
Prince
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110

Kazakhstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISOV
chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
consulate(s): New York

Kenya
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Rateng Oginga OGEGO
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Kiribati
Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an
honorary consulate in Honolulu

Korea, North
none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in
New York

Korea, South
chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Tae-sik
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Kuwait
chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir
al-Sabah
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517

Kyrgyzstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York

Laos
chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923

Latvia
chief of mission: Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS
chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860

Lebanon
chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine CHEDID
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

Lesotho
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Mabasia MOHOBANE
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

Liberia
chief of mission: Ambassador Milton Nathaniel BARNES
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York

Libya
chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali
Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060

Liechtenstein
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

Lithuania
chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA
chancery: temporary address: 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 302,
Arlington, VA 22201
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Luxembourg
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Paul SENNINGER
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Macau
none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia
chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI
chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131
consulate(s) general: New York, Southfield (Michigan); note -
consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008

Madagascar
chief of mission: Ambassador Jocelyn Bertin RADIFERA
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: New York

Malawi
chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE
chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Malaysia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Ilango KARUPPANNAN
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Maldives
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Hussain MANIKU
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194
FAX: [1] (212) 599-6195

Mali
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Malta
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York

Marshall Islands
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
d'Affaires Charles A. PAUL
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Mauritania
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623

Mauritius
chief of mission: Ambassador Keerteecoomar RUHEE
chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo SARUKHAN Casamitjana
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Omaha, Orlando, Phoenix,
Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San
Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico
(California), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle
Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas
City (Missouri), Laredo (Texas), Las Vegas, Little Rock (Arkansas),
McAllen (Texas), New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Oxnard (California),
Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Saint
Paul (Minnesota), Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Santa Ana
(California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma (Arizona)

Micronesia, Federated States of
chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo
GEORGE
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)

Moldova
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204

Monaco
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 2314 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
FAX: (202) 552-5778

Mongolia
chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazaryn BEKHBAT
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227

Montenegro
chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC
chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109
consulate(s) general: New York

Montserrat
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York

Mozambique
chief of mission: Ambassador Armando Alexandre PANGUENE
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Namibia
chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

Nauru
chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074
FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079
consulate(s): Agana (Guam)

Nepal
chief of mission: Ambassador Suresh Chandra CHALISE
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general:
New York:

Netherlands
chief of mission: Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Netherlands Antilles
none (represented by the Kingdom of the
Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary
for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France)

New Zealand
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Nicaragua
chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo CRUZ Sequeira, Jr.
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco

Niger
chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

Nigeria
chief of mission: Ambassador Oluwole ROTIMI
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York

Niue
none (self-governing territory in free association with New
Zealand)

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Norway
chief of mission: Ambassador Wegger C. STROMMEN
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco

Oman
chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad
al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

Pakistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Husain HAQQANI
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Sunnyvale (California)

Palau
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC
20006
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)

Panama
chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan
(Puerto Rico), Tampa

Papua New Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Paraguay
chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Peru
chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San
Francisco, Washington, DC

Philippines
chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)

Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Portugal
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San
Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

Puerto Rico
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Qatar
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston

Romania
chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Russia
chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Viktorovich USHAKOV
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Rwanda
chief of mission: Ambassador James KOMONYO
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

Saint Barthelemy
none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Helena
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York

Saint Lucia
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Saint Martin
none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
none (territorial overseas collectivity of
France)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736 consulate(s) general: New York

Samoa
chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797

San Marino
chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI
chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: 202-337-2260

Sao Tome and Principe chief of mission: First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA chancery: 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (212) 317-0580 FAX: [1] (212) 935-7348 consulate(s): Atlanta

Saudi Arabia
chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Senegal
chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York

Serbia
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Seychelles
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Sierra Leone
chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793

Singapore
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York

Slovakia
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter BURIAN
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Slovenia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Mariam MOZGAN
chancery: 2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601
FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York

Solomon Islands
chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925

Somalia
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased
operations on 8 May 1991); note - the TFG is represented in the
United States through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations

South Africa
chief of mission: Ambassador Welile Augustine NHLAPO
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
none (overseas
territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Spain
chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge DEZCALLAR de Mazarredo
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Sri Lanka
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya WICKRAMASURIYA
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 (through 4028)
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

Sudan
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akec
KHOC Aciew Khoc
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406

Suriname
chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami

Swaziland
chief of mission: Ambassador Ephraim Mandla HLOPHE
chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254

Sweden
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM
chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Switzerland
chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco

Syria
chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFA
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548

Taiwan
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the
people of the US are maintained through an unofficial
instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative
Office (TECRO), which has its headquarters in Taipei and in the US
in Washington, DC; there are also branch offices called Taipei
Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in 12 other US cities

Tajikistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091

Tanzania
chief of mission: Ambassador Ombeni Yohana SEFUE
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

Thailand
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
DAMRONG Kraikruan
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Timor-Leste
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Jorge CAMEO
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205
consulate(s) general: New York

Togo
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Lorempo LANDJERGUE
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga
chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Trinidad and Tobago chief of mission: Ambassador Glenda MOREAN-PHILLIP chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Tunisia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires
Tarek Ben YOUSSEF
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

Turkey
chief of mission: Ambassador Nabi SENSOY
chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Turkmenistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOW
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697

Turks and Caicos Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu
Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's
only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN
office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017,
telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534

Uganda
chief of mission: Ambassador Perezi Karukubiro KAMUNANWIRE
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727

Ukraine
chief of mission: Ambassador Oleh V. SHAMSHUR
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco

United Arab Emirates
chief of mission: Ambassador Yousef bin Mani
Saeed al-OTAIBA
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
consulate(s): New York, Houston

United Kingdom
chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Nigel E. SHEINWALD
chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): Denver, Orlando

Uruguay
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Washington, DC
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Uzbekistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York

Vanuatu
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does,
however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN

Venezuela
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Angelo SANTOS
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Vietnam
chief of mission: Ambassador Le Cong PHUNG
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Virgin Islands
none (territory of the US)

Wallis and Futuna
none (overseas territory of France)

Western Sahara
none

Yemen
chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI
chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

Zambia
chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

Zimbabwe
chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2150 Telephones - main lines in use

Afghanistan
280,000 (2005)

Albania
353,600 (2005)

Algeria
3.068 million (2007)

American Samoa
10,400 (2004)

Andorra
37,200 (2007)

Angola
98,200 (2006)

Anguilla
6,200 (2002)

Antarctica
0; note - information for US bases only (2001)

Antigua and Barbuda
37,500 (2006)

Argentina
9.5 million (2007)

Armenia
603,900 (2006)

Aruba
38,700 (2006)

Australia
9.76 million (2007)

Austria
3.374 million (2007)

Azerbaijan
1.254 million (2007)

Bahamas, The
132,900 (2007)

Bahrain
194,200 (2006)

Bangladesh
1.187 million (2007)

Barbados
134,900 (2005)

Belarus
3.672 million (2007)

Belgium
4.668 million (2007)

Belize
33,900 (2007)

Benin
110,300 (2007)

Bermuda
57,700 (2006)

Bhutan
29,900 (2007)

Bolivia
678,200 (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.065 million (2007)

Botswana
136,900 (2006)

Brazil
39.4 million (2007)

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA

British Virgin Islands
11,700 (2002)

Brunei
79,200 (2007)

Bulgaria
2.3 million (2007)

Burkina Faso
94,800 (2006)

Burma
503,900 (2005)

Burundi
35,000 (2006)

Cambodia
37,500 (2007)

Cameroon
130,700 (2006)

Canada
21 million (2006)

Cape Verde
71,600 (2006)

Cayman Islands
38,000 (2002)

Central African Republic
12,000 (2006)

Chad
13,000 (2006)

Chile
3.379 million (2007)

China
365.4 million (2007)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
287 (1992)

Colombia
7.936 million (2007)

Comoros
19,100 (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
9,700 (2006)

Congo, Republic of the
15,900 (2005)

Cook Islands
6,200 (2002)

Costa Rica
1.437 million (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
730,000 (2007)

Croatia
1.825 million (2007)

Cuba
1.043 million (2007)

Cyprus
area under government control: 376,000 (2007); area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)

Czech Republic
2.888 million (2006)

Denmark
2.824 million (2007)

Djibouti
10,800 (2005)

Dominica
21,000 (2004)

Dominican Republic
907,000 (2007)

Ecuador
1.805 million (2007)

Egypt
11.229 million (2007)

El Salvador
1.08 million (2007)

Equatorial Guinea
10,000 (2005)

Eritrea
37,500 (2006)

Estonia
495,500 (2007)

Ethiopia
880,100 (2007)

European Union
238 million (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
2,400 (2002)

Faroe Islands
23,000 (2006)

Fiji
108,400 (2007)

Finland
1.74 million (2007)

France
35.533 million; 34.8 million (metropolitan France) (2007)

French Polynesia
53,600 (2006)

Gabon
26,500 (2007)

Gambia, The
76,400 (2007)

Gaza Strip
350,400 (includes West Bank) (2007)

Georgia
544,000 (2007)

Germany
53.75 million (2007)

Ghana
376,500 (2007)

Gibraltar
24,512 (2002)

Greece
6.227 million (2007)

Greenland
36,000 (2006)

Grenada
27,700 (2006)

Guam
65,500 (2003)

Guatemala
1.355 million (2006)

Guernsey
45,100 (2005)

Guinea
26,300 (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
4,600 (2007)

Guyana
110,100 (2005)

Haiti
150,000 (2006)

Holy See (Vatican City)
5,120 (2005)

Honduras
713,600 (2006)

Hong Kong
3.875 million (2007)

Hungary
3.251 million (2007)

Iceland
186,700 (2007)

India
38.76 million (2008)

Indonesia
17.828 million (2007)

Iran
23.835 million (2007)

Iraq
1.547 million (2005)

Ireland
2.112 million (2007)

Isle of Man
51,000 (1999)

Israel
3.005 million (2006)

Italy
26.89 million (2006)

Jamaica
342,000 (2006)

Japan
51.232 million (2007)

Jersey
73,900 (2001)

Jordan
585,500 (2007)

Kazakhstan
3.237 million (2007)

Kenya
264,800 (2007)

Kiribati
4,500 (2002)

Korea, North
1.18 million (2007)

Korea, South
23.905 million (2007)

Kosovo
106,300 (2006)

Kuwait
517,000 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
482,100 (2007)

Laos
94,800 (2007)

Latvia
644,000 (2007)

Lebanon
681,400 (2006)

Lesotho
53,100 (2006)

Liberia
6,900 (2002)

Libya
852,300 (2005)

Liechtenstein
20,000 (2005)

Lithuania
799,400 (2007)

Luxembourg
248,200 (2007)

Macau
177,851 (2008)

Macedonia
463,600 (2007)

Madagascar
133,900 (2007)

Malawi
175,200 (2007)

Malaysia
4.35 million (2007)

Maldives
33,200 (2007)

Mali
85,000 (2007)

Malta
198,100 (2007)

Marshall Islands
4,500 (2004)

Mauritania
34,900 (2006)

Mauritius
357,300 (2006)

Mayotte
10,000 (2002)

Mexico
19.754 million (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
8,700 (2007)

Moldova
1.08 million (2007)

Monaco
34,000 (2005)

Mongolia
158,900 (2006)

Montenegro
353,300 (2006)

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
2.394 million (2007)

Mozambique
67,000 (2006)

Namibia
138,100 (2007)

Nauru
1,900 (2002)

Nepal
766,400 (2007)

Netherlands
7.334 million (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
81,000 (2001)

New Caledonia
60,200 (2007)

New Zealand
1.706 million (2007)

Nicaragua
247,900 (2006)

Niger
24,000 (2005)

Nigeria
1.58 million (2007)

Niue
1,100 (2002 est.)

Norfolk Island
2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32)
circuits (2004)

Northern Mariana Islands
21,000 (2000)

Norway
1.988 million (2007)

Oman
268,100 (2007)

Pakistan
4.546 million (2008)

Palau
6,700 (2002)

Panama
491,900 (2007)

Papua New Guinea
60,000 (2007)

Paraguay
453,800 (2007)

Peru
2.673 million (2007)

Philippines
3.633 million (2006)

Pitcairn Islands 1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)

Poland
10.336 million (2007)

Portugal
4.139 million (2007)

Puerto Rico
1.038 million (2005)

Qatar
237,400 (2007)

Romania
4.3 million (2007)

Russia
43.9 million (2006)

Rwanda
23,100 (2007)

Saint Helena
2,200 (2002)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
25,000 (2004)

Saint Lucia
51,100 (2002)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
4,800 (2002)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
22,800 (2007)

Samoa
19,500 (2005)

San Marino
21,000 (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
7,700 (2007)

Saudi Arabia
3.996 million (2007)

Senegal
269,100 (2007)

Serbia
2.993 million (2007)

Seychelles
22,700 (2007)

Sierra Leone
24,000 (2002)

Singapore
1.859 million (2007)

Slovakia
1.151 million (2007)

Slovenia
857,100 (2007)

Solomon Islands
7,600 (2006)

Somalia
100,000 (2007)

South Africa
4.642 million (2007)

Spain
18.583 million (2007)

Sri Lanka
2.742 million (2007)

Sudan
345,200 (2007)

Suriname
81,500 (2006)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
44,000 (2006)

Sweden
5.506 million (2007)

Switzerland
5 million (2007)

Syria
3.452 million (2007)

Taiwan
14.313 million (2007)

Tajikistan
280,200 (2005)

Tanzania
165,013 (2008)

Thailand
7.024 million (2007)

Timor-Leste
2,400 (2006)

Togo
82,100 (2006)

Tokelau
300 (2002)

Tonga
21,000 (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
323,800 (2007)

Tunisia
1.273 million (2007)

Turkey
18.413 million (2007)

Turkmenistan
398,100 (2005)

Turks and Caicos Islands
5,700 (2002)

Tuvalu
900 (2005)

Uganda
162,300 (2007)

Ukraine
12.858 million (2007)

United Arab Emirates
1.385 million (2007)

United Kingdom
33.682 million (2007)

United States
163.2 million (2007)

Uruguay
965,200 (2007)

Uzbekistan
1.793 million (2005)

Vanuatu
8,800 (2007)

Venezuela
5.082 million (2007)

Vietnam
10.8 million (2007)

Virgin Islands
71,700 (2005)

Wallis and Futuna
1,900 (2002)

West Bank
350,400 (includes Gaza Strip) (2007)

Western Sahara
about 2,000 (1999 est.)

World
1,263,367,600 (2005)

Yemen
968,300 (2006)

Zambia
91,800 (2007)

Zimbabwe
344,500 (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2151 Telephones - mobile cellular

Afghanistan
5.4 million (2008)

Albania
2.3 million (2007)

Algeria
27.563 million (2007)

American Samoa
2,200 (2004)

Andorra
68,500 (2007)

Angola
3.307 million (2007)

Anguilla
1,800 (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda
110,200 (2006)

Argentina
40.402 million (2007)

Armenia
1,185,400 (2006)

Aruba
105,700 (2006)

Australia
21.26 million (2007)

Austria
9.768 million (2007)

Azerbaijan
4.3 million (2007)

Bahamas, The
374,000 (2007)

Bahrain
1.116 million (2007)

Bangladesh
34.37 million (2007)

Barbados
237,100 (2006)

Belarus
5.96 million (2006)

Belgium
10.23 million (2007)

Belize
118,300 (2007)

Benin
1.895 million (2007)

Bermuda
60,100 (2006)

Bhutan
149,400 (2007)

Bolivia
3.254 million (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
2.45 million (2007)

Botswana
1.427 million (2007)

Brazil
120.98 million (2007)

British Virgin Islands
8,000 (2002)

Brunei
339,800 (2007)

Bulgaria
9.897 million (2007)

Burkina Faso
1.611 million (2007)

Burma
214,200 (2006)

Burundi
250,000 (2007)

Cambodia
2.583 million (2007)

Cameroon
4.536 million (2007)

Canada
18.749 million (2006)

Cape Verde
148,000 (2007)

Cayman Islands
33,800 (2004)

Central African Republic
130,000 (2007)

Chad
918,400 (2007)

Chile
13.955 million (2007)

China
547.286 million (2007)

Colombia
33.941 million (2007)

Comoros
40,000 (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
6.592 million (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
1.334 million (2007)

Cook Islands
1,500 (2002)

Costa Rica
1.503 million (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
7.05 million (2007)

Croatia
5.035 million (2007)

Cuba
198,300 (2007)

Cyprus
area under government control: 962,200 (2007); area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002)

Czech Republic
13.075 million (2007)

Denmark
6.243 million (2007)

Djibouti
45,000 (2007)

Dominica
41,800 (2004)

Dominican Republic
5.513 million (2007)

Ecuador
10.086 million (2007)

Egypt
30.065 million (2007)

El Salvador
6.137 million (2007)

Equatorial Guinea
220,000 (2007)

Eritrea
70,000 (2007)

Estonia
1.982 million (2007)

Ethiopia
1.208 million (2007)

European Union
466 million (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 (2001)

Faroe Islands
50,000 (2006)

Fiji
437,000 (2007)

Finland
6.08 million (2007)

France
56.719 million; 55.358 million (metropolitan France) (2007)

French Polynesia
174,800 (2007)

Gabon
1.169 million (2007)

Gambia, The
795,900 (2007)

Gaza Strip
1.026 million (includes West Bank) (2007)

Georgia
2.4 million (2007)

Germany
97.151 million (2007)

Ghana
7.604 million (2007)

Gibraltar
9,797 (2002)

Greece
11.997 million (2007)

Greenland
66,400 (2007)

Grenada
46,200 (2006)

Guam
98,000 (2004)

Guatemala
10.15 million (2007)

Guernsey
43,800 (2004)

Guinea
189,000 (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
296,200 (2007)

Guyana
281,400 (2005)

Haiti
2.2 million (2007)

Honduras
2.241 million (2006)

Hong Kong
10.55 million (2007)

Hungary
11.03 million (2007)

Iceland
347,500 (2007)

India
296.08 million (2008)

Indonesia
81.835 million (2007)

Iran
29.77 million (2007)

Iraq
14.021 million (2007)

Ireland
4.94 million (2007)

Israel
8.902 million (2007)

Italy
78.571 million (2006)

Jamaica
2.495 million (2006)

Japan
107.339 million (2007)

Jersey
83,900 (2004)

Jordan
4.771 million (2007)

Kazakhstan
12.588 million (2007)

Kenya
11.44 million (2007)

Kiribati
700 (2005)

Korea, South
43.5 million (2007)

Kosovo
562,000 (2006)

Kuwait
2.774 million (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
2.152 million (2007)

Laos
1.478 million (2007)

Latvia
2.217 million (2007)

Lebanon
1.26 million (2007)

Lesotho
456,000 (2007)

Liberia
563,000 (2007)

Libya
4.5 million (2007)

Liechtenstein
27,500 (2005)

Lithuania
4.912 million (2007)

Luxembourg
604,200 (2007)

Macau
856,200 (2008)

Macedonia
1.518 million (2007)

Madagascar
2.218 million (2007)

Malawi
1.051 million (2007)

Malaysia
23.347 million (2007)

Maldives
317,800 (2007)

Mali
2.483 million (2007)

Malta
371,500 (2007)

Marshall Islands
700 (2005)

Mauritania
1.3 million (2007)

Mauritius
936,000 (2007)

Mayotte
48,100 (2005)

Mexico
68.254 million (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
27,400 (2007)

Moldova
1.883 million (2007)

Monaco
17,200 (2005)

Mongolia
775,300 (2006)

Montenegro
643,700 (2006)

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
20.029 million (2007)

Mozambique
3.3 million (2007)

Namibia
800,300 (2007)

Nauru
1,500 (2002)

Nepal
1.157 million (2006)

Netherlands
17.3 million (2006)

Netherlands Antilles
200,000 (2004)

New Caledonia
176,400 (2007)

New Zealand
4.245 million (2007)

Nicaragua
2.123 million (2007)

Niger
900,000 (2007)

Nigeria
40.395 million (2007)

Niue
400 (2002)

Norfolk Island
0; note - proposed cellular service disallowed in
August 2002 island referendum (2002)

Northern Mariana Islands
20,500 (2004)

Norway
5.192 million (2007)

Oman
2.5 million (2007)

Pakistan
88.02 million (2008)

Palau
1,000 (2002)

Panama
2.392 million (2007)

Papua New Guinea
300,000 (2007)

Paraguay
4.33 million (2007)

Peru
15.417 million (2007)

Philippines
51.795 million (2007)

Poland
41.389 million (2007)

Portugal
13.413 million (2007)

Puerto Rico
3.354 million (2005)

Qatar
1.264 million (2007)

Romania
22.875 million (2007)

Russia
170 million (2007)

Rwanda
635,100 (2007)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
10,000 (2004)

Saint Lucia
105,700 (2005)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
104,000 (2007)

Samoa
86,000 (2007)

San Marino
17,390 (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
30,100 (2007)

Saudi Arabia
28.381 million (2007)

Senegal
4.123 million (2007)

Serbia
8.453 million (2007)

Seychelles
77,300 (2007)

Sierra Leone
776,000 (2007)

Singapore
5.619 million (2007)

Slovakia
6.068 million (2007)

Slovenia
1.928 million (2007)

Solomon Islands
10,900 (2007)

Somalia
600,000 (2007)

South Africa
42.3 million (2007)

Spain
48.813 million (2007)

Sri Lanka
7.983 million (2007)

Sudan
7.464 million (2007)

Suriname
320,000 (2006)

Swaziland
380,000 (2007)

Sweden
10.371 million (2007)

Switzerland
8.096 million (2007)

Syria
6.7 million (2007)

Taiwan
24.302 million (2007)

Tajikistan
265,000 (2005)

Tanzania
9.358 million (2008)

Thailand
51.377 million (2007)

Timor-Leste
69,000 (2007)

Togo
1.19 million (2007)

Tonga
46,500 (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
1.008 million (2007)

Tunisia
7.842 million (2007)

Turkey
61.976 million (2007)

Turkmenistan
216,900 (2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands
1,700 (1999)

Tuvalu
1,300 (2005)

Uganda
4.195 million (2007)

Ukraine
55.24 million (2007)

United Arab Emirates
7.595 million (2007)

United Kingdom
71.992 million (2007)

United States
255 million (2007)

Uruguay
3.004 million (2007)

Uzbekistan
5.8 million (2007)

Vanuatu
26,000 (2007)

Venezuela
23.82 million (2007)

Vietnam
33.2 million (2007)

Virgin Islands
80,300 (2005)

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
1.026 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2007)

Western Sahara
0 (1999)

World
2,168,433,600 (2005)

Yemen
2.978 million (2006)

Zambia
2.639 million (2007)

Zimbabwe
1.226 million (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2153 Internet users

Afghanistan
580,000 (2007)

Albania
471,200 (2006)

Algeria
3.5 million (2007)

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
58,900 (2007)

Angola
100,000 (2007)

Anguilla
3,000 (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda
60,000 (2007)

Argentina
9.309 million (2007)

Armenia
172,800 (2006)

Aruba
24,000 (2007)

Australia
11.24 million (2007)

Austria
4.277 million (2007)

Azerbaijan
1.036 million (2007)

Bahamas, The
120,000 (2007)

Bahrain
250,000 (2007)

Bangladesh
500,000 (2007)

Barbados
160,000 (2005)

Belarus
6 million (2007)

Belgium
5.22 million (2007)

Belize
32,000 (2007)

Benin
150,000 (2007)

Bermuda
48,000 (2007)

Bhutan
40,000 (2007)

Bolivia
1 million (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.055 million (2007)

Botswana
80,000 (2007)

Brazil
50 million (2007)

British Virgin Islands
4,000 (2002)

Brunei
199,532 (2007)

Bulgaria
1.899 million (2007)

Burkina Faso
80,000 (2006)

Burma
40,000 (2007)

Burundi
60,000 (2006)

Cambodia
70,000 (2007)

Cameroon
370,000 (2006)

Canada
28 million (2007)

Cape Verde
37,000 (2007)

Cayman Islands
22,000 (2007)

Central African Republic
13,000 (2006)

Chad
60,000 (2006)

Chile
5.57 million (2007)

China
253 million (2008)

Christmas Island
464 (2001)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
12.1 million (2007)

Comoros
21,000 (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
230,400 (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
70,000 (2006)

Cook Islands
3,600 (2002)

Costa Rica
1.5 million (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
300,000 (2006)

Croatia
1.995 million (2007)

Cuba
1.31 million
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or
accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may
access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls;
some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take
advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the
government-controlled "intranet" (2007)

Cyprus
380,000 (2007)

Czech Republic
4.4 million (2007)

Denmark
3.5 million (2007)

Djibouti
11,000 (2006)

Dominica
26,500 (2006)

Dominican Republic
1.677 million (2007)

Ecuador
1.549 million (2006)

Egypt
8.62 million (2007)

El Salvador
700,000 (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
8,000 (2006)

Eritrea
120,000 (2007)

Estonia
780,000 (2007)

Ethiopia
291,000 (2007)

European Union
247 million (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
1,900 (2002)

Faroe Islands
34,000 (2006)

Fiji
80,000 (2006)

Finland
3.6 million (2007)

France
31.295 million; 30.838 million (metropolitan France) (2007)

French Polynesia
75,000 (2007)

Gabon
145,000 (2007)

Gambia, The
100,200 (2007)

Gaza Strip
355,500 (includes West Bank) (2007)

Georgia
360,000 (2007)

Germany
42.5 million (2007)

Ghana
650,000 (2007)

Gibraltar
6,200 (2002)

Greece
2.54 million (2007)

Greenland
52,000 (2007)

Grenada
23,000 (2007)

Guam
65,000 (2005)

Guatemala
1.32 million (2006)

Guernsey
36,000 (2005)

Guinea
50,000 (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
37,000 (2006)

Guyana
190,000 (2007)

Haiti
1 million (2007)

Holy See (Vatican City)
93 (2000)

Honduras
344,100 (2006)

Hong Kong
3.961 million (2007)

Hungary
4.2 million (2007)

Iceland
202,300 (2007)

India
80 million (2007)

Indonesia
13 million (2007)

Iran
23 million (2007)

Iraq
54,000 (2007)

Ireland
1.708 million (2007)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
2 million (2007)

Italy
32 million (2007)

Jamaica
1.5 million (2007)

Japan
88.11 million (2007)

Jersey
27,000 (2005)

Jordan
1.127 million (2007)

Kazakhstan
1.901 million (2006)

Kenya
3 million (2007)

Kiribati
2,000 (2007)

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
35.59 million (2007)

Kuwait
900,000 (2007)

Kyrgyzstan
750,000 (2007)

Laos
100,000 (2007)

Latvia
1.177 million (2007)

Lebanon
950,000 (2006)

Lesotho
70,000 (2007)

Liberia
1,000 (2002)

Libya
260,000 (2006)

Liechtenstein
22,000 (2006)

Lithuania
1.333 million (2007)

Luxembourg
345,000 (2007)

Macau
300,000 (2007)

Macedonia
685,000 (2007)

Madagascar
110,000 (2006)

Malawi
139,500 (2007)

Malaysia
15.868 million (2007)

Maldives
33,000 (2007)

Mali
100,000 (2007)

Malta
158,000 (2007)

Marshall Islands
2,200 (2006)

Mauritania
30,000 (2006)

Mauritius
340,000 (2007)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
22.812 million (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
15,000 (2007)

Moldova
700,000 (2007)

Monaco
20,000 (2006)

Mongolia
320,000 (2007)

Montenegro
280,000 (2007)

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
7.3 million (2007)

Mozambique
200,000 (2007)

Namibia
101,000 (2007)

Nauru
300 (2002)

Nepal
337,100 (2007)

Netherlands
15 million (2007)

Netherlands Antilles
2,000 (2000)

New Caledonia
80,000 (2006)

New Zealand
3.36 million (2007)

Nicaragua
155,000 (2006)

Niger
40,000 (2006)

Nigeria
10 million (2007)

Niue
900 (2002)

Norfolk Island
700 (2002 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
10,000 (2003)

Norway
3.8 million (2007)

Oman
340,000 (2007)

Pakistan
17.5 million (2007)

Panama
525,200 (2007)

Papua New Guinea
110,000 (2006)

Paraguay
280,000 (2007)

Peru
7.636 million (2007)

Philippines
5.3 million (2007)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
16 million (2007)

Portugal
3.549 million (2007)

Puerto Rico
1 million (2007)

Qatar
351,000 (2007)

Romania
12 million (2007)

Russia
30 million (2007)

Rwanda
100,000 (2007)

Saint Helena
1,000; note - includes Ascension Island (2003)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
10,000 (2002)

Saint Lucia
110,000 (2007)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
57,000 (2007)

Samoa
8,000 (2006)

San Marino
15,400 (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
23,000 (2007)

Saudi Arabia
6.2 million (2007)

Senegal
820,000 (2007)

Serbia
1.5 million (2007)

Seychelles
32,000 (2007)

Sierra Leone
13,000 (2007)

Singapore
3.105 million (2007)

Slovakia
2.35 million (2007)

Slovenia
1.3 million (2007)

Solomon Islands
8,000 (2006)

Somalia
98,000 (2007)

South Africa
5.1 million (2005)

Spain
19.69 million (2007)

Sri Lanka
771,700 (2007)

Sudan
1.5 million (2007)

Suriname
44,000 (2007)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
42,000 (2006)

Sweden
7 million (2007)

Switzerland
4.61 million (2007)

Syria
3.47 million (2007)

Taiwan
14.76 million (2007)

Tajikistan
19,500 (2005)

Tanzania
400,000 (2007)

Thailand
13.416 million (2007)

Timor-Leste
1,200 (2006)

Togo
320,000 (2006)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
8,400 (2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
430,800 (2007)

Tunisia
1.722 million (2007)

Turkey
13.15 million (2006)

Turkmenistan
70,000 (2007)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
1,300 (2002)

Uganda
2 million (2007)

Ukraine
10 million (2007)

United Arab Emirates
2.3 million (2007)

United Kingdom
40.2 million (2007)

United States
223 million (2008)

Uruguay
968,000 (2007)

Uzbekistan
1.2 million (2007)

Vanuatu
17,000 (2007)

Venezuela
5.72 million (2007)

Vietnam
17.87 million (2007)

Virgin Islands
30,000 (2007)

Wallis and Futuna
900 (2002)

West Bank
355,500 (includes Gaza Strip) (2007)

Western Sahara
NA

World
1,018,057,389 (2005)

Yemen
320,000 (2007)

Zambia
500,000 (2007)

Zimbabwe
1.351 million (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2154 Internet country code

Afghanistan
.af

Albania
.al

Algeria
.dz

American Samoa
.as

Andorra
.ad

Angola
.ao

Anguilla
.ai

Antarctica
.aq

Antigua and Barbuda
.ag

Argentina
.ar

Armenia
.am

Aruba
.aw

Australia
.au

Austria
.at

Azerbaijan
.az

Bahamas, The
.bs

Bahrain
.bh

Bangladesh
.bd

Barbados
.bb

Belarus
.by

Belgium
.be

Belize
.bz

Benin
.bj

Bermuda
.bm

Bhutan
.bt

Bolivia
.bo

Bosnia and Herzegovina
.ba

Botswana
.bw

Bouvet Island
.bv

Brazil
.br

British Indian Ocean Territory
.io

British Virgin Islands
.vg

Brunei
.bn

Bulgaria
.bg

Burkina Faso
.bf

Burma
.mm

Burundi
.bi

Cambodia
.kh

Cameroon
.cm

Canada
.ca

Cape Verde
.cv

Cayman Islands
.ky

Central African Republic
.cf

Chad
.td

Chile
.cl

China
.cn

Christmas Island
.cx

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
.cc

Colombia
.co

Comoros
.km

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
.cd

Congo, Republic of the
.cg

Cook Islands
.ck

Costa Rica
.cr

Cote d'Ivoire
.ci

Croatia
.hr

Cuba
.cu

Cyprus
.cy

Czech Republic
.cz

Denmark
.dk

Djibouti
.dj

Dominica
.dm

Dominican Republic
.do

Ecuador
.ec

Egypt
.eg

El Salvador
.sv

Equatorial Guinea
.gq

Eritrea
.er

Estonia
.ee

Ethiopia
.et

European Union
.eu (effective 2005); note - see country entries of
member states for individual country codes

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
.fk

Faroe Islands
.fo

Fiji
.fj

Finland
.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax

France
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe -
.gp; Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re

French Polynesia
.pf

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
.tf

Gabon
.ga

Gambia, The
.gm

Gaza Strip
.ps; note - same as West Bank

Georgia
.ge

Germany
.de

Ghana
.gh

Gibraltar
.gi

Greece
.gr

Greenland
.gl

Grenada
.gd

Guam
.gu

Guatemala
.gt

Guernsey
.gg

Guinea
.gn

Guinea-Bissau
.gw

Guyana
.gy

Haiti
.ht

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
.hm

Holy See (Vatican City)
.va

Honduras
.hn

Hong Kong
.hk

Hungary
.hu

Iceland
.is

India
.in

Indonesia
.id

Iran
.ir

Iraq
.iq

Ireland
.ie

Isle of Man
.im

Israel
.il

Italy
.it

Jamaica
.jm

Japan
.jp

Jersey
.je

Jordan
.jo

Kazakhstan
.kz

Kenya
.ke

Kiribati
.ki

Korea, North
.kp

Korea, South
.kr

Kuwait
.kw

Kyrgyzstan
.kg

Laos
.la

Latvia
.lv

Lebanon
.lb

Lesotho
.ls

Liberia
.lr

Libya
.ly

Liechtenstein
.li

Lithuania
.lt

Luxembourg
.lu

Macau
.mo

Macedonia
.mk

Madagascar
.mg

Malawi
.mw

Malaysia
.my

Maldives
.mv

Mali
.ml

Malta
.mt

Marshall Islands
.mh

Mauritania
.mr

Mauritius
.mu

Mayotte
.yt

Mexico
.mx

Micronesia, Federated States of
.fm

Moldova
.md

Monaco
.mc

Mongolia
.mn

Montenegro
.me

Montserrat
.ms

Morocco
.ma

Mozambique
.mz

Namibia
.na

Nauru
.nr

Nepal
.np

Netherlands
.nl

Netherlands Antilles
.an

New Caledonia
.nc

New Zealand
.nz

Nicaragua
.ni

Niger
.ne

Nigeria
.ng

Niue
.nu

Norfolk Island
.nf

Northern Mariana Islands
.mp

Norway
.no

Oman
.om

Pakistan
.pk

Palau
.pw

Panama
.pa

Papua New Guinea
.pg

Paraguay
.py

Peru
.pe

Philippines
.ph

Pitcairn Islands
.pn

Poland
.pl

Portugal
.pt

Puerto Rico
.pr

Qatar
.qa

Romania
.ro

Russia
.ru; note - Russia also has responsibility for a legacy
domain ".su" that was allocated to the Soviet Union and is being
phased out

Rwanda
.rw

Saint Barthelemy
.bl; note - .gp, the ccTLD for Guadeloupe, and .fr,
the ccTLD for France, might also be encountered

Saint Helena
.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac

Saint Kitts and Nevis
.kn

Saint Lucia
.lc

Saint Martin
.mf; note - .gp, the ccTLD for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the
ccTLD for France, might also be encountered

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
.pm

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
.vc

Samoa
.ws

San Marino
.sm

Sao Tome and Principe
.st

Saudi Arabia
.sa

Senegal
.sn

Serbia
.rs

Seychelles
.sc

Sierra Leone
.sl

Singapore
.sg

Slovakia
.sk

Slovenia
.si

Solomon Islands
.sb

Somalia
.so

South Africa
.za

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
.gs

Spain
.es

Sri Lanka
.lk

Sudan
.sd

Suriname
.sr

Svalbard
.sj

Swaziland
.sz

Sweden
.se

Switzerland
.ch

Syria
.sy

Taiwan
.tw

Tajikistan
.tj

Tanzania
.tz

Thailand
.th

Timor-Leste
.tl

Togo
.tg

Tokelau
.tk

Tonga
.to

Trinidad and Tobago
.tt

Tunisia
.tn

Turkey
.tr

Turkmenistan
.tm

Turks and Caicos Islands
.tc

Tuvalu
.tv

Uganda
.ug

Ukraine
.ua

United Arab Emirates
.ae

United Kingdom
.uk

United States
.us

Uruguay
.uy

Uzbekistan
.uz

Vanuatu
.vu

Venezuela
.ve

Vietnam
.vn

Virgin Islands
.vi

Wallis and Futuna
.wf

West Bank
.ps; note - same as Gaza Strip

Western Sahara
.eh

Yemen
.ye

Zambia
.zm

Zimbabwe
.zw

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2155 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)

Afghanistan
0.01% (2001 est.)

Albania
NA

Algeria
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
NA

Angola
3.9% (2003 est.)

Anguilla
NA

Antigua and Barbuda
NA

Argentina
0.7% (2001 est.)

Armenia
0.1% (2003 est.)

Aruba
NA

Australia
0.1% (2003 est.)

Austria
0.3% (2003 est.)

Azerbaijan
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Bahamas, The
3% (2003 est.)

Bahrain
0.2% (2001 est.)

Bangladesh
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Barbados
1.5% (2003 est.)

Belarus
0.3% (2001 est.)

Belgium
0.2% (2003 est.)

Belize
2.4% (2003 est.)

Benin
1.9% (2003 est.)

Bermuda
0.297% (2005)

Bhutan
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Bolivia
0.1% (2003 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Botswana
37.3% (2003 est.)

Brazil
0.7% (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands
NA

Brunei
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Burkina Faso
4.2% (2003 est.)

Burma
1.2% (2003 est.)

Burundi
6% (2003 est.)

Cambodia
2.6% (2003 est.)

Cameroon
6.9% (2003 est.)

Canada
0.3% (2003 est.)

Cape Verde
0.035% (2001 est.)

Cayman Islands
NA

Central African Republic
13.5% (2003 est.)

Chad
4.8% (2003 est.)

Chile
0.3% (2003 est.)

China
0.1% (2003 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
0.7% (2003 est.)

Comoros
0.12% (2001 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
4.2% (2003 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
4.9% (2003 est.)

Cook Islands
NA

Costa Rica
0.6% (2003 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
7% (2003 est.)

Croatia
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Cuba
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Cyprus
0.1% (2003 est.)

Czech Republic
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Denmark
0.2% (2003 est.)

Djibouti
2.9% (2003 est.)

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
1.7% (2003 est.)

Ecuador
0.3% (2003 est.)

Egypt
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

El Salvador
0.7% (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
3.4% (2001 est.)

Eritrea
2.7% (2003 est.)

Estonia
1.1% (2001 est.)

Ethiopia
4.4% (2003 est.)

European Union
note - see individual country entries of member states

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
0.1% (2003 est.)

Finland
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

France
0.4% (2003 est.)

French Polynesia
NA

Gabon
8.1% (2003 est.)

Gambia, The
1.2% (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
NA

Georgia
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Germany
0.1% (2001 est.)

Ghana
3.1% (2003 est.)

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
0.2% (2001 est.)

Greenland
NA

Grenada
NA

Guam
NA

Guatemala
1.1% (2003 est.)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
3.2% (2003 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
10% (2003 est.)

Guyana
2.5% (2003 est.)

Haiti
5.6% (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
1.8% (2003 est.)

Hong Kong
0.1% (2003 est.)

Hungary
0.1% (2001 est.)

Iceland
0.2% (2001 est.)

India
0.9% (2001 est.)

Indonesia
0.1% (2003 est.)

Iran
0.2% (2005 est.)

Iraq
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Ireland
0.1% (2001 est.)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
0.1% (2001 est.)

Italy
0.5% (2001 est.)

Jamaica
1.2% (2003 est.)

Japan
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Kazakhstan
0.2% (2001 est.)

Kenya
6.7% (2003 est.)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Kuwait
0.12% (2001 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Laos
0.1% (2003 est.)

Latvia
0.6% (2001 est.)

Lebanon
0.1% (2001 est.)

Lesotho
28.9% (2003 est.)

Liberia
5.9% (2003 est.)

Libya
0.3% (2001 est.)

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
0.1% (2001 est.)

Luxembourg
0.2% (2001 est.)

Macau
NA

Macedonia
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Madagascar
1.7% (2003 est.)

Malawi
14.2% (2003 est.)

Malaysia
0.4% (2003 est.)

Maldives
0.1% (2001 est.)

Mali
1.9% (2003 est.)

Malta
0.2% (2001 est.)

Marshall Islands
NA

Mauritania
0.6% (2003 est.)

Mauritius
0.1% (2001 est.)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
0.3% (2003 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA

Moldova
0.2% (2001 est.)

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
0.1% (2001 est.)

Mozambique
12.2% (2003 est.)

Namibia
21.3% (2003 est.)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
0.5% (2001 est.)

Netherlands
0.2% (2001 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
0.1% (2003 est.)

Nicaragua
0.2% (2003 est.)

Niger
1.2% (2003 est.)

Nigeria
5.4% (2003 est.)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
NA

Norway
0.1% (2001 est.)

Oman
0.1% (2001 est.)

Pakistan
0.1% (2001 est.)

Palau
NA

Panama
0.9% (2003 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0.6% (2003 est.)

Paraguay
0.5% (2003 est.)

Peru
0.5% (2003 est.)

Philippines
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

Portugal
0.4% (2001 est.)

Puerto Rico
NA

Qatar
0.09% (2001 est.)

Romania
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Russia
1.1% (2001 est.)

Rwanda
5.1% (2003 est.)

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
NA

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
0.01% (2001 est.)

Senegal
0.8% (2003 est.)

Seychelles
NA

Sierra Leone
7% (2001 est.)

Singapore
0.2% (2003 est.)

Slovakia
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Slovenia
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
1% (2001 est.)

South Africa
21.5% (2003 est.)

Spain
0.7% (2001 est.)

Sri Lanka
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Sudan
2.3% (2001 est.)

Suriname
1.7% (2001 est.)

Svalbard
0% (2001)

Swaziland
38.8% (2003 est.)

Sweden
0.1% (2001 est.)

Switzerland
0.4% (2001 est.)

Syria
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Tanzania
8.8% (2003 est.)

Thailand
1.5% (2003 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
4.1% (2003 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
NA

Trinidad and Tobago
3.2% (2003 est.)

Tunisia
less than 0.1% (2005 est.)

Turkey
less than 0.1%; note - no country specific models provided
(2001 est.)

Turkmenistan
less than 0.1% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
4.1% (2003 est.)

Ukraine
1.4% (2003 est.)

United Arab Emirates
0.18% (2001 est.)

United Kingdom
0.2% (2001 est.)

United States
0.6% (2003 est.)

Uruguay
0.3% (2001 est.)

Uzbekistan
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001
est.)

Vietnam
0.4% (2003 est.)

Virgin Islands
NA

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
NA

Western Sahara
NA

World
NA

Yemen
0.1% (2001 est.)

Zambia
16.5% (2003 est.)

Zimbabwe
24.6% (2001 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2156 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

Afghanistan
NA

Albania
NA

Algeria
9,100 (2003 est.)

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
NA

Angola
240,000 (2003 est.)

Anguilla
NA

Antigua and Barbuda
NA

Argentina
130,000 (2001 est.)

Armenia
2,600 (2003 est.)

Aruba
NA

Australia
14,000 (2003 est.)

Austria
10,000 (2003 est.)

Azerbaijan
1,400 (2003 est.)

Bahamas, The
5,600 (2003 est.)

Bahrain
fewer than 600 (2003 est.)

Bangladesh
13,000 (2001 est.)

Barbados
2,500 (2003 est.)

Belarus
15,000 (2001 est.)

Belgium
10,000 (2003 est.)

Belize
3,600 (2003 est.)

Benin
68,000 (2003 est.)

Bermuda
163 (2005)

Bhutan
fewer than 100 (1999 est.)

Bolivia
4,900 (2003 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
900 (2003 est.)

Botswana
350,000 (2003 est.)

Brazil
660,000 (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands
NA

Brunei
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
346 (2001 est.)

Burkina Faso
300,000 (2003 est.)

Burma
330,000 (2003 est.)

Burundi
250,000 (2003 est.)

Cambodia
170,000 (2003 est.)

Cameroon
560,000 (2003 est.)

Canada
56,000 (2003 est.)

Cape Verde
775 (2001)

Cayman Islands
NA

Central African Republic
260,000 (2003 est.)

Chad
200,000 (2003 est.)

Chile
26,000 (2003 est.)

China
840,000 (2003 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
190,000 (2003 est.)

Comoros
NA

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1.1 million (2003 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
90,000 (2003 est.)

Cook Islands
NA

Costa Rica
12,000 (2003 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
570,000 (2003 est.)

Croatia
200 (2001 est.)

Cuba
3,300 (2003 est.)

Cyprus
fewer than 1,000 (1999 est.)

Czech Republic
2,500 (2001 est.)

Denmark
5,000 (2003 est.)

Djibouti
9,100 (2003 est.)

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
88,000 (2003 est.)

Ecuador
21,000 (2003 est.)

Egypt
12,000 (2001 est.)

El Salvador
29,000 (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
5,900 (2001 est.)

Eritrea
60,000 (2003 est.)

Estonia
7,800 (2003 est.)

Ethiopia
1.5 million (2003 est.)

European Union
note - see individual country entries of member states

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
600 (2003 est.)

Finland
1,500 (2003 est.)

France
120,000 (2003 est.)

French Polynesia
NA

Gabon
48,000 (2003 est.)

Gambia, The
6,800 (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
NA

Georgia
3,000 (2003 est.)

Germany
43,000 (2001 est.)

Ghana
350,000 (2003 est.)

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
9,100 (2001 est.)

Greenland
100 (1999)

Grenada
NA

Guam
NA

Guatemala
78,000 (2003 est.)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
140,000 (2003 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
17,000 (2001 est.)

Guyana
11,000 (2003 est.)

Haiti
280,000 (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
63,000 (2003 est.)

Hong Kong
2,600 (2003 est.)

Hungary
2,800 (2001 est.)

Iceland
220 (2001 est.)

India
5.1 million (2001 est.)

Indonesia
110,000 (2003 est.)

Iran
66,000 (2005 est.)

Iraq
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Ireland
2,800 (2001 est.)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
3,000 (1999 est.)

Italy
140,000 (2001 est.)

Jamaica
22,000 (2003 est.)

Japan
12,000 (2003 est.)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
600 (2003 est.)

Kazakhstan
16,500 (2001 est.)

Kenya
1.2 million (2003 est.)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
8,300 (2003 est.)

Kuwait
NA

Kyrgyzstan
3,900 (2003 est.)

Laos
1,700 (2003 est.)

Latvia
7,600 (2001 est.)

Lebanon
2,800 (2003 est.)

Lesotho
320,000 (2003 est.)

Liberia
100,000 (2003 est.)

Libya
10,000 (2001 est.)

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
1,300 (2003 est.)

Luxembourg
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Macau
NA

Macedonia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Madagascar
140,000 (2003 est.)

Malawi
900,000 (2003 est.)

Malaysia
52,000 (2003 est.)

Maldives
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Mali
140,000 (2003 est.)

Malta
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Marshall Islands
NA

Mauritania
9,500 (2003 est.)

Mauritius
700 (2001 est.)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
160,000 (2003 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA

Moldova
5,500 (2001 est.)

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
fewer than 500 (2003 est)

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
15,000 (2001 est.)

Mozambique
1.3 million (2003 est.)

Namibia
210,000 (2001 est.)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
61,000 (2001 est.)

Netherlands
19,000 (2001 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
1,400 (2003 est.)

Nicaragua
6,400 (2003 est.)

Niger
70,000 (2003 est.)

Nigeria
3.6 million (2003 est.)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
NA

Norway
2,100 (2001 est.)

Oman
1,300 (2001 est.)

Pakistan
74,000 (2001 est.)

Palau
NA

Panama
16,000 (2003 est.)

Papua New Guinea
60,000 (2005 est.)

Paraguay
15,000 (1999 est.)

Peru
82,000 (2003 est.)

Philippines
9,000 (2003 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
14,000 (2003 est.)

Portugal
22,000 (2001 est.)

Puerto Rico
7,397 (1997)

Qatar
NA

Romania
6,500 (2001 est.)

Russia
860,000 (2001 est.)

Rwanda
250,000 (2003 est.)

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
NA

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
NA

Senegal
44,000 (2003 est.)

Seychelles
NA

Sierra Leone
170,000 (2001 est.)

Singapore
4,100 (2003 est.)

Slovakia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Slovenia
280 (2001 est.)

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
43,000 (2001 est.)

South Africa
5.3 million (2003 est.)

Spain
140,000 (2001 est.)

Sri Lanka
3,500 (2001 est.)

Sudan
400,000 (2001 est.)

Suriname
5,200 (2001 est.)

Svalbard
0 (2001)

Swaziland
220,000 (2003 est.)

Sweden
3,600 (2001 est.)

Switzerland
13,000 (2001 est.)

Syria
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Tanzania
1.6 million (2003 est.)

Thailand
570,000 (2003 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
110,000 (2003 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
NA

Trinidad and Tobago
29,000 (2003 est.)

Tunisia
1,000 (2003 est.)

Turkey
NA

Turkmenistan
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
530,000 (2001 est.)

Ukraine
360,000 (2001 est.)

United Arab Emirates
NA

United Kingdom
51,000 (2001 est.)

United States
950,000 (2003 est.)

Uruguay
6,000 (2001 est.)

Uzbekistan
11,000 (2003 est.)

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
110,000 (1999 est.)

Vietnam
220,000 (2003 est.)

Virgin Islands
NA

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
NA

Western Sahara
NA

World
NA

Yemen
12,000 (2001 est.)

Zambia
920,000 (2003 est.)

Zimbabwe
1.8 million (2001 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2157 HIV/AIDS - deaths

Afghanistan
NA

Albania
NA

Algeria
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
NA

Angola
21,000 (2003 est.)

Anguilla
NA

Antigua and Barbuda
NA

Argentina
1,500 (2003 est.)

Armenia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Aruba
NA

Australia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Austria
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Azerbaijan
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Bahamas, The
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Bahrain
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Bangladesh
650 (2001 est.)

Barbados
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Belarus
1,000 (2001 est.)

Belgium
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Belize
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Benin
5,800 (2003 est.)

Bermuda
392 (2005)

Bhutan
NA

Bolivia
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
100 (2001 est.)

Botswana
33,000 (2003 est.)

Brazil
15,000 (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands
NA

Brunei
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
100 (2001 est.)

Burkina Faso
29,000 (2003 est.)

Burma
20,000 (2003 est.)

Burundi
25,000 (2003 est.)

Cambodia
15,000 (2003 est.)

Cameroon
49,000 (2003 est.)

Canada
1,500 (2003 est.)

Cape Verde
225 (as of 2001)

Cayman Islands
NA

Central African Republic
23,000 (2003 est.)

Chad
18,000 (2003 est.)

Chile
1,400 (2003 est.)

China
44,000 (2003 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
3,600 (2003 est.)

Comoros
NA

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
100,000 (2003 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
9,700 (2003 est.)

Cook Islands
NA

Costa Rica
900 (2003 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
47,000 (2003 est.)

Croatia
fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

Cuba
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Cyprus
NA

Czech Republic
fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

Denmark
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Djibouti
690 (2003 est.)

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
7,900 (2003 est.)

Ecuador
1,700 (2003 est.)

Egypt
700 (2003 est.)

El Salvador
2,200 (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
370 (2001 est.)

Eritrea
6,300 (2003 est.)

Estonia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Ethiopia
120,000 (2003 est.)

European Union
note - see individual country entries of member states

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Finland
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

France
fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

French Polynesia
NA

Gabon
3,000 (2003 est.)

Gambia, The
600 (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
NA

Georgia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Germany
fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Ghana
30,000 (2003 est.)

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Greenland
NA

Grenada
NA

Guam
NA

Guatemala
5,800 (2003 est.)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
9,000 (2003 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
1,200 (2001 est.)

Guyana
1,100 (2003 est.)

Haiti
24,000 (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
4,100 (2003 est.)

Hong Kong
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Hungary
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Iceland
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

India
310,000 (2001 est.)

Indonesia
2,400 (2003 est.)

Iran
1,600 (2005 est.)

Iraq
NA

Ireland
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
100 (2001 est.)

Italy
fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Jamaica
900 (2003 est.)

Japan
500 (2003 est.)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Kazakhstan
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Kenya
150,000 (2003 est.)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Kuwait
NA

Kyrgyzstan
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Laos
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Latvia
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Lebanon
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Lesotho
29,000 (2003 est.)

Liberia
7,200 (2003 est.)

Libya
NA

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Luxembourg
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Macau
NA

Macedonia
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Madagascar
7,500 (2003 est.)

Malawi
84,000 (2003 est.)

Malaysia
2,000 (2003 est.)

Maldives
NA

Mali
12,000 (2003 est.)

Malta
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Marshall Islands
NA

Mauritania
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Mauritius
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
5,000 (2003 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA

Moldova
fewer than 300 (2001 est.)

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Montserrat
NA

Morocco
NA

Mozambique
110,000 (2003 est.)

Namibia
16,000 (2003 est.)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
3,100 (2003 est.)

Netherlands
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nicaragua
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Niger
4,800 (2003 est.)

Nigeria
310,000 (2003 est.)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
NA

Norway
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Oman
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Pakistan
4,900 (2003 est.)

Palau
NA

Panama
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Papua New Guinea
600 (2003 est.)

Paraguay
600 (2003 est.)

Peru
4,200 (2003 est.)

Philippines
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
100 (2001 est.)

Portugal
fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Puerto Rico
NA

Qatar
NA

Romania
350 (2001 est.)

Russia
9,000 (2001 est.)

Rwanda
22,000 (2003 est.)

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
NA

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
NA

Senegal
3,500 (2003 est.)

Seychelles
NA

Sierra Leone
11,000 (2001 est.)

Singapore
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Slovakia
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Slovenia
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
NA

South Africa
370,000 (2003 est.)

Spain
fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Sri Lanka
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Sudan
23,000 (2003 est.)

Suriname
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Svalbard
0 (2001)

Swaziland
17,000 (2003 est.)

Sweden
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Switzerland
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Syria
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

Tanzania
160,000 (2003 est.)

Thailand
58,000 (2003 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
10,000 (2003 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
NA

Trinidad and Tobago
1,900 (2003 est.)

Tunisia
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Turkey
NA

Turkmenistan
fewer than 100 (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
78,000 (2003 est.)

Ukraine
20,000 (2003 est.)

United Arab Emirates
NA

United Kingdom
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

United States
17,011 (2005 est.)

Uruguay
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Uzbekistan
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
4,100 (2003 est.)

Vietnam
9,000 (2003 est.)

Virgin Islands
NA

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
NA

Western Sahara
NA

World
NA

Yemen
NA

Zambia
89,000 (2003 est.)

Zimbabwe
170,000 (2003 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2172 Distribution of family income - Gini index

Albania
26.7 (2005)

Algeria
35.3 (1995)

Argentina
49 (2006)

Armenia
37 (2006)

Australia
30.5 (2006)

Austria
26 (2005)

Azerbaijan
36.5 (2001)

Bangladesh
33.4 (2000)

Belarus
29.7 (2002)

Belgium
28 (2005)

Benin
36.5 (2003)

Bolivia
59.2 (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
26.2 (2001)

Botswana
63 (1993)

Brazil
56.7 (2005)

Bulgaria
31.6 (2005)

Burkina Faso
39.5 (2007)

Burundi
42.4 (1998)

Cambodia
41.7 (2004 est.)

Cameroon
44.6 (2001)

Canada
32.1 (2005)

Central African Republic
61.3 (1993)

Chile
54.9 (2003)

China
47 (2007)

Colombia
53.8 (2005)

Costa Rica
49.8 (2003)

Cote d'Ivoire
44.6 (2002)

Croatia
29 (2001)

Cyprus
29 (2005)

Czech Republic
26 (2005)

Denmark
24 (2005)

Dominican Republic
51.6 (2004)

Ecuador 46 note: data are for urban households (2006)

Egypt
34.4 (2001)

El Salvador
52.4 (2002)

Estonia
34 (2005)

Ethiopia
30 (2000)

European Union
30.7 (2003 est.)

Finland
26 (2005)

France
28 (2005)

Gambia, The
50.2 (1998)

Georgia
40.4 (2003)

Germany
28 (2005)

Ghana
39.4 (2005-06)

Greece
33 (2005)

Guatemala
55.1 (2007)

Guinea
38.1 (2006)

Guyana
43.2 (1999)

Haiti
59.2 (2001)

Honduras
53.8 (2003)

Hong Kong
53.3 (2007)

Hungary
28 (2005)

Iceland
25 (2005)

India
36.8 (2004)

Indonesia
36.3 (2005)

Iran
44.5 (2006)

Ireland
32 (2005)

Israel
38.6 (2005)

Italy
33 (2005)

Jamaica
45.5 (2004)

Japan
38.1 (2002)

Jordan
38.8 (2003)

Kazakhstan
30.4 (2005)

Kenya
44.5 (1997)

Korea, South
35.1 (2006)

Kosovo
30 (FY05/06)

Kyrgyzstan
30.3 (2003)

Laos
34.6 (2002)

Latvia
37.7 (2003)

Lesotho
63.2 (1995)

Lithuania
36 (2005)

Luxembourg
26 (2005)

Macedonia
39 (2003)

Madagascar
47.5 (2001)

Malawi
39 (2004)

Malaysia
46.1 (2002)

Mali
40.1 (2001)

Malta
28 (2005)

Mauritania
39 (2000)

Mauritius
39 (2006 est.)

Mexico
50.9 (2005)

Moldova
33.2 (2003)

Mongolia
32.8 (2002)

Montenegro
30 (2003)

Morocco
40 (2005 est.)

Mozambique
47.3 (2002)

Namibia
70.7 (2003)

Nepal
47.2 (2004)

Netherlands
30.9 (2005)

New Zealand
36.2 (1997)

Nicaragua
43.1 (2001)

Niger
50.5 (1995)

Nigeria
43.7 (2003)

Norway
28 (2005)

Pakistan
30.6 (2002)

Panama
56.1 (2003)

Papua New Guinea
50.9 (1996)

Paraguay
56.8 (2008)

Peru
52 (2003)

Philippines
45.8 (2006)

Poland
36 (2005)

Portugal
38.5 (2007)

Romania
31 (2005)

Russia
41.3 (September 2007)

Rwanda
46.8 (2000)

Senegal
41.3 (2001)

Serbia
30 (2003)

Sierra Leone
62.9 (1989)

Singapore
52.2 (2005)

Slovakia
26 (2005)

Slovenia
24 (2005)

South Africa
65 (2005)

Spain
32 (2005)

Sri Lanka
50 (FY03/04)

Swaziland
50.4 (2001)

Sweden
23 (2005)

Switzerland
33.7 (2000)

Tajikistan
32.6 (2003)

Tanzania
34.6 (2000)

Thailand
42 (2002)

Timor-Leste
38 (2002 est.)

Tunisia
40 (2005 est.)

Turkey
43.6 (2003)

Turkmenistan
40.8 (1998)

Uganda
45.7 (2002)

Ukraine
31 (2006)

United Kingdom
34 (2005)

United States
45 (2007)

Uruguay
45.2 (2006)

Uzbekistan
36.8 (2003)

Venezuela
48.2 (2003)

Vietnam
37 (2004)

Yemen
33.4 (1998)

Zambia
50.8 (2004)

Zimbabwe
50.1 (2006)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2173 Oil - production (bbl/day)

Afghanistan
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Albania
6,425 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Algeria
2.173 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

American Samoa
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Angola
1.91 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Argentina
790,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Armenia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Aruba
2,356 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Australia
600,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Austria
24,920 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
1.099 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bahrain
48,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
6,746 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Barbados
1,111 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Belarus
33,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Belgium
8,671 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Belize
3,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Benin
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bermuda
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bhutan
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bolivia
61,790 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Botswana
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Brazil
2.277 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Brunei
180,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
3,661 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Burma
21,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Burundi
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Cambodia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Cameroon
87,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Canada
3.425 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Chad
156,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Chile
11,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)

China
3.725 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Colombia
550,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Comoros
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
22,160 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
261,000 bbl/day

Cook Islands
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
0 bbl/day (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
54,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Croatia
23,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Cuba
61,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Cyprus
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
13,530 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Denmark
313,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
12 bbl/day (2004)

Ecuador
511,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Egypt
664,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

El Salvador
0 bbl/day (2005)

Equatorial Guinea
368,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Eritrea
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Estonia
7,430 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
7.334 bbl/day (2007 est.)

European Union
2.674 million bbl/day (2007)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Finland
8,951 bbl/day (2007 est.)

France
69,680 bbl/day (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Gabon
243,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Georgia
979.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Germany
148,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ghana
7,571 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Greece
4,265 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Guam
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Guatemala
15,820 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Guinea
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Honduras
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Hungary
32,580 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

India
880,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Indonesia
1.044 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Iran
4.033 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Iraq
2.094 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ireland
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Israel
5,966 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Italy
166,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Japan
129,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Jordan
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
1.445 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Kenya
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Kiribati
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Korea, North
141 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Korea, South
20,970 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Kosovo
0 bbl/day (2007)

Kuwait
2.613 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
964.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Laos
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Latvia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Lebanon
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Lesotho
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Liberia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Libya
1.845 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Lithuania
8,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Macau
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Macedonia
0 bbl/day (2007)

Madagascar
92.18 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Malaysia
753,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Maldives
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Mali
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Malta
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Mauritania
14,990 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Mexico
3.501 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Moldova
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Mongolia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Montenegro
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Montserrat
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Morocco
3,746 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Mozambique
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Namibia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Nauru
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Nepal
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Netherlands
88,950 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

New Caledonia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

New Zealand
47,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Niger
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Nigeria
2.352 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Niue
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Norway
2.565 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oman
714,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Pakistan
68,670 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Panama
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
42,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Paraguay
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Peru
125,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Philippines
23,930 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Poland
37,670 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Portugal
6,281 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
1,354 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Qatar
1.125 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Romania
112,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Russia
9.876 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Rwanda
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
10.25 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Senegal
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Serbia
11,410 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Seychelles
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0.7008 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Singapore
9,836 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Slovakia
12,770 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Slovenia
5 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

South Africa
199,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Spain
29,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Sudan
466,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Suriname
13,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Swaziland
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Sweden
2,350 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Switzerland
3,202 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Syria
433,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Taiwan
10,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
281.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Tanzania
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Thailand
348,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
78,480 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Togo
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Tonga
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
163,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Tunisia
86,210 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Turkey
42,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
180,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Uganda
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ukraine
102,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
2.948 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
1.69 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

United States
8.457 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Uruguay
935.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
99,260 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Venezuela
2.667 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Vietnam
350,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
17,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

World
84.79 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Yemen
320,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Zambia
150 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2174 Oil - consumption (bbl/day)

Afghanistan
5,036 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Albania
30,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Algeria
279,800 bbl/day (2006 est.)

American Samoa
4,053 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Angola
55,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
4,109 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Argentina
525,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Armenia
41,090 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Aruba
7,102 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Australia
966,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Austria
289,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
160,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
26,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Bahrain
32,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
89,940 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Barbados
8,674 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Belarus
179,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Belgium
628,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Belize
7,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Benin
9,232 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bermuda
4,566 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Bhutan
1,250 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Bolivia
31,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
27,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Botswana
11,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Brazil
2.372 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
650 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Brunei
13,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
109,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
8,470 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Burma
43,140 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Burundi
2,956 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cambodia
3,736 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cameroon
24,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Canada
2.371 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
2,117 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
2,767 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Central African Republic
2,322 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Chad
1,352 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Chile
253,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

China
7.578 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Colombia
265,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Comoros
712.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
10,460 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
7,677 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
463.7 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Costa Rica
45,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
25,950 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Croatia
101,800 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cuba
203,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Cyprus
57,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
207,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Denmark
190,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Djibouti
12,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Dominica
850.5 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
117,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Ecuador
160,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Egypt
652,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

El Salvador
44,330 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
918.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Eritrea
5,186 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Estonia
30,440 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
30,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)

European Union
14.39 million bbl/day (2007)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
252.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
4,628 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Fiji
9,971 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Finland
228,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

France
1.95 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
6,082 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Gabon
13,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
2,082 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Georgia
12,980 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Germany
2.456 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ghana
49,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
22,620 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Greece
441,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Greenland
3,927 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Grenada
2,043 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Guam
12,780 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Guatemala
74,230 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Guinea
8,559 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
2,520 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Guyana
10,440 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Haiti
12,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Honduras
46,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
293,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Hungary
162,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Iceland
21,120 bbl/day (2007 est.)

India
2.722 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Indonesia
1.219 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Iran
1.679 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Iraq
295,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ireland
200,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Israel
232,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Italy
1.702 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Jamaica
73,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Japan
5.007 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Jordan
110,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
243,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Kenya
65,530 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Kiribati
232.4 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Korea, North
24,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Korea, South
2.214 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Kosovo
NA bbl

Kuwait
334,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
12,330 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Laos
2,996 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Latvia
35,180 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Lebanon
106,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Lesotho
1,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Liberia
3,687 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Libya
278,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Lithuania
57,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
60,640 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Macau
16,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Macedonia
19,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Madagascar
18,190 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Malawi
6,160 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Malaysia
501,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Maldives
5,490 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Mali
4,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Malta
18,680 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Mauritania
19,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Mauritius
22,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Mexico
2.119 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Moldova
15,770 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Mongolia
12,860 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Montenegro
450 bbl/day (2004)

Montserrat
505.5 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Morocco
179,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Mozambique
14,390 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Namibia
19,840 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Nauru
1,070 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Nepal
16,960 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Netherlands
984,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
67,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
11,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

New Zealand
158,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
28,880 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Niger
5,550 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Nigeria
312,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Niue
20 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Norway
224,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oman
69,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Pakistan
345,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Panama
92,790 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea
29,050 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Paraguay
27,410 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Peru
167,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Philippines
340,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Poland
524,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Portugal
301,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
215,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Qatar
108,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Romania
238,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Russia
2.858 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Rwanda
5,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
60 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
950 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
2,780 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Samoa
1,130 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
660 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
2.311 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Senegal
36,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Serbia
85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Seychelles
6,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
8,430 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Singapore
834,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Slovakia
82,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Slovenia
54,310 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
1,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Somalia
5,040 bbl/day (2006 est.)

South Africa
504,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Spain
1.611 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
86,030 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Sudan
79,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Suriname
12,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Swaziland
3,490 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Sweden
353,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Switzerland
244,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Syria
261,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Taiwan
950,500 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
31,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Tanzania
27,270 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Thailand
928,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Togo
17,770 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Tonga
870 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
28,730 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Tunisia
91,110 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Turkey
676,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
107,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
80 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Uganda
11,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Ukraine
344,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
381,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
1.763 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

United States
20.68 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Uruguay
33,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
157,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
660 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Venezuela
738,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Vietnam
271,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
91,680 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
1,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

World
85.27 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Yemen
135,400 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Zambia
14,760 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
14,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2175 Oil - imports (bbl/day)

Afghanistan
4,534 bbl/day (2005)

Albania
24,860 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Algeria
13,110 bbl/day (2005 est.)

American Samoa
4,066 bbl/day (2005)

Angola
19,550 bbl/day (2005)

Antigua and Barbuda
4,556 bbl/day (2005)

Argentina
23,380 bbl/day (2005)

Armenia
44,670 bbl/day (2005)

Aruba
238,200 bbl/day (2005)

Australia
615,000 bbl/day (2005)

Austria
313,500 bbl/day (2005)

Azerbaijan
4,267 bbl/day (2005)

Bahamas, The
69,780 bbl/day (2005)

Bahrain
221,500 bbl/day (2005)

Bangladesh
83,220 bbl/day (2005)

Barbados
10,710 bbl/day (2005)

Belarus
394,100 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Belgium
1.119 million bbl/day (2005)

Belize
7,122 bbl/day (2005)

Benin
16,830 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bermuda
4,378 bbl/day (2005)

Bhutan
1,152 bbl/day (2005)

Bolivia
8,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
27,370 bbl/day (2005)

Botswana
14,500 bbl/day (2005)

Brazil
648,800 bbl/day (2005)

British Virgin Islands
649.8 bbl/day (2005)

Brunei
304 bbl/day (2005)

Bulgaria
158,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Burkina Faso
8,446 bbl/day (2005)

Burma
22,180 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Burundi
2,635 bbl/day (2005)

Cambodia
3,618 bbl/day (2005)

Cameroon
50,750 bbl/day (2005)

Canada
1.229 million bbl/day (2005)

Cape Verde
1,785 bbl/day (2005)

Cayman Islands
2,818 bbl/day (2005)

Central African Republic
2,057 bbl/day (2005)

Chad
1,492 bbl/day (2005)

Chile
222,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

China
3.19 million bbl/day (2007)

Colombia
12,480 bbl/day (2005)

Comoros
755.4 bbl/day (2005)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
8,220 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
1,702 bbl/day (2005)

Cook Islands
475.5 bbl/day (2005)

Costa Rica
43,110 bbl/day (2005)

Cote d'Ivoire
71,850 bbl/day (2005)

Croatia
112,200 bbl/day (2005)

Cuba
123,200 bbl/day (2005)

Cyprus
55,970 bbl/day (2005)

Czech Republic
224,600 bbl/day (2005)

Denmark
164,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Djibouti
11,810 bbl/day (2005)

Dominica
669.6 bbl/day (2005)

Dominican Republic
116,600 bbl/day (2005)

Ecuador
47,060 bbl/day (2005)

Egypt
140,000 bbl/day (2005)

El Salvador
45,210 bbl/day (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
1,070 bbl/day (2005)

Eritrea
4,924 bbl/day (2005)

Estonia
28,170 bbl/day (2005)

Ethiopia
29,820 bbl/day (2005)

European Union
17.71 million bbl/day (2001)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
248.9 bbl/day (2005)

Faroe Islands
4,636 bbl/day (2005)

Fiji
10,900 bbl/day (2005)

Finland
281,300 bbl/day (January-September 2007 est.)

France
2.465 million bbl/day (2005)

French Polynesia
6,271 bbl/day (2005)

Gabon
2,485 bbl/day (2005)

Gambia, The
2,123 bbl/day (2005)

Georgia
15,820 bbl/day (2005)

Germany
3.026 million bbl/day (2005)

Ghana
45,520 bbl/day (2005)

Gibraltar
25,080 bbl/day (2005)

Greece
527,200 bbl/day (2005)

Greenland
4,089 bbl/day (2005)

Grenada
1,844 bbl/day (2005)

Guam
13,530 bbl/day (2005)

Guatemala
72,960 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Guinea
8,811 bbl/day (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
2,560 bbl/day (2005)

Guyana
10,960 bbl/day (2005)

Haiti
11,980 bbl/day (2005)

Honduras
44,040 bbl/day (2005)

Hong Kong
314,700 bbl/day (2006)

Hungary
178,400 bbl/day (2005)

Iceland
17,450 bbl/day (2005)

India
2.159 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Indonesia
500,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Iran
167,800 bbl/day (2005)

Iraq
NA bbl/day

Ireland
194,000 bbl/day (2005)

Israel
334,300 bbl/day (2005)

Italy
2.223 million bbl/day (2005)

Jamaica
71,280 bbl/day (2005)

Japan
5.47 million bbl/day (2005)

Jordan
112,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
127,600 bbl/day (2005)

Kenya
72,780 bbl/day (2005)

Kiribati
259.1 bbl/day (2005)

Korea, North
10,520 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Korea, South
2.41 million bbl/day (2006)

Kuwait
8,022 bbl/day (2005)

Kyrgyzstan
14,240 bbl/day (2005)

Laos
3,036 bbl/day (2005)

Latvia
45,340 bbl/day (2005)

Lebanon
97,590 bbl/day (2005)

Lesotho
1,500 bbl/day (2005)

Liberia
3,593 bbl/day (2005)

Libya
575.3 bbl/day (2005)

Lithuania
206,700 bbl/day (2005)

Luxembourg
63,760 bbl/day (2005)

Macau
13,870 bbl/day (2006)

Macedonia
26,470 bbl/day (2005)

Madagascar
17,100 bbl/day (2005)

Malawi
6,788 bbl/day (2005)

Malaysia
308,500 bbl/day (2005)

Maldives
5,362 bbl/day (2005)

Mali
4,860 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Malta
18,910 bbl/day (2005)

Mauritania
23,630 bbl/day (2005)

Mauritius
23,650 bbl/day (2006)

Mexico
385,400 bbl/day (2005)

Moldova
14,450 bbl/day (2005)

Mongolia
12,630 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Montserrat
482.6 bbl/day (2005)

Morocco
192,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Mozambique
13,240 bbl/day (2005)

Namibia
17,750 bbl/day (2005)

Nauru
1,049 bbl/day (2005)

Nepal
11,530 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Netherlands
2.648 million bbl/day (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
277,600 bbl/day (2005)

New Caledonia
11,780 bbl/day (2005)

New Zealand
137,300 bbl/day (2005)

Nicaragua
29,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Niger
5,425 bbl/day (2005)

Nigeria
154,300 bbl/day (2005)

Niue
26.57 bbl/day (2005)

Norway
92,650 bbl/day (2005)

Oman
15,440 bbl/day (2005)

Pakistan
290,600 bbl/day (2005)

Panama
88,790 bbl/day (2005)

Papua New Guinea
24,150 bbl/day (2005)

Paraguay
25,940 bbl/day (2007)

Peru
115,600 bbl/day (2005)

Philippines
355,800 bbl/day (2005)

Poland
499,200 bbl/day (2005)

Portugal
390,300 bbl/day (2005)

Puerto Rico
230,700 bbl/day (2005)

Qatar
0 bbl/day (2005)

Romania
219,000 bbl/day (2005)

Russia
73,140 bbl/day (2005)

Rwanda
5,597 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Helena
85.42 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
917.8 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Lucia
2,631 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
556.8 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1,460 bbl/day (2005)

Samoa
1,128 bbl/day (2005)

Sao Tome and Principe
659.5 bbl/day (2005)

Saudi Arabia
41,680 bbl/day (2005)

Senegal
40,450 bbl/day (2005)

Serbia
NA bbl/day

Seychelles
5,722 bbl/day (2005)

Sierra Leone
8,271 bbl/day (2005)

Singapore
2.003 million bbl/day (2005)

Slovakia
134,100 bbl/day (2005)

Slovenia
59,110 bbl/day (2005)

Solomon Islands
1,426 bbl/day (2005)

Somalia
4,772 bbl/day (2005)

South Africa
319,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Spain
1.777 million bbl/day (2005)

Sri Lanka
87,090 bbl/day (2005)

Sudan
7,558 bbl/day (2005)

Suriname
6,369 bbl/day (2005)

Swaziland
3,530 bbl/day (2005)

Sweden
581,000 bbl/day (2005)

Switzerland
274,900 bbl/day (2005)

Syria
160,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Taiwan
1.208 million bbl/day (2006)

Tajikistan
7,600 bbl/day (2007)

Tanzania
26,760 bbl/day (2005)

Thailand
832,900 bbl/day (2005)

Togo
16,650 bbl/day (2005)

Tonga
1,035 bbl/day (2005)

Trinidad and Tobago
72,780 bbl/day (2005)

Tunisia
89,130 bbl/day (2005)

Turkey
714,100 bbl/day (2005)

Turkmenistan
5,283 bbl/day (2005)

Turks and Caicos Islands
83.78 bbl/day (2005)

Uganda
11,540 bbl/day (2005)

Ukraine
441,200 bbl/day (2005)

United Arab Emirates
232,300 bbl/day (2005)

United Kingdom
1.673 million bbl/day (2005)

United States
13.71 million bbl/day (2005)

Uruguay
43,670 bbl/day (2007)

Uzbekistan
31,440 bbl/day (2005)

Vanuatu
671.1 bbl/day (2005)

Venezuela
0 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Vietnam
271,100 bbl/day (2007)

Virgin Islands
492,300 bbl/day (2005)

Western Sahara
1,925 bbl/day (2005)

World
65.41 million bbl/day (2005)

Yemen
62,850 bbl/day (2005)

Zambia
13,810 bbl/day (2005)

Zimbabwe
15,800 bbl/day (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2176 Oil - exports (bbl/day)

Afghanistan
0 bbl/day (2005)

Albania
748.9 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Algeria
1.844 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

American Samoa
0 bbl/day (2005)

Angola
1.23 million bbl/day (2005)

Antigua and Barbuda
157.7 bbl/day (2005)

Argentina
339,900 bbl/day (2005)

Armenia
0 bbl/day (2005)

Aruba
233,300 bbl/day (2005)

Australia
337,400 bbl/day (2005)

Austria
46,300 bbl/day (2005)

Azerbaijan
795,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
transshipments of 38,740 bbl/day (2005)

Bahrain
238,900 bbl/day (2005)

Bangladesh
1,351 bbl/day (2005)

Barbados
1,750 bbl/day (2005)

Belarus
256,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Belgium
528,700 bbl/day (2005)

Belize
1,960 bbl/day (2006)

Benin
6,484 bbl/day (2005)

Bermuda
0 bbl/day (2005)

Bhutan
0 bbl/day (2005)

Bolivia
18,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 bbl/day (2005)

Botswana
0 bbl/day (2005)

Brazil
481,100 bbl/day (2005)

British Virgin Islands
0 bbl/day (2005)

Brunei
200,000 bbl/day (2005)

Bulgaria
50,530 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 bbl/day (2005)

Burma
5,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Burundi
0 bbl/day (2005)

Cambodia
0 bbl/day (2005)

Cameroon
108,800 bbl/day (2005)

Canada
2.225 million bbl/day (2005)

Cape Verde
0 bbl/day (2005)

Cayman Islands
0 bbl/day (2005)

Central African Republic
0 bbl/day (2005)

Chad
176,700 bbl/day (2005)

Chile
32,500 bbl/day (2005)

China
79,060 bbl/day (2007)

Colombia
276,100 bbl/day (2005)

Comoros
0 bbl/day (2005)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
19,820 bbl/day (2005)

Congo, Republic of the
230,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Cook Islands
0 bbl/day (2005)

Costa Rica
2,115 bbl/day (2005)

Cote d'Ivoire
84,940 bbl/day (2005)

Croatia
43,680 bbl/day (2005)

Cuba
0 bbl/day (2006)

Cyprus
0 bbl/day (2005)

Czech Republic
27,360 bbl/day (2005)

Denmark
320,000 bbl/day (2006)

Djibouti
19.18 bbl/day (2005)

Dominica
0 bbl/day (2005)

Dominican Republic
0 bbl/day (2005)

Ecuador
421,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Egypt
204,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

El Salvador
4,963 bbl/day (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
375,400 bbl/day (2005)

Eritrea
54.74 bbl/day (2005)

Estonia
7,000 bbl/day (2005)

Ethiopia
0 bbl/day (2005)

European Union
6.979 million bbl/day (2001)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 bbl/day (2005)

Faroe Islands
0 bbl/day (2005)

Fiji
2,848 bbl/day (2005)

Finland
126,300 bbl/day (January-September 2007 est.)

France
584,700 bbl/day (2005)

French Polynesia
0 bbl/day (2005)

Gabon
255,500 bbl/day (2005)

Gambia, The
41.62 bbl/day (2005)

Georgia
2,492 bbl/day (2005)

Germany
563,400 bbl/day (2005)

Ghana
5,709 bbl/day (2005)

Gibraltar
0 bbl/day (2005)

Greece
125,100 bbl/day (2005)

Greenland
149.5 bbl/day (2005)

Grenada
0 bbl/day (2005)

Guam
0 bbl/day (2005)

Guatemala
15,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Guinea
0 bbl/day (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
0 bbl/day (2005)

Guyana
0 bbl/day (2005)

Haiti
0 bbl/day (2005)

Honduras
417.9 bbl/day (2005)

Hong Kong
22,420 bbl/day (2006)

Hungary
66,660 bbl/day (2005)

Iceland
860.8 bbl/day (2005)

India
450,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Indonesia
470,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Iran
2.52 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Iraq
1.67 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Ireland
29,780 bbl/day (2005)

Israel
82,910 bbl/day (2005)

Italy
616,700 bbl/day (2005)

Jamaica
1,535 bbl/day (2005)

Japan
168,800 bbl/day (2005)

Jordan
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
1.236 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Kenya
5,137 bbl/day (2005)

Kiribati
0 bbl/day (2005)

Korea, North
0 bbl/day (2006)

Korea, South
NA bbl/day

Kuwait
2.356 million bbl/day (2005)

Kyrgyzstan
2,534 bbl/day (2005)

Laos
0 bbl/day (2005)

Latvia
10,070 bbl/day (2005)

Lebanon
0 bbl/day (2005)

Lesotho
0 bbl/day (2005)

Liberia
23.37 bbl/day (2005)

Libya
1.455 million bbl/day (2005)

Lithuania
148,400 bbl/day (2005)

Luxembourg
281.5 bbl/day (2005)

Macau
0 bbl/day (2005)

Macedonia
6,768 bbl/day (2005)

Madagascar
480.3 bbl/day (2005)

Malawi
0 bbl/day (2005)

Malaysia
546,300 bbl/day (2005)

Maldives
1,499 bbl/day (2005)

Mali
0 bbl/day (2006)

Malta
0 bbl/day (2005)

Mauritania
0 bbl/day (2005)

Mauritius
0 bbl/day (2006)

Mexico
2.204 million bbl/day (2005)

Moldova
50.03 bbl/day (2005)

Mongolia
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Montserrat
0 bbl/day (2005)

Morocco
24,360 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Mozambique
0 bbl/day (2005)

Namibia
0 bbl/day (2005)

Nauru
0 bbl/day (2005)

Nepal
0 bbl/day (2005)

Netherlands
1.639 million bbl/day (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
206,900 bbl/day (2005)

New Caledonia
356.2 bbl/day (2005)

New Zealand
14,570 bbl/day (2005)

Nicaragua
808.5 bbl/day (2005)

Niger
0 bbl/day (2005)

Nigeria
2.473 million bbl/day (2005)

Niue
0 bbl/day (2005)

Norway
2.714 million bbl/day (2005)

Oman
722,000 bbl/day (2005)

Pakistan
28,060 bbl/day (2005)

Panama
4,447 bbl/day (2005)

Papua New Guinea
39,310 bbl/day (2005)

Paraguay
0 bbl/day (2007)

Peru
69,090 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Philippines
41,160 bbl/day (2005)

Poland
57,920 bbl/day (2005)

Portugal
50,490 bbl/day (2005)

Puerto Rico
10,610 bbl/day (2005)

Qatar
1.026 million bbl/day (2005)

Romania
125,200 bbl/day (2005)

Russia
5.08 million bbl/day (2007)

Rwanda
0 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Helena
0 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Lucia
0 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 bbl/day (2005)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 bbl/day (2005)

Samoa
0 bbl/day (2005)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 bbl/day (2005)

Saudi Arabia
8.9 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Senegal
4,298 bbl/day (2005)

Serbia
NA bbl/day

Seychelles
0 bbl/day (2006)

Sierra Leone
432.3 bbl/day (2005)

Singapore
1.203 million bbl/day (2005)

Slovakia
72,240 bbl/day (2005)

Slovenia
4,535 bbl/day (2005)

Solomon Islands
0 bbl/day (2005)

Somalia
0 bbl/day (2005)

South Africa
267,700 bbl/day (2005)

Spain
181,800 bbl/day (2005)

Sri Lanka
291.9 bbl/day (2005)

Sudan
282,100 bbl/day (2005)

Suriname
2,899 bbl/day (2005)

Swaziland
0 bbl/day (2005)

Sweden
219,200 bbl/day (2005)

Switzerland
9,370 bbl/day (2005)

Syria
254,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Taiwan
289,200 bbl/day (2006)

Tajikistan
247.7 bbl/day (2005)

Tanzania
0 bbl/day (2005)

Thailand
207,400 bbl/day (2005)

Togo
1,547 bbl/day (2005)

Tonga
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
218,800 bbl/day (2005)

Tunisia
73,790 bbl/day (2005)

Turkey
114,600 bbl/day (2005)

Turkmenistan
40,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 bbl/day (2005)

Uganda
115.2 bbl/day (2005)

Ukraine
190,500 bbl/day (2005)

United Arab Emirates
2.703 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

United Kingdom
1.749 million bbl/day (2005)

United States
1.165 million bbl/day (2005)

Uruguay
4,410 bbl/day (2007)

Uzbekistan
11,940 bbl/day (2005)

Vanuatu
0 bbl/day (2005)

Venezuela
2.203 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Vietnam
394,400 bbl/day (2005)

Virgin Islands
398,500 bbl/day (2005)

Western Sahara
0 bbl/day (2005)

World
66.19 million bbl/day (2005)

Yemen
336,600 bbl/day (2005)

Zambia
190.6 bbl/day (2005)

Zimbabwe
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2177 Median age (years)

Afghanistan
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 17.6 years (2008 est.)

Albania
total: 29.5 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 30.2 years (2008 est.)

Algeria
total: 26 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.2 years (2008 est.)

American Samoa
total: 22.8 years
male: 22.7 years
female: 23 years (2008 est.)

Andorra
total: 38.9 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 38.6 years (2008 est.)

Angola
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2008 est.)

Anguilla
total: 32.3 years
male: 31.3 years
female: 33.4 years (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
total: 29.5 years
male: 28 years
female: 30.8 years (2008 est.)

Argentina
total: 29.7 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 30.8 years (2008 est.)

Armenia
total: 31.1 years
male: 28.4 years
female: 34 years (2008 est.)

Aruba
total: 37.6 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 39.3 years (2008 est.)

Australia
total: 37.1 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 37.9 years (2008 est.)

Austria
total: 41.7 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 42.8 years (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
total: 27.9 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 29.7 years (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
total: 28.4 years
male: 27.6 years
female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)

Bahrain
total: 29.9 years
male: 33 years
female: 26.4 years (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
total: 22.8 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 22.9 years (2008 est.)

Barbados
total: 35.4 years
male: 34.2 years
female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Belarus
total: 38.4 years
male: 35.4 years
female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)

Belgium
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 42.7 years (2008 est.)

Belize
total: 20.1 years
male: 20 years
female: 20.3 years (2008 est.)

Benin
total: 17.1 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 17.6 years (2008 est.)

Bermuda
total: 41 years
male: 40.1 years
female: 41.8 years (2008 est.)

Bhutan
total: 23.5 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 22.8 years (2008 est.)

Bolivia
total: 22.6 years
male: 21.9 years
female: 23.3 years (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 39.4 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 40.5 years (2008 est.)

Botswana
total: 21.2 years
male: 21 years
female: 21.4 years (2008 est.)

Brazil
total: 28.3 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 29 years (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
total: 32 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 31.9 years (2008 est.)

Brunei
total: 27.5 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 27.5 years (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
total: 41.1 years
male: 38.9 years
female: 43.4 years (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.9 years (2008 est.)

Burma
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.2 years
female: 28.4 years (2008 est.)

Burundi
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 17 years (2008 est.)

Cambodia
total: 21.7 years
male: 21 years
female: 22.5 years (2008 est.)

Cameroon
total: 19 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.2 years (2008 est.)

Canada
total: 40.1 years
male: 39 years
female: 41.2 years (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
total: 20.6 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
total: 37.8 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
total: 18.7 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Chad
total: 16.4 years
male: 15.2 years
female: 17.5 years (2008 est.)

Chile
total: 31.1 years
male: 30.1 years
female: 32.1 years (2008 est.)

China
total: 33.6 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 34.2 years (2008 est.)

Colombia
total: 26.8 years
male: 25.9 years
female: 27.8 years (2008 est.)

Comoros
total: 18.7 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 16.3 years
male: 16.1 years
female: 16.5 years (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 17 years (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
total: 29.8 years
male: 29 years
female: 30.4 years (2001 census)

Costa Rica
total: 27.1 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 27.6 years (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 19 years
male: 19.2 years
female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Croatia
total: 40.8 years
male: 38.9 years
female: 42.6 years (2008 est.)

Cuba
total: 36.8 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 37.5 years (2008 est.)

Cyprus
total: 35.3 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
total: 39.8 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Denmark
total: 40.3 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 41.2 years (2008 est.)

Djibouti
total: 18.2 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 17.7 years (2008 est.)

Dominica
total: 29.4 years
male: 29 years
female: 29.8 years (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
total: 24.7 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 24.8 years (2008 est.)

Ecuador
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.7 years
female: 24.7 years (2008 est.)

Egypt
total: 24.5 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 24.9 years (2008 est.)

El Salvador
total: 22.2 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 23.4 years (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)

Eritrea
total: 18.3 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.7 years (2008 est.)

Estonia
total: 39.6 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 43.2 years (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
total: 16.9 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 17.2 years (2008 est.)

European Union
note - see individual country entries of member states

Faroe Islands
total: 36.7 years
male: 36 years
female: 37.5 years (2008 est.)

Fiji
total: 25.2 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.7 years (2008 est.)

Finland
total: 41.8 years
male: 40.3 years
female: 43.4 years (2008 est.)

France
total: 39.2 years
male: 37.7 years
female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
total: 28.7 years
male: 29 years
female: 28.4 years (2008 est.)

Gabon
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18 years (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
total: 17.2 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)

Georgia
total: 38.3 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

Germany
total: 43.4 years
male: 42.2 years
female: 44.7 years (2008 est.)

Ghana
total: 20.4 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 20.7 years (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
total: 40.3 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

Greece
total: 41.5 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 42.6 years (2008 est.)

Greenland
total: 33.5 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 31.8 years (2008 est.)

Grenada
total: 22.4 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 21.9 years (2008 est.)

Guam
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.7 years
female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)

Guatemala
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.7 years (2008 est.)

Guernsey
total: 42.1 years
male: 41 years
female: 43 years (2008 est.)

Guinea
total: 18.4 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.7 years (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)

Guyana
total: 28.2 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 28.7 years (2008 est.)

Haiti
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Honduras
total: 20 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.4 years (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
total: 41.7 years
male: 41.4 years
female: 42 years (2008 est.)

Hungary
total: 39.1 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 41.8 years (2008 est.)

Iceland
total: 34.8 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 35.3 years (2008 est.)

India
total: 25.1 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.5 years (2008 est.)

Indonesia
total: 27.2 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 27.7 years (2008 est.)

Iran
total: 26.4 years
male: 26.2 years
female: 26.7 years (2008 est.)

Iraq
total: 20.2 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 20.2 years (2008 est.)

Ireland
total: 34.6 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.4 years (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
total: 40 years
male: 38.8 years
female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)

Israel
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 29.7 years (2008 est.)

Italy
total: 42.9 years
male: 41.4 years
female: 44.4 years (2008 est.)

Jamaica
total: 23.4 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 24 years (2008 est.)

Japan
total: 43.8 years
male: 42.1 years
female: 45.7 years (2008 est.)

Jersey
total: 42.3 years
male: 41.6 years
female: 43.1 years (2008 est.)

Jordan
total: 23.9 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 23.2 years (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
total: 29.3 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 31.1 years (2008 est.)

Kenya
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 18.8 years (2008 est.)

Kiribati
total: 20.6 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 21.1 years (2008 est.)

Korea, North
total: 32.7 years
male: 31.2 years
female: 34.2 years (2008 est.)

Korea, South
total: 36.7 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 37.9 years (2008 est.)

Kuwait
total: 26.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 22.6 years (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 25 years (2008 est.)

Laos
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)

Latvia
total: 39.9 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 43 years (2008 est.)

Lebanon
total: 28.8 years
male: 27.6 years
female: 30 years (2008 est.)

Lesotho
total: 21.2 years
male: 20.6 years
female: 21.8 years (2008 est.)

Liberia
total: 18 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.2 years (2008 est.)

Libya
total: 23.6 years
male: 23.7 years
female: 23.5 years (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
total: 40.5 years
male: 40 years
female: 41 years (2008 est.)

Lithuania
total: 39 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
total: 39 years
male: 38 years
female: 40 years (2008 est.)

Macau
total: 35 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 34.5 years (2008 est.)

Macedonia
total: 34.8 years
male: 33.8 years
female: 35.8 years (2008 est.)

Madagascar
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.1 years (2008 est.)

Malawi
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 16.8 years (2008 est.)

Malaysia
total: 24.6 years
male: 24 years
female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)

Maldives
total: 25.1 years
male: 26 years
female: 23.7 years (2008 est.)

Mali
total: 15.8 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 16.2 years (2008 est.)

Malta
total: 39.2 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 40.6 years (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
total: 21 years
male: 21 years
female: 20.9 years (2008 est.)

Mauritania
total: 17.2 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)

Mauritius
total: 31.5 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 32.3 years (2008 est.)

Mayotte
total: 17.2 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 16.2 years (2008 est.)

Mexico
total: 26 years
male: 24.9 years
female: 27 years (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Moldova
total: 34.3 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Monaco
total: 45.5 years
male: 43.5 years
female: 47.5 years (2008 est.)

Mongolia
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)

Montserrat
total: 28.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.1 years (2008 est.)

Morocco
total: 24.7 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 25.2 years (2008 est.)

Mozambique
total: 17.4 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.8 years (2008 est.)

Namibia
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.6 years
female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Nauru
total: 21.3 years
male: 20.7 years
female: 21.9 years (2008 est.)

Nepal
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 20.8 years (2008 est.)

Netherlands
total: 40 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40.9 years (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
total: 33.4 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 35.2 years (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
total: 28.4 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.8 years (2008 est.)

New Zealand
total: 36.3 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 37.1 years (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Niger
total: 16.4 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.4 years (2008 est.)

Nigeria
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
total: 29.9 years
male: 32 years
female: 28.9 years (2008 est.)

Norway
total: 39 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 39.9 years (2008 est.)

Oman
total: 18.9 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2008 est.)

Pakistan
total: 20.5 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 20.6 years (2008 est.)

Palau
total: 32.3 years
male: 33.3 years
female: 31.3 years (2008 est.)

Panama
total: 26.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 27.1 years (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
total: 21.5 years
male: 21.6 years
female: 21.4 years (2008 est.)

Paraguay
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 22 years (2008 est.)

Peru
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.5 years
female: 26.1 years (2008 est.)

Philippines
total: 22.3 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.8 years (2008 est.)

Poland
total: 37.6 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 39.5 years (2008 est.)

Portugal
total: 39.1 years
male: 37 years
female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
total: 35.6 years
male: 33.8 years
female: 37.3 years (2008 est.)

Qatar
total: 30.7 years
male: 32.8 years
female: 25.4 years (2008 est.)

Romania
total: 37.3 years
male: 35.9 years
female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)

Russia
total: 38.3 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 41.4 years (2008 est.)

Rwanda
total: 18.7 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
total: 37.1 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 37 years (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 28.4 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 29.1 years (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
total: 29.2 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 30.2 years (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total: 34.9 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 35.3 years (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 28 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 28.1 years (2008 est.)

Samoa
total: 20.6 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 20.4 years (2008 est.)

San Marino
total: 41.2 years
male: 40.9 years
female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 16.3 years
male: 15.8 years
female: 16.9 years (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
total: 21.5 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)

Senegal
total: 18.8 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Serbia
total: 37.5 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 39 years (2008 est.)

Seychelles
total: 28.7 years
male: 27.6 years
female: 29.8 years (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.8 years (2008 est.)

Singapore
total: 38.4 years
male: 38 years
female: 38.8 years (2008 est.)

Slovakia
total: 36.5 years
male: 34.8 years
female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)

Slovenia
total: 41.4 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 42.9 years (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
total: 19.4 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 19.6 years (2008 est.)

Somalia
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.6 years (2008 est.)

South Africa
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

Spain
total: 40.7 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 42.1 years (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
total: 30.4 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 31.4 years (2008 est.)

Sudan
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19.1 years (2008 est.)

Suriname
total: 27.5 years
male: 27.1 years
female: 27.9 years (2008 est.)

Swaziland
total: 18.7 years
male: 18 years
female: 19.4 years (2008 est.)

Sweden
total: 41.3 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 42.4 years (2008 est.)

Switzerland
total: 40.7 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 41.7 years (2008 est.)

Syria
total: 21.4 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Taiwan
total: 36 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 36.6 years (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Tanzania
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18.1 years (2008 est.)

Thailand
total: 32.8 years
male: 32 years
female: 33.7 years (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
total: 21.5 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Togo
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Tonga
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 22.3 years (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 32.3 years
male: 31.9 years
female: 32.8 years (2008 est.)

Tunisia
total: 28.8 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 29.3 years (2008 est.)

Turkey
total: 29 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
total: 22.6 years
male: 22 years
female: 23.1 years (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 27.8 years
male: 28.5 years
female: 27 years (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
total: 25.2 years
male: 24.2 years
female: 26.4 years (2008 est.)

Uganda
total: 15 years
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.1 years (2008 est.)

Ukraine
total: 39.4 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 42.5 years (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
total: 30.1 years
male: 32 years
female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
total: 39.9 years
male: 38.8 years
female: 41 years (2008 est.)

United States
total: 36.7 years
male: 35.4 years
female: 38.1 years (2008 est.)

Uruguay
total: 33.2 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 34.6 years (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
total: 24.3 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 24.8 years (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
total: 23.8 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 23.8 years (2008 est.)

Venezuela
total: 25.2 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 25.8 years (2008 est.)

Vietnam
total: 26.9 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 28 years (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
total: 38.5 years
male: 38 years
female: 39 years (2008 est.)

West Bank
total: 20.2 years
male: 20 years
female: 20.4 years (2008 est.)

World
total:
male: 27.4 years
female: 28.7 years (2008 est.)

Yemen
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 16.8 years (2008 est.)

Zambia
total: 16.9 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.1 years (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
total: 17.6 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 18.8 years (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2178 Oil - proved reserves (bbl)

Afghanistan
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Albania
199.1 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Algeria
12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

American Samoa
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Angola
9.035 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Argentina
2.587 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Armenia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Aruba
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Australia
1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Austria
50 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
7 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Bahrain
124.6 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Bangladesh
28 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Barbados
2.2 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Belarus
198 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Belgium
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Belize
6.7 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Benin
8 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Bermuda
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Bhutan
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Bolivia
465 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Botswana
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Brazil
12.18 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Brunei
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Bulgaria
15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Burma
50 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Burundi
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Cambodia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Cameroon
200 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Canada
178.6 billion bbl
note: includes oil sands (1 January 2008 est.)

Cape Verde
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Central African Republic
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Chad
1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Chile
150 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

China
16 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Colombia
1.506 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Comoros
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 180 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Cook Islands
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Costa Rica
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Croatia
79.15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Cuba
124 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Cyprus
NA

Czech Republic
15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Denmark
1.188 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Djibouti
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Dominica
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Ecuador
4.517 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Egypt
3.7 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

El Salvador
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Eritrea
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Estonia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Ethiopia
428,000 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

European Union
6.144 billion bbl (1 January 2008)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Fiji
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Finland
NA bbl

France
119.8 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

French Polynesia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Gabon
2 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Gambia, The
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Georgia
35 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Germany
367 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Ghana
15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Gibraltar
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Greece
10 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Greenland
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Grenada
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Guam
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Guatemala
83.07 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Guinea
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Guyana
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Haiti
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Honduras
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Hong Kong
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Hungary
20.18 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Iceland
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

India
5.625 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Indonesia
4.37 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Iran
138.4 billion bbl based on Iranian claims (1 January 2008 est.)

Iraq
115 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Ireland
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Israel
1.94 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Italy
406.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Jamaica
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Japan
44.12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Jordan
1 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
30 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Kenya
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Kiribati
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Korea, North
NA bbl

Korea, South
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Kosovo
NA bbl

Kuwait
104 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
40 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Laos
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Latvia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Lebanon
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Lesotho
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Liberia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Libya
41.46 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Lithuania
12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Luxembourg
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Macau
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Macedonia
0 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Madagascar
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Malawi
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Malaysia
4 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Maldives
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Mali
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Malta
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Mauritania
100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Mauritius
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Mexico
11.65 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Moldova
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Mongolia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Montenegro
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Montserrat
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Morocco
836,000 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Mozambique
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Namibia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Nauru
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Nepal
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Netherlands
100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

New Caledonia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

New Zealand
55 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Nicaragua
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Niger
NA bbl

Nigeria
36.22 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Niue
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Norway
6.865 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Oman
5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Pakistan
289.2 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Panama
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea
88 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Paraguay
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Peru
382.9 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Philippines
138.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Poland
96.38 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Portugal
NA bbl

Puerto Rico
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Qatar
15.21 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Romania
600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Russia
60 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Rwanda
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Helena
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Samoa
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
266.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Senegal
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Serbia
77.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Seychelles
0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Sierra Leone
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Singapore
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Slovakia
9 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Slovenia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Somalia
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

South Africa
15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Spain
150 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Sudan
5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Suriname
88 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Swaziland
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Sweden
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Switzerland
NA

Syria
2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Taiwan
2.38 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Tajikistan
12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Tanzania
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Thailand
460 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Tonga
0 bbl (1 January 2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
728.3 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Tunisia
400 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Turkey
300 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Uganda
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Ukraine
395 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

United Kingdom
3.6 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

United States
20.97 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Uruguay
NA

Uzbekistan
594 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Vanuatu
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Venezuela
87.04 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Vietnam
600 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
NA

Western Sahara
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

World
1.332 trillion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Yemen
3 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Zambia
NA

Zimbabwe
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2179 Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)

Afghanistan
49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Albania
849.5 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Algeria
4.502 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

American Samoa
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Angola
269.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Argentina
446 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Armenia
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Aruba
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Australia
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Austria
16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Bahrain
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Bangladesh
141.6 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Barbados
141.6 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Belarus
2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Belgium
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Belize
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Benin
1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Bermuda
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Bhutan
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Bolivia
750.4 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Botswana
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Brazil
347.7 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Brunei
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Bulgaria
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Burma
283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Burundi
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Cambodia
NA

Cameroon
135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Canada
1.648 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Cape Verde
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Central African Republic
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Chad
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Chile
97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

China
2.265 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Colombia
122.9 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Comoros
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 991.1 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Cook Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Costa Rica
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Croatia
28.54 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Cuba
70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Cyprus
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Czech Republic
3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Denmark
70.51 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Djibouti
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Dominica
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Ecuador
9.369 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Egypt
1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

El Salvador
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Eritrea
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Estonia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Ethiopia
24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

European Union
2.476 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Fiji
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Finland
0 cu m (1 January 2006)

France
7.277 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

French Polynesia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Gabon
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Gambia, The
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Georgia
8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Germany
254.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Ghana
22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Gibraltar
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Greece
1.982 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Greenland
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Grenada
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Guam
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Guatemala
2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Guinea
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Guyana
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Haiti
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Honduras
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Hong Kong
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Hungary
8.098 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Iceland
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

India
1.075 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Indonesia
2.659 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Iran
26.85 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Iraq
3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Ireland
9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Israel
30.44 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Italy
94.15 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Jamaica
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Japan
20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Jordan
6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Kenya
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Kiribati
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Korea, North
0 cu m (1 January 2007)

Korea, South
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Kosovo
NA cu m

Kuwait
1.586 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Laos
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Lebanon
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Lesotho
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Liberia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Libya
1.419 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Lithuania
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Luxembourg
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Macau
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Macedonia
0 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Madagascar
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Malawi
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Malaysia
2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Maldives
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Mali
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Malta
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Mauritania
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Mauritius
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Mexico
392.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Moldova
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Mongolia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Montserrat
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Morocco
1.557 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Mozambique
127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Namibia
62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Nauru
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Nepal
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Netherlands
1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

New Caledonia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

New Zealand
29.67 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Nicaragua
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Niger
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Nigeria
5.21 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Niue
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Norway
2.241 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oman
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Pakistan
792.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Panama
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea
226.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Paraguay
0 cu m (1 January 2007 est.)

Peru
337.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Philippines
98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Poland
164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Portugal
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Qatar
25.63 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Romania
63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Russia
47.57 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Rwanda
56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Saint Helena
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Samoa
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
7.167 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Senegal
NA cu m

Serbia
48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Seychelles
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Singapore
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Slovakia
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Slovenia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Somalia
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

South Africa
27.16 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Spain
2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Sudan
84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Suriname
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Swaziland
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Sweden
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Switzerland
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Syria
240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Taiwan
6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Tajikistan
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Tanzania
6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Thailand
331.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Togo
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Tonga
0 cu m (1 January 2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
531.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Tunisia
65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Turkey
8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Uganda
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Ukraine
1.104 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

United Kingdom
412 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

United States
5.977 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Uruguay
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Vanuatu
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Venezuela
4.708 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Vietnam
192.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Western Sahara
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

World
175.4 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Yemen
478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Zambia
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2180 Natural gas - production (cu m)

Afghanistan
20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Albania
30 million cu m (2006 est.)

Algeria
85.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

American Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Angola
680 million cu m (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Argentina
44.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Armenia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Aruba
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Australia
43.62 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Austria
1.848 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
9.77 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bahrain
11.33 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
15.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Barbados
29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Belarus
164 million cu m (2007 est.)

Belgium
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Belize
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Benin
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bermuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bhutan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bolivia
14.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Botswana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brazil
9.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brunei
13.8 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burma
12.6 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Burundi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cambodia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cameroon
20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Canada
187 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chad
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chile
1.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

China
69.27 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Colombia
7.22 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Comoros
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
180 million cu m (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Croatia
1.58 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Cuba
1.058 billion cu m (2006)

Cyprus
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
172 million cu m (2007 est.)

Denmark
9.223 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ecuador
280 million cu m (2006 est.)

Egypt
47.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

El Salvador
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Eritrea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Estonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

European Union
197.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Finland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

France
953 million cu m (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gabon
100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Georgia
10 million cu m (2007 est.)

Germany
17.96 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ghana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Greece
24 million cu m (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guam
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guatemala
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Honduras
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Hungary
2.545 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

India
31.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Indonesia
56 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iran
111.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iraq
3.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ireland
457 million cu m (2007 est.)

Israel
970 million cu m (2006 est.)

Italy
9.706 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Japan
3.729 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Jordan
320 million cu m (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
27.88 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kenya
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, North
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, South
390 million cu m (2007 est.)

Kosovo
0 cu m (2007)

Kuwait
12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
18 million cu m (2007 est.)

Laos
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Latvia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lebanon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lesotho
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Liberia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Libya
14.8 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Lithuania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Macau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Macedonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Madagascar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malaysia
64.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Maldives
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mali
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malta
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mexico
55.98 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Moldova
50 million cu m (2006 est.)

Mongolia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Montserrat
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Morocco
60 million cu m (2006 est.)

Mozambique
1.65 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Namibia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nauru
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nepal
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands
76.33 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Caledonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Zealand
4.573 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Niger
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nigeria
34.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Niue
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Norway
92.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Oman
24.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Pakistan
30.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Panama
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
140 million cu m (2006 est.)

Paraguay
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Peru
1.78 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Philippines
2.2 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Poland
6.025 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Portugal
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Qatar
59.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Romania
12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Russia
656.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Rwanda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Senegal
50 million cu m (2006 est.)

Serbia
650 million cu m (2005 est.)

Seychelles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Singapore
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Slovakia
128 million cu m (2007 est.)

Slovenia
4 million cu m (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

South Africa
2.9 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Spain
88 million cu m (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sudan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Suriname
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Swaziland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sweden
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Switzerland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Syria
7.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Taiwan
400 million cu m (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
32 million cu m (2007 est.)

Tanzania
146 million cu m (2006 est.)

Thailand
25.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Togo
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tonga
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
39 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Tunisia
2.55 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Turkey
893 million cu m (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
68.88 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Uganda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ukraine
19.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
48.79 billion cu m (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
72.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United States
545.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Uruguay
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
65.19 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Venezuela
26.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Vietnam
6.86 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
0 cu m (2007 est.)

World
3.021 trillion cu m (2007 est.)

Yemen
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zambia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2181 Natural gas - consumption (cu m)

Afghanistan
20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Albania
30 million cu m (2006 est.)

Algeria
26.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

American Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Angola
680 million cu m (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Argentina
44.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Armenia
2.05 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Aruba
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Australia
29.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Austria
8.436 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
9.77 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bahrain
11.33 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
15.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Barbados
29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Belarus
21.76 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Belgium
17.39 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Belize
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Benin
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bermuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bhutan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bolivia
3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
400 million cu m (2006 est.)

Botswana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brazil
19.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brunei
3.99 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
5.6 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burma
3.62 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Burundi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cambodia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cameroon
20 million cu m (2006 est.)

Canada
92.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chad
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chile
4.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

China
70.51 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Colombia
7.22 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Comoros
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
180 million cu m (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Croatia
2.73 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Cuba
1.058 billion cu m (2006)

Cyprus
NA

Czech Republic
8.622 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Denmark
4.555 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
250 million cu m (2006 est.)

Ecuador
280 million cu m (2006 est.)

Egypt
31.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

El Salvador
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Eritrea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Estonia
1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

European Union
500.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Finland
4.581 billion cu m (2007 est.)

France
42.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gabon
100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Georgia
1.49 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Germany
97.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ghana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Greece
4.069 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guam
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guatemala
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Honduras
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
2.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Hungary
13.36 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

India
41.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Indonesia
23.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iran
111.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iraq
1.8 billion cu m
note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2006 est.)

Ireland
4.984 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Israel
970 million cu m (2006 est.)

Italy
84.89 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Japan
100.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Jordan
2.25 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
30.58 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kenya
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, North
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, South
34.83 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kosovo
0 cu m (2007)

Kuwait
12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
768 million cu m (2007 est.)

Laos
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Latvia
2.04 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Lebanon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lesotho
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Liberia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Libya
6.39 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Lithuania
3.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
1.329 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Macau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Macedonia
100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Madagascar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malaysia
32.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Maldives
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mali
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malta
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mexico
68.29 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Moldova
2.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Mongolia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Montenegro
NA cu m

Montserrat
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Morocco
60 million cu m (2006 est.)

Mozambique
1.45 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Namibia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nauru
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nepal
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands
46.42 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Caledonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Zealand
4.572 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Niger
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nigeria
12.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Niue
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Norway
6.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Oman
11 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Pakistan
30.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Panama
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
140 million cu m (2006 est.)

Paraguay
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Peru
1.78 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Philippines
2.2 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Poland
16.38 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Portugal
4.112 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)

Qatar
20.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Romania
17.09 billion cu m (2007)

Russia
610 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Rwanda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Senegal
50 million cu m (2006 est.)

Serbia
2.55 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Seychelles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Singapore
6.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Slovakia
6.216 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Slovenia
1.105 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

South Africa
3.1 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Spain
34.43 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sudan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Suriname
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Swaziland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sweden
1.006 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Switzerland
3.232 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Syria
4.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Taiwan
11.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
842 million cu m (2007 est.)

Tanzania
146 million cu m (2006 est.)

Thailand
35.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Togo
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tonga
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
20.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Tunisia
3.85 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Turkey
36.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
19.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Uganda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ukraine
84.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
43.11 billion cu m (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
91.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United States
652.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Uruguay
102.8 million cu m (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
51.18 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Venezuela
26.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Vietnam
6.86 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
0 cu m (2007 est.)

World
3.198 trillion cu m (2007 est.)

Yemen
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zambia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2182 Natural gas - imports (cu m)

Afghanistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Albania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Algeria
0 cu m (2007 est.)

American Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Angola
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Argentina
1.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Armenia
2.05 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Aruba
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Australia
5.689 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Austria
9.658 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
0 cu m (2005)

Bahamas, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bahrain
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Barbados
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Belarus
21.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Belgium
17.34 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Belize
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Benin
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bermuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bhutan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bolivia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 cu m (2005)

Botswana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brazil
10 billion cu m (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brunei
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
5.179 billion cu m (2005)

Burkina Faso
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burma
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burundi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cambodia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cameroon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Canada
13.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chad
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chile
2.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

China
3.92 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Colombia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Comoros
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Croatia
1.103 billion cu m (2005)

Cuba
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cyprus
NA

Czech Republic
8.628 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Denmark
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
239.8 million cu m (2005)

Ecuador
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Egypt
0 cu m (2007 est.)

El Salvador
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Eritrea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Estonia
1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

European Union
361.2 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Finland
4.576 billion cu m (2007 est.)

France
42.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gabon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Georgia
1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Germany
88.35 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ghana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Greece
4.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guam
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guatemala
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Honduras
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
2.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Hungary
10.45 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

India
10 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Indonesia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Iran
6.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iraq
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ireland
4.552 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Israel
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Italy
73.95 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Japan
95.62 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Jordan
2.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
10.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kenya
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, North
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, South
33.38 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kuwait
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
750 million cu m (2007 est.)

Laos
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Latvia
2.04 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Lebanon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lesotho
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Liberia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Libya
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lithuania
3.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
1.329 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Macau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Macedonia
102.8 million cu m (2007)

Madagascar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malaysia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Maldives
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mali
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malta
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mexico
11.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Moldova
2.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Mongolia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Montserrat
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Morocco
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mozambique
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Namibia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nauru
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nepal
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands
25.73 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Caledonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Zealand
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Niger
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nigeria
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Niue
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Norway
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Oman
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Pakistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Panama
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Paraguay
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Peru
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Philippines
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Poland
10.12 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Portugal
4.095 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)

Qatar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Romania
4.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Russia
58.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Rwanda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Senegal
NA cu m

Serbia
2.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Seychelles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Singapore 6.5 billion cu m note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2007 est.)

Slovakia
6.268 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Slovenia
1.073 billion cu m (2005)

Solomon Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

South Africa
0 cu m (2005)

Spain
34.47 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Sudan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Suriname
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Swaziland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sweden
1.006 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Switzerland
3.232 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Syria
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Taiwan
10.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
810 million cu m (2007 est.)

Tanzania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Thailand
9.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Togo
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tonga
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tunisia
0 cu m (2005)

Turkey
35.83 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Uganda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ukraine
65.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
1.343 billion cu m (2005)

United Kingdom
29.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United States
130.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Uruguay
116.9 million cu m (2007)

Uzbekistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Venezuela
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Vietnam
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
0 cu m (2007 est.)

World
957.6 billion cu m (2007)

Yemen
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zambia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2183 Natural gas - exports (cu m)

Afghanistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Albania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Algeria
59.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

American Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Angola
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Argentina
2.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Armenia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Aruba
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Australia
19.91 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Austria
2.767 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bahrain
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Barbados
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Belarus
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Belgium
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Belize
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Benin
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bermuda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bhutan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Bolivia
11.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Botswana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brazil
0 cu m (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Brunei
9.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Burma
9.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Burundi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cambodia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cameroon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Canada
107.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chad
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Chile
0 cu m (2007 est.)

China
2.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Colombia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Comoros
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Croatia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cuba
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Cyprus
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
402 million cu m (2007 est.)

Denmark
4.517 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Djibouti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ecuador
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Egypt
15.7 billion cu m (2007 est.)

El Salvador
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Eritrea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Estonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

European Union
76.48 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Faroe Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Fiji
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Finland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

France
966 million cu m (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gabon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Georgia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Germany
12.22 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Ghana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Greece
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Greenland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Grenada
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guam
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guatemala
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Guyana
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Haiti
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Honduras
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Hungary
138 million cu m (2007 est.)

Iceland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

India
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Indonesia
32.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iran
6.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Iraq
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ireland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Israel
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Italy
68 million cu m (2007 est.)

Jamaica
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Japan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Jordan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
8.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Kenya
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kiribati
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, North
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Korea, South
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kuwait
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Laos
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Latvia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lebanon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Lesotho
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Liberia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Libya
9.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Lithuania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Macau
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Macedonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Madagascar
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malawi
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malaysia
31.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Maldives
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mali
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Malta
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mauritius
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mexico
2.973 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Moldova
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mongolia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Montserrat
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Morocco
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Mozambique
0 cu m (2005 est.)

Namibia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nauru
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nepal
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands
55.66 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Caledonia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

New Zealand
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Niger
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Nigeria
21.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Niue
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Norway
86.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Oman
13.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Pakistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Panama
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Paraguay
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Peru
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Philippines
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Poland
45 million cu m (2007 est.)

Portugal
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Qatar
39.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Romania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Russia
237.2 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Rwanda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Samoa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Senegal
NA cu m

Serbia
0 cu m (2005 est.)

Seychelles
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Singapore
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Slovakia
180 million cu m (2007 est.)

Slovenia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Somalia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

South Africa
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Spain
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sudan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Suriname
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Swaziland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Sweden
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Switzerland
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Syria
NA cu m

Taiwan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tanzania
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Thailand
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Togo
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Tonga
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
18.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Tunisia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Turkey
31 million cu m (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
49.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Uganda
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Ukraine
4 billion cu m (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
6.848 billion cu m (2005 est.)

United Kingdom
10.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

United States
23.28 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Uruguay
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
14.01 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Venezuela
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Vietnam
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
0 cu m (2007 est.)

World
929.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Yemen
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zambia
0 cu m (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
0 cu m (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2184 Internet hosts

Afghanistan
31 (2008)

Albania
10,162 (2008)

Algeria
477 (2008)

American Samoa
1,923 (2008)

Andorra
23,368 (2008)

Angola
3,562 (2008)

Anguilla
205 (2008)

Antarctica
7,748 (2008)

Antigua and Barbuda
2,215 (2008)

Argentina
3.813 million (2008)

Armenia
26,081 (2008)

Aruba
17,661 (2008)

Australia
11.134 million (2008)

Austria
2.806 million (2008)

Azerbaijan
6,995 (2008)

Bahamas, The
41 (2008)

Bahrain
2,621 (2008)

Bangladesh
1,440 (2008)

Barbados
104 (2008)

Belarus
68,118 (2008)

Belgium
3.841 million (2008)

Belize
2,751 (2008)

Benin
848 (2008)

Bermuda
1,628 (2008)

Bhutan
9,046 (2008)

Bolivia
68,428 (2008)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
56,032 (2008)

Botswana
6,374 (2008)

Bouvet Island
6 (2008)

Brazil
9.573 million (2008)

British Indian Ocean Territory
89 (2008)

British Virgin Islands
465 (2008)

Brunei
14,950 (2008)

Bulgaria
513,470 (2008)

Burkina Faso
116 (2008)

Burma
108 (2008)

Burundi
162 (2008)

Cambodia
1,230 (2008)

Cameroon
69 (2008)

Canada
5.119 million (2008)

Cape Verde
20 (2008)

Cayman Islands
4,648 (2008)

Central African Republic
21 (2008)

Chad
5 (2008)

Chile
847,215 (2008)

China
14.306 million (2008)

Christmas Island
1,821 (2008)

Colombia
1.554 million (2008)

Comoros
8 (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
3,211 (2008)

Congo, Republic of the
5 (2008)

Cook Islands
2,234 (2008)

Costa Rica
16,440 (2008)

Cote d'Ivoire
5,569 (2008)

Croatia
1.111 million (2008)

Cuba
3,664 (2008)

Cyprus
143,099 (2008)

Czech Republic
2.434 million (2008)

Denmark
3.642 million (2008)

Djibouti
161 (2008)

Dominica
29 (2008)

Dominican Republic
105,546 (2008)

Ecuador
45,404 (2008)

Egypt
175,342 (2008)

El Salvador
11,434 (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
9 (2008)

Eritrea
1,074 (2008)

Estonia
645,495 (2008)

Ethiopia
128 (2008)

European Union
31,693 (2008); note - this sum reflects the number of
internet hosts assigned the .eu internet country code

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
91 (2008)

Faroe Islands
8,516 (2008)

Fiji
12,592 (2008)

Finland
3.877 million (2008)

France
14.256 million; 14,256,000 (metropolitan France) (2008)

French Polynesia
14,070 (2008)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
38 (2008)

Gabon
88 (2008)

Gambia, The
320 (2008)

Georgia
27,905 (2008)

Germany
22.606 million (2008)

Ghana
24,018 (2008)

Gibraltar
1,904 (2008)

Greece
1.626 million (2008)

Greenland
14,132 (2008)

Grenada
9 (2008)

Guam
36 (2008)

Guatemala
124,095 (2008)

Guernsey
156 (2008)

Guinea
16 (2008)

Guinea-Bissau
82 (2008)

Guyana
6,218 (2008)

Haiti
7 (2008)

Holy See (Vatican City)
55 (2008)

Honduras
13,370 (2008)

Hong Kong
817,766 (2008)

Hungary
1.879 million (2008)

Iceland
263,980 (2008)

India
2.707 million (2008)

Indonesia
753,200 (2008)

Iran
2,860 (2008)

Iraq
3 (2008)

Ireland
1.242 million (2008)

Isle of Man
426 (2008)

Israel
1.415 million (2008)

Italy
17.702 million (2008)

Jamaica
1,292 (2008)

Japan
39.909 million (2008)

Jersey
190 (2008)

Jordan
21,150 (2008)

Kazakhstan
36,417 (2008)

Kenya
27,376 (2008)

Kiribati
9 (2008)

Korea, South
333,823 (2008)

Kuwait
3,289 (2008)

Kyrgyzstan
56,905 (2008)

Laos
1,015 (2008)

Latvia
220,082 (2008)

Lebanon
36,681 (2008)

Lesotho
83 (2008)

Liberia
7 (2008)

Libya
31 (2008)

Liechtenstein
7,639 (2008)

Lithuania
812,083 (2008)

Luxembourg
180,756 (2008)

Macau
263 (2008)

Macedonia
36,905 (2008)

Madagascar
11,016 (2008)

Malawi
107 (2008)

Malaysia
377,716 (2008)

Maldives
1,600 (2008)

Mali
387 (2008)

Malta
26,494 (2008)

Marshall Islands
3 (2008)

Mauritania
34 (2008)

Mauritius
9,609 (2008)

Mayotte
1 (2008)

Mexico
10.653 million (2008)

Micronesia, Federated States of
866 (2008)

Moldova
223,869 (2008)

Monaco
21,058 (2008)

Mongolia
356 (2008)

Montserrat
409 (2008)

Morocco
275,889 (2008)

Mozambique
22,532 (2008)

Namibia
6,296 (2008)

Nauru
42 (2008)

Nepal
42,219 (2008)

Netherlands
10.983 million (2008)

Netherlands Antilles
47,597 (2008)

New Caledonia
15,487 (2008)

New Zealand
1.72 million (2008)

Nicaragua
58,157 (2008)

Niger
216 (2008)

Nigeria
1,048 (2008)

Niue
382,599 (2008)

Norfolk Island
51 (2008)

Northern Mariana Islands
6 (2008)

Norway
2.995 million (2008)

Oman
4,785 (2008)

Pakistan
197,264 (2008)

Palau
0 (2008)

Panama
7,858 (2008)

Papua New Guinea
3,422 (2008)

Paraguay
19,691 (2008)

Peru
271,745 (2008)

Philippines
283,579 (2008)

Pitcairn Islands
12 (2008)

Poland
7.808 million (2008)

Portugal
1.858 million (2008)

Puerto Rico
404 (2008)

Qatar
563 (2008)

Romania
2.195 million (2008)

Russia
4.822 million (2008)

Rwanda
2,363 (2008)

Saint Helena
306 (2008)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
45 (2008)

Saint Lucia
17 (2008)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 (2008)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
124 (2008)

Samoa
11,307 (2008)

San Marino
6,665 (2008)

Sao Tome and Principe
1,355 (2008)

Saudi Arabia
141,232 (2008)

Senegal
217 (2008)

Serbia
NA

Seychelles
284 (2008)

Sierra Leone
8 (2008)

Singapore
837,559 (2008)

Slovakia
717,744 (2008)

Slovenia
75,984 (2008)

Solomon Islands
3,804 (2008)

Somalia
1 (2008)

South Africa
1.297 million (2008)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
196 (2008)

Spain
3.264 million (2008)

Sri Lanka
4,940 (2008)

Sudan
33 (2008)

Suriname
33 (2008)

Swaziland
2,582 (2008)

Sweden
3.579 million (2008)

Switzerland
3.437 million (2008)

Syria
7,857 (2008)

Taiwan
5.225 million (2008)

Tajikistan
1,158 (2008)

Tanzania
24,271 (2008)

Thailand
1.116 million (2008)

Timor-Leste
285 (2008)

Togo
769 (2008)

Tokelau
273 (2008)

Tonga
19,231 (2008)

Trinidad and Tobago
155,722 (2008)

Tunisia
376 (2008)

Turkey
2.667 million (2008)

Turkmenistan
640 (2008)

Turks and Caicos Islands
2,352 (2008)

Tuvalu
56,209 (2008)

Uganda
1,090 (2008)

Ukraine
524,202 (2008)

United Arab Emirates
381,915 (2008)

United Kingdom
8.269 million (2008)

United States
316 million (2008); note - the US Internet total host
count includes the following top level domain host addresses: .us,
.com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .net, and .org

Uruguay
480,593 (2008)

Uzbekistan
38,183 (2008)

Vanuatu
990 (2008)

Venezuela
145,394 (2008)

Vietnam
84,151 (2008)

Virgin Islands
4,610 (2008)

Wallis and Futuna
1 (2008)

Yemen
167 (2008)

Zambia
7,610 (2008)

Zimbabwe
19,157 (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2185 Investment (gross fixed) (% of GDP)

Albania
23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Algeria
24.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Angola
9.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Argentina
24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Armenia
33.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Australia
27.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Austria
20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bahrain
22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
24.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Belarus
30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Belgium
21.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Belize
19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Benin
19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bolivia
16.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Botswana
19.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Brazil
17.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
29.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
21.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Burma
13.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Burundi
24.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cambodia
19.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cameroon
17.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Canada
22.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
37% of GDP (2007 est.)

Chad
11.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Chile
20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

China
42.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Colombia
22.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
40.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
21.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
8.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Croatia
30.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cuba
13.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cyprus
20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
24.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Denmark
22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
18.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ecuador
21.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Egypt
21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

El Salvador
16.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Eritrea
19.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Estonia
31.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
25.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

European Union
21.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Finland
20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

France
21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Gabon
24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Georgia
29.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Germany
18.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ghana
31.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Greece
25.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Guatemala
17.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Guinea
11.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Guyana
34.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Haiti
28.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Honduras
30.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Hungary
20.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Iceland
27.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

India
33.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Indonesia
24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Iran
27.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ireland
26.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Israel
18.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Italy
21% of GDP (2007 est.)

Jamaica
34.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Japan
23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Jordan
27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
30.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kenya
20.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Korea, South
28.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kosovo
29% of GDP (2006 est.)

Kuwait
19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
25.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Latvia
32.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Lebanon
22% of GDP (2007 est.)

Lesotho
51.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Libya
8.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Lithuania
26.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
20.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Macedonia
17.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Madagascar
25.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Malawi
8.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Malaysia
21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Malta
18.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Mauritius
25.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Mexico
20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Moldova
33.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Montenegro
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Morocco
29.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Mozambique
21.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Namibia
23.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Netherlands
20% of GDP (2007 est.)

New Zealand
23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
31.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Nigeria
23.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Norway
20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Oman
20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Pakistan
21.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Panama
20.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Paraguay
18.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Peru
23% of GDP (2007 est.)

Philippines
14.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Poland
21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Portugal
21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Qatar
43.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Romania
28% of GDP (2007 est.)

Russia
21% of GDP (2007 est.)

Rwanda
22% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
36.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Senegal
25.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Serbia
20.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Seychelles
8.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Singapore
24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Slovakia
25.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Slovenia
28.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

South Africa
20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Spain
31.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
24.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sudan
19% of GDP (2007 est.)

Swaziland
18.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sweden
19% of GDP (2007 est.)

Switzerland
21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Syria
21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Taiwan
21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
12.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Tanzania
23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Thailand
26.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Togo
24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
16.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Tunisia
23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Turkey
21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
32.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Uganda
25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ukraine
27.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
18.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

United States
15.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Uruguay
13.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Venezuela
23.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Vietnam
37.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

World
22.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Yemen
25% of GDP (2007 est.)

Zambia
26.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
16.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2186 Public debt (% of GDP)

Albania
51.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Algeria
18% of GDP (2007 est.)

Angola
12% of GDP (2007 est.)

Argentina
56.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Aruba
46.3% of GDP (2005)

Australia
15.6% of GDP
note: the Commonwealth government eliminated its net debt in 2006,
but continues a gross debt issue to support the market for risk-free
securities (2007 est.)

Austria
59.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
6.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bahrain
31.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
37.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Belgium
84.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bhutan
81.4% of GDP (2004)

Bolivia
46.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
34% of GDP (2007 est.)

Botswana
5.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Brazil
45.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
10.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cameroon
15.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Canada
64.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Chile
4.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

China
18.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Colombia
52.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
46.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
75.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Croatia
47.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cuba
36.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Cyprus
59.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Denmark
26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
41% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ecuador
33.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Egypt
105.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

El Salvador
37.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
1.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Estonia
3.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
44.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Finland
35.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

France
63.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Gabon
52.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Germany
64.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ghana
58.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Greece
89.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Guatemala
20.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Honduras
24.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
12.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Hungary
67% of GDP (2007 est.)

Iceland
27.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

India
58.2% of GDP (federal and state debt combined) (2007 est.)

Indonesia
34% of GDP (2007 est.)

Iran
17.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ireland
24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Israel
80.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Italy
104% of GDP (2007 est.)

Jamaica
126.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Japan
170% of GDP (2007 est.)

Jordan
72.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
7.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kenya
48.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Korea, South
28.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Kosovo
NA

Kuwait
9.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Latvia
7.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Lebanon
186.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Libya
4.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Lithuania
17.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
6.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Macedonia
30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Malawi
50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Malaysia
41.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Mauritius
63.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Mexico
22.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Moldova
23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Montenegro
38% of GDP (2006)

Morocco
67.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Mozambique
22.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Namibia
22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Netherlands
45.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

New Zealand
20.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
62.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Nigeria
14.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Norway
83.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Oman
3.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Pakistan
50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Panama
53% of GDP (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
40.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Paraguay
27% of GDP (2007 est.)

Peru
29.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Philippines
55.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Poland
43.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Portugal
63.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Qatar
11% of GDP (2007 est.)

Romania
13% of GDP (2007 est.)

Russia
5.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
24.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Senegal
22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Serbia
37% of GDP (2007 est.)

Seychelles
92.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Singapore
96.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Slovakia
35.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Slovenia
23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

South Africa
31.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Spain
36.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
85.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sudan
105.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Sweden
41.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Switzerland
44.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Syria
37.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Taiwan
27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Tanzania
19.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Thailand
37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Tunisia
55.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Turkey
38.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Uganda
20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Ukraine
11.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
43.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

United States
60.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Uruguay
64.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
18.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Venezuela
19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Vietnam
42% of GDP (2007 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Yemen
33.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Zambia
28.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
218.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2187 Current account balance

Afghanistan
NA

Albania
-$1.202 billion (2007 est.)

Algeria
$32.05 billion (2007 est.)

Angola
$13.58 billion (2007 est.)

Anguilla
-$42.87 million (2003 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
$-211 million (2007 est.)

Argentina
$7.438 billion (2007 est.)

Armenia
-$571.4 million (2007 est.)

Australia
-$56.78 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$12.03 billion (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$9.019 billion (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
-$1.442 billion (2007 est.)

Bahrain
$2.907 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$804.7 million (2007 est.)

Barbados
-$254 million (2007 est.)

Belarus
-$2.876 billion (2007 est.)

Belgium
$3.282 billion (2007 est.)

Belize
-$43 million (2007 est.)

Benin
-$441 million (2007 est.)

Bhutan
$116 million (2007 est.)

Bolivia
$1.796 billion (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
-$1.939 billion (2007 est.)

Botswana
$1.973 billion (2007 est.)

Brazil
$1.712 billion (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
$134.3 million (1999)

Brunei
$7.101 billion (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
-$8.53 billion (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
-$706 million (2007 est.)

Burma
$1.427 billion (2007 est.)

Burundi
-$101 million (2007 est.)

Cambodia
-$506.3 million (2007 est.)

Cameroon
-$325 million (2007 est.)

Canada
$12.67 billion (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
-$132.6 million (2007 est.)

Central African Republic
-$77 million (2007 est.)

Chad
-$171 million (2007 est.)

Chile
$7.2 billion (2007 est.)

China
$371.8 billion (2007 est.)

Colombia
-$5.862 billion (2007 est.)

Comoros
$8 million (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
-$402 million (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
-$1.491 billion (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
$26.67 million (2005)

Costa Rica
-$1.499 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
-$146 million (2007 est.)

Croatia
-$4.85 billion (2007 est.)

Cuba
$240 million (2007 est.)

Cyprus
-$2.144 billion (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
-$4.534 billion (2007 est.)

Denmark
$4.279 billion (2007 est.)

Djibouti
-$212 million (2007 est.)

Dominica
-$72 million (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
-$2.231 billion (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$1.064 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$500.9 million (2007 est.)

El Salvador
-$1.119 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$415 million (2007 est.)

Eritrea
-$205 million (2007 est.)

Estonia
-$3.771 billion (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
-$826.8 million (2007 est.)

European Union
$NA

Fiji
-$507 million (2007 est.)

Finland
$11.4 billion (2007 est.)

France
-$31.25 billion (2007 est.)

Gabon
$1.552 billion (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
-$71 million (2007 est.)

Georgia
-$2.044 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
$254.5 billion (2007 est.)

Ghana
-$1.549 billion (2007 est.)

Greece
-$44.4 billion (2007 est.)

Grenada
-$138 million (2007 est.)

Guatemala
-$1.663 billion (2007 est.)

Guinea
-$424 million (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
-$6 million (2007 est.)

Guyana
-$157 million (2007 est.)

Haiti
-$467 million (2007 est.)

Honduras
-$1.225 billion (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$28.04 billion (2007 est.)

Hungary
-$8.018 billion (2007 est.)

Iceland
-$3.189 billion (2007 est.)

India
-$12.11 billion (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$11.01 billion (2007 est.)

Iran
$28.95 billion (2007 est.)

Iraq
$6.025 billion (2007 est.)

Ireland
-$14.12 billion (2007 est.)

Israel
$5.197 billion (2007 est.)

Italy
-$51.03 billion (2007 est.)

Jamaica
-$1.83 billion (2007 est.)

Japan
$210.5 billion (2007 est.)

Jordan
-$2.767 billion (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
-$7.184 billion (2007 est.)

Kenya
-$1.147 billion (2007 est.)

Kiribati
-$21 million (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$5.954 billion (2007 est.)

Kosovo
-$58.3 million (2007)

Kuwait
$47.5 billion (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
-$267.9 million (2007 est.)

Laos
-$285 million (2007 est.)

Latvia
-$6.231 billion (2007 est.)

Lebanon
-$2.046 billion (2007 est.)

Lesotho
$49 million (2007 est.)

Liberia
-$224 million (2007)

Libya
$26.38 billion (2007 est.)

Lithuania
-$5.26 billion (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$4.921 billion (2007 est.)

Macedonia
-$249 million (2007 est.)

Madagascar
-$890 million (2007 est.)

Malawi
-$318 million (2007 est.)

Malaysia
$28.93 billion (2007 est.)

Maldives
-$472 million (2007)

Mali
-$446 million (2007 est.)

Malta
-$424.5 million (2007 est.)

Mauritania
-$184 million (2007 est.)

Mauritius
-$408.3 million (2007 est.)

Mexico
-$5.525 billion (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)

Moldova
-$694.7 million (2007 est.)

Mongolia
-$23 million (2007 est.)

Montenegro
$NA

Morocco
-$1.834 billion (2007 est.)

Mozambique
-$795.1 million (2007 est.)

Namibia
$805.2 million (2007 est.)

Nepal
$58 million (2007)

Netherlands
$47.31 billion (2007 est.)

New Zealand
-$10.23 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
-$1.001 billion (2007 est.)

Niger
-$321 million (2007 est.)

Nigeria
$2.514 billion (2007 est.)

Norway
$64.07 billion (2007 est.)

Oman
$4.866 billion (2007 est.)

Pakistan
-$8.255 billion (2007 est.)

Palau
$15.09 million (FY03/04)

Panama
-$1.577 billion (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$125.8 million (2007 est.)

Paraguay
$119 million (2007 est.)

Peru
$1.516 billion (2007 est.)

Philippines
$6.351 billion (2007 est.)

Poland
-$15.91 billion (2007 est.)

Portugal
-$21.75 billion (2007 est.)

Qatar
$10.41 billion (2007 est.)

Romania
-$23.02 billion (2007 est.)

Russia
$78.31 billion (2007 est.)

Rwanda
-$147 million (2007 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
-$163 million (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
-$199 million (2007 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-$149 million (2007 est.)

Samoa
-$24 million (2007 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
-$55 million (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$86.62 billion (2007 est.)

Senegal
-$1.458 billion (2007 est.)

Serbia
-$6.889 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
-$272 million (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
-$63 million (2007 est.)

Singapore
$46.39 billion (2007 est.)

Slovakia
-$3.998 billion (2007 est.)

Slovenia
-$2.181 billion (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
-$143 million (2007 est.)

South Africa
-$20.63 billion (2007 est.)

Spain
-$145.3 billion (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
-$1.019 billion (2007 est.)

Sudan
-$3.447 billion (2007 est.)

Suriname
$24 million (2007 est.)

Swaziland
-$24 million (2007 est.)

Sweden
$37.97 billion (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$72.35 billion (2007 est.)

Syria
$908 million (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$32.88 billion (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
-$351 million (2007 est.)

Tanzania
-$1.856 billion (2007 est.)

Thailand
$14.92 billion (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
$1.161 billion (2007 est.)

Togo
-$159 million (2007 est.)

Tonga
-$23 million (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
$5.378 billion (2007 est.)

Tunisia
-$905 million (2007 est.)

Turkey
-$37.58 billion (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$1.705 billion (2007 est.)

Tuvalu
-$11.68 million (2003)

Uganda
-$744.7 million (2007 est.)

Ukraine
-$5.918 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$34.53 billion (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
-$119.2 billion (2007 est.)

United States
-$731.2 billion (2007 est.)

Uruguay
-$185.6 million (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$4.615 billion (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
-$60 million (2007 est.)

Venezuela
$20 billion (2007 est.)

Vietnam
-$6.993 billion (2007 est.)

Yemen
-$362 million (2007 est.)

Zambia
-$228 million (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
-$649 million (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2188 Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Albania
$2.162 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Algeria
$110.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Angola
$11.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Argentina
$46.12 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Armenia
$1.657 billion (December 2007 est.)

Australia
$26.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Austria
$18.22 billion (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
$4.273 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bahrain
$4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$5.278 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Barbados
$620 million (2007)

Belarus
$4.266 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Belgium
$16.51 billion (2007 est.)

Belize
$109 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Benin
$1.209 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bolivia
$5.318 billion (31 October 2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$4.525 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Botswana
$9.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Brazil
$180.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Bulgaria
$17.38 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
$1.029 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Burma
$2.262 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Burundi
$177.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Cambodia
$2.143 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Cameroon
$2.932 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Canada
$41.08 billion (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
$398 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Chad
$969 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Chile
$16.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

China
$1.534 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Colombia
$20.95 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
$2.206 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Costa Rica
$4.114 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$2.519 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Croatia
$13.67 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Cuba
$4.247 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Cyprus
$6.507 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$34.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Denmark
$34.32 billion (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
$2.562 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ecuador
$3.521 billion (30 November 2007 est.)

Egypt
$31.37 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

El Salvador
$2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$3.846 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Eritrea
$23 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Estonia
$3.27 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ethiopia
$1.294 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

European Union
$NA

Finland
$8.385 billion (2007)

France
$115.7 billion (2006 est.)

Gabon
$1.238 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Georgia
$1.361 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Germany
$136.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ghana
$2.204 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Greece
$3.658 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guatemala
$4.139 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guinea
$119 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Guyana
$313 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Haiti
$444 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Honduras
$2.546 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$152.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Hungary
$24.05 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Iceland
$2.436 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

India
$275 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Indonesia
$56.92 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Iran
$69.2 billion (2007 est.)

Iraq
$25.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ireland
$926.2 million (2006 est.)

Israel
$28.52 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Italy
$94.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Jamaica
$1.905 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Japan
$954.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Jordan
$7.929 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$17.63 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kenya
$3.355 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Korea, South
$262.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Kosovo
$NA

Kuwait
$16.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$1.177 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Laos
$540 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Latvia
$5.758 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Lebanon
$20.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Lesotho
$852 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Libya
$79.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Lithuania
$7.721 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$205.5 million (2006 est.)

Macedonia
$2.265 billion (31 December 2007)

Madagascar
$846.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Malawi
$217.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Malaysia
$101.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Malta
$3.798 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mauritius
$1.822 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mexico
$87.19 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Moldova
$1.334 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Montenegro
$NA

Morocco
$24.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mozambique
$1.445 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Namibia
$896 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Netherlands
$26.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

New Zealand
$17.25 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$1.103 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nigeria
$51.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Norway
$60.84 billion (2006 est.)

Oman
$9.524 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Pakistan
$15.69 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Panama
$1.935 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$2.087 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Paraguay
$2.463 billion (31 December 2007)

Peru
$27.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Philippines
$33.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Poland
$65.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Portugal
$11.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Qatar
$9.752 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Romania
$39.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Russia
$476.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Rwanda
$552.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Samoa
$70.15 million (FY03/04)

Sao Tome and Principe
$34.6 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$34.01 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Senegal
$1.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Serbia
$14.22 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$40.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Singapore
$163 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Slovakia
$18.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Slovenia
$5.682 billion (30 September 2007 est.)

South Africa
$32.94 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain
$19.05 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$3.644 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sudan
$1.378 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Suriname
$263.3 million (2006)

Swaziland
$762.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Sweden
$31.04 billion (2006 est.)

Switzerland
$75.37 billion (2006 est.)

Syria
$6.046 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Taiwan
$275 billion (31 December 2007)

Tajikistan
$242 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Tanzania
$2.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Thailand
$87.46 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Togo
$438 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Tonga
$40.83 million (yearend, FY04/05)

Trinidad and Tobago
$6.745 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tunisia
$7.854 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Turkey
$76.51 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$5.172 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Uganda
$2.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ukraine
$32.48 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$77.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$57.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

United States
$70.57 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Uruguay
$4.121 billion (December 2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$6.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$40.54 million (2003)

Venezuela
$33.48 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vietnam
$23.87 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Yemen
$7.76 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zambia
$1.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$120 million (31 December 2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2193 Major infectious diseases

Afghanistan
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Angola
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Argentina
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Bangladesh
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Belize
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Benin
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Bhutan
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Bolivia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Botswana
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Burkina Faso
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Burma
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Burundi
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Cambodia
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Cameroon
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Central African Republic degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Chad
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

China
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese
encephalitis, and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Colombia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Congo, Republic of the
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness)
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Costa Rica
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2008)

Cote d'Ivoire
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Croatia
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Cuba
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2008)

Djibouti
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Dominican Republic
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Ecuador
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Egypt
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

El Salvador
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Eritrea
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Estonia
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Ethiopia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Gabon
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Gambia, The
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo
hemorrhagic fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Ghana
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Guatemala
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Guinea
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)

Guinea-Bissau
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Guyana
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Haiti
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Honduras
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Hungary
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

India
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,
and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, Japanese
encephalitis, and malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Indonesia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,
and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Iran
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Iraq
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Kenya
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Laos
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Latvia
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Liberia
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Lithuania
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Madagascar
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Malawi
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Malaysia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Mali
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Mauritania
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever (2008)

Mexico
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Montenegro
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2008)

Mozambique
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Namibia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Nepal
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis and malaria (2008)

Nicaragua
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Niger
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Nigeria
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly
endemic areas for Lassa fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis and shistosomiasis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Pakistan
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,
and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Panama
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Papua New Guinea
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Paraguay
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Peru
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial, hepatitis A, and typhoid
fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, Oroya fever, and yellow
fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Philippines
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Poland
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Russia
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and tickborne
encephalitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Rwanda
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Sao Tome and Principe
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Senegal
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever,
malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Serbia
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Sierra Leone
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)

Somalia
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

South Africa
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Sri Lanka
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Sudan
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis
(sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Suriname
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, Mayaro virus, and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Swaziland
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Tajikistan
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Tanzania
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Thailand
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Timor-Leste
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Togo
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Uganda
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, plague, and African
trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Venezuela
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and Venezuelan equine
encephalitis (2008)

Vietnam
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,
and plague
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Yemen
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)

Zambia
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Zimbabwe
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2194 Refugees and internally displaced persons

Afghanistan
IDPs: 132,246 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in
south and west due to drought and instability) (2007)

Algeria
refugees (country of origin): 90,000 (Western Saharan
Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the
southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: undetermined (civil war during 1990s) (2007)

Angola
refugees (country of origin): 12,615 (Democratic Republic of
Congo)
IDPs: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs
already have returned) (2007)

Armenia
refugees (country of origin): 113,295 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2007)

Azerbaijan
refugees (country of origin): 2,400 (Russia)
IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh)
(2007)

Bangladesh
refugees (country of origin): 26,268 (Burma)
IDPs: 65,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2007)

Benin
refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
refugees (country of origin): 7,269 (Croatia)
IDPs: 131,600 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in
1992-95 war) (2007)

Burma
IDPs: 503,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent
groups near the eastern borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen,
Karenni, Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2007)

Burundi
refugees (country of origin): 9,849 (Democratic Republic of
the Congo)
IDPs: 100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most
IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2007)

Cameroon
refugees (country of origin): 20,000-30,000 (Chad); 3,000
(Nigeria); 24,000 (Central African Republic) (2007)

Central African Republic
refugees (country of origin): 7,900
(Sudan); 3,700 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); note - UNHCR
resumed repatriation of Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006
IDPs: 197,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2007)

Chad
refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central
African Republic)
IDPs: 178,918 (2007)

China
refugees (country of origin): 300,897 (Vietnam); estimated
30,000-50,000 (North Korea)
IDPs: 90,000 (2007)

Colombia
IDPs: 1.8-3.5 million (conflict between government and
illegal armed groups and drug traffickers) (2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
refugees (country of origin):
132,295 (Angola); 37,313 (Rwanda); 17,777 (Burundi); 13,904
(Uganda); 6,181 (Sudan); 5,243 (Republic of Congo)
IDPs: 1.4 million (fighting between government forces and rebels
since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2007)

Congo, Republic of the
refugees (country of origin): 46,341
(Democratic Republic of Congo); 6,564 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic
Lari) (2007)

Costa Rica
refugees (country of origin): 9,699-11,500 (Colombia)
(2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
refugees (country of origin): 25,615 (Liberia)
IDPs: 709,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2007)

Croatia
IDPs: 2,900-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95
war) (2007)

Cyprus
IDPs: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many
displaced for over 30 years) (2007)

Djibouti
refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)

Ecuador
refugees (country of origin): 11,526 (Colombia); note -
UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in
Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of
deportation (2007)

Egypt
refugees (country of origin): 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198
(Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)

Eritrea
IDPs: 32,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most
IDPs are near the central border region) (2007)

Ethiopia
refugees (country of origin): 66,980 (Sudan); 16,576
(Somalia); 13,078 (Eritrea)
IDPs: 200,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000, ethnic
clashes in Gambela, and ongoing Ethiopian military counterinsurgency
in Somali region; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces)
(2007)

Gabon
refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)

Gambia, The
refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

Gaza Strip
refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian
Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)

Georgia
refugees (country of origin): 1,100 (Russia)
IDPs: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia)
(2007)

Ghana
refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo)
(2007)

Guatemala
IDPs: undetermined (the UN does not estimate there are any
IDPs, although some NGOs estimate over 200,000 IDPs as a result of
over three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996) (2007)

Guinea
refugees (country of origin): 21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra
Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,
Sierra Leone) (2007)

Guinea-Bissau
refugees (country of origin): 7,454 (Senegal) (2007)

India
refugees (country of origin): 77,200 (Tibet/China); 69,609
(Sri Lanka); 9,472 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: at least 600,000 (about half are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu
and Kashmir) (2007)

Indonesia
IDPs: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against
rebels in Aceh; most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central
Sulawesi Provinces, and Maluku) (2007)

Iran
refugees (country of origin): 914,268 (Afghanistan); 54,024
(Iraq) (2007)

Iraq
refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian
Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)
IDPs: 2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence)
(2007)

Israel
IDPs: 150,000-420,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in
northern Israel) (2007)

Jordan
refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007)

Kazakhstan
refugees (country of origin): 3,700 (Russia); 508
(Afghanistan) (2007)

Kenya
refugees (country of origin): 173,702 (Somalia); 73,004
(Sudan); 16,428 (Ethiopia)
IDPs: 250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on
opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)

Korea, North
IDPs: undetermined (flooding in mid-2007 and famine
during mid-1990s) (2007)

Kosovo
IDP's: 21,000 (2007)

Lebanon
refugees (country of origin): 405,425 (Palestinian refugees
(UNRWA)); 50,000-60,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 17,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions); 200,000
(July-August 2006 war) (2007)

Liberia
refugees (country of origin): 12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in
November 2004) (2007)

Libya
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories)
(2007)

Macedonia
IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)

Malaysia
refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544
(Burma) (2007)

Maldives
IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)

Mali
refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

Mexico
IDPs: 5,500-10,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista
uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2007)

Montenegro
refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note -
mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999
IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)

Namibia
refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)

Nepal
refugees (country of origin): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153
(Tibet/China)
IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that
officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country)
(2007)

Nigeria
refugees (country of origin): 5,778 (Liberia)
IDPs: undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims
since President OBASANJO's election in 1999; displacement is mostly
short-term) (2007)

Pakistan
refugees (country of origin): 1,043,984 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South
Waziristan); 34,000 (October 2005 earthquake; most of those
displaced returned to their home villages in the spring of 2006)
(2007)

Papua New Guinea
refugees (country of origin): 10,177 (Indonesia)
(2007)

Peru
IDPs: 60,000-150,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are
indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2007)

Philippines
IDPs: 300,000 (fighting between government troops and
MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2007)

Russia
IDPs: 18,000-160,000 (displacement from Chechnya and North
Ossetia) (2007)

Rwanda
refugees (country of origin): 46,272 (Democratic Republic of
the Congo); 4,400 (Burundi) (2007)

Saudi Arabia
refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian
Territories) (2007)

Senegal
refugees (country of origin): 19,630 (Mauritania)
IDPs: 22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in
2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between
government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)

Serbia
refugees (country of origin): 71,111 (Croatia); 27,414
(Bosnia and Herzegovina); 206,000 (Kosovo), note - mostly ethnic
Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999 (2007)

Sierra Leone
refugees (country of origin): 27,311 (Liberia) (2007)

Solomon Islands
IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007)
(2007)

Somalia
IDPs: 1.1 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based
competition for resources) (2007)

South Africa
refugees (country of origin): 10,772 (Democratic
Republic of Congo); 7,818 (Somalia); 5,759 (Angola) (2007)

Sri Lanka
IDPs: 460,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to
long-term civil war between the government and the separatist
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)) (2007)

Sudan
refugees (country of origin): 157,220 (Eritrea); 25,023
(Chad); 11,009 (Ethiopia); 7,895 (Uganda); 5,023 (Central African
Republic)
IDPs: 5.3 - 6.2 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in
Darfur region) (2007)

Syria
refugees (country of origin): 1-1.4 million (Iraq); 522,100
(Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 305,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967
Arab-Israeli War) (2007)

Tanzania
refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973
(Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2007)

Thailand
refugees (country of origin): 132,241 (Burma) (2007)

Timor-Leste
IDPs: 100,000 (2007)

Togo
refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana)
IDPs: 1,500 (2007)

Turkey
IDPs: 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and
Turkish military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2007)

Turkmenistan
refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan); less
than 1,000 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Uganda
refugees (country of origin): 215,700 (Sudan); 28,880
(Democratic Republic of Congo); 24,900 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 1.27 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following ongoing
peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the
Government of Uganda) (2007)

United States
refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643
refugees during FY04/05 including; 10,586 (Somalia); 8,549 (Laos);
6,666 (Russia); 6,479 (Cuba); 3,100 (Haiti); 2,136 (Iran) (2006)

Uzbekistan
refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan); 1,060
(Afghanistan)
IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages
near Tajikistan border) (2007)

West Bank
refugees (country of origin): 722,000 (Palestinian
Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)

World
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
estimated that in December 2006 there was a global population of 8.8
million registered refugees and as many as 24.5 million IDPs in more
than 50 countries; the actual global population of refugees is
probably closer to 10 million given the estimated 1.5 million Iraqi
refugees displaced throughout the Middle East (2007)

Yemen
refugees (country of origin): 91,587 (Somalia) (2007)

Zambia
refugees (country of origin): 42,565 (Angola); 60,874
(Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,100 (Rwanda) (2007)

Zimbabwe
refugees (country of origin): 2,500 (Democratic Republic of
Congo)
IDPs: 569,685 (MUGABE-led political violence, human rights
violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2195 GDP (official exchange rate)

Afghanistan
$8.842 billion (2007 est.)

Albania
$10.62 billion (2007 est.)

Algeria
$131.6 billion (2007 est.)

American Samoa
$333.8 million (2005)

Andorra
$NA

Angola
$61.36 billion (2007 est.)

Anguilla
$108.9 million (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
$1.089 billion (2007 est.)

Argentina
$260 billion (2007 est.)

Armenia
$7.974 billion (2007 est.)

Aruba
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

Australia
$908.8 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$373.9 billion (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$31.32 billion (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The
$6.586 billion (2007 est.)

Bahrain
$19.66 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$72.42 billion (2007 est.)

Barbados
$3.739 billion (2007 est.)

Belarus
$44.77 billion (2007 est.)

Belgium
$453.6 billion (2007 est.)

Belize
$1.274 billion (2007 est.)

Benin
$5.433 billion (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$NA

Bhutan
$1.308 billion (2007 est.)

Bolivia
$13.19 billion (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$14.78 billion (2007 est.)

Botswana
$12.31 billion (2007 est.)

Brazil
$1.314 trillion (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands
$839.7 million (2003)

Brunei
$12.39 billion (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
$39.61 billion (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso
$6.977 billion (2007 est.)

Burma
$13.53 billion (2007 est.)

Burundi
$1.001 billion (2007 est.)

Cambodia
$8.604 billion (2007 est.)

Cameroon
$20.65 billion (2007 est.)

Canada
$1.432 trillion (2007 est.)

Cape Verde
$1.428 billion (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$NA

Central African Republic
$1.714 billion (2007 est.)

Chad
$7.095 billion (2007 est.)

Chile
$163.8 billion (2007 est.)

China
$3.251 trillion (2007 est.)

Colombia
$171.6 billion (2007 est.)

Comoros
$442 million (2007 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$10.14 billion (2007 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
$7.657 billion (2007 est.)

Cook Islands
$183.2 million (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
$26.24 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$19.6 billion (2007 est.)

Croatia
$51.36 billion (2007 est.)

Cuba
$45.58 billion (2007 est.)

Cyprus
$21.3 billion (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$175.3 billion (2007 est.)

Denmark
$311.9 billion (2007 est.)

Djibouti
$841 million (2007 est.)

Dominica
$311 million (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
$36.4 billion (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$44.18 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$127.9 billion (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$20.37 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$10.49 billion (2007 est.)

Eritrea
$1.316 billion (2007 est.)

Estonia
$21.28 billion (2007 est.)

Ethiopia
$19.43 billion (2007 est.)

European Union
$16.62 trillion (2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
$NA

Faroe Islands
$1.7 billion (2005 est.)

Fiji
$3.409 billion (2007 est.)

Finland
$245 billion (2007 est.)

France
$2.56 trillion (2007 est.)

French Polynesia
$3.8 billion (2002)

Gabon
$11.3 billion (2007 est.)

Gambia, The
$653 million (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip
$5.328 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)

Georgia
$10.29 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
$3.322 trillion (2007 est.)

Ghana
$14.86 billion (2007 est.)

Gibraltar
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)

Greece
$314.6 billion (2007 est.)

Greenland
$1.7 billion (2005)

Grenada
$590 million (2007 est.)

Guam
$2.773 billion (2001)

Guatemala
$33.69 billion (2007 est.)

Guernsey
$2.742 billion (2005)

Guinea
$4.714 billion (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$343 million (2007 est.)

Guyana
$1.039 billion (2007 est.)

Haiti
$5.435 billion (2007 est.)

Honduras
$12.28 billion (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$206.7 billion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$138.4 billion (2007 est.)

Iceland
$20 billion (2007 est.)

India
$1.099 trillion (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$432.9 billion (2007 est.)

Iran
$294.1 billion (2007 est.)

Iraq
$60.12 billion (2007 est.)

Ireland
$258.6 billion (2007 est.)

Isle of Man
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

Israel
$161.9 billion (2007 est.)

Italy
$2.105 trillion (2007 est.)

Jamaica
$11.21 billion (2007 est.)

Japan
$4.384 trillion (2007 est.)

Jersey
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

Jordan
$16.01 billion (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$103.8 billion (2007 est.)

Kenya
$29.3 billion (2007 est.)

Kiribati
$67 million (2007 est.)

Korea, North
$25.96 billion (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$957.1 billion (2007 est.)

Kosovo
$3.237 billion (2007 est.)

Kuwait
$111.3 billion (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$3.748 billion (2007 est.)

Laos
$4.028 billion (2007 est.)

Latvia
$27.34 billion (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$24.64 billion (2007 est.)

Lesotho
$1.6 billion (2007 est.)

Liberia
$730 million (2007 est.)

Libya
$57.06 billion (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$36.33 billion (2007 est.)

Lithuania
$38.35 billion (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$50.16 billion (2007 est.)

Macau
$14.3 billion (2006)

Macedonia
$7.497 billion (2007 est.)

Madagascar
$7.322 billion (2007 est.)

Malawi
$3.538 billion (2007 est.)

Malaysia
$186.5 billion (2007 est.)

Maldives
$1.049 billion (2007 est.)

Mali
$6.745 billion (2007 est.)

Malta
$7.419 billion (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands
$144 million (2005)

Mauritania
$2.756 billion (2007 est.)

Mauritius
$6.959 billion (2007 est.)

Mayotte
$NA

Mexico
$893.4 billion (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$232 million (2005)

Moldova
$4.227 billion (2007 est.)

Monaco
$NA

Mongolia
$3.905 billion (2007 est.)

Montenegro
$2.974 billion (2007 est.)

Montserrat
$NA

Morocco
$73.43 billion (2007 est.)

Mozambique
$7.559 billion (2007 est.)

Namibia
$7.4 billion (2007 est.)

Nauru
$NA

Nepal
$9.627 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands
$768.7 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$NA

New Caledonia
$3.3 billion (2003 est.)

New Zealand
$128.1 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$5.723 billion (2007 est.)

Niger
$4.174 billion (2007 est.)

Nigeria
$166.8 billion (2007 est.)

Niue
$10.01 million (2003)

Northern Mariana Islands
$633.4 million (2000)

Norway
$391.5 billion (2007 est.)

Oman
$40.06 billion (2007 est.)

Pakistan
$143.8 billion (2007 est.)

Palau
$145 million (2005)

Panama
$19.74 billion (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$6.001 billion (2007 est.)

Paraguay
$10.87 billion (2007 est.)

Peru
$109.1 billion (2007 est.)

Philippines
$144.1 billion (2007 est.)

Poland
$420.3 billion (2007 est.)

Portugal
$223.3 billion (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico
$NA (2007 est.)

Qatar
$67.76 billion (2007 est.)

Romania
$166 billion (2007 est.)

Russia
$1.29 trillion (2007 est.)

Rwanda
$3.32 billion (2007 est.)

Saint Helena
$NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$527 million (2007 est.)

Saint Lucia
$958 million (2007 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$559 million (2007 est.)

Samoa
$397 million (2007 est.)

San Marino
$1.048 billion (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe
$144 million (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$376 billion (2007 est.)

Senegal
$11.12 billion (2007 est.)

Serbia
$41.68 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$710 million (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$1.664 billion (2007 est.)

Singapore
$161.3 billion (2007 est.)

Slovakia
$74.99 billion (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$46.08 billion (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands
$358 million (2007 est.)

Somalia
$2.509 billion (2007 est.)

South Africa
$282.6 billion (2007 est.)

Spain
$1.439 trillion (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$30.01 billion (2007 est.)

Sudan
$46.16 billion (2007 est.)

Suriname
$2.404 billion (2007 est.)

Swaziland
$2.936 billion (2007 est.)

Sweden
$455.3 billion (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$423.9 billion (2007 est.)

Syria
$37.76 billion (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$383.3 billion (2007 est.)

Tajikistan
$3.712 billion (2007 est.)

Tanzania
$16.18 billion (2007 est.)

Thailand
$245.7 billion (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste
$459 million (2007 est.)

Togo
$2.497 billion (2007 est.)

Tokelau
$NA

Tonga
$219 million (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
$20.7 billion (2007 est.)

Tunisia
$35.01 billion (2007 est.)

Turkey
$663.4 billion (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan
$26.91 billion (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
$NA

Tuvalu
$14.94 million (2002)

Uganda
$11.23 billion (2007 est.)

Ukraine
$140.5 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$192.6 billion (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$2.773 trillion (2007 est.)

United States
$13.84 trillion (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$22.95 billion (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan
$22.31 billion (2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$455 million (2007 est.)

Venezuela
$236.4 billion (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$70.02 billion (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$NA

Wallis and Futuna
$NA

West Bank
$5.328 billion (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
GWP (gross world product): $54.62 trillion (2007 est.)

Yemen
$21.66 billion (2007 est.)

Zambia
$11.16 billion (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$641 million
note: hyperinflation and the plunging value of the Zimbabwean dollar
makes Zimbabwe's GDP at the official exchange rate a highly
inaccurate statistic (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2196 Trafficking in persons

Albania
current situation: Albania is a source country for women and
girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation
and forced labor; it is no longer considered a major country of
transit; Albanian victims are trafficked to Greece, Italy,
Macedonia, and Kosovo, with many trafficked onward to Western
European countries; children were also trafficked to Greece for
begging and other forms of child labor; approximately half of all
Albanian trafficking victims are under age 18; internal sex
trafficking of women and children is on the rise
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Albania is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of victim
protection; the government did not appropriately identify
trafficking victims during 2007, and has not demonstrated that it is
vigorously investigating or prosecuting complicit officials (2008)

Algeria
current situation: Algeria is a transit country for men and
women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes
of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude;
Algerian children are trafficked internally for the purpose of
domestic servitude or street vending
tier rating: Tier 3 - Algeria did not report any serious law
enforcement actions to punish traffickers who force women into
commercial sexual exploitation or men into involuntary servitude in
2007; the government again reported no investigations of trafficking
of children for domestic servitude or improvements in protection
services available to victims of trafficking; Algeria still lacks
victim protection services, and its failure to distinguish between
trafficking and illegal migration may result in the punishment of
victims of trafficking (2008)

Argentina
current situation: Argentina is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; most
victims are trafficked within the country, from rural to urban
areas; child sex tourism is a problem; foreign women and children,
primarily from Paraguay, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic, are
trafficked to Argentina for commercial sexual exploitation;
Argentine women and girls are also trafficked to neighboring
countries, Mexico, and Western Europe for sexual exploitation; a
significant number of Bolivians, Peruvians, and Paraguayans are
trafficked into the country for forced labor in sweatshops,
agriculture, and as domestic servants
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - despite some progress, Argentina
remains on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for
its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human
trafficking, particularly in terms of providing adequate assistance
to victims and curbing official complicity with trafficking
activity, especially on the provincial and local levels; the
Argentine Congress has demonstrated progress by enacting much-needed
and first-ever federal anti-trafficking legislation (2008)

Armenia
current situation: Armenia is primarily a source country for
women and girls trafficked to the UAE and Turkey for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation; Armenian men and women are
trafficked to Turkey and Russia for the purpose of forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for a fourth consecutive year; its efforts to increase
compliance with the minimum standards were assessed based on its
commitments to undertake future actions, particularly in the areas
of improving victim protection and assistance; while the government
elevated anti-trafficking responsibilities to the ministerial level,
adopted a new National Action Plan, and drafted a National Referral
Mechanism, it has yet to show tangible progress in identifying and
protecting victims or in tackling trafficking complicity of
government officials; the Armenian Government made some notable
improvements in its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, but it
failed to demonstrate evidence of investigations, prosecutions,
convictions, and sentences of officials complicit in trafficking
(2008)

Azerbaijan
current situation: Azerbaijan is primarily a source and
transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women
and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the
UAE for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are
trafficked to Russia for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan
serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakhstan, and Moldova trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking in persons, particularly efforts to investigate,
prosecute, and punish traffickers; to address complicity among law
enforcement personnel; and to adequately identify and protect
victims in Azerbaijan; the government has yet to develop a
much-needed mechanism to identify potential trafficking victims and
refer them to safety and care; poor treatment of trafficking victims
in courtrooms continues to be a problem (2008)

Bahrain
current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men
and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and
commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South
Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as
laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of
involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of passports,
restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and
physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand, Morocco, Eastern
Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose
of commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat human
trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against
trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims
of trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law
prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also
established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry
of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the
government did not report any prosecutions or convictions for
trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial
problem of involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008)

Burma
current situation: Burma is a source country for women,
children, and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and
commercial sexual exploitation; Burmese women and children are
trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual
exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor; Burmese children
are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers,
beggars, and for work in shops, agriculture, fish processing, and
small-scale industries; women are trafficked for commercial sexual
exploitation to Malaysia and China; some trafficking victims transit
Burma from Bangladesh to Malaysia and from China to Thailand;
internal trafficking occurs primarily from villages to urban centers
and economic hubs for labor in industrial zones, agricultural
estates, and commercial sexual exploitation; military and civilian
officials continue to use a significant amount of forced labor;
ethnic insurgent groups also used compulsory labor of adults and
unlawful recruitment of children; the military junta's gross
economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and its policy of using
forced labor are the top causal factors for Burma's significant
trafficking problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; military and civilian officials remain
directly involved in significant acts of forced labor and unlawful
conscription of child soldiers (2008)

Burundi
current situation: Burundi is a source country for children
trafficked for the purposes of child soldiering, domestic servitude,
and commercial sexual exploitation; a small number of Burundian
children may be trafficked internally for domestic servitude or
commercial sexual exploitation; in early 2008, Burundian children
were allegedly trafficked to Uganda, via Rwanda, for agricultural
labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Burundi is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for the second consecutive year for its failure to provide
sufficient evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in
persons in 2007; the government's inability to provide adequate
protective services to children accused of association with armed
groups and to conduct anti-trafficking law enforcement activities
continue to be causes for concern; Burundi has not ratified the 2000
UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Cameroon
current situation: Cameroon is a source, transit, and
destination country for women and children trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; most
victims are children trafficked within country, with girls primarily
trafficked for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; both boys
and girls are also trafficked within Cameroon for forced labor in
sweatshops, bars, restaurants, and on tea and cocoa plantations;
children are trafficked into Cameroon from neighboring states for
forced labor in agriculture, fishing, street vending, and
spare-parts shops; Cameroon is a transit country for children
trafficked between Gabon and Nigeria, and from Nigeria to Saudi
Arabia; it is a source country for women transported by
sex-trafficking rings to Europe
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cameroon is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts
to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; while Cameroon
reported some arrests of traffickers, none of them were prosecuted
or punished; the government does not identify trafficking victims
among vulnerable populations nor does it monitor the number of
victims it intercepts (2008)

Central African Republic
current situation: Central African Republic
is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and
children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual
exploitation; the majority of victims are children trafficked within
the country for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, street
vending, and forced agricultural, mine, market and restaurant labor;
to a lesser extent, children are trafficked from the Central African
Republic to Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo;
rebels conscript children into armed forces within the country
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Central African Republic is on the
Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for its failure to
show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in 2007;
efforts to address trafficking through vigorous law enforcement
measures and victim protection efforts were minimal, though
awareness about trafficking appeared to be increasing in the
country; the government does not actively investigate cases, work to
identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, or rescue
and provide care to victims; the government has not taken measures
to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)

Chad
current situation: Chad is a source, transit, and destination
country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and
commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of children are
trafficked within Chad for involuntary domestic servitude, forced
cattle herding, forced begging, forced labor in petty commerce or
the fishing industry, or for commercial sexual exploitation; to a
lesser extent, Chadian children are also trafficked to Cameroon, the
Central African Republic, and Nigeria for cattle herding; children
may also be trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African
Republic to Chad's oil producing regions for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Chad is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
human trafficking in 2007; Chad was destabilized during 2007 by
civil conflict leading to a declared state of emergency in February
2008, and a steady influx of refugees fleeing Sudan and the Central
African Republic; the government demonstrated insufficient overall
efforts to combat trafficking; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol (2008)

China
current situation: China is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; the majority of trafficking in
China occurs within the country's borders, but there is also
considerable international trafficking of Chinese citizens to
Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North
America; Chinese women are lured abroad through false promises of
legitimate employment, only to be forced into commercial sexual
exploitation, largely in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan;
women and children are trafficked to China from Mongolia, Burma,
North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam for forced labor, marriage, and
prostitution; some North Korean women and children seeking to leave
their country voluntarily cross the border into China and are then
sold into prostitution, marriage, or forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for the fourth consecutive year for its failure to provide evidence
of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in
terms of punishment of trafficking crimes and the protection of
Chinese and foreign victims of trafficking; victims are sometimes
punished for unlawful acts that were committed as a direct result of
their being trafficked, such as violations of prostitution or
immigration/emigration controls; the Chinese Government continued to
treat North Korean victims of trafficking solely as economic
migrants, routinely deporting them back to horrendous conditions in
North Korea; additional challenges facing the Chinese Government
include the enormous size of its trafficking problem and the
significant level of corruption and complicity in trafficking by
some local government officials (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the current situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; much of this trafficking occurs within the country's unstable eastern provinces and is perpetrated by armed groups outside government control tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Democratic Republic of the Congo is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; while some significant initial advances were noted, the government's capacity to apprehend, convict, or imprison traffickers remained weak; the government lacks sufficient financial, technical, and human resources to effectively address not only trafficking crimes, but also to provide basic levels of security in some parts of the country (2008)

Congo, Republic of the
current situation: Republic of the Congo is a
source and destination country for children trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; girls
are trafficked from rural areas within the country for commercial
sexual exploitation, forced street vending, and domestic servitude;
children are trafficked from other African countries for domestic
servitude, forced market vending, and forced labor in the fishing
industry
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Republic of the Congo is on the
Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing
efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; struggling to
recover from six years of civil conflict that ended in 2003, the
Republic of the Congo's capacity to address trafficking is
handicapped; the government neither monitors its borders for
trafficking activity nor provides specialized anti-trafficking
training for law enforcement officials; the government does not
encourage victims to assist in trafficking investigations or
prosecutions, and has not taken measures to reduce demand for
commercial sex acts in the Republic of the Congo (2008)

Costa Rica
current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women
and girls from neighboring states, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the
Philippines are trafficked into the country for sexual exploitation;
Costa Rica also serves as a transit point for victims trafficked to
North America and Europe; the government identifies child sex
tourism as a serious problem; men, women, and children are also
trafficked within the country for forced labor in fishing and
construction, and as domestic servants
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Costa Rica is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of its failure to
improve its inadequate assistance to victims; while Costa Rican
officials recognize human trafficking as a serious problem, the lack
of a stronger response by the government is of concern (2008)

Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for forced labor and
commercial sexual exploitation; trafficking within the country is
more prevalent than international trafficking and the majority of
victims are children; women and girls are trafficked from northern
areas to southern cities for domestic servitude, restaurant labor,
and sexual exploitation; boys are trafficked internally for
agricultural and service labor and transnationally for forced labor
in agriculture, mining, construction, and in the fishing industry;
women and girls are trafficked to and from other West and Central
African countries for domestic servitude and forced street vending
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cote d'Ivoire is on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking in 2007, particularly with regard to its
law enforcement efforts and protection of sex trafficking victims;
in addition, Ivoirian law does not prohibit all forms of
trafficking, and Cote d'Ivoire has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol (2008)

Cuba
current situation: Cuba is principally a source country for
women and children trafficked within the country for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation and possibly for forced labor; the
country is a destination for sex tourism, including child sex
tourism, which is a problem in many areas of the country; some Cuban
nationals willingly migrate to the United States, but are
subsequently exploited for forced labor by their smugglers; Cuba is
also a transit point for the smuggling of migrants from China, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, Lebanon, and other nations to the United States
and Canada
tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; exact information about trafficking in
Cuba is difficult to obtain because the government does not
acknowledge or condemn human trafficking as a problem in Cuba;
tangible efforts to prosecute offenders, protect victims, or prevent
human trafficking activity do not appear to have been made during
2007; Cuba has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Cyprus
current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country
for a large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central
Europe, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose
of sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently
recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on
short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment
visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for a third consecutive year for failure to show evidence of
increasing efforts to combat human trafficking during 2007; although
Cyprus passed a new trafficking law and opened a government
trafficking shelter, these efforts are outweighed by its failure to
show tangible and critically needed progress in the areas of law
enforcement, victim protection, and the prevention of trafficking
(2008)

Dominican Republic
current situation: the Dominican Republic is a
source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and
children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual
exploitation and forced labor; a large number of Dominican women are
trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western
Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and Caribbean
destinations; a significant number of women, boys, and girls are
trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic
servitude
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, the
Dominican Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to
show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking,
particularly in terms of not adequately investigating and
prosecuting public officials who may be complicit with trafficking
activity, and inadequate government efforts to protect trafficking
victims; the government has taken measures to reduce demand for
commercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions
(2008)

Egypt
current situation: Egypt is a transit country for women
trafficked from Eastern European countries to Israel for sexual
exploitation, and is a source for children trafficked within the
country for commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude,
although the extent to which children are trafficked internally is
unknown; children were also recruited for domestic and agricultural
work; some of these children face conditions of involuntary
servitude, such as restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages,
threats, and physical or sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Egypt is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for the third year in a row because it did not provide evidence of
increasing efforts to investigate and prosecute traffickers;
however, in July 2007, the government established the "National
Coordinating Committee to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in
Persons," which improved inter-governmental coordination on
anti-trafficking initiatives; Egypt made no discernible efforts to
punish trafficking crimes in 2007 and the Egyptian penal code does
not prohibit all forms of trafficking; Egypt did not increase its
services to trafficking victims during the reporting period (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily
a destination country for children trafficked for the purpose of
forced labor and possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation;
children have been trafficked from nearby countries for domestic
servitude, market labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual
exploitation; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from
Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting
and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize
mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government
made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation,
it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in
2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures
for providing care to victims (2008)

Fiji
current situation: Fiji is a source country for children
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and a
destination country for a small number of women from China and India
trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Fiji does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; the government has demonstrated no
action to investigate or prosecute traffickers, assist victims, take
steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts, or support any
anti-trafficking information or education campaigns; Fiji has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Gabon
current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination
country for children trafficked from other African countries for the
purpose of forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic
servitude, forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and
sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street
hawking and forced labor in small workshops
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to
convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not
reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders;
the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial
sex acts (2008)

Gambia, The
current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and
destination country for children and women trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; women
and girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are trafficked for sexual
exploitation - in particular to meet the demand for European sex
tourism - and for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked within the
country for forced begging and street vending; Gambian women and
children may be trafficked to Europe through trafficking schemes
disguised as migrant smuggling
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, The
Gambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide
evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking; The Gambia
failed to report any trafficking arrests, prosecutions, or
convictions in 2007, and the government demonstrated weak victim
protection efforts during the reporting period (2008)

Guatemala
current situation: Guatemala is a source, transit, and
destination country for Guatemalans and Central Americans trafficked
for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor;
human trafficking is a significant and growing problem in the
country; Guatemalan women and children are trafficked within the
country for commercial sexual exploitation, primarily to Mexico and
the United States; Guatemalan men, women, and children are also
trafficked within the country, and to Mexico and the United States,
for forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year,
Guatemala is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide
evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons,
particularly with respect to ensuring that trafficking offenders are
appropriately prosecuted for their crimes; while prosecutors
initiated trafficking prosecutions, they continued to face problems
in court with application of Guatemala's comprehensive
anti-trafficking law; the government made modest improvements to its
protection efforts, but assistance remained inadequate overall in
2007 (2008)

Guinea
current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of
victims are children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent
than transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are
trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation,
while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as
forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold
and diamond mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for
agricultural labor within Guinea; transnationally, girls are
trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law
enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection
efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not
report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a lack of
resources, the government does not provide shelter services for
trafficking victims; the government took no measures to reduce the
demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)

Guinea-Bissau
current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country
for children trafficked primarily for forced begging and forced
agricultural labor to other West African countries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second year in a row,
Guinea-Bissau is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to combat
severe forms of trafficking in persons, as evidenced by the
continued failure to pass an anti-trafficking law and inadequate
efforts to investigate or prosecute trafficking crimes or convict
and punish trafficking offenders (2008)

Guyana
current situation: Guyana is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; most
trafficking appears to take place in remote mining camps in the
country's interior; some women and girls are trafficked from
northern Brazil; reporting from other nations suggests Guyanese
women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation to
neighboring countries and Guyanese men and boys are subject to labor
exploitation in construction and agriculture; trafficking victims
from Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela transit Guyana en route to
Caribbean destinations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year,
Guyana is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking, particularly in the
area of law enforcement actions against trafficking offenders; the
government has yet to produce an anti-trafficking conviction under
the comprehensive Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, which
became law in 2005; the government operates no shelters for
trafficking victims, but did include limited funding for
anti-trafficking NGOs in its 2008 budget; the government did not
make any effort to reduce demand for commercial sex acts during 2007
(2008)

India
current situation: India is a source, destination, and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; internal forced
labor may constitute India's largest trafficking problem; men,
women, and children are held in debt bondage and face forced labor
working in brick kilns, rice mills, agriculture, and embroidery
factories; women and girls are trafficked within the country for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriage;
children are subjected to forced labor as factory workers, domestic
servants, beggars, and agriculture workers, and have been used as
armed combatants by some terrorist and insurgent groups; India is
also a destination for women and girls from Nepal and Bangladesh
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Indian
women are trafficked to the Middle East for commercial sexual
exploitation; men and women from Bangladesh and Nepal are trafficked
through India for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation in
the Middle East
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - India is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for a fifth consecutive year for its failure to provide evidence of
increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; despite the
reported extent of the trafficking crisis in India, government
authorities made uneven efforts to prosecute traffickers and protect
trafficking victims; government authorities continued to rescue
victims of commercial sexual exploitation and forced child labor and
child armed combatants, and began to show progress in law
enforcement against these forms of trafficking; a critical challenge
overall is the lack of punishment for traffickers, effectively
resulting in impunity for acts of human trafficking; India has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Iran
current situation: Iran is a source, transit, and destination
country for women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation
and involuntary servitude; Iranian women are trafficked internally
for the purpose of forced prostitution and for forced marriages to
settle debts; Iranian children are trafficked internally and Afghan
children are trafficked into Iran for the purpose of forced
marriages, commercial sexual exploitation, and involuntary servitude
as beggars or laborers
tier rating: Tier 3 - Iran did not provide evidence of law
enforcement activities against trafficking, and credible reports
indicate that Iranian authorities punish victims of trafficking with
beatings, imprisonment, and execution; Iran has not ratified the
2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Jordan
current situation: Jordan is a destination and transit
country for women and men from South and Southeast Asia trafficked
for the purpose of forced labor; Jordan is also a destination for
women from Eastern Europe and Morocco for prostitution; women from
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines migrate
willingly to work as domestic servants, but some are subjected to
conditions of forced labor, including unlawful withholding of
passports, restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats,
and physical or sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Jordan is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of law
enforcement against trafficking for forced labor; the government
made minimal efforts to investigate or prosecute numerous
allegations related to exploitation of foreign domestic workers;
Jordan failed for a second year to criminally prosecute and punish
those who committed acts of forced labor; Jordan also continues to
lack victim protection services; Jordan has not ratified the 2000 UN
TIP Protocol (2008)

Korea, North
current situation: North Korea is a source country for
men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor
and commercial sexual exploitation; the most common form of
trafficking involves North Korean women and girls who cross the
border into China voluntarily; additionally, North Korean women and
girls are lured out of North Korea to escape poor social and
economic conditions by the promise of food, jobs, and freedom, only
to be forced into prostitution, marriage, or exploitative labor
arrangements once in China
tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; the government does not acknowledge
the existence of human rights abuses in the country or recognize
trafficking, either within the country or transnationally; North
Korea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Kuwait
current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men
and women who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for
domestic or low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of
involuntary servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of
physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the
home, and withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of
movement; Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East
Asian workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these
workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this
work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude in Iraq
tier rating: Tier 3 - insufficient efforts in 2007 to prosecute and
punish abusive employers and those who traffic women for sexual
exploitation; the government failed for the fourth year in a row to
live up to promises to provide shelter and protective services for
victims of involuntary domestic servitude and other forms of
trafficking (2008)

Libya
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country
for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for
the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly
in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses;
Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or
punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)

Malaysia
current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a
lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and
men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a
destination country for men, women, and children who migrate
willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are
subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian
employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation,
and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women,
primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia improved from Tier 3 to
the Tier 2 Watch List for 2008 when it enacted comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation in July 2007; however, it did not take
action against exploitative employers or labor traffickers in 2007;
the government has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Moldova
current situation: Moldova is a major source and, to a
lesser extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for
the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are
trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe;
girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural
areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring
countries for forced labor and begging; labor trafficking of men to
work in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Russia
is increasingly a problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Moldova does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; the government failed to follow-up on
allegations of officials complicit in trafficking cited in the 2007
Report, and it did not demonstrate proactive efforts to identify
trafficking victims (2008)

Montenegro
current situation: Montenegro is primarily a transit
country for the trafficking of women and girls to Western Europe for
the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls from
the Balkans and Eastern Europe are trafficked across Montenegro to
Western European countries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Montenegro is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking in persons in 2007; public attention to the issue
of trafficking has diminished considerably in Montenegro in recent
years (2008)

Mozambique
current situation: Mozambique is a source and, to a much
lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children
trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation;
the use of forced and bonded child laborers is a common practice in
Mozambique's rural areas; women and girls are trafficked from rural
to urban areas of Mozambique, as well as to South Africa, for
domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; young men and
boys are trafficked to South Africa for farm work and mining
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second consecutive year,
Mozambique is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide
evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007;
while the government conducted investigations into cases of human
trafficking, there were no prosecutions or convictions of
traffickers; government efforts to protect victims of trafficking
continued to suffer from limited resources and a lack of political
commitment (2008)

Niger
current situation: Niger is a source, transit, and destination
country for children and women trafficked for forced labor and
sexual exploitation; caste-based slavery practices, rooted in
ancestral master-slave relationships, continue in isolated areas of
the country - an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 Nigeriens live under
conditions of traditional slavery; children are trafficked within
Niger for forced begging, forced labor in gold mines, domestic
servitude, sexual exploitation, and possibly for forced labor in
agriculture and stone quarries; women and children from neighboring
states are trafficked to and through Niger for domestic servitude,
sexual exploitation, forced labor in mines and on farms, and as
mechanics and welders
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Niger is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
eliminate trafficking in 2007; in particular, measures to combat and
eliminate traditional slavery practices were weak; the government's
overall law enforcement efforts have stalled from 2006; while
efforts to protect child trafficking victims were steady, the
government failed to provide services to or rescue adult victims
subjected to traditional slavery practices, and made poor efforts to
educate the public about traditional slavery practices in general
(2008)

Oman
current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and
women primarily from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who
migrate willingly, but some of whom become victims of trafficking
when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic
workers and laborers; mistreatment includes non-payment of wages,
restrictions on movement and withholding of passports, threats, and
physical or sexual abuse; Oman may also be a destination country for
women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for commercial
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Oman was rated as Tier 3 for the second
consecutive year because it did not report any law enforcement
efforts to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses in 2007 and
continues to lack victim protection services or a systematic
procedure to identify victims of trafficking (2008)

Panama
current situation: Panama is a source, transit, and
destination country for women and children trafficked for the
purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of victims
are Panamanian women and children trafficked within the country into
the sex trade; rural children in Panama may be trafficked internally
to urban areas for labor exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Panama is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human
trafficking, particularly with respect to prosecuting, convicting,
and sentencing human traffickers for their crimes, and for failing
to provide adequate victim assistance (2008)

Papua New Guinea
current situation: Papua New Guinea is a country of
destination for women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines,
Thailand, and China trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual
exploitation; internal trafficking of women and children for the
purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude
occurs as well
tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the current legal framework
does not contain elements of crimes that characterize trafficking;
the government lacks victim protection services or a systematic
procedure to identify victims of trafficking; the government did not
prosecute anyone in 2007 for trafficking; Papua New Guinea has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Qatar
current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and
women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are
subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic
workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual
exploitation; the most common offense was forcing workers to accept
worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited;
other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay,
restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental,
and sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 3 - Qatar failed, for the second consecutive year,
to enforce criminal laws against traffickers, or to provide an
effective mechanism to identify and protect victims; it continues to
detain and deport victims rather than providing them protection; the
government made little progress to increase prosecutions for
trafficking in a meaningful way in 2007; workers complaining of
working conditions or non-payment of wages were sometimes penalized
(2008)

Russia
current situation: Russia is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for
various purposes; it remains a significant source of women
trafficked to over 50 countries for commercial sexual exploitation;
Russia is also a transit and destination country for men and women
trafficked from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Korea to
Central and Western Europe and the Middle East for purposes of
forced labor and sexual exploitation; internal trafficking remains a
problem in Russia with women trafficked from rural areas to urban
centers for commercial sexual exploitation, and men trafficked
internally and from Central Asia for forced labor in the
construction and agricultural industries; debt bondage is common
among trafficking victims, and child sex tourism remains a concern
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Russia is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for a fifth consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of
increasing efforts to combat trafficking over the previous year,
particularly in providing assistance to victims of trafficking;
comprehensive trafficking victim assistance legislation, which would
address key deficiencies, has been pending before the Duma since
2003 and was neither passed nor enacted in 2007 (2008)

Saudi Arabia
current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination
country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected
to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being
subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages,
confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their
movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some
are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help;
Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni,
Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked
for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some
Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for
commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to
lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of
widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal
prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking
crimes committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)

South Africa
current situation: South Africa is a source, transit,
and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for
forced labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked
internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for
sexual exploitation; women from other African countries are
trafficked to South Africa and, less frequently, onward to Europe
for sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked from
neighboring countries for forced agricultural labor; Asian and
Eastern European women are trafficked to South Africa for
debt-bonded sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - South Africa is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for a fourth consecutive year for its failure to show
increasing efforts to address trafficking; the government provided
inadequate data in 2007 on trafficking crimes investigated or
prosecuted, or on resulting convictions or sentences; it also did
not provide information on its efforts to protect victims of
trafficking; the country continues to deport and/or prosecute
suspected foreign victims without providing appropriate protective
services (2008)

Sri Lanka
current situation: Sri Lanka is a source and destination
country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary
servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; Sri Lankan men and
women migrate willingly to the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and East
Asia to work as construction workers, domestic servants, or garment
factory workers, where some find themselves in situations of
involuntary servitude when faced with restrictions on movement,
withholding of passports, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and
debt bondage; children are trafficked internally for commercial
sexual exploitation and, less frequently, for forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, Sri
Lanka is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of
increasing efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking,
particularly in the area of law enforcement; the government failed
to arrest, prosecute, or convict any person for trafficking offenses
and continued to punish some victims of trafficking for crimes
committed as a result of being trafficked; Sri Lanka has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Sudan
current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women,
and children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor
and sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit and destination
country for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic
servitude; Sudanese women and girls are trafficked within the
country, as well as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for
domestic servitude; the terrorist rebel organization, Lord's
Resistance Army, continues to harbor small numbers of Sudanese and
Ugandan children in the southern part of the country for use as
cooks, porters, and combatants; some of these children are also
trafficked across borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of
the Congo; militia groups in Darfur, some of which are linked to the
government, abduct women for short periods of forced labor and to
perpetrate sexual violence; during the two decades-long north-south
civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and
subsequently enslaved by members of the Missiriya and Rezeigat
tribes; while there have been no known new abductions of Dinka by
members of Baggara tribes in the last few years, inter-tribal
abductions continue in southern Sudan
tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; combating human trafficking through
law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the
government in 2007 (2008)

Syria
current situation: Syria is a destination and transit country
for women and children trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation
and forced labor; a significant number of women and children in the
large and expanding Iraqi refugee community in Syria are reportedly
forced into commercial sexual exploitation by Iraqi gangs or, in
some cases, their families; women from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the
Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone are recruited for work in
Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions of involuntary
servitude, including long hours, non-payment of wages, withholding
of passports, restrictions on movement, threats, and physical or
sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 3 - Syria again failed to report any law
enforcement efforts to punish trafficking offenses in 2007; in
addition, the government did not offer protection services to
victims of trafficking and may have arrested, prosecuted, or
deported some victims for prostitution or immigration violations;
Syria has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Tajikistan
current situation: Tajikistan is a source country for
women trafficked through Kyrgyzstan and Russia to the UAE, Turkey,
and Russia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men
are trafficked to Russia and Kazakhstan for the purpose of forced
labor, primarily in the construction and agricultural industries;
boys and girls are trafficked internally for various purposes,
including forced labor and forced begging
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Tajikistan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking, especially efforts to investigate,
prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers; despite evidence of
low- and mid-level officials' complicity in trafficking, the
government did not punish any public officials for trafficking
complicity during 2007; lack of capacity and poor coordination
between government institutions remained key obstacles to effective
anti-trafficking efforts (2008)

Uzbekistan
current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for
women and girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, Middle East, and
Asia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are
trafficked to Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in
the construction, cotton, and tobacco industries; men and women are
also trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude,
forced labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and
for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat severe forms of trafficking in 2007; the government did not
amend its criminal code to increase penalties for convicted
traffickers; in March 2008, Uzbekistan adopted ILO Conventions on
minimum age of employment and on the elimination of the worst forms
of child labor and is working with the ILO on implementation; the
government also demonstrated its increasing commitment to combat
trafficking in March 2008 by adopting a comprehensive
anti-trafficking law; Uzbekistan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol (2008)

Venezuela
current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor;
Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for
sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to urban and
tourist areas; child prostitution in urban areas and child sex
tourism in resort destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan
women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to
Western Europe, Mexico, and Caribbean destinations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Venezuela is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List, up from Tier 3, as it showed greater resolve to address
trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention efforts
in 2007, although stringent punishment of offenders and victim
assistance remain lacking (2008)

World
current situation: approximately 800,000 people, mostly women
and children, are trafficked annually across national borders, not
including millions trafficked within their own countries; at least
80% of the victims are female and up to 50% are minors; 75% of all
victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation; almost
two-thirds of the global victims are trafficked intra-regionally
within East Asia and the Pacific (260,000 to 280,000 people) and
Europe and Eurasia (170,000 to 210,000 people)
Tier 2 Watch List: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain,
Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Jordan, Libya,
Malaysia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Niger, Panama, Republic of the
Congo, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Tier 3: Algeria, Burma, Cuba, Fiji, Iran, Kuwait, Moldova, North
Korea, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria
(2008)

Zambia
current situation: Zambia is a source, transit, and
destination country for women and children trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; many Zambian child
laborers, particularly those in the agriculture, domestic service,
and fishing sectors, are also victims of human trafficking; Zambian
women, lured by false employment or marriage offers abroad, are
trafficked to South Africa via Zimbabwe and to Europe via Malawi for
sexual exploitation; Zambia is a transit point for regional
trafficking of women and children, particularly from Angola to
Namibia and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to South
Africa for agricultural labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Zambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for failing to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
severe forms of trafficking, particularly in regard to its inability
to bring alleged traffickers to justice through prosecutions and
convictions; unlike 2006, there were no new prosecutions or
convictions of alleged traffickers in 2007; government efforts to
protect victims of trafficking remained extremely limited throughout
the year (2008)

Zimbabwe
current situation: Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; large scale
migration of Zimbabweans to surrounding countries - as they flee a
progressively more desperate situation at home - has increased;
rural Zimbabwean men, women, and children are trafficked internally
to farms for agricultural labor and domestic servitude and to cities
for domestic labor and commercial sexual exploitation; young men and
boys are trafficked to South Africa for farm work, often laboring
for months in South Africa without pay before "employers" have them
arrested and deported as illegal immigrants; young women and girls
are lured abroad with false employment offers that result in
involuntary domestic servitude or commercial sexual exploitation;
men, women, and children from neighboring states are trafficked
through Zimbabwe en route to South Africa
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Zimbabwe is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat severe forms of human trafficking, and because the absolute
number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is significantly
increasing; the trafficking situation in the country is worsening as
more of the population is made vulnerable by declining
socio-economic conditions (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2198 Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

Algeria
$12.04 billion (2007 est.)

Angola
$17.23 billion (2007 est.)

Argentina
$65.31 billion (2007 est.)

Australia
$315 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$222.9 billion (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$7.829 billion (2007 est.)

Bahrain
$13.31 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$4.971 billion (2007 est.)

Belgium
$678.2 billion (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$NA

Bolivia
$6.88 billion (31 December 2004)

Brazil
$248.9 billion (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
$33.91 billion (2007 est.)

Canada
$527.4 billion (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$NA

Chad
$4.5 billion (2006 est.)

Chile
$91.49 billion (2007 est.)

China
$758.9 billion (2007 est.)

Colombia
$56.19 billion (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
$8.53 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$NA

Croatia
$23.13 billion (2007 est.)

Cuba
$11.24 billion (2006 est.)

Cyprus
$13.36 billion (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$86.75 billion (2007 est.)

Denmark
$149.7 billion (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
$12.75 billion (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$16.31 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$48.46 billion (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$5.918 billion (2007 est.)

Estonia
$16.59 billion (2007 est.)

Fiji
$NA

Finland
$85.24 billion (2007 est.)

France
$942.3 billion (2007 est.)

Germany
$855.8 billion (2007 est.)

Ghana
$NA

Greece
$52.84 billion (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$1.185 trillion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$108.6 billion (2007 est.)

Iceland
$NA

India
$95.96 billion (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$57.6 billion (2007 est.)

Iran
$6.026 billion (2007 est.)

Ireland
$191.4 billion (2007 est.)

Israel
$57.97 billion (2007 est.)

Italy
$364.8 billion (2007 est.)

Japan
$110.8 billion (2007 est.)

Jordan
$18.18 billion (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$40.16 billion (2007 est.)

Kenya
$1.249 billion (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$119.6 billion (2007 est.)

Kuwait
$898 million (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$NA

Latvia
$8.62 billion (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$NA

Liberia
$NA

Libya
$6.286 billion (2007 est.)

Lithuania
$14.63 billion (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$NA

Macau
$6.5 billion (2006)

Macedonia
$2.405 billion (2007 est.)

Madagascar
$NA

Malawi
$NA

Malaysia
$86.16 billion (2007 est.)

Malta
$NA

Mauritius
$NA

Mexico
$260.9 billion (2007 est.)

Moldova
$NA

Mongolia
$NA

Morocco
$32.9 billion (2007 est.)

Namibia
$NA

Nepal
$NA

Netherlands
$673.4 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$NA

New Zealand
$71.31 billion (2007 est.)

Nigeria
$33.64 billion (2007 est.)

Norway
$62.63 billion (2007 est.)

Oman
$NA

Pakistan
$20.01 billion (2007 est.)

Panama
$NA

Papua New Guinea
$NA

Paraguay
$2.057 million (2007)

Peru
$24.72 billion (2007 est.)

Philippines
$19.88 billion (2007 est.)

Poland
$143 billion (2007 est.)

Portugal
$91.19 billion (2007 est.)

Qatar
$11.18 billion (2007 est.)

Romania
$60.82 billion (2007 est.)

Russia
$271.6 billion (2006)

Saudi Arabia
$NA

Serbia
$11.95 billion (2006 est.)

Singapore
$214.5 billion (2007 est.)

Slovakia
$45.25 billion (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$10.41 billion (2007 est.)

South Africa
$93.51 billion (2007 est.)

Spain
$568.8 billion (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$NA

Swaziland
$NA

Sweden
$216.6 billion (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$306.4 billion (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$92.83 billion (2007)

Tanzania
$NA

Thailand
$80.83 billion (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
$12.44 billion (2007)

Tunisia
$26.22 billion (2007 est.)

Turkey
$106.4 billion (2007 est.)

Uganda
$NA

Ukraine
$31.08 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$44.37 billion (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$1.288 trillion (2007 est.)

United States
$2.093 trillion (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$4.19 billion (2007)

Uzbekistan
$NA

Venezuela
$43.96 billion (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$32.74 billion (2007 est.)

World
World total DFI $14 trillion
top ten recipients of DFI: US $1.966 trillion; UK $1.324 trillion;
France $872.4 billion; Germany $811.0 billion; HK $780.4 billion;
China $758.9 billion; Belgium $703.9 billion; Netherlands $535.1
billion; Canada $527.4 billion; Spain $487.8 billion (year-end 2007
est.)

Zambia
$NA

Zimbabwe
$NA

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2199 Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

Algeria
$851 million (2007 est.)

Angola
$227 million (2006 est.)

Argentina
$26.26 billion (2007 est.)

Australia
$280.6 billion (2007 est.)

Austria
$208.1 billion (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan
$4.912 billion (2007 est.)

Bahrain
$7.72 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh
$104 million (2007 est.)

Belgium
$540.1 billion (2007 est.)

Bermuda
$NA

Bolivia
$NA

Brazil
$107.1 billion (2007 est.)

Bulgaria
$559 million (2007 est.)

Canada
$514.7 billion (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands
$NA

Chad
$NA

Chile
$24.68 billion (2007 est.)

China
$93.75 billion ( 2007 est.)

Colombia
$10.38 billion (2007 est.)

Costa Rica
$490 million (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$NA

Croatia
$3.161 billion (2007 est.)

Cuba
$4.138 billion (2006 est.)

Cyprus
$5.419 billion (2007 est.)

Czech Republic
$6.058 billion (2007 est.)

Denmark
$166.6 billion (2007 est.)

Dominican Republic
$59 million (2007 est.)

Ecuador
$1.456 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt
$1.295 billion (2007 est.)

El Salvador
$384 million (2007 est.)

Estonia
$5.873 billion (2007 est.)

Fiji
$NA

Finland
$113 billion (2007 est.)

France
$1.307 trillion (2007 est.)

Germany
$1.218 trillion (2007 est.)

Ghana
$NA

Greece
$30.8 billion (2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$1.027 trillion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$45.54 billion (2007 est.)

Iceland
$NA

India
$37.5 billion (2007 est.)

Indonesia
$9.225 billion (2006 est.)

Iran
$903 million (2007 est.)

Ireland
$139.6 billion (2007 est.)

Israel
$41.96 billion (2007 est.)

Italy
$520.1 billion (2007 est.)

Japan
$533.1 billion (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$3.97 billion (September 2007)

Kenya
$47 million (2007 est.)

Korea, South
$82.1 billion (2006)

Kuwait
$24.22 billion (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$NA

Latvia
$699 million (2007 est.)

Lebanon
$NA

Liberia
$NA

Libya
$3.333 billion (2007 est.)

Lithuania
$1.642 billion (2007 est.)

Luxembourg
$NA

Macau
$1.1 billion (2006)

Macedonia
$NA

Madagascar
$NA

Malawi
$NA

Malaysia
$42.55 billion (2007 est.)

Malta
$NA

Mauritius
$NA

Mexico
$39.01 billion (2007 est.)

Moldova
$NA

Mongolia
$NA

Morocco
$882 million (2006 est.)

Namibia
$NA

Nepal
$NA

Netherlands
$851.3 billion (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$NA

New Zealand
$NA

Nigeria
$12.63 billion (2007 est.)

Norway
$126.1 billion (2007 est.)

Oman
$NA

Pakistan
$982 million (2007 est.)

Panama
$NA

Papua New Guinea
$NA

Paraguay
$NA

Peru
$1.476 billion (2007 est.)

Philippines
$5.584 billion (2007 est.)

Poland
$19.69 billion (2007 est.)

Portugal
$54.85 billion (2007 est.)

Qatar
$5.625 billion (2007 est.)

Romania
$915 million (2007 est.)

Russia
$209.6 billion (2006)

Saudi Arabia
$NA

Serbia
$NA

Singapore
$111.2 billion (2005)

Slovakia
$1.509 billion (2007 est.)

Slovenia
$6.127 billion (2007 est.)

South Africa
$53.98 billion (2007 est.)

Spain
$681.7 billion (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka
$NA

Swaziland
$NA

Sweden
$261.5 billion (2007 est.)

Switzerland
$605.6 billion (2007 est.)

Taiwan
$108.9 billion (2007)

Tanzania
$NA

Thailand
$7.013 billion (2007 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
$1.419 billion (2007)

Tunisia
$118 million (2007 est.)

Turkey
$11.35 billion (2007 est.)

Uganda
$NA

Ukraine
$895 million (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates
$14.14 billion (2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$1.707 trillion (2007 est.)

United States
$2.791 trillion (2007 est.)

Uruguay
$156 million (2007)

Uzbekistan
$NA

Venezuela
$13.81 billion (2007 est.)

Vietnam
$NA

World
World total DFI $14 trillion
top ten sources of DFI: US $2.627 trillion; UK $1.741 trillion;
France $1.211 trillion; Germany $1.123 trillion; Netherlands $811.4
billion; HK $716.2 billion; Spain $613.9 billion; Switzerland $591.5
billion; Belgium $537.6 billion; Japan $527.8 billion (year-end 2007
est.)

Zambia
$NA

Zimbabwe
$NA

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2200 Market value of publicly traded shares

Afghanistan
$NA

Albania
$NA

Algeria
$NA

Argentina
$79.73 billion (2006)

Armenia
$42.8 million (2005)

Australia
$804.1 billion (2005)

Austria
$126.3 billion (2005)

Azerbaijan
$NA

Bahamas, The
$NA

Bahrain
$21.12 billion (2006)

Bangladesh
$3.61 billion (2006)

Barbados
$5.513 billion (2005)

Belarus
$NA

Belgium
$422.7 billion (2006)

Belize
$NA

Benin
$NA

Bermuda
$2.125 billion (2005)

Bhutan
$NA

Bolivia
$2.2 billion (2005)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$NA

Botswana
$3.947 billion (2006)

Brazil
$711.1 billion (2006)

Brunei
$NA

Bulgaria
$10.32 billion (2006)

Burkina Faso
$NA

Burma
$NA

Burundi
$NA

Cambodia
$NA

Cameroon
$NA

Canada
$1.481 trillion (2005)

Cayman Islands
$130 million (2005)

Central African Republic
$NA

Chad
$NA

Chile
$174.6 billion (2006)

China
$4.477 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Colombia
$56.2 billion (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$NA

Congo, Republic of the
$NA

Costa Rica
$1.478 billion (2005)

Cote d'Ivoire
$4.155 billion (2006)

Croatia
$29.01 billion (2006)

Cyprus
$48.2 billion (2005)

Czech Republic
$48.6 billion (2006)

Denmark
$178 billion (2005)

Dominican Republic
$NA

Ecuador
$4.04 billion (2006)

Egypt
$93.48 billion (2006)

El Salvador
$3.623 billion (2005)

Estonia
$5.963 billion (2006)

Ethiopia
$NA

European Union
$11.64 trillion (2006)

Fiji
$586.7 million (2005)

Finland
$1.095 trillion (January 2008)

France
$1.71 trillion (2005)

French Polynesia
$NA

Gabon
$NA

Gambia, The
$NA

Georgia
$1.39 billion (2007)

Germany
$1.221 trillion (2005)

Ghana
$13.01 billion (2007)

Greece
$145 billion (2005)

Grenada
$NA

Guatemala
$NA

Guinea
$NA

Guinea-Bissau
$NA

Guyana
$187.3 million (2005)

Haiti
$NA

Honduras
$NA

Hong Kong
$2.97 trillion (2007 est.)

Hungary
$41.93 billion (2006)

Iceland
$27.8 billion (2005)

India
$818.9 billion (2006)

Indonesia
$138.9 billion (2006)

Iran
$45.2 billion (December 2007)

Iraq
$NA

Ireland
$114.1 billion (2005)

Isle of Man
$NA

Israel
$173.3 billion (2006)

Italy
$798.2 billion (2005)

Jamaica
$12.28 billion (2006)

Japan
$4.737 trillion (2005)

Jersey
$NA

Jordan
$29.73 billion (2006)

Kazakhstan
$10.52 billion (2005)

Kenya
$11.38 billion (2006)

Kiribati
$NA

Korea, South
$1.051 trillion (2007)

Kuwait
$128.9 billion (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
$41.99 million (2005)

Latvia
$2.705 billion (2006)

Lebanon
$8.279 billion (2006)

Liberia
$NA

Libya
$NA

Liechtenstein
$NA

Lithuania
$10.19 billion (2006)

Luxembourg
$79.4 billion (2006)

Macau
$413.1 million (2004)

Macedonia
$646 million (2005)

Madagascar
$NA

Malawi
$NA

Malaysia
$235.4 billion (2006)

Maldives
$NA

Mali
$NA

Malta
$4.097 billion (2005)

Mauritania
$NA

Mauritius
$5.7 billion (2007)

Mayotte
$NA

Mexico
$348.3 billion (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$NA

Moldova
$573.9 million (2004)

Monaco
$NA

Mongolia
$613.3 million (2007)

Montenegro
$NA

Morocco
$49.6 billion (2006)

Mozambique
$NA

Namibia
$541.8 million (2006)

Nepal
$963.5 million (2005)

Netherlands
$924.4 billion (November 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
$488.6 billion (2003)

New Caledonia
$NA

New Zealand
$40.62 billion (2005)

Nicaragua
$NA

Niger
$NA

Nigeria
$32.82 billion (2006)

Norway
$191 billion (2005)

Oman
$16.16 billion (2006)

Pakistan
$45.52 billion (2006)

Palau
$NA

Panama
$5.074 billion (2005)

Papua New Guinea
$4.863 billion (2005)

Paraguay
$233.8 million (2005)

Peru
$59.66 billion (2006)

Philippines
$103.4 billion (2007)

Poland
$149.1 billion (2006)

Portugal
$66.98 billion (2005)

Puerto Rico
$NA

Qatar
$61.56 billion (2006)

Romania
$45.42 billion (2007)

Russia
$1.322 trillion (2006)

Rwanda
$NA

Samoa
$NA

San Marino
$NA

Sao Tome and Principe
$NA

Saudi Arabia
$326.9 billion (2006)

Senegal
$NA

Serbia
$5.409 billion (2005)

Seychelles
$NA

Sierra Leone
$NA

Singapore
$382.4 billion (2007)

Slovakia
$5.574 billion (2006)

Slovenia
$15.18 billion (2006)

South Africa
$842 billion (January 2008)

Spain
$960 billion (2005)

Sri Lanka
$7.769 billion (2006)

Sudan
$NA

Suriname
$NA

Swaziland
$196.8 million (2005)

Sweden
$403.9 billion (2005)

Switzerland
$938.6 billion (2005)

Syria
$NA

Taiwan
$654 billion (28 December 2007)

Tajikistan
$NA

Tanzania
$587.9 million (2005)

Thailand
$139.6 billion (2006)

Timor-Leste
$NA

Togo
$NA

Tonga
$NA

Trinidad and Tobago
$15.57 billion (2006)

Tunisia
$4.446 billion (2006)

Turkey
$162.4 billion (2006)

Turkmenistan
$NA

Uganda
$103.4 million (2005)

Ukraine
$42.87 billion (2006)

United Arab Emirates
$138.5 billion (2006)

United Kingdom
$3.058 trillion (2005)

United States
$17 trillion (2005)

Uruguay
$224 million (2007)

Uzbekistan
$36.89 million (2005)

Vanuatu
$NA

Venezuela
$8.251 billion (2006)

Vietnam
$NA

West Bank
$4.461 billion (2005)

World
$53.51 trillion (2006)

Yemen
$NA

Zambia
$4.5 billion (2007)

Zimbabwe
$26.56 billion (2006)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2201 Total renewable water resources (cu km)

Afghanistan
65 cu km (1997)

Albania
41.7 cu km (2001)

Algeria
14.3 cu km (1997)

Angola
184 cu km (1987)

Antigua and Barbuda
0.1 cu km (2000)

Argentina
814 cu km (2000)

Armenia
10.5 cu km (1997)

Australia
398 cu km (1995)

Austria
84 cu km (2005)

Azerbaijan
30.3 cu km (1997)

Bahamas, The
NA

Bahrain
0.1 cu km (1997)

Bangladesh
1,210.6 cu km (1999)

Barbados
0.1 cu km (2003)

Belarus
58 cu km (1997)

Belgium
20.8 cu km (2005)

Belize
18.6 cu km (2000)

Benin
25.8 cu km (2001)

Bhutan
95 cu km (1987)

Bolivia
622.5 cu km (2000)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
37.5 cu km (2003)

Botswana
14.7 cu km (2001)

Brazil
8,233 cu km (2000)

Brunei
8.5 cu km (1999)

Bulgaria
19.4 cu km (2005)

Burkina Faso
17.5 cu km (2001)

Burma
1,045.6 cu km (1999)

Burundi
3.6 cu km (1987)

Cambodia
476.1 cu km (1999)

Cameroon
285.5 cu km (2003)

Canada
3,300 cu km (1985)

Cape Verde
0.3 cu km (1990)

Central African Republic
144.4 cu km (2003)

Chad
43 cu km (1987)

Chile
922 cu km (2000)

China
2,829.6 cu km (1999)

Colombia
2,132 cu km (2000)

Comoros
1.2 cu km (2003)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1,283 cu km (2001)

Congo, Republic of the
832 cu km (1987)

Costa Rica
112.4 cu km (2000)

Cote d'Ivoire
81 cu km (2001)

Croatia
105.5 cu km (1998)

Cuba
38.1 cu km (2000)

Cyprus
0.4 cu km (2005)

Czech Republic
16 cu km (2005)

Denmark
6.1 cu km (2003)

Djibouti
0.3 cu km (1997)

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
21 cu km (2000)

Ecuador
432 cu km (2000)

Egypt
86.8 cu km (1997)

El Salvador
25.2 cu km (2001)

Equatorial Guinea
26 cu km (2001)

Eritrea
6.3 cu km (2001)

Estonia
21.1 cu km (2005)

Ethiopia
110 cu km (1987)

Fiji
28.6 cu km (1987)

Finland
110 cu km (2005)

France
189 cu km (2005)

Gabon
164 cu km (1987)

Gambia, The
8 cu km (1982)

Georgia
63.3 cu km (1997)

Germany
188 cu km (2005)

Ghana
53.2 cu km (2001)

Greece
72 cu km (2005)

Grenada
NA

Guatemala
111.3 cu km (2000)

Guinea
226 cu km (1987)

Guinea-Bissau
31 cu km (2003)

Guyana
241 cu km (2000)

Haiti
14 cu km (2000)

Honduras
95.9 cu km (2000)

Hungary
120 cu km (2005)

Iceland
170 cu km (2005)

India
1,907.8 cu km (1999)

Indonesia
2,838 cu km (1999)

Iran
137.5 cu km (1997)

Iraq
96.4 cu km (1997)

Ireland
46.8 cu km (2003)

Israel
1.7 cu km (2001)

Italy
175 cu km (2005)

Jamaica
9.4 cu km (2000)

Japan
430 cu km (1999)

Jordan
0.9 cu km (1997)

Kazakhstan
109.6 cu km (1997)

Kenya
30.2 cu km (1990)

Korea, North
77.1 cu km (1999)

Korea, South
69.7 cu km (1999)

Kuwait
0.02 cu km (1997)

Kyrgyzstan
46.5 cu km (1997)

Laos
333.6 cu km (2003)

Latvia
49.9 cu km (2005)

Lebanon
4.8 cu km (1997)

Lesotho
5.2 cu km (1987)

Liberia
232 cu km (1987)

Libya
0.6 cu km (1997)

Lithuania
24.5 cu km (2005)

Luxembourg
1.6 cu km (2005)

Macedonia
6.4 cu km (2001)

Madagascar
337 cu km (1984)

Malawi
17.3 cu km (2001)

Malaysia
580 cu km (1999)

Maldives
0.03 cu km (1999)

Mali
100 cu km (2001)

Malta
0.07 cu km (2005)

Mauritania
11.4 cu km (1997)

Mauritius
2.2 cu km (2001)

Mexico
457.2 cu km (2000)

Moldova
11.7 cu km (1997)

Mongolia
34.8 cu km (1999)

Morocco
29 cu km (2003)

Mozambique
216 cu km (1992)

Namibia
45.5 cu km (1991)

Nepal
210.2 cu km (1999)

Netherlands
89.7 cu km (2005)

New Zealand
397 cu km (1995)

Nicaragua
196.7 cu km (2000)

Niger
33.7 cu km (2003)

Nigeria
286.2 cu km (2003)

Norway
381.4 cu km (2005)

Oman
1 cu km (1997)

Pakistan
233.8 cu km (2003)

Panama
148 cu km (2000)

Papua New Guinea
801 cu km (1987)

Paraguay
336 cu km (2000)

Peru
1,913 cu km (2000)

Philippines
479 cu km (1999)

Poland
63.1 cu km (2005)

Portugal
73.6 cu km (2005)

Qatar
0.1 cu km (1997)

Romania
42.3 cu km (2003)

Russia
4,498 cu km (1997)

Rwanda
5.2 cu km (2003)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
0.02 cu km (2000)

Saudi Arabia
2.4 cu km (1997)

Senegal
39.4 cu km (1987)

Serbia
208.5 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2003)

Sierra Leone
160 cu km (1987)

Singapore
0.6 cu km (1975)

Slovakia
50.1 cu km (2003)

Slovenia
32.1 cu km (2005)

Solomon Islands
44.7 cu km (1987)

Somalia
15.7 cu km (1997)

South Africa
50 cu km (1990)

Spain
111.1 cu km (2005)

Sri Lanka
50 cu km (1999)

Sudan
154 cu km (1997)

Suriname
122 cu km (2003)

Swaziland
4.5 cu km (1987)

Sweden
179 cu km (2005)

Switzerland
53.3 cu km (2005)

Syria
46.1 cu km (1997)

Taiwan
67 cu km (2000)

Tajikistan
99.7 cu km (1997)

Tanzania
91 cu km (2001)

Thailand
409.9 cu km (1999)

Togo
14.7 cu km (2001)

Trinidad and Tobago
3.8 cu km (2000)

Tunisia
4.6 cu km (2003)

Turkey
234 cu km (2003)

Turkmenistan
60.9 cu km (1997)

Uganda
66 cu km (1970)

Ukraine
139.5 cu km (1997)

United Arab Emirates
0.2 cu km (1997)

United Kingdom
160.6 cu km (2005)

United States
3,069 cu km (1985)

Uruguay
139 cu km (2000)

Uzbekistan
72.2 cu km (2003)

Venezuela
1,233.2 cu km (2000)

Vietnam
891.2 cu km (1999)

Yemen
4.1 cu km (1997)

Zambia
105.2 cu km (2001)

Zimbabwe
20 cu km (1987)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2202 Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()

Afghanistan
total: 23.26 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)
per capita: 779 cu m/yr (2000)

Albania
total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%)
per capita: 546 cu m/yr (2000)

Algeria
total: 6.07 cu km/yr (22%/13%/65%)
per capita: 185 cu m/yr (2000)

Angola
total: 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%)
per capita: 22 cu m/yr (2000)

Antigua and Barbuda
total: 0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%)
per capita: 63 cu m/yr (1990)

Argentina
total: 29.19 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
per capita: 753 cu m/yr (2000)

Armenia
total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)
per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)

Australia
total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%)
per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)

Austria
total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%)
per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)

Azerbaijan
total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%)
per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)

Bahrain
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)

Bangladesh
total: 79.4 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 560 cu m/yr (2000)

Barbados
total: 0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%)
per capita: 333 cu m/yr (2000)

Belarus
total: 2.79 cu km/yr (23%/47%/30%)
per capita: 286 cu m/yr (2000)

Belgium
total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)

Belize
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)

Benin
total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%)
per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)

Bhutan
total: 0.43 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)
per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000)

Bolivia
total: 1.44 cu km/yr (13%/7%/81%)
per capita: 157 cu m/yr (2000)

Botswana
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%)
per capita: 107 cu m/yr (2000)

Brazil
total: 59.3 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 318 cu m/yr (2000)

Brunei
total: 0.09
per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)

Bulgaria
total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%)
per capita: 895 cu m/yr (2003)

Burkina Faso
total: 0.8 cu km/yr (13%/1%/86%)
per capita: 60 cu m/yr (2000)

Burma
total: 33.23 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%)
per capita: 658 cu m/yr (2000)

Burundi
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (17%/6%/77%)
per capita: 38 cu m/yr (2000)

Cambodia
total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)

Cameroon
total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)

Canada
total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%)
per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)

Cape Verde
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)

Central African Republic
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%)
per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)

Chad
total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%)
per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)

Chile
total: 12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%)
per capita: 770 cu m/yr (2000)

China
total: 549.76 cu km/yr (7%/26%/68%)
per capita: 415 cu m/yr (2000)

Colombia
total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%)
per capita: 235 cu m/yr (2000)

Comoros
total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%)
per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 0.36 cu km/yr (53%/17%/31%)
per capita: 6 cu m/yr (2000)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%)
per capita: 8 cu m/yr (2000)

Costa Rica
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%)
per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 0.93 cu km/yr (24%/12%/65%)
per capita: 51 cu m/yr (2000)

Cuba
total: 8.2 cu km/yr (19%/12%/69%)
per capita: 728 cu m/yr (2000)

Cyprus
total: 0.21 cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%)
per capita: 250 cu m/yr (2000)

Czech Republic
total: 1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)
per capita: 187 cu m/yr (2002)

Denmark
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%)
per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)

Djibouti
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)
per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)

Dominica
total: 0.02 cu km/yr
per capita: 213 cu m/yr (1996)

Dominican Republic
total: 3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%)
per capita: 381 cu m/yr (2000)

Ecuador
total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)
per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

Egypt
total: 68.3 cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%)
per capita: 923 cu m/yr (2000)

El Salvador
total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)
per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)

Eritrea
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (3%/0%/97%)
per capita: 68 cu m/yr (2000)

Estonia
total: 1.41 cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%)
per capita: 1,060 cu m/yr (2002)

Ethiopia
total: 5.56 cu km/yr (6%/0%/94%)
per capita: 72 cu m/yr (2002)

Fiji
total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%)
per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)

Finland
total: 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%)
per capita: 444 cu m/yr (1999)

France
total: 33.16 cu km/yr (16%/74%/10%)
per capita: 548 cu m/yr (2000)

Gabon
total: 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%)
per capita: 87 cu m/yr (2000)

Gambia, The
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)

Georgia
total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)
per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)

Germany
total: 38.01 cu km/yr (12%/68%/20%)
per capita: 460 cu m/yr (2001)

Ghana
total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)

Greece
total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%)
per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)

Guatemala
total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%)
per capita: 160 cu m/yr (2000)

Guinea
total: 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%)
per capita: 161 cu m/yr (2000)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%)
per capita: 113 cu m/yr (2000)

Guyana
total: 1.64 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%)
per capita: 2,187 cu m/yr (2000)

Haiti
total: 0.99 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)
per capita: 116 cu m/yr (2000)

Honduras
total: 0.86 cu km/yr (8%/12%/80%)
per capita: 119 cu m/yr (2000)

Hungary
total: 21.03 cu km/yr (9%/59%/32%)
per capita: 2,082 cu m/yr (2001)

Iceland
total: 0.17 cu km/yr (34%/66%/0%)
per capita: 567 cu m/yr (2003)

India
total: 645.84 cu km/yr (8%/5%/86%)
per capita: 585 cu m/yr (2000)

Indonesia
total: 82.78 cu km/yr (8%/1%/91%)
per capita: 372 cu m/yr (2000)

Iran
total: 72.88 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)

Iraq
total: 42.7 cu km/yr (3%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,482 cu m/yr (2000)

Ireland
total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)
per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)

Israel
total: 2.05 cu km/yr (31%/7%/62%)
per capita: 305 cu m/yr (2000)

Italy
total: 41.98 cu km/yr (18%/37%/45%)
per capita: 723 cu m/yr (1998)

Jamaica
total: 0.41 cu km/yr (34%/17%/49%)
per capita: 155 cu m/yr (2000)

Japan
total: 88.43 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 690 cu m/yr (2000)

Jordan
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%)
per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)

Kazakhstan
total: 35 cu km/yr (2%/17%/82%)
per capita: 2,360 cu m/yr (2000)

Kenya
total: 1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%)
per capita: 46 cu m/yr (2000)

Korea, North
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (20%/25%/55%)
per capita: 401 cu m/yr (2000)

Korea, South
total: 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%)
per capita: 389 cu m/yr (2000)

Kuwait
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)
per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 10.08 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%)
per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)

Laos
total: 3 cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%)
per capita: 507 cu m/yr (2000)

Latvia
total: 0.25 cu km/yr (55%/33%/12%)
per capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003)

Lebanon
total: 1.38 cu km/yr (33%/1%/67%)
per capita: 385 cu m/yr (2000)

Lesotho
total: 0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%)
per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)

Liberia
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%)
per capita: 34 cu m/yr (2000)

Libya
total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)

Lithuania
total: 3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%)
per capita: 971 cu m/yr (2003)

Luxembourg
total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%)
per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999)

Macedonia
total: 2.27
per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)

Madagascar
total: 14.96 cu km/yr (3%/2%/96%)
per capita: 804 cu m/yr (2000)

Malawi
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)
per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)

Malaysia
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)

Maldives
total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%)
per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)

Mali
total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%)
per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)

Malta
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000)

Mauritania
total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)
per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)

Mauritius
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)

Mexico
total: 78.22 cu km/yr (17%/5%/77%)
per capita: 731 cu m/yr (2000)

Moldova
total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)
per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)

Mongolia
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)

Morocco
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

Mozambique
total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)

Namibia
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)
per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)

Nepal
total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)

Netherlands
total: 8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)
per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)

New Zealand
total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%)
per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)

Nicaragua
total: 1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)
per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)

Niger
total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%)
per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)

Nigeria
total: 8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)

Norway
total: 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%)
per capita: 519 cu m/yr (1996)

Oman
total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)

Pakistan
total: 169.39 cu km/yr (2%/2%/96%)
per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000)

Panama
total: 0.82 cu km/yr (67%/5%/28%)
per capita: 254 cu m/yr (2000)

Papua New Guinea
total: 0.1 cu km/yr (56%/43%/1%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (1987)

Paraguay
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)

Peru
total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%)
per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)

Philippines
total: 28.52 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)

Poland
total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)

Portugal
total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)
per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998)

Qatar
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)

Romania
total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)
per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)

Russia
total: 76.68 cu km/yr (19%/63%/18%)
per capita: 535 cu m/yr (2000)

Rwanda
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (24%/8%/68%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (2000)

Saint Lucia
total: 0.01
per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 0.01
per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)

Saudi Arabia
total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%)
per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)

Senegal
total: 2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita: 190 cu m/yr (2002)

Sierra Leone
total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%)
per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)

Singapore
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)

Slovakia
total: 1.04
per capita: 193 cu m/yr (2003)

Slovenia
total: 0.9
per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)

Somalia
total: 3.29 cu km/yr (0%/0%/100%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

South Africa
total: 12.5 cu km/yr (31%/6%/63%)
per capita: 264 cu m/yr (2000)

Spain
total: 37.22 cu km/yr (13%/19%/68%)
per capita: 864 cu m/yr (2002)

Sri Lanka
total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)

Sudan
total: 37.32 cu km/yr (3%/1%/97%)
per capita: 1,030 cu m/yr (2000)

Suriname
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita: 1,489 cu m/yr (2000)

Swaziland
total: 1.04 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%)
per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2000)

Sweden
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%)
per capita: 296 cu m/yr (2002)

Switzerland
total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%)
per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)

Syria
total: 19.95 cu km/yr (3%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)

Tajikistan
total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)

Tanzania
total: 5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%)
per capita: 135 cu m/yr (2000)

Thailand
total: 82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,288 cu m/yr (2000)

Togo
total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%)
per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 0.31 cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%)
per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)

Tunisia
total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)
per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)

Turkey
total: 39.78 cu km/yr (15%/11%/74%)
per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)

Turkmenistan
total: 24.65 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%)
per capita: 5,104 cu m/yr (2000)

Uganda
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%)
per capita: 10 cu m/yr (2002)

Ukraine
total: 37.53 cu km/yr (12%/35%/52%)
per capita: 807 cu m/yr (2000)

United Arab Emirates
total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)

United Kingdom
total: 11.75 cu km/yr (22%/75%/3%)
per capita: 197 cu m/yr (1994)

United States
total: 477 cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%)
per capita: 1,600 cu m/yr (2000)

Uruguay
total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%)
per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)

Uzbekistan
total: 58.34 cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%)
per capita: 2,194 cu m/yr (2000)

Venezuela
total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%)
per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)

Vietnam
total: 71.39 cu km/yr (8%/24%/68%)
per capita: 847 cu m/yr (2000)

Yemen
total: 6.63 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%)
per capita: 316 cu m/yr (2000)

Zambia
total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%)
per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)

Zimbabwe
total: 4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
per capita: 324 cu m/yr (2002)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2203 Geographic overview

World
The surface of the earth is approximately 70.9% water and
29.1% land. The former portion is divided into large water bodies
termed oceans. The World Factbook recognizes and describes five
oceans, which are in decreasing order of size: the Pacific Ocean,
Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean.
The land portion is generally divided into several, large, discrete
landmasses termed continents. Depending on the convention used, the
number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common
classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to
smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica,
Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together
into a Eurasian continent resulting in six continents.
Alternatively, North and South America are sometimes grouped as
simply the Americas, resulting in a continent total of six (or five,
if the Eurasia designation is used).
North America is commonly understood to include the island of
Greenland, the isles of the Caribbean, and to extend south all the
way to the Isthmus of Panama. The easternmost extent of Europe is
generally defined as being the Ural Mountains and the Ural River; on
the southeast the Caspian Sea; and on the south the Caucasus
Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean. Africa's northeast
extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for
geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often
included as part of Africa. Asia usually incorporates all the
islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The islands of
the Pacific are often lumped with Australia into a "land mass"
termed Oceania or Australasia.
Although the above groupings are the most common, different
continental dispositions are recognized or taught in certain parts
of the world, with some arrangements more heavily based on cultural
spheres rather than physical geographic considerations.

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2204 Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots

Cyprus
Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly
30% of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to
be volatile, given the north's relative isolation, bloated public
sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size.
Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the
work force. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew around 10.6% in 2006,
fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well
as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the area under
government control. GDP declined about 2.0% in 2007. The Turkish
Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish
Government. Ankara directly finances around one-third of the
"TRNC's" budget. Aid from Turkey has exceeded $400 million annually
in recent years.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.865 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita: $11,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 22.5%,
services: 69.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%,
services: 56.5% (2004)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: %NA
Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes,
olives, poultry, lamb
Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay,
gypsum, copper, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005)
Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles
Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals,
chemicals, machinery
Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Economic aid - recipient: under a July 2006 agreement, Turkey plans
to provide the area administered by Turkish Cypriots 1.875 billion
YTL ($1.3 billion) over three years (600 million YTL in 2006, 625
million YTL in 2007 and 650 million YTL in 2008); Turkey has
forgiven most past aid; additionally, the EU pledged financial
assistance of Euro 259 million ($388 million) in 2004, which is yet
to be disbursed.
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $NA
Debt - external: $NA
Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL)
Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.319 (2007) 1.4286
(2006) 1.3436 (2005) 1.4255 (2004) 1.5009 (2003)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2205 School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)

Afghanistan
total: 8 years
male: 11 years
female: 4 years (2004)

Albania
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2004)

Algeria
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Andorra
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Anguilla
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Argentina
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2005)

Armenia
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2006)

Aruba
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Australia
total: 20 years
male: 20 years
female: 21 years (2006)

Austria
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Azerbaijan
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Bahrain
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Bangladesh
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2004)

Barbados
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2001)

Belarus
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)

Belgium
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Belize
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)

Benin
total: 7 years
male: 9 years
female: 6 years (2001)

Bermuda
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)

Bhutan
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2006)

Botswana
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Brazil
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2005)

British Virgin Islands
total: 17 years
male: 15 years
female: 19 years (2005)

Brunei
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Bulgaria
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Burkina Faso
total: 5 years
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2006)

Burma
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2001)

Burundi
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2006)

Cambodia
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2006)

Cameroon
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2006)

Canada
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2004)

Cape Verde
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2006)

Cayman Islands
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2001)

Chad
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 4 years (2005)

Chile
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)

China
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Colombia
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Comoros
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2003)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2003)

Cook Islands
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2005)

Costa Rica
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Croatia
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Cuba
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Cyprus
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Czech Republic
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)

Denmark
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Djibouti
total: 4 years
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2006)

Dominica
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)

Dominican Republic
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2004)

El Salvador
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2000)

Eritrea
total: 5 years
male: 6 years
female: 4 years (2004)

Estonia
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Ethiopia
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2007)

Fiji
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Finland
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2006)

France
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Gambia, The
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)

Gaza Strip
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Georgia
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Germany
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Ghana
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)

Greece
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Grenada
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Guatemala
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2006)

Guinea
total: 8 years
male: 10 years
female: 7 years (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 5 years
male: 7 years
female: 4 years (2001)

Guyana
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)

Honduras
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2004)

Hong Kong
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Hungary
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Iceland
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 19 years (2006)

India
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2005)

Indonesia
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2005)

Iran
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Iraq
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2005)

Ireland
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2006)

Israel
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Italy
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Jamaica
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)

Japan
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)

Jordan
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Kazakhstan
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2007)

Kenya
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2004)

Kiribati
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Korea, South
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 15 years (2007)

Kuwait
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Laos
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2006)

Latvia
total: 16 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Lebanon
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Lesotho
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)

Liberia
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2000)

Libya
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2003)

Liechtenstein
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 13 years (2004)

Lithuania
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Luxembourg
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Macau
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Macedonia
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Madagascar
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2006)

Malawi
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2004)

Malaysia
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Maldives
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)

Mali
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 5 years (2005)

Malta
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2005)

Marshall Islands
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2003)

Mauritania
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2006)

Mauritius
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Mexico
total: 13 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Moldova
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)

Mongolia
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Montserrat
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Morocco
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2005)

Mozambique
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2005)

Namibia
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Nauru
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 9 years (2006)

Nepal
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2003)

Netherlands
total: 16 years
male: 17 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Netherlands Antilles
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2002)

New Zealand
total: 19 years
male: 19 years
female: 20 years (2006)

Nicaragua
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2003)

Niger
total: 4 years
male: 5 years
female: 3 years (2006)

Nigeria
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2004)

Niue
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Norway
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2006)

Oman
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Pakistan
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 6 years (2006)

Palau
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2000)

Panama
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Paraguay
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Peru
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Philippines
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2006)

Poland
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Portugal
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Qatar
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Romania
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Russia
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Rwanda
total: 9 years
male: 8 years
female: 9 years (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)

Saint Lucia
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Samoa
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2001)

Sao Tome and Principe
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)

Seychelles
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2007)

Sierra Leone
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 6 years (2001)

Slovakia
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)

Slovenia
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Solomon Islands
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 8 years (2005)

South Africa
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)

Spain
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Suriname
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 13 years (2002)

Swaziland
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2005)

Sweden
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)

Switzerland
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)

Tajikistan
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 10 years (2006)

Thailand
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Togo
total: 9 years
male: 11 years
female: 7 years (2000)

Tokelau
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2004)

Tonga
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2005)

Tunisia
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Turkey
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)

Tuvalu
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2001)

Uganda
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2004)

Ukraine
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)

United Arab Emirates
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)

United Kingdom
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)

United States
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Uruguay
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2006)

Uzbekistan
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2007)

Vanuatu
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2004)

Venezuela
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)

Vietnam
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2000)

West Bank
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)

Yemen
total: 9 years
male: 11 years
female: 7 years (2005)

Zambia
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2000)

Zimbabwe
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2003)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2206 Education expenditures (% of GDP)

Afghanistan
NA

Albania
2.9% of GDP (2002)

Algeria
5.1% of GDP (1999)

American Samoa
NA

Andorra
2.3% of GDP (2006)

Angola
2.4% of GDP (2005)

Anguilla
4% of GDP (2005)

Antigua and Barbuda
3.9% of GDP (2002)

Argentina
3.8% of GDP (2004)

Armenia
3.2% of GDP (2001)

Aruba
4.8% of GDP (2005)

Australia
4.5% of GDP (2005)

Austria
5.4% of GDP (2005)

Azerbaijan
2.1% of GDP (2006)

Bahamas, The
3.6% of GDP (2000)

Bahrain
3.9% of GDP (1991)

Bangladesh
2.7% of GDP (2005)

Barbados
6.9% of GDP (2005)

Belarus
6.1% of GDP (2006)

Belgium
6% of GDP (2004)

Belize
5.3% of GDP (2004)

Benin
4.4% of GDP (2004)

Bermuda
1.2% of GDP (2006)

Bhutan
7% of GDP (2005)

Bolivia
6.4% of GDP (2003)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
NA

Botswana
8.7% of GDP (2007)

Brazil
4% of GDP (2004)

British Virgin Islands
3.7% of GDP (2006)

Brunei
5.2% of GDP (2000)

Bulgaria
4.5% of GDP (2005)

Burkina Faso
4.2% of GDP (2006)

Burma
1.2% of GDP (2001)

Burundi
5.1% of GDP (2005)

Cambodia
1.7% of GDP (2004)

Cameroon
3.3% of GDP (2006)

Canada
5.2% of GDP (2002)

Cape Verde
6.3% of GDP (2006)

Cayman Islands
2.8% of GDP (2005)

Central African Republic
1.4% of GDP (2006)

Chad
1.9% of GDP (2005)

Chile
3.2% of GDP (2006)

China
1.9% of GDP (1999)

Colombia
4.7% of GDP (2006)

Comoros
3.8% of GDP (2002)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA

Congo, Republic of the
1.9% of GDP (2005)

Cook Islands
0.2% of GDP (2001)

Costa Rica
4.9% of GDP (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
4.6% of GDP (2001)

Croatia
4.5% of GDP (2004)

Cuba
9.1% of GDP (2006)

Cyprus
6.3% of GDP (2004)

Czech Republic
4.4% of GDP (2004)

Denmark
8.3% of GDP (2005)

Djibouti
8.4% of GDP (2006)

Dominica
5% of GDP (1999)

Dominican Republic
3.6% of GDP (2006)

Ecuador
1% of GDP (2001)

Egypt
4.2% of GDP (2006)

El Salvador
3.1% of GDP (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
0.6% of GDP (2003)

Eritrea
2.4% of GDP (2006)

Estonia
5.1% of GDP (2004)

Ethiopia
6% of GDP (2006)

Fiji
6.5% of GDP (2004)

Finland
6.4% of GDP (2005)

France
5.7% of GDP (2005)

French Polynesia
( )

Gabon
3.8% of GDP (2000)

Gambia, The
2% of GDP (2004)

Gaza Strip
NA

Georgia
3.1% of GDP (2006)

Germany
4.6% of GDP (2004)

Ghana
5.4% of GDP (2005)

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
4.4% of GDP (2005)

Greenland
NA

Grenada
5.2% of GDP (2003)

Guam
NA

Guatemala
2.6% of GDP (2006)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
1.6% of GDP (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
5.2% of GDP (1999)

Guyana
8.3% of GDP (2006)

Haiti
1.4% of GDP (1991)

Honduras
3.8% of GDP (1991)

Hong Kong
3.9% of GDP (2006)

Hungary
5.5% of GDP (2005)

Iceland
7.6% of GDP (2004)

India
3.2% of GDP (2005)

Indonesia
3.6% of GDP (2006)

Iran
5.1% of GDP (2006)

Iraq
NA

Ireland
4.7% of GDP (2005)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
6.9% of GDP (2004)

Italy
4.5% of GDP (2005)

Jamaica
5.3% of GDP (2005)

Japan
3.5% of GDP (2005)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
4.9% of GDP (1999)

Kazakhstan
2.3% of GDP (2005)

Kenya
6.9% of GDP (2006)

Kiribati
17.8% of GDP (2002)

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
4.6% of GDP (2004)

Kuwait
3.8% of GDP (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
4.9% of GDP (2005)

Laos
3% of GDP (2006)

Latvia
5.1% of GDP (2004)

Lebanon
2.7% of GDP (2006)

Lesotho
13% of GDP (2006)

Liberia
NA

Libya
2.7% of GDP (1999)

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
5% of GDP (2005)

Luxembourg
3.4% of GDP (1999)

Macau
2.4% of GDP (2005)

Macedonia
3.5% of GDP (2002)

Madagascar
3.1% of GDP (2006)

Malawi
5.8% of GDP (2003)

Malaysia
6.2% of GDP (2004)

Maldives
8% of GDP (2006)

Mali
4.5% of GDP (2006)

Malta
5.1% of GDP (2004)

Marshall Islands
11.8% of GDP (2004)

Mauritania
2.9% of GDP (2006)

Mauritius
3.9% of GDP (2006)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
5.5% of GDP (2005)

Micronesia, Federated States of
7.3% of GDP (2000)

Moldova
7.6% of GDP (2006)

Monaco
4.4% of GDP (2004)

Mongolia
5% of GDP (2004)

Montenegro
NA

Montserrat
3.3% of GDP (2004)

Morocco
NA

Mozambique
5% of GDP (2005)

Namibia
6.9% of GDP (2003)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
3.4% of GDP (2003)

Netherlands
5.3% of GDP (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Zealand
6.2% of GDP (2006)

Nicaragua
3.1% of GDP (2003)

Niger
3.4% of GDP (2006)

Nigeria
0.9% of GDP (1991)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
NA

Norway
7.2% of GDP (2005)

Oman
4% of GDP (2006)

Pakistan
2.6% of GDP (2006)

Palau
10.3% of GDP (2002)

Panama
3.8% of GDP (2004)

Papua New Guinea
NA

Paraguay
4% of GDP (2004)

Peru
2.5% of GDP (2006)

Philippines
2.5% of GDP (2005)

Poland
5.5% of GDP (2005)

Portugal
5.5% of GDP (2005)

Puerto Rico
NA

Qatar
3.3% of GDP (2005)

Romania
3.5% of GDP (2005)

Russia
3.8% of GDP (2005)

Rwanda
3.8% of GDP (2005)

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
9.3% of GDP (2005)

Saint Lucia
6.6% of GDP (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
8.1% of GDP (2005)

Samoa
4.3% of GDP (2002)

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
6.8% of GDP (2004)

Senegal
5% of GDP (2006)

Serbia
NA

Seychelles
6.5% of GDP (2006)

Sierra Leone
3.8% of GDP (2005)

Singapore
3.7% of GDP (2001)

Slovakia
3.9% of GDP (2005)

Slovenia
6% of GDP (2005)

Solomon Islands
3.3% of GDP (1999)

Somalia
NA

South Africa
5.4% of GDP (2006)

Spain
4.2% of GDP (2005)

Sri Lanka
NA

Sudan
6% of GDP (1991)

Suriname
NA

Swaziland
7% of GDP (2005)

Sweden
7.1% of GDP (2005)

Switzerland
5.8% of GDP (2005)

Syria
3.9% of GDP (1999)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
3.4% of GDP (2006)

Tanzania
2.2% of GDP (1999)

Thailand
4.2% of GDP (2005)

Timor-Leste
NA

Togo
2.6% of GDP (2002)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
5% of GDP (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
4.2% of GDP (200)

Tunisia
7.3% of GDP (2005)

Turkey
4% of GDP (2004)

Turkmenistan
3.9% of GDP (1991)

Turks and Caicos Islands
NA

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
5.2% of GDP (2004)

Ukraine
6.3% of GDP (2006)

United Arab Emirates
1.3% of GDP (2005)

United Kingdom
5.6% of GDP (2005)

United States
5.3% of GDP (2005)

Uruguay
2.9% of GDP (2006)

Uzbekistan
9.4% of GDP (1991)

Vanuatu
9.5% of GDP (2003)

Venezuela
3.7% of GDP (2006)

Vietnam
1.8% of GDP (1991)

Virgin Islands
NA

West Bank
NA

Yemen
9.6% of GDP (2001)

Zambia
2% of GDP (2005)

Zimbabwe
4.6% of GDP (2000)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2207 Central bank discount rate (%)

Afghanistan
NA

Albania
6.25% (31 December 2007)

Algeria
4% (31 December 2007)

Angola
19.57% (31 December 2007)

Anguilla
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Argentina
NA

Aruba
5% (31 December 2007)

Australia
NA

Azerbaijan
13% (31 December 2007)

Bahamas, The
5.25% (31 December 2007)

Bangladesh
5% (31 December 2007)

Barbados
12% (31 December 2007)

Belarus
10% (31 December 2007)

Belize
12% (31 December 2007)

Benin
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Bolivia
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Botswana
14.5% (31 December 2007)

Brazil
17.85% (31 December 2007)

Bulgaria
4.58% (31 December 2007)

Burkina Faso
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Burma
12% (31 December 2007)

Burundi
10.12% (31 December 2007)

Cambodia
5.25% (31 December 2007)

Canada
4.5% (31 December 2007)

Cape Verde
8.5% (31 December 2007)

Central African Republic
5.25% (31 December 2007)

Chad
5.25% (31 December 2007)

Chile
6% (31 December 2007)

China
3.33% (31 December 2007)

Colombia
11.5% (31 December 2007)

Comoros
5.36% (31 December 2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
5.25% (31 December 2007)

Costa Rica
17% (31 December 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Croatia
9% (31 December 2007)

Cuba
NA

Cyprus
5% (31 December 2007)

Czech Republic
3.5% (31 December 2007)

Denmark
4% (31 December 2007)

Dominica
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Ecuador
10.72% (31 December 2007)

Egypt
9% (31 December 2007)

Equatorial Guinea
5.25% (31 December 2007)

European Union
5%
note: This is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the
Eurosystem (31 December 2007)

Fiji
9.25% (31 December 2007)

France
NA

Gabon
5.25% (31 December 2007)

Gambia, The
10% (31 December 2007)

Germany
NA

Ghana
13.5% (31 December 2007)

Greece
NA

Grenada
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Guatemala
NA (31 December 2007)

Guinea
22.25% (31 December 2005)

Guinea-Bissau
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Guyana
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Honduras
NA (31 December 2007)

Hong Kong
5.75% (31 December 2007)

Hungary
7.5% (31 December 2007)

Iceland
15.25% (31 December 2007)

India
6% (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
8% (31 December 2007)

Iraq
20% (31 December 2007)

Ireland
NA

Israel
4% (31 December 2007)

Italy
NA

Jamaica
NA (31 December 2007)

Japan
0.75% (31 December 2007)

Jordan
7% (31 December 2007)

Kazakhstan
11% (31 December 2007)

Korea, South
3.25% (31 December 2007)

Kuwait
6.25% (31 December 2007)

Laos
12.67% (31 December 2007)

Latvia
6% (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
12% (31 December 2007)

Lesotho
12.82% (31 December 2007)

Libya
4% (31 December 2007)

Lithuania
4.85% (31 December 2007)

Macedonia
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Malawi
15% (31 December 2007)

Maldives
12.5% (31 December 2007)

Mali
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Malta
NA (31 December 2007)

Mauritania
NA

Mexico
NA

Mongolia
9.87% (31 December 2007)

Montserrat
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Morocco
3.25% (31 December 2007)

Mozambique
9.95% (31 December 2007)

Namibia
10.5% (31 December 2007)

Nepal
6.25% (31 December 2007)

Netherlands
NA (31 December 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
NA (31 December 2007)

New Zealand
8.25% (31 December 2007)

Nicaragua
NA (31 December 2007)

Niger
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Nigeria
9.5% (31 December 2007)

Norway
6.25% (31 December 2007)

Oman
1.98% (31 December 2007)

Pakistan
10% (31 December 2007)

Papua New Guinea
7.38% (31 December 2007)

Paraguay
20% (31 December 2007)

Peru
5.75% (31 December 2007)

Philippines
4.28% (31 December 2007)

Poland
5% (31 December 2007)

Qatar
NA

Romania
NA

Russia
10% (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
12.5% (31 December 2007)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Saint Lucia
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
28% (31 December 2007)

Saudi Arabia
NA

Senegal
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Serbia
9.57% (31 December 2007)

Seychelles
5.13% (31 December 2007)

Sierra Leone
NA (31 December 2007)

Slovakia
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
NA (31 December 2007)

South Africa
11% (31 December 2007)

Spain
NA

Sri Lanka
15% (31 December 2007)

Swaziland
11% (31 December 2007)

Sweden
3.5% (31 December 2007)

Switzerland
2.05% (31 December 2007)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
15% (31 December 2007)

Tanzania
16.4% (31 December 2007)

Thailand
3.75% (31 December 2007)

Togo
4.25% (31 December 2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
10% (31 December 2007)

Turkey
25% (31 December 2007)

Uganda
14.68% (31 December 2007)

Ukraine
8% (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates
NA

United Kingdom
NA

United States
4.83% (31 December 2007)

Uruguay
10% (31 December 2007)

Vanuatu
6% (31 December 2007)

Venezuela
28.5% (31 December 2007)

Vietnam
6.5% (31 December 2007)

Yemen
NA

Zambia
11.73% (31 December 2007)

Zimbabwe
975% (31 December 2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2208 Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)

Afghanistan
18.14% (31 December 2007)

Albania
14.1% (31 December 2007)

Algeria
8% (31 December 2007)

Angola
17.7% (31 December 2007)

Anguilla
9.76% (31 December 2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
10.44% (31 December 2007)

Argentina
11.05% (31 December 2007)

Armenia
17.52% (31 December 2007)

Aruba
11.01% (31 December 2007)

Australia
10.02% (31 December 2007)

Austria
6.3% (31 December 2007)

Azerbaijan
19.13% (31 December 2007)

Bahamas, The
5.5% (31 December 2007)

Bahrain
8.35% (31 December 2007)

Bangladesh
16% (31 December 2007)

Barbados
10.8% (31 December 2007)

Belarus
8.58% (31 December 2007)

Belgium
6.98% (31 December 2007)

Belize
14.33% (31 December 2007)

Benin
NA

Bhutan
14% (31 December 2007)

Bolivia
12.86% (31 December 2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
7.17% (31 December 2007)

Botswana
16.22% (31 December 2007)

Brazil
43.72% (31 December 2007)

Brunei
5.5% (31 December 2007)

Bulgaria
10% (31 December 2007)

Burkina Faso
NA

Burma
17% (31 December 2007)

Burundi
16.84% (31 December 2007)

Cameroon
15% (31 December 2007)

Canada
6.1% (31 December 2007)

Cape Verde
10.55% (31 December 2007)

Central African Republic
15% (31 December 2007)

Chad
15% (31 December 2007)

Chile
8.67% (31 December 2007)

China
7.47% (31 December 2007)

Colombia
15.38% (31 December 2007)

Comoros
10.5% (31 December 2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA

Congo, Republic of the
15% (31 December 2007)

Costa Rica
12.8% (31 December 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
NA

Croatia
9.33% (31 December 2007)

Cuba
NA

Cyprus
6.74% (31 December 2007)

Czech Republic
5.79% (31 December 2007)

Denmark
NA

Djibouti
NA

Dominica
9.17% (31 December 2007)

Dominican Republic
15.83% (31 December 2007)

Ecuador
12.08% (31 December 2007)

Egypt
12.51% (31 December 2007)

El Salvador
NA

Equatorial Guinea
15% (31 December 2007)

Estonia
6.46% (31 December 2007)

Ethiopia
7% (31 December 2006)

European Union
8.03% (31 December 2007)

Fiji
9.01% (31 December 2007)

Finland
5.62% (31 December 2007)

France
7.28% (31 December 2007)

Gabon
15% (31 December 2007)

Gambia, The
27.92% (31 December 2007)

Gaza Strip
7.73% (31 December 2006)

Georgia
20.41% (31 December 2007)

Germany
5.96% (31 December 2007)

Ghana
NA

Greece
7.71% (31 December 2007)

Grenada
9.76% (31 December 2007)

Guatemala
12.84% (31 December 2007)

Guinea
NA (31 December 2007)

Guyana
14.61% (31 December 2007)

Haiti
46.99% (31 December 2007)

Honduras
16.61% (31 December 2007)

Hong Kong
6.75% (31 December 2007)

Hungary
9.09% (31 December 2007)

Iceland
19.29% (31 December 2007)

India
13.02% (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
13.86% (31 December 2007)

Iran
12% (31 December 2007)

Iraq
19.74% (31 December 2007)

Ireland
6.52% (31 December 2007)

Israel
6.27% (31 December 2007)

Italy
10.93% (31 December 2007)

Jamaica
17.2% (31 December 2007)

Japan
1.88% (31 December 2007)

Jordan
8.68% (31 December 2007)

Kenya
13.34% (31 December 2007)

Korea, South
6.55% (31 December 2007)

Kuwait
8.54% (31 December 2007)

Kyrgyzstan
25.32% (31 December 2007)

Laos
28.5% (31 December 2007)

Latvia
10.91% (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
10.26% (31 December 2007)

Lesotho
14.13% (31 December 2007)

Liberia
15.05% (31 December 2007)

Libya
6% (31 December 2007)

Lithuania
6.86% (31 December 2007)

Macau
7.81% (31 December 2007)

Macedonia
10.23% (31 December 2007)

Madagascar
45% (31 December 2007)

Malawi
27.72% (31 December 2007)

Malaysia
6.41% (31 December 2007)

Maldives
13% (31 December 2007)

Mali
NA (31 December 2007)

Malta
6.24% (31 December 2007)

Mauritius
21.87% (31 December 2007)

Mexico
7.56% (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
14.03% (31 December 2007)

Moldova
18.83% (31 December 2007)

Mongolia
17.54% (31 December 2007)

Montenegro
9.09% (31 December 2007)

Montserrat
10.4% (31 December 2007)

Morocco
NA (31 December 2007)

Mozambique
19.52% (31 December 2007)

Namibia
12.88% (31 December 2007)

Nepal
8% (31 December 2007)

Netherlands
8.72% (31 December 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
9.21% (31 December 2007)

New Zealand
12.83% (31 December 2007)

Nicaragua
13.04% (31 December 2007)

Niger
NA (31 December 2007)

Nigeria
16.94% (31 December 2007)

Norway
6.65% (31 December 2007)

Oman
7.29% (31 December 2007)

Panama
8.25% (31 December 2007)

Papua New Guinea
9.78% (31 December 2007)

Paraguay
25.03% (31 December 2007)

Peru
22.86% (31 December 2007)

Philippines
8.69% (31 December 2007)

Poland
5.48% (31 December 2006)

Portugal
7.92% (31 December 2007)

Qatar
7.43% (31 December 2007)

Romania
13.35% (31 December 2007)

Russia
10.03% (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
15.84% (31 December 2007)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
9.28% (31 December 2007)

Saint Lucia
10.12% (31 December 2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
9.61% (31 December 2007)

Samoa
12.65% (31 December 2007)

San Marino
7.58% (31 December 2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
32.4% (31 December 2007)

Saudi Arabia
NA

Senegal
NA (31 December 2007)

Serbia
11.13% (31 December 2007)

Seychelles
10.89% (31 December 2007)

Sierra Leone
25% (31 December 2007)

Singapore
5.33% (31 December 2007)

Slovakia
7.99% (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
6.82% (31 December 2007)

Solomon Islands
14.12% (31 December 2007)

South Africa
13.17% (31 December 2007)

Spain
9.89% (31 December 2007)

Sri Lanka
17.08% (31 December 2007)

Suriname
13.77% (31 December 2007)

Swaziland
13.17% (31 December 2007)

Sweden
4% (31 December 2004)

Switzerland
3.15% (31 December 2007)

Syria
8% (31 December 2005)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
22.87% (31 December 2007)

Tanzania
16.03% (31 December 2007)

Thailand
7.05% (31 December 2007)

Timor-Leste
15.05% (31 December 2007)

Togo
NA (31 December 2007)

Tonga
12.16% (31 December 2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
11.75% (31 December 2007)

Uganda
19.11% (31 December 2007)

Ukraine
13.9% (31 December 2007)

United Kingdom
5.52% (31 December 2007)

United States
8.05% (31 December 2007)

Uruguay
8.94% (31 December 2007)

Vanuatu
8.16% (31 December 2007)

Venezuela
17.11% (31 December 2007)

Vietnam
11.18% (31 December 2007)

West Bank
7.73% (31 December 2006)

Yemen
18% (31 December 2007)

Zambia
18.89% (31 December 2007)

Zimbabwe
578.96% (31 December 2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2209 Stock of money

Afghanistan
$1.426 billion (31 December 2007)

Albania
$2.707 billion (31 December 2007)

Algeria
$55.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Angola
$4.153 billion (31 December 2007)

Anguilla
$23.57 million (31 December 2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
$294.8 million (31 December 2007)

Argentina
$33.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Armenia
$1.507 billion (31 December 2007)

Aruba
$640.9 million (31 December 2007)

Australia
$298.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Austria
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Azerbaijan
$4.261 billion (31 December 2007)

Bahamas, The
$1.274 billion (31 December 2007)

Bahrain
$4.169 billion (31 December 2007)

Bangladesh
$8.444 billion (31 December 2007)

Barbados
$1.478 billion (31 December 2007)

Belarus
$4.065 billion (31 December 2007)

Belgium
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Belize
$323.9 million (31 December 2007)

Benin
$1.324 billion (31 December 2007)

Bhutan
$381.1 million (31 December 2007)

Bolivia
$3.032 billion (31 December 2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$5.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Botswana
$1.026 billion (31 December 2007)

Brazil
$131.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Brunei
$2.674 billion (31 December 2007)

Bulgaria
$15.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Burkina Faso
$1.051 billion (31 December 2007)

Burma
$598 billion
note: This number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange
rate of 5.38 kyat per dollar. At the unofficial black market rate of
1305 kyat per dollar, the stock of kyats would equal only US$2.465
billion and Burma's velocity of money (the number of times money
turns over in the course of a year) would be six, in line with the
velocity of money for other countries in the region. (31 December
2007)

Burundi
$208.7 million (31 December 2007)

Cambodia
$513.6 million (31 December 2007)

Cameroon
$2.616 billion (31 December 2007)

Canada
$391.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Cape Verde
$574 million (31 December 2007)

Central African Republic
$218.3 million (31 December 2007)

Chad
$874.5 million (31 December 2007)

Chile
$16.6 billion (31 December 2007)

China
$2.09 trillion (31 December 2007)

Colombia
$21.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Comoros
$76.68 million (31 December 2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$597 million (31 December 2007)

Congo, Republic of the
$1.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Costa Rica
$4.504 billion (31 December 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
$4.451 billion (31 December 2007)

Croatia
$11.61 billion (31 December 2007)

Cuba
NA

Cyprus
$4.094 billion
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2007)

Czech Republic
$84.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Denmark
$148.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Djibouti
$380 million (31 December 2007)

Dominica
$73.71 million (31 December 2007)

Dominican Republic
$4.074 billion (31 December 2007)

Ecuador
$4.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Egypt
$27.6 billion (31 December 2007)

El Salvador
$1.802 billion (31 December 2007)

Equatorial Guinea
$835.2 million (31 December 2007)

Eritrea
$749.1 million (31 December 2007)

Estonia
$7.158 billion (31 December 2007)

Ethiopia
$3.651 billion (31 December 2006)

European Union
$5.742 trillion
note: this is the quantity of money, M1, for the Euro Area,
converted into US dollars at the exchange rate for the date
indicated; it excludes the stock of money carried by non-Eurozone
members of the European Union

Fiji
$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)

Finland
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

France
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Gabon
$1.547 billion (31 December 2007)

Gambia, The
$186.7 million (31 December 2007)

Gaza Strip
$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)

Georgia
$1.154 billion (31 December 2007)

Germany
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Ghana
$2.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Greece
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Grenada
$151.2 million (31 December 2007)

Guatemala
$6.227 billion (31 December 2007)

Guinea
$309.8 million (31 December 2005)

Guinea-Bissau
$142.5 million (31 December 2007)

Guyana
$315.2 million (31 December 2007)

Haiti
$704.7 million (31 December 2007)

Honduras
$1.573 billion (31 December 2007)

Hong Kong
$51.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Hungary
$36.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Iceland
$6.64 billion (31 December 2007)

India
$250.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
$47.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Iran
$46.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Iraq
$18.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Ireland
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Israel
$15.36 billion (31 December 2006)

Italy
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Jamaica
$1.369 billion (31 December 2007)

Japan
$4.37 trillion (31 December 2007)

Jordan
$6.765 billion (31 December 2007)

Kazakhstan
$12.74 billion (31 December 2007)

Kenya
$5.932 billion (31 December 2007)

Korea, South
$92.59 billion (31 December 2007)

Kuwait
$15.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Kyrgyzstan
$911.1 million (31 December 2007)

Laos
$327.9 million (31 December 2007)

Latvia
$8.196 billion (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
$2.374 billion (31 December 2007)

Lesotho
$439.2 million (31 December 2007)

Liberia
$145.6 million (31 December 2007)

Libya
$18.04 billion (31 December 2007)

Lithuania
$11.84 billion (31 December 2007)

Luxembourg
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Macau
$1.16 billion (31 December 2007)

Macedonia
$1.173 billion (31 December 2007)

Madagascar
$1.161 billion (31 December 2007)

Malawi
$361.5 million (31 December 2007)

Malaysia
$49.41 billion (31 December 2007)

Maldives
$344.1 million (31 December 2007)

Mali
$1.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Malta
$4.603 billion
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2007)

Mauritania
NA (31 December 2007)

Mauritius
$1.673 billion (31 December 2007)

Mexico
$103.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$22.45 million (31 December 2007)

Moldova
$965 million (31 December 2007)

Mongolia
$504.7 million (31 December 2007)

Montenegro
$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)

Montserrat
$17.9 million (31 December 2007)

Morocco
$67.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Mozambique
$1.261 billion (31 December 2007)

Namibia
$2.149 billion (31 December 2007)

Nepal
$2.184 billion (31 December 2007)

Netherlands
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Netherlands Antilles
$1.133 billion (31 December 2007)

New Zealand
$24.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Nicaragua
$465.1 million (31 December 2007)

Niger
$604.5 million (31 December 2007)

Nigeria
$21.72 billion (31 December 2007)

Norway
NA (31 December 2007)

Oman
$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)

Pakistan
$52.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Panama
$3.054 billion (31 December 2007)

Papua New Guinea
$1.685 billion (31 December 2007)

Paraguay
$1.943 billion (31 December 2007)

Peru
$14.66 billion (31 December 2007)

Philippines
$21.27 billion (31 December 2007)

Poland
$137.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Portugal
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Qatar
$9.718 billion (31 December 2007)

Romania
$25.17 billion (31 December 2007)

Russia
$303.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
$233.6 million (31 December 2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$97.31 million (31 December 2007)

Saint Lucia
$264.7 million (31 December 2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$155.5 million (31 December 2007)

Samoa
$69.97 million (31 December 2007)

San Marino
$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
$19.99 million (31 December 2007)

Saudi Arabia
$102.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Senegal
$2.842 billion (31 December 2007)

Serbia
$4.632 billion (31 December 2007)

Seychelles
$330.8 million (31 December 2007)

Sierra Leone
$184.6 million (31 December 2007)

Singapore
$44.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovakia
$26.17 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
$9.347 billion
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2006)

Solomon Islands
$118.3 million (31 December 2007)

South Africa
$58.49 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro
Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders

Sri Lanka
$2.465 billion (31 December 2007)

Sudan
$5.549 billion (31 December 2007)

Suriname
$416.6 million (31 December 2007)

Swaziland
$244.8 million (31 December 2007)

Sweden
$217.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Switzerland
$213.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Syria
$58.84 billion
note: This number reflects the greatly overvalued official exchange
rate of 11.23 Syrian pounds per dollar. At the unofficial rate of 50
Syrian pounds per dollar, the stock of Syrian pounds would equal
US$13.22 billion and Syria's velocity of money (the number of times
money turns over in the course of a year) would be three, in line
with the velocity of money for other countries in the region. (31
December 2006)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
$91.59 million (31 December 2006)

Tanzania
$2.263 billion (31 December 2007)

Thailand
$28.62 billion (31 December 2007)

Timor-Leste
$74.94 million (31 December 2007)

Togo
$624.9 million (31 December 2007)

Tonga
$46.38 million (31 December 2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
$2.646 billion (31 December 2007)

Tunisia
$9.491 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkey
$64.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Uganda
$1.363 billion (31 December 2007)

Ukraine
$35.97 billion (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates
$49.5 billion (31 December 2007)

United States
$1.374 trillion (31 December 2007)

Uruguay
$2.145 billion (31 December 2007)

Vanuatu
$107.1 million (31 December 2007)

Venezuela
$63.18 billion (31 December 2007)

Vietnam
$27.15 billion (31 December 2007)

West Bank
$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)

Yemen
$3.076 billion (31 December 2007)

Zambia
$995.8 million (31 December 2007)

Zimbabwe
$14.18 billion
note: This number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange
rate of 30,000 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar. At an unofficial rate
of 800,000 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar, the stock of Zimbabwe
dollars would equal only about US$500 million and Zimbabwe's
velocity of money (the number of times money turns over in the
course of a year) would be nine, in line with the velocity of money
for other countries in the region. (31 December 2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2210 Stock of quasi money

Afghanistan
$958.6 million (31 December 2007)

Albania
$6.433 billion (31 December 2007)

Algeria
$28.59 billion (31 December 2007)

Angola
$7.216 billion (31 December 2007)

Anguilla
$470.1 million (31 December 2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
$902 million (31 December 2007)

Argentina
$45.92 billion (31 December 2007)

Armenia
$765.2 million (31 December 2007)

Aruba
$792.9 million (31 December 2007)

Australia
$667.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Austria
NA

Azerbaijan
$2.593 billion (31 December 2007)

Bahamas, The
$4.324 billion (31 December 2007)

Bahrain
$10.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Bangladesh
$32.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Barbados
$2.717 billion (31 December 2007)

Belarus
$6.823 billion (31 December 2007)

Belgium
NA

Belize
$549 million (31 December 2007)

Benin
$627.2 million (31 December 2007)

Bhutan
$220.3 million (31 December 2007)

Bolivia
$4.729 billion (31 December 2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$5.597 billion (31 December 2007)

Botswana
$4.336 billion (31 December 2007)

Brazil
$792.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Brunei
$4.258 billion (31 December 2007)

Bulgaria
$17.03 billion (31 December 2007)

Burkina Faso
$663 million (31 December 2007)

Burma
$216.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Burundi
$141 million (31 December 2007)

Cambodia
$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

Cameroon
$1.698 billion (31 December 2007)

Canada
$1.381 trillion (31 December 2007)

Cape Verde
$689 million (31 December 2007)

Central African Republic
$47.58 million (31 December 2007)

Chad
$55.23 million (31 December 2007)

Chile
$80.42 billion (31 December 2007)

China
$3.437 trillion (31 December 2007)

Colombia
$27.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Comoros
$23.39 million (31 December 2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$677.9 million (31 December 2007)

Congo, Republic of the
$204.3 million (31 December 2007)

Costa Rica
$2.87 billion (31 December 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
$1.915 billion (31 December 2007)

Croatia
$31.86 billion (31 December 2007)

Cuba
NA

Cyprus
$43.93 billion (31 December 2007)

Czech Republic
$58.77 billion (31 December 2007)

Denmark
$81.64 billion (31 December 2007)

Djibouti
$284.1 million (31 December 2007)

Dominica
$269.1 million (31 December 2007)

Dominican Republic
$5.631 billion (31 December 2007)

Ecuador
$7.974 billion (31 December 2007)

Egypt
$102.6 billion (31 December 2007)

El Salvador
$764.1 million (31 December 2007)

Equatorial Guinea
$174.5 million (31 December 2007)

Eritrea
$932.9 million (31 December 2007)

Estonia
$4.253 billion (31 December 2007)

Ethiopia
$3.258 billion (31 December 2007)

European Union
$10.93 trillion
note: this is the quantity of quasi money, M2, for the Euro Area,
converted into US dollars at the exchange rate for the date
indicated; it excludes the stock of quasi money carried by
non-Eurozone members of the European Union

Fiji
$1.088 billion (31 December 2007)

Finland
NA

France
NA

Gabon
$799.3 million (31 December 2007)

Gambia, The
$180.4 million (31 December 2007)

Gaza Strip
$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)

Georgia
$1.379 billion (31 December 2007)

Germany
NA

Ghana
$2.174 billion (31 December 2006)

Greece
NA

Grenada
$533.4 million (31 December 2007)

Guatemala
$8.928 billion (31 December 2007)

Guinea
NA (31 December 2007)

Guinea-Bissau
$12.04 million (31 December 2007)

Guyana
$728.8 million (31 December 2007)

Haiti
$1.561 billion (31 December 2007)

Honduras
$5.266 billion (31 December 2007)

Hong Kong
$578.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Hungary
$43.07 billion (31 December 2007)

Iceland
$15.05 billion (31 December 2006)

India
$647.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
$127 billion (31 December 2007)

Iran
$68.71 billion (31 December 2007)

Iraq
$3.67 billion (31 December 2007)

Ireland
NA (31 December 2007)

Israel
$154.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Italy
NA (31 December 2007)

Jamaica
$4.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Japan
$4.783 trillion (31 December 2007)

Jordan
$15.38 billion (31 December 2007)

Kazakhstan
$25.75 billion (31 December 2007)

Kenya
$6.273 billion (31 December 2007)

Korea, South
$541.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Kuwait
$55.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Kyrgyzstan
$303.7 million (31 December 2007)

Laos
$717.9 million (31 December 2007)

Latvia
$5.113 billion (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
$57.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Lesotho
$160.2 million (31 December 2007)

Liberia
$49.89 million (31 December 2007)

Libya
$3.192 billion (31 December 2007)

Lithuania
$6.917 billion (31 December 2007)

Luxembourg
NA (31 December 2007)

Macau
$21.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Macedonia
$3.127 billion (31 December 2007)

Madagascar
$577.4 million (31 December 2007)

Malawi
$250.4 million (31 December 2007)

Malaysia
$187.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Maldives
$434.9 million (31 December 2007)

Mali
$697.1 million (31 December 2007)

Malta
$7.645 billion (31 December 2007)

Mauritania
NA (31 December 2007)

Mauritius
$6.759 billion (31 December 2007)

Mexico
$168.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$72.49 million (31 December 2007)

Moldova
$1.449 billion (31 December 2007)

Mongolia
$1.539 billion (31 December 2007)

Montenegro
$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Montserrat
$43.9 million (31 December 2007)

Morocco
$16.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Mozambique
$1.467 billion (31 December 2007)

Namibia
$1.493 billion (31 December 2007)

Nepal
$4.745 billion (31 December 2007)

Netherlands
NA (31 December 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

New Zealand
$117.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Nicaragua
$1.802 billion (31 December 2007)

Niger
$193.7 million (31 December 2007)

Nigeria
$19.07 billion (31 December 2007)

Norway
NA (31 December 2007)

Oman
$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)

Pakistan
$18.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Panama
$14.26 billion (31 December 2007)

Papua New Guinea
$1.482 billion (31 December 2007)

Paraguay
$1.368 billion (31 December 2007)

Peru
$19.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Philippines
$65.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Poland
$93.99 billion (31 December 2007)

Portugal
NA (31 December 2007)

Qatar
$22.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Romania
$34.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Russia
$292.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
$227.4 million (31 December 2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$688.6 million (31 December 2007)

Saint Lucia
$720.9 million (31 December 2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$280.2 million (31 December 2007)

Samoa
$168.7 million (31 December 2007)

San Marino
$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
$33.5 million (31 December 2007)

Saudi Arabia
$109.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Senegal
$1.579 billion (31 December 2007)

Serbia
$12.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Seychelles
$249 million (31 December 2007)

Sierra Leone
$177.7 million (31 December 2007)

Singapore
$162.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovakia
$21.11 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
$12.69 billion (31 December 2006)

Solomon Islands
$57.89 million (31 December 2007)

South Africa
$141.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain
NA (31 December 2007)

Sri Lanka
$10.46 billion (31 December 2007)

Sudan
$4.068 billion (31 December 2007)

Suriname
$824.4 million (31 December 2007)

Swaziland
$529.4 million (31 December 2007)

Sweden
$48.49 billion (31 December 2007)

Switzerland
$450.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Syria
$45.93 billion (31 December 2006)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
$161 million (31 December 2006)

Tanzania
$2.885 billion (31 December 2007)

Thailand
$216.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Timor-Leste
$68.78 million (31 December 2007)

Togo
$383.9 million (31 December 2007)

Tonga
$106.8 million (31 December 2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
$5.707 billion (31 December 2007)

Tunisia
$13.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkey
$254.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Uganda
$1.302 billion (31 December 2007)

Ukraine
$41.51 billion (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates
$104.6 billion (31 December 2007)

United States
$10.1 trillion (31 December 2007)

Uruguay
$7.919 billion (31 December 2007)

Vanuatu
$421.8 million (31 December 2007)

Venezuela
$8.889 billion (31 December 2007)

Vietnam
$51.08 billion (31 December 2007)

West Bank
$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)

Yemen
$4.526 billion (31 December 2007)

Zambia
$1.709 billion (31 December 2007)

Zimbabwe
$5.349 billion (31 December 2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2211 Stock of domestic credit

Afghanistan
$20.06 million (31 December 2007)

Albania
$7.341 billion (31 December 2007)

Algeria
NA

Angola
$1.385 billion (31 December 2007)

Anguilla
$447.7 million (31 December 2007)

Antigua and Barbuda
$1.002 billion (31 December 2007)

Argentina
$72.55 billion (31 December 2007)

Armenia
$1.256 billion (31 December 2007)

Aruba
$1.348 billion (31 December 2007)

Australia
$1.312 trillion (31 December 2007)

Austria
$599.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Azerbaijan
$5.726 billion (31 December 2007)

Bahamas, The
$7.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Bahrain
$10.32 billion (31 December 2007)

Bangladesh
$40.15 billion (31 December 2007)

Barbados
$3.533 billion (31 December 2007)

Belarus
$12.16 billion (31 December 2007)

Belgium
$767.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Belize
$877.6 million (31 December 2007)

Benin
$520.6 million (31 December 2007)

Bhutan
$169.9 million (31 December 2007)

Bolivia
$4.759 billion (31 December 2007)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
$8.895 billion (31 December 2007)

Botswana
NA

Brazil
$1.377 trillion (31 December 2007)

Brunei
$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)

Bulgaria
$25.18 billion (31 December 2007)

Burkina Faso
$905.1 million (31 December 2007)

Burma
$887.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Burundi
$342 million (31 December 2007)

Cambodia
$1.131 billion (31 December 2007)

Cameroon
$1.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Canada
$2.382 trillion (31 December 2007)

Cape Verde
$1.049 billion (31 December 2007)

Central African Republic
$320.2 million (31 December 2007)

Chad
$82.81 million (31 December 2007)

Chile
$127.1 billion (31 December 2007)

China
$4.653 trillion (31 December 2007)

Colombia
$85.34 billion (31 December 2007)

Comoros
$45.09 million (31 December 2007)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
$559.5 million (31 December 2007)

Congo, Republic of the
NA

Costa Rica
$12.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
$4.404 billion (31 December 2007)

Croatia
$45.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Cuba
NA

Cyprus
$52.09 billion (31 December 2007)

Czech Republic
$103.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Denmark
$684.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Djibouti
$224.7 million (31 December 2007)

Dominica
$193.1 million (31 December 2007)

Dominican Republic
$15.92 billion (31 December 2007)

Ecuador
$8.926 billion (31 December 2007)

Egypt
$113.9 billion (31 December 2007)

El Salvador
$9.729 billion (31 December 2007)

Equatorial Guinea
NA

Eritrea
$1.711 billion (31 December 2007)

Estonia
$21.35 billion (31 December 2007)

Ethiopia
$6.694 billion (31 December 2006)

European Union
$20.94 trillion
note: this figure refers to the Euro area only; it excludes credit
data for members of the EU outside the Eurozone (31 December 2007)

Fiji
$1.948 billion (31 December 2007)

Finland
$240.7 billion (31 December 2007)

France
$4.105 trillion (31 December 2007)

Gabon
$359.8 million (31 December 2007)

Gambia, The
$169.9 million (31 December 2007)

Gaza Strip
$1.455 billion (31 December 2007)

Georgia
$3.374 billion (31 December 2007)

Germany
$5.081 trillion (31 December 2007)

Ghana
$4.173 billion (31 December 2006)

Greece
$392.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Grenada
$575.8 million (31 December 2007)

Guatemala
$13.96 billion (31 December 2007)

Guinea
$422.1 million (31 December 2005)

Guinea-Bissau
$46.44 million (31 December 2007)

Guyana
$739.3 million (31 December 2007)

Haiti
$1.537 billion (31 December 2007)

Honduras
$6.298 billion (31 December 2007)

Hong Kong
$259.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Hungary
$109.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Iceland
$49.67 billion (31 December 2006)

India
$769.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
$170.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Iran
$109.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Iraq
NA (31 December 2007)

Ireland
$768.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Israel
$113.4 billion (31 December 2006)

Italy
$3.084 trillion (31 December 2007)

Jamaica
$6.609 billion (31 December 2007)

Japan
$9.653 trillion (31 December 2007)

Jordan
$19.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Kazakhstan
$43.75 billion (31 December 2007)

Kenya
$10.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Korea, South
$1.061 trillion (31 December 2007)

Kuwait
$78.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Kyrgyzstan
$558.3 million (31 December 2007)

Laos
$285.8 million (31 December 2007)

Latvia
$27.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
$45.51 billion (31 December 2007)

Lesotho
NA (31 December 2007)

Liberia
$1.157 billion (31 December 2007)

Libya
NA (31 December 2007)

Lithuania
$25.05 billion (31 December 2007)

Luxembourg
$357.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Macau
NA (31 December 2007)

Macedonia
$2.924 billion (31 December 2007)

Madagascar
$767.5 million (31 December 2007)

Malawi
$406.2 million (31 December 2007)

Malaysia
$220 billion (31 December 2007)

Maldives
$1.08 billion (31 December 2007)

Mali
$1.099 billion (31 December 2007)

Malta
$10.99 billion (31 December 2007)

Mauritania
NA (31 December 2007)

Mauritius
$8.582 billion (31 December 2007)

Mexico
$349.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
NA (31 December 2007)

Moldova
$1.896 billion (31 December 2007)

Mongolia
$1.191 billion (31 December 2007)

Montenegro
$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)

Montserrat
$5.537 million (31 December 2007)

Morocco
$71.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Mozambique
$877.2 million (31 December 2007)

Namibia
$4.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Nepal
$5.636 billion (31 December 2007)

Netherlands
$1.876 trillion (31 December 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
$2.927 billion (31 December 2007)

New Zealand
$200.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Nicaragua
$4.133 billion (31 December 2007)

Niger
$318.9 million (31 December 2007)

Nigeria
$16.15 billion (31 December 2007)

Norway
NA (31 December 2007)

Oman
$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)

Pakistan
$65.05 billion (31 December 2007)

Panama
$17.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Papua New Guinea
$1.486 billion (31 December 2007)

Paraguay
$2.457 billion (31 December 2007)

Peru
$17.88 billion (31 December 2007)

Philippines
$65.66 billion (31 December 2007)

Poland
$223.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Portugal
$451.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Qatar
$30.52 billion (31 December 2007)

Romania
$58.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Russia
$339.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
$209.2 million (31 December 2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$782.4 million (31 December 2007)

Saint Lucia
$1.217 billion (31 December 2007)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$387.8 million (31 December 2007)

Samoa
$215.1 million (31 December 2007)

San Marino
$7.513 billion (31 December 2007)

Sao Tome and Principe
$31.84 million (31 December 2007)

Saudi Arabia
$66.94 billion (31 December 2007)

Senegal
$2.97 billion (31 December 2007)

Serbia
$13.44 billion (31 December 2007)

Seychelles
$660.2 million (31 December 2007)

Sierra Leone
$162.9 million (31 December 2007)

Singapore
$129.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovakia
$41.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
NA (31 December 2007)

Solomon Islands
$126.9 million (31 December 2007)

South Africa
$254.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain
$3.177 trillion (31 December 2007)

Sri Lanka
$14.82 billion (31 December 2007)

Sudan
$8.659 billion (31 December 2007)

Suriname
$651 million (31 December 2007)

Swaziland
$204.1 million (31 December 2007)

Sweden
$630.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Switzerland
$855.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Syria
$50.92 billion (31 December 2006)

Taiwan
NA

Tajikistan
$417.4 million (31 December 2006)

Tanzania
$2.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Thailand
$241.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Timor-Leste
NA (31 December 2007)

Togo
$590.7 million (31 December 2007)

Tonga
$163.1 million (31 December 2007)

Trinidad and Tobago
$3.721 billion (31 December 2007)

Tunisia
$25.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkey
$358.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Uganda
$907.3 million (31 December 2007)

Ukraine
$87.13 billion (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates
$155.4 billion (31 December 2007)

United Kingdom
$5.278 trillion (31 December 2007)

United States
$14.15 trillion (31 December 2007)

Uruguay
$6.396 billion (31 December 2007)

Vanuatu
$229.5 million (31 December 2007)

Venezuela
$50.24 billion (31 December 2007)

Vietnam
$68.63 billion (31 December 2007)

West Bank
$1.455 billion (31 December 2007)

Yemen
$2.224 billion (31 December 2007)

Zambia
$1.968 billion (31 December 2007)

Zimbabwe
$24.91 billion (31 December 2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2001

Rank Country GDP (purchasing power parity) Date of Information

1 World $ 65,610,000,000,000 2007 est. 2 European Union $ 14,430,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 United States $ 13,780,000,000,000 2007 est. 4 China $ 7,099,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 Japan $ 4,272,000,000,000 2007 est. 6 India $ 2,966,000,000,000 2007 est. 7 Germany $ 2,807,000,000,000 2007 est. 8 United Kingdom $ 2,130,000,000,000 2007 est. 9 Russia $ 2,097,000,000,000 2007 est. 10 France $ 2,075,000,000,000 2007 est. 11 Brazil $ 1,849,000,000,000 2007 est. 12 Italy $ 1,800,000,000,000 2007 est. 13 Spain $ 1,361,000,000,000 2007 est. 14 Mexico $ 1,353,000,000,000 2007 est. 15 Canada $ 1,271,000,000,000 2007 est. 16 Korea, South $ 1,206,000,000,000 2007 est. 17 Turkey $ 853,900,000,000 2007 est. 18 Indonesia $ 843,700,000,000 2007 est. 19 Australia $ 773,000,000,000 2007 est. 20 Iran $ 762,900,000,000 2007 est. 21 Taiwan $ 698,600,000,000 2007 est. 22 Netherlands $ 645,500,000,000 2007 est. 23 Poland $ 623,100,000,000 2007 est. 24 Saudi Arabia $ 546,000,000,000 2007 est. 25 Argentina $ 526,400,000,000 2007 est. 26 Thailand $ 521,500,000,000 2007 est. 27 South Africa $ 467,800,000,000 2007 est. 28 Pakistan $ 411,900,000,000 2007 est. 29 Egypt $ 405,400,000,000 2007 est. 30 Belgium $ 376,500,000,000 2007 est. 31 Malaysia $ 361,200,000,000 2007 est. 32 Sweden $ 338,500,000,000 2007 est. 33 Venezuela $ 334,300,000,000 2007 est. 34 Colombia $ 327,700,000,000 2007 est. 35 Greece $ 327,600,000,000 2007 est. 36 Ukraine $ 324,800,000,000 2007 est. 37 Austria $ 322,000,000,000 2007 est. 38 Switzerland $ 303,200,000,000 2007 est. 39 Philippines $ 300,100,000,000 2007 est. 40 Nigeria $ 296,100,000,000 2007 est. 41 Hong Kong $ 293,300,000,000 2007 est. 42 Czech Republic $ 251,000,000,000 2007 est. 43 Romania $ 247,100,000,000 2007 est. 44 Norway $ 246,600,000,000 2007 est. 45 Chile $ 232,800,000,000 2007 est. 46 Portugal $ 232,300,000,000 2007 est. 47 Singapore $ 227,100,000,000 2007 est. 48 Algeria $ 222,300,000,000 2007 est. 49 Vietnam $ 221,100,000,000 2007 est. 50 Peru $ 219,600,000,000 2007 est. 51 Bangladesh $ 208,300,000,000 2007 est. 52 Denmark $ 203,300,000,000 2007 est. 53 Hungary $ 191,700,000,000 2007 est. 54 Ireland $ 191,600,000,000 2007 est. 55 Finland $ 188,400,000,000 2007 est. 56 Israel $ 185,800,000,000 2007 est. 57 Kazakhstan $ 168,200,000,000 2007 est. 58 United Arab Emirates $ 164,400,000,000 2007 est. 59 Kuwait $ 140,000,000,000 2007 est. 60 Cuba $ 125,500,000,000 2007 est. 61 Morocco $ 125,000,000,000 2007 est. 62 New Zealand $ 112,400,000,000 2007 est. 63 Slovakia $ 110,200,000,000 2007 est. 64 Belarus $ 103,500,000,000 2007 est. 65 Iraq $ 102,400,000,000 2007 est. 66 Ecuador $ 98,710,000,000 2007 est. 67 Angola $ 95,460,000,000 2007 est. 68 Burma $ 91,130,000,000 2007 est. 69 Syria $ 90,370,000,000 2007 est. 70 Bulgaria $ 86,710,000,000 2007 est. 71 Sri Lanka $ 82,020,000,000 2007 est. 72 Sudan $ 80,980,000,000 2007 est. 73 Serbia $ 77,280,000,000 2007 est. 74 Tunisia $ 76,070,000,000 2007 est. 75 Libya $ 74,720,000,000 2007 est. 76 Puerto Rico $ 72,610,000,000 2007 est. 77 Qatar $ 71,420,000,000 2007 est. 78 Croatia $ 69,590,000,000 2007 est. 79 Guatemala $ 64,760,000,000 2007 est. 80 Azerbaijan $ 64,660,000,000 2007 est. 81 Uzbekistan $ 64,400,000,000 2007 est. 82 Dominican Republic $ 61,670,000,000 2007 est. 83 Kenya $ 61,220,000,000 2007 est. 84 Oman $ 60,890,000,000 2007 est. 85 Lithuania $ 59,980,000,000 2007 est. 86 Yemen $ 56,240,000,000 2007 est. 87 Slovenia $ 56,190,000,000 2007 est. 88 Ethiopia $ 56,050,000,000 2007 est. 89 Tanzania $ 51,070,000,000 2007 est. 90 Costa Rica $ 45,770,000,000 2007 est. 91 El Salvador $ 41,630,000,000 2007 est. 92 Lebanon $ 40,440,000,000 2007 est. 93 Cameroon $ 40,240,000,000 2007 est. 94 Latvia $ 40,050,000,000 2007 est. 95 Korea, North $ 40,000,000,000 2007 est. 96 Bolivia $ 39,750,000,000 2007 est. 97 Luxembourg $ 38,140,000,000 2007 est. 98 Uruguay $ 37,500,000,000 2007 est. 99 Afghanistan $ 35,000,000,000 2007 est. 100 Panama $ 34,810,000,000 2007 est. 101 Cote d'Ivoire $ 32,850,000,000 2007 est. 102 Honduras $ 32,260,000,000 2007 est. 103 Ghana $ 31,130,000,000 2007 est. 104 Nepal $ 29,290,000,000 2007 est. 105 Uganda $ 29,130,000,000 2007 est. 106 Estonia $ 28,690,000,000 2007 est. 107 Jordan $ 28,450,000,000 2007 est. 108 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ 27,700,000,000 2007 est. 109 Turkmenistan $ 26,920,000,000 2007 est. 110 Trinidad and Tobago $ 26,790,000,000 2007 est. 111 Paraguay $ 26,700,000,000 2007 est. 112 Cambodia $ 26,190,000,000 2007 est. 113 Botswana $ 26,040,000,000 2007 est. 114 Bahrain $ 24,010,000,000 2007 est. 115 Cyprus $ 21,400,000,000 2007 est. 116 Senegal $ 21,020,000,000 2007 est. 117 Albania $ 20,870,000,000 2007 est. 118 Georgia $ 20,600,000,000 2007 est. 119 Jamaica $ 20,480,000,000 2007 est. 120 Gabon $ 20,440,000,000 2007 est. 121 Brunei $ 19,640,000,000 2007 est. 122 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ 19,030,000,000 2007 est. 123 Madagascar $ 18,440,000,000 2007 est. 124 Mozambique $ 17,640,000,000 2007 est. 125 Burkina Faso $ 17,410,000,000 2007 est. 126 Macedonia $ 17,350,000,000 2007 est. 127 Armenia $ 17,170,000,000 2007 est. 128 Nicaragua $ 16,170,000,000 2007 est. 129 Zambia $ 16,100,000,000 2007 est. 130 Equatorial Guinea $ 15,540,000,000 2007 est. 131 Chad $ 15,260,000,000 2007 est. 132 Mauritius $ 14,270,000,000 2007 est. 133 Mali $ 13,630,000,000 2007 est. 134 Congo, Republic of the $ 12,860,000,000 2007 est. 135 Laos $ 12,800,000,000 2007 est. 136 Macau $ 12,500,000,000 2006 137 Iceland $ 12,190,000,000 2007 est. 138 Papua New Guinea $ 12,050,000,000 2007 est. 139 Benin $ 12,000,000,000 2007 est. 140 Tajikistan $ 11,960,000,000 2007 est. 141 Haiti $ 11,380,000,000 2007 est. 142 Guinea $ 10,960,000,000 2007 est. 143 Namibia $ 10,690,000,000 2007 est. 144 Malawi $ 10,590,000,000 2007 est. 145 Kyrgyzstan $ 10,550,000,000 2007 est. 146 Moldova $ 9,756,000,000 2007 est. 147 Malta $ 9,400,000,000 2007 est. 148 Niger $ 8,859,000,000 2007 est. 149 Bahamas, The $ 8,553,000,000 2007 est. 150 Mongolia $ 8,542,000,000 2007 est. 151 Rwanda $ 8,057,000,000 2007 est. 152 Mauritania $ 5,974,000,000 2007 est. 153 Montenegro $ 5,918,000,000 2007 est. 154 Somalia $ 5,387,000,000 2007 est. 155 Swaziland $ 5,364,000,000 2007 est. 156 Barbados $ 5,310,000,000 2007 est. 157 Jersey $ 5,100,000,000 2005 est. 158 Fiji $ 5,079,000,000 2007 est. 159 Togo $ 5,042,000,000 2007 est. 160 Gaza Strip $ 5,034,000,000 2006 est. 161 West Bank $ 5,034,000,000 2006 est. 162 French Polynesia $ 4,580,000,000 2003 est. 163 Bermuda $ 4,500,000,000 2004 est. 164 Kosovo $ 4,000,000,000 2007 est. 165 Sierra Leone $ 3,991,000,000 2007 est. 166 Suriname $ 3,846,000,000 2007 est. 167 Eritrea $ 3,619,000,000 2007 est. 168 Bhutan $ 3,359,000,000 2007 est. 169 New Caledonia $ 3,158,000,000 2003 est. 170 Lesotho $ 3,063,000,000 2007 est. 171 Central African Republic $ 3,007,000,000 2007 est. 172 Burundi $ 2,907,000,000 2007 est. 173 Guyana $ 2,819,000,000 2007 est. 174 Netherlands Antilles $ 2,800,000,000 2004 est. 175 Andorra $ 2,770,000,000 2005 176 Guernsey $ 2,742,000,000 2005 177 Isle of Man $ 2,719,000,000 2005 est. 178 Timor-Leste $ 2,608,000,000 2007 est. 179 Guam $ 2,500,000,000 2005 est. 180 Belize $ 2,444,000,000 2007 est. 181 Zimbabwe $ 2,342,000,000 2007 est. 182 Aruba $ 2,258,000,000 2005 est. 183 Gambia, The $ 2,061,000,000 2007 est. 184 Cayman Islands $ 1,939,000,000 2004 est. 185 Saint Lucia $ 1,794,000,000 2007 est. 186 Liechtenstein $ 1,786,000,000 2001 est. 187 Djibouti $ 1,738,000,000 2007 est. 188 Cape Verde $ 1,603,000,000 2007 est. 189 Maldives $ 1,588,000,000 2007 est. 190 Virgin Islands $ 1,577,000,000 2004 est. 191 Antigua and Barbuda $ 1,526,000,000 2007 est. 192 Liberia $ 1,525,000,000 2007 est. 193 Seychelles $ 1,378,000,000 2007 est. 194 Comoros $ 1,262,000,000 2007 est. 195 Grenada $ 1,108,000,000 2007 est. 196 Greenland $ 1,100,000,000 2001 est. 197 Gibraltar $ 1,066,000,000 2005 est. 198 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $ 1,042,000,000 2007 est. 199 Samoa $ 1,029,000,000 2007 est. 200 Faroe Islands $ 1,000,000,000 2001 est. 201 Monaco $ 976,300,000 2006 est. 202 Mayotte $ 953,600,000 2005 est. 203 Solomon Islands $ 948,000,000 2007 est. 204 Northern Mariana Islands $ 900,000,000 2000 est. 205 Vanuatu $ 897,000,000 2007 est. 206 British Virgin Islands $ 853,400,000 2004 est. 207 San Marino $ 850,000,000 2004 est. 208 Guinea-Bissau $ 826,400,000 2007 est. 209 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 721,000,000 2007 est. 210 Dominica $ 648,000,000 2007 est. 211 Tonga $ 526,000,000 2007 est. 212 American Samoa $ 510,100,000 2003 est. 213 Kiribati $ 348,000,000 2007 est. 214 Micronesia, Federated States of $ 277,000,000 2002 est. 215 Sao Tome and Principe $ 256,000,000 2007 est. 216 Turks and Caicos Islands $ 216,000,000 2002 est. 217 Cook Islands $ 183,200,000 2005 est. 218 Palau $ 124,500,000 2004 est. 219 Marshall Islands $ 115,000,000 2001 est. 220 Anguilla $ 108,900,000 2004 est. 221 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $ 75,000,000 2002 est. 222 Nauru $ 60,000,000 2005 est. 223 Wallis and Futuna $ 60,000,000 2004 est. 224 Saint Pierre and Miquelon $ 48,300,000 2003 est. 225 Montserrat $ 29,000,000 2002 est. 226 Saint Helena $ 18,000,000 1998 est. 227 Tuvalu $ 14,940,000 2002 est. 228 Niue $ 7,600,000 2000 est. 229 Tokelau $ 1,500,000 1993 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2002

Rank Country Population growth rate(%) Date of Information

1 Maldives 5.57 2008 est. 2 United Arab Emirates 3.83 2008 est. 3 Liberia 3.66 2008 est. 4 Uganda 3.60 2008 est. 5 Kuwait 3.59 2008 est. 6 Mayotte 3.47 2008 est. 7 Yemen 3.46 2008 est. 8 Burundi 3.44 2008 est. 9 Gaza Strip 3.42 2008 est. 10 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3.24 2008 est. 11 Ethiopia 3.21 2008 est. 12 Oman 3.19 2008 est. 13 Macau 3.15 2008 est. 14 Sao Tome and Principe 3.12 2008 est. 15 Burkina Faso 3.11 2008 est. 16 Benin 3.01 2008 est. 17 Madagascar 3.01 2008 est. 18 Niger 2.88 2008 est. 19 Western Sahara 2.87 2008 est. 20 Mauritania 2.85 2008 est. 21 Somalia 2.82 2008 est. 22 Comoros 2.80 2008 est. 23 Rwanda 2.78 2008 est. 24 Kenya 2.76 2008 est. 25 Equatorial Guinea 2.73 2008 est. 26 Mali 2.73 2008 est. 27 Gambia, The 2.72 2008 est. 28 Togo 2.72 2008 est. 29 Congo, Republic of the 2.70 2008 est. 30 Turks and Caicos Islands 2.64 2008 est. 31 Eritrea 2.63 2008 est. 32 Afghanistan 2.63 2008 est. 33 Senegal 2.58 2008 est. 34 Iraq 2.56 2008 est. 35 Haiti 2.49 2008 est. 36 Guinea 2.49 2008 est. 37 Solomon Islands 2.47 2008 est. 38 Cayman Islands 2.45 2008 est. 39 Malawi 2.39 2008 est. 40 Paraguay 2.39 2008 est. 41 Northern Mariana Islands 2.38 2008 est. 42 Laos 2.34 2008 est. 43 Jordan 2.34 2008 est. 44 Anguilla 2.33 2008 est. 45 Sierra Leone 2.28 2008 est. 46 Kiribati 2.24 2008 est. 47 West Bank 2.23 2008 est. 48 Cameroon 2.22 2008 est. 49 Libya 2.22 2008 est. 50 Belize 2.21 2008 est. 51 Chad 2.20 2008 est. 52 Syria 2.19 2008 est. 53 Cote d'Ivoire 2.16 2008 est. 54 Marshall Islands 2.14 2008 est. 55 Angola 2.14 2008 est. 56 Sudan 2.13 2008 est. 57 Papua New Guinea 2.12 2008 est. 58 Guatemala 2.11 2008 est. 59 Nepal 2.10 2008 est. 60 Tanzania 2.07 2008 est. 61 Timor-Leste 2.05 2008 est. 62 Guinea-Bissau 2.04 2008 est. 63 Nigeria 2.03 2008 est. 64 Honduras 2.02 2008 est. 65 Bangladesh 2.02 2008 est. 66 Pakistan 2.00 2008 est. 67 Philippines 1.99 2008 est. 68 Gabon 1.95 2008 est. 69 Saudi Arabia 1.95 2008 est. 70 Djibouti 1.95 2008 est. 71 Ghana 1.93 2008 est. 72 Andorra 1.90 2008 est. 73 Tajikistan 1.89 2008 est. 74 British Virgin Islands 1.88 2008 est. 75 Nicaragua 1.83 2008 est. 76 Mozambique 1.79 2008 est. 77 Brunei 1.79 2008 est. 78 Nauru 1.77 2008 est. 79 Cambodia 1.75 2008 est. 80 Malaysia 1.74 2008 est. 81 Israel 1.71 2008 est. 82 Egypt 1.68 2008 est. 83 El Salvador 1.68 2008 est. 84 Tonga 1.67 2008 est. 85 Zambia 1.65 2008 est. 86 Turkmenistan 1.60 2008 est. 87 India 1.58 2008 est. 88 Tuvalu 1.58 2008 est. 89 Panama 1.54 2008 est. 90 Central African Republic 1.51 2008 est. 91 Morocco 1.51 2008 est. 92 Aruba 1.50 2008 est. 93 Venezuela 1.50 2008 est. 94 Dominican Republic 1.50 2008 est. 95 Mongolia 1.49 2008 est. 96 Botswana 1.43 2008 est. 97 Vanuatu 1.43 2008 est. 98 French Polynesia 1.43 2008 est. 99 Colombia 1.41 2008 est. 100 Costa Rica 1.39 2008 est. 101 Fiji 1.39 2008 est. 102 Bolivia 1.38 2008 est. 103 Kyrgyzstan 1.38 2008 est. 104 Guam 1.37 2008 est. 105 Bahrain 1.34 2008 est. 106 Samoa 1.32 2008 est. 107 Antigua and Barbuda 1.31 2008 est. 108 Bhutan 1.30 2008 est. 109 Peru 1.26 2008 est. 110 American Samoa 1.24 2008 est. 111 Brazil 1.23 2008 est. 112 Australia 1.22 2008 est. 113 Algeria 1.21 2008 est. 114 Luxembourg 1.19 2008 est. 115 World 1.19 2008 est. 116 San Marino 1.18 2008 est. 117 Indonesia 1.18 2008 est. 118 New Caledonia 1.18 2008 est. 119 Palau 1.16 2008 est. 120 Lebanon 1.15 2008 est. 121 Mexico 1.14 2008 est. 122 Singapore 1.14 2008 est. 123 Ireland 1.13 2008 est. 124 Suriname 1.10 2008 est. 125 Qatar 1.09 2008 est. 126 Argentina 1.07 2008 est. 127 Turkey 1.01 2008 est. 128 Vietnam 0.99 2008 est. 129 Tunisia 0.99 2008 est. 130 New Zealand 0.97 2008 est. 131 Uzbekistan 0.97 2008 est. 132 Namibia 0.95 2008 est. 133 Sri Lanka 0.94 2008 est. 134 Ecuador 0.94 2008 est. 135 Chile 0.91 2008 est. 136 United States 0.88 2008 est. 137 Canada 0.83 2008 est. 138 South Africa 0.83 2008 est. 139 Burma 0.80 2008 est. 140 Mauritius 0.80 2008 est. 141 Iran 0.79 2008 est. 142 Iceland 0.78 2008 est. 143 Jamaica 0.78 2008 est. 144 Netherlands Antilles 0.75 2008 est. 145 Korea, North 0.73 2008 est. 146 Azerbaijan 0.72 2008 est. 147 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.72 2008 est. 148 Liechtenstein 0.71 2008 est. 149 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.67 2008 est. 150 Thailand 0.64 2008 est. 151 China 0.63 2008 est. 152 Cape Verde 0.60 2008 est. 153 France 0.57 2008 est. 154 Bahamas, The 0.57 2008 est. 155 Bermuda 0.55 2008 est. 156 Albania 0.54 2008 est. 157 Hong Kong 0.53 2008 est. 158 Cyprus 0.52 2008 est. 159 Isle of Man 0.51 2008 est. 160 Saint Helena 0.49 2008 est. 161 Uruguay 0.49 2008 est. 162 Netherlands 0.44 2008 est. 163 Saint Lucia 0.44 2008 est. 164 Seychelles 0.43 2008 est. 165 Malta 0.41 2008 est. 166 Grenada 0.41 2008 est. 167 Faroe Islands 0.38 2008 est. 168 Monaco 0.38 2008 est. 169 Kazakhstan 0.37 2008 est. 170 Puerto Rico 0.37 2008 est. 171 Barbados 0.36 2008 est. 172 Norway 0.35 2008 est. 173 Switzerland 0.33 2008 est. 174 Montserrat 0.32 2008 est. 175 Portugal 0.31 2008 est. 176 Denmark 0.30 2008 est. 177 United Kingdom 0.28 2008 est. 178 Korea, South 0.27 2008 est. 179 Macedonia 0.26 2008 est. 180 Cuba 0.25 2008 est. 181 Taiwan 0.24 2008 est. 182 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.23 2008 est. 183 Guernsey 0.23 2008 est. 184 Jersey 0.22 2008 est. 185 Guyana 0.21 2008 est. 186 Dominica 0.20 2008 est. 187 Sweden 0.16 2008 est. 188 Greece 0.15 2008 est. 189 Slovakia 0.14 2008 est. 190 Lesotho 0.13 2008 est. 191 Gibraltar 0.13 2008 est. 192 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0.11 2008 est. 193 Finland 0.11 2008 est. 194 European Union 0.11 2008 est. 195 Belgium 0.11 2008 est. 196 Spain 0.10 2008 est. 197 Austria 0.06 2008 est. 198 Greenland 0.06 2008 est. 199 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0.01 2008 est. 200 Norfolk Island 0.01 2008 est. 201 Holy See (Vatican City) 0.00 2008 est. 202 Virgin Islands 0.00 2008 est. 203 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 0.00 2008 est. 204 Christmas Island 0.00 2008 est. 205 Pitcairn Islands 0.00 2008 est. 206 Tokelau -0.01 2008 est. 207 Italy -0.02 2008 est. 208 Svalbard -0.02 2008 est. 209 Niue -0.03 2008 est. 210 Croatia -0.04 2008 est. 211 Germany -0.04 2008 est. 212 Poland -0.05 2008 est. 213 Armenia -0.08 2008 est. 214 Czech Republic -0.08 2008 est. 215 Slovenia -0.09 2008 est. 216 Moldova -0.09 2008 est. 217 Romania -0.14 2008 est. 218 Japan -0.14 2008 est. 219 Micronesia, Federated States of -0.19 2008 est. 220 Hungary -0.25 2008 est. 221 Lithuania -0.28 2008 est. 222 Georgia -0.33 2008 est. 223 Belarus -0.39 2008 est. 224 Swaziland -0.41 2008 est. 225 Russia -0.47 2008 est. 226 Latvia -0.63 2008 est. 227 Estonia -0.63 2008 est. 228 Ukraine -0.65 2008 est. 229 Zimbabwe -0.79 2008 est. 230 Bulgaria -0.81 2008 est. 231 Trinidad and Tobago -0.89 2008 est. 232 Montenegro -0.93 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2003

Rank Country GDP - real growth rate(%) Date of Information

1 Azerbaijan 23.40 2007 est. 2 Bhutan 22.40 2007 est. 3 Timor-Leste 19.80 2007 est. 4 Angola 16.70 2007 est. 5 Macau 16.60 2006 6 Armenia 13.70 2007 est. 7 Equatorial Guinea 12.40 2007 est. 8 Georgia 12.00 2007 est. 9 China 11.90 2007 est. 10 Afghanistan 11.50 2007 est. 11 Turkmenistan 11.50 2007 est. 12 Panama 11.20 2007 est. 13 Ethiopia 11.10 2007 est. 14 Liechtenstein 11.00 1999 est. 15 Slovakia 10.40 2007 est. 16 Latvia 10.30 2007 est. 17 Anguilla 10.20 2004 est. 18 Sudan 10.20 2007 est. 19 Cambodia 10.10 2007 est. 20 Mongolia 9.90 2007 est. 21 Uzbekistan 9.50 2007 est. 22 Liberia 9.40 2007 est. 23 India 9.00 2007 est. 24 Peru 9.00 2007 est. 25 Lithuania 8.80 2007 est. 26 Argentina 8.70 2007 est. 27 Dominican Republic 8.50 2007 est. 28 Vietnam 8.50 2007 est. 29 Kazakhstan 8.50 2007 est. 30 Qatar 8.40 2007 est. 31 Venezuela 8.40 2007 est. 32 Belarus 8.20 2007 est. 33 Kyrgyzstan 8.20 2007 est. 34 Colombia 8.20 2007 est. 35 Russia 8.10 2007 est. 36 Malawi 8.00 2007 est. 37 Tajikistan 7.80 2007 est. 38 Singapore 7.70 2007 est. 39 Ukraine 7.70 2007 est. 40 United Arab Emirates 7.50 2007 est. 41 Montenegro 7.50 2007 est. 42 Laos 7.50 2007 est. 43 Uruguay 7.40 2007 est. 44 Mozambique 7.30 2007 est. 45 Philippines 7.30 2007 est. 46 Tanzania 7.30 2007 est. 47 Serbia 7.30 2007 est. 48 Egypt 7.10 2007 est. 49 Estonia 7.10 2007 est. 50 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 7.00 2007 est. 51 Gibraltar 7.00 2005 est. 52 Sierra Leone 7.00 2007 est. 53 Kenya 7.00 2007 est. 54 Gambia, The 7.00 2007 est. 55 Cape Verde 6.90 2007 est. 56 Sri Lanka 6.80 2007 est. 57 Costa Rica 6.80 2007 est. 58 Bahrain 6.70 2007 est. 59 Czech Republic 6.60 2007 est. 60 Paraguay 6.60 2007 est. 61 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.60 2007 est. 62 Poland 6.60 2007 est. 63 Maldives 6.60 2007 est. 64 Cuba 6.50 2007 est. 65 Hong Kong 6.40 2007 est. 66 Nigeria 6.40 2007 est. 67 Bangladesh 6.30 2007 est. 68 Tunisia 6.30 2007 est. 69 Honduras 6.30 2007 est. 70 Madagascar 6.30 2007 est. 71 Indonesia 6.30 2007 est. 72 Malaysia 6.30 2007 est. 73 Bulgaria 6.20 2007 est. 74 Gabon 6.20 2007 est. 75 Niue 6.20 2003 est. 76 Iran 6.20 2007 est. 77 Antigua and Barbuda 6.10 2007 est. 78 Slovenia 6.10 2007 est. 79 Albania 6.00 2007 est. 80 Ireland 6.00 2007 est. 81 Papua New Guinea 6.00 2007 est. 82 Rwanda 6.00 2007 est. 83 Romania 6.00 2007 est. 84 Jordan 6.00 2007 est. 85 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.00 2007 est. 86 Zambia 6.00 2007 est. 87 Samoa 6.00 2007 est. 88 Uganda 6.00 2007 est. 89 Sao Tome and Principe 6.00 2007 est. 90 Iraq 5.90 2007 est. 91 Libya 5.80 2007 est. 92 Guatemala 5.70 2007 est. 93 Croatia 5.70 2007 est. 94 Taiwan 5.70 2007 est. 95 Oman 5.60 2007 est. 96 Ghana 5.50 2007 est. 97 Trinidad and Tobago 5.50 2007 est. 98 Palau 5.50 2005 est. 99 Solomon Islands 5.40 2007 est. 100 Mauritius 5.40 2007 est. 101 Brazil 5.40 2007 est. 102 Guyana 5.30 2007 est. 103 Seychelles 5.30 2007 est. 104 Pakistan 5.30 2007 est. 105 Israel 5.30 2007 est. 106 Djibouti 5.20 2007 est. 107 Isle of Man 5.20 2005 108 World 5.20 2007 est. 109 Chile 5.10 2007 est. 110 French Polynesia 5.10 2002 111 Macedonia 5.10 2007 est. 112 South Africa 5.10 2007 est. 113 Suriname 5.10 2007 est. 114 Korea, South 5.00 2007 est. 115 Vanuatu 5.00 2007 est. 116 Turks and Caicos Islands 4.90 2000 est. 117 Botswana 4.80 2007 est. 118 Thailand 4.80 2007 est. 119 Lesotho 4.80 2007 est. 120 El Salvador 4.70 2007 est. 121 Kuwait 4.70 2007 est. 122 Bermuda 4.60 2004 est. 123 Bolivia 4.60 2007 est. 124 Senegal 4.60 2007 est. 125 San Marino 4.60 2004 est. 126 Algeria 4.50 2007 est. 127 Finland 4.50 2007 est. 128 Benin 4.50 2007 est. 129 Turkey 4.50 2007 est. 130 Luxembourg 4.50 2007 est. 131 Cyprus 4.40 2007 est. 132 Australia 4.30 2007 est. 133 Barbados 4.30 2007 est. 134 Syria 4.30 2007 est. 135 Burkina Faso 4.20 2007 est. 136 Central African Republic 4.00 2007 est. 137 Greece 4.00 2007 est. 138 Burma 3.80 2007 est. 139 Spain 3.80 2007 est. 140 Iceland 3.80 2007 est. 141 Malta 3.80 2007 est. 142 Nicaragua 3.80 2007 est. 143 Norway 3.70 2007 est. 144 Burundi 3.60 2007 est. 145 Lebanon 3.60 2007 est. 146 Namibia 3.60 2007 est. 147 Andorra 3.50 2005 est. 148 Saudi Arabia 3.50 2007 est. 149 Netherlands 3.50 2007 est. 150 Marshall Islands 3.50 2005 est. 151 Saint Kitts and Nevis 3.30 2007 est. 152 Haiti 3.20 2007 est. 153 Saint Lucia 3.20 2007 est. 154 Nepal 3.20 2007 est. 155 Niger 3.20 2007 est. 156 Mexico 3.20 2007 est. 157 Austria 3.10 2007 est. 158 Grenada 3.10 2007 est. 159 New Zealand 3.10 2007 est. 160 Switzerland 3.10 2007 est. 161 United Kingdom 3.10 2007 est. 162 American Samoa 3.00 2003 est. 163 European Union 3.00 2007 est. 164 Moldova 3.00 2007 est. 165 Guernsey 3.00 2005 est. 166 Tuvalu 3.00 2006 est. 167 Belgium 2.80 2007 est. 168 Mali 2.80 2007 est. 169 Yemen 2.80 2007 est. 170 Bahamas, The 2.80 2007 est. 171 Canada 2.70 2007 est. 172 Sweden 2.70 2007 est. 173 Guinea-Bissau 2.70 2007 est. 174 Cameroon 2.70 2007 est. 175 Kosovo 2.60 2007 est. 176 Somalia 2.60 2007 est. 177 Germany 2.50 2007 est. 178 Aruba 2.40 2005 est. 179 Faroe Islands 2.40 2005 est. 180 Swaziland 2.30 2007 est. 181 Belize 2.20 2007 est. 182 Morocco 2.20 2007 est. 183 France 2.10 2007 est. 184 Togo 2.10 2007 est. 185 Ecuador 2.00 2007 est. 186 Greenland 2.00 2005 est. 187 Virgin Islands 2.00 2002 est. 188 United States 2.00 2007 est. 189 Kiribati 2.00 2007 est. 190 Japan 2.00 2007 est. 191 Portugal 1.80 2007 est. 192 Denmark 1.70 2007 est. 193 Cote d'Ivoire 1.60 2007 est. 194 Guinea 1.50 2007 est. 195 Italy 1.40 2007 est. 196 Chad 1.30 2007 est. 197 Eritrea 1.30 2007 est. 198 Hungary 1.30 2007 est. 199 Jamaica 1.20 2007 est. 200 Mauritania 1.00 2007 est. 201 British Virgin Islands 1.00 2002 est. 202 Netherlands Antilles 1.00 2004 est. 203 Cayman Islands 0.90 2004 est. 204 Monaco 0.90 2000 est. 205 Dominica 0.90 2007 est. 206 Brunei 0.40 2007 est. 207 Micronesia, Federated States of 0.30 2005 est. 208 Cook Islands 0.10 2005 est. 209 Comoros -1.00 2007 est. 210 Montserrat -1.00 2002 est. 211 Korea, North -1.10 2007 est. 212 Puerto Rico -1.20 2007 est. 213 Congo, Republic of the -1.60 2007 est. 214 Tonga -3.50 2007 est. 215 Fiji -4.40 2007 est. 216 Zimbabwe -5.50 2007 est. 217 Gaza Strip -8.00 2006 est. 218 West Bank -8.00 2006 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2004

Rank Country GDP - per capita (PPP) Date of Information

1 Qatar $ 87,600 2007 est. 2 Luxembourg $ 79,400 2007 est. 3 Bermuda $ 69,900 2004 est. 4 Jersey $ 57,000 2005 est. 5 Kuwait $ 55,900 2007 est. 6 Norway $ 53,300 2007 est. 7 Brunei $ 51,000 2007 est. 8 Singapore $ 49,900 2007 est. 9 Ireland $ 46,600 2007 est. 10 United States $ 45,800 2007 est. 11 Guernsey $ 44,600 2005 12 Cayman Islands $ 43,800 2004 est. 13 Hong Kong $ 42,000 2007 est. 14 Iceland $ 40,400 2007 est. 15 Switzerland $ 40,100 2007 est. 16 Austria $ 39,300 2007 est. 17 Netherlands $ 39,000 2007 est. 18 Andorra $ 38,800 2005 19 Canada $ 38,600 2007 est. 20 British Virgin Islands $ 38,500 2004 est. 21 Gibraltar $ 38,200 2005 est. 22 Sweden $ 37,500 2007 est. 23 Australia $ 37,300 2007 est. 24 Denmark $ 37,200 2007 est. 25 United Arab Emirates $ 37,000 2007 est. 26 Belgium $ 36,200 2007 est. 27 Finland $ 36,000 2007 est. 28 Isle of Man $ 35,000 2005 est. 29 United Kingdom $ 35,000 2007 est. 30 Germany $ 34,100 2007 est. 31 San Marino $ 34,100 2004 est. 32 Bahrain $ 33,900 2007 est. 33 Spain $ 33,600 2007 est. 34 Japan $ 33,500 2007 est. 35 European Union $ 32,700 2007 est. 36 France $ 32,600 2007 est. 37 Faroe Islands $ 31,000 2001 est. 38 Italy $ 30,900 2007 est. 39 Greece $ 30,600 2007 est. 40 Taiwan $ 30,100 2007 est. 41 Monaco $ 30,000 2006 est. 42 Macau $ 28,400 2006 43 Equatorial Guinea $ 28,200 2007 est. 44 Bahamas, The $ 28,000 2007 est. 45 Slovenia $ 28,000 2007 est. 46 New Zealand $ 27,200 2007 est. 47 Cyprus $ 27,100 2007 est. 48 Israel $ 26,600 2007 est. 49 Trinidad and Tobago $ 25,400 2007 est. 50 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $ 25,000 2002 est. 51 Liechtenstein $ 25,000 1999 est. 52 Korea, South $ 25,000 2007 est. 53 Czech Republic $ 24,500 2007 est. 54 Malta $ 23,400 2007 est. 55 Aruba $ 21,800 2004 est. 56 Portugal $ 21,800 2007 est. 57 Estonia $ 21,800 2007 est. 58 Slovakia $ 20,200 2007 est. 59 Greenland $ 20,000 2001 est. 60 Saudi Arabia $ 19,800 2007 est. 61 Hungary $ 19,300 2007 est. 62 Oman $ 19,000 2007 est. 63 Barbados $ 18,900 2007 est. 64 Puerto Rico $ 18,400 2007 est. 65 Antigua and Barbuda $ 18,300 2007 est. 66 Latvia $ 17,700 2007 est. 67 French Polynesia $ 17,500 2003 est. 68 Lithuania $ 16,800 2007 est. 69 Seychelles $ 16,600 2007 est. 70 Poland $ 16,200 2007 est. 71 Netherlands Antilles $ 16,000 2004 est. 72 Croatia $ 15,500 2007 est. 73 Guam $ 15,000 2005 est. 74 New Caledonia $ 15,000 2003 est. 75 Russia $ 14,800 2007 est. 76 Malaysia $ 14,500 2007 est. 77 Virgin Islands $ 14,500 2004 est. 78 Botswana $ 14,300 2007 est. 79 Chile $ 14,300 2007 est. 80 Gabon $ 14,000 2007 est. 81 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 13,900 2007 est. 82 Argentina $ 13,100 2007 est. 83 Venezuela $ 12,800 2007 est. 84 Northern Mariana Islands $ 12,500 2000 est. 85 Libya $ 12,400 2007 est. 86 Mexico $ 12,400 2007 est. 87 Turkey $ 12,000 2007 est. 88 Bulgaria $ 11,800 2007 est. 89 Iran $ 11,700 2007 est. 90 Turks and Caicos Islands $ 11,500 2002 est. 91 Mauritius $ 11,300 2007 est. 92 Costa Rica $ 11,100 2007 est. 93 Romania $ 11,100 2007 est. 94 Cuba $ 11,000 2007 est. 95 Kazakhstan $ 11,000 2007 est. 96 Uruguay $ 10,800 2007 est. 97 Panama $ 10,700 2007 est. 98 Saint Lucia $ 10,700 2007 est. 99 Belarus $ 10,600 2007 est. 100 Grenada $ 10,500 2007 est. 101 Serbia $ 10,400 2007 est. 102 Lebanon $ 10,300 2007 est. 103 World $ 10,000 2007 est. 104 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $ 9,800 2007 est. 105 South Africa $ 9,700 2007 est. 106 Brazil $ 9,500 2007 est. 107 Cook Islands $ 9,100 2005 est. 108 Dominica $ 9,000 2007 est. 109 Anguilla $ 8,800 2004 est. 110 Suriname $ 8,700 2007 est. 111 Macedonia $ 8,400 2007 est. 112 Azerbaijan $ 8,000 2007 est. 113 Thailand $ 8,000 2007 est. 114 Belize $ 7,900 2007 est. 115 Angola $ 7,800 2007 est. 116 Peru $ 7,600 2007 est. 117 Palau $ 7,600 2005 est. 118 Colombia $ 7,400 2007 est. 119 Jamaica $ 7,400 2007 est. 120 Tunisia $ 7,400 2007 est. 121 Ecuador $ 7,200 2007 est. 122 Saint Pierre and Miquelon $ 7,000 2001 est. 123 Ukraine $ 7,000 2007 est. 124 Algeria $ 6,700 2007 est. 125 Dominican Republic $ 6,600 2007 est. 126 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ 6,100 2007 est. 127 El Salvador $ 6,000 2007 est. 128 Albania $ 5,800 2007 est. 129 Armenia $ 5,800 2007 est. 130 American Samoa $ 5,800 2005 est. 131 Niue $ 5,800 2003 est. 132 China $ 5,400 2007 est. 133 Samoa $ 5,400 2007 est. 134 Turkmenistan $ 5,300 2007 est. 135 Bhutan $ 5,200 2007 est. 136 Namibia $ 5,200 2007 est. 137 Guatemala $ 5,100 2007 est. 138 Tonga $ 5,100 2007 est. 139 Egypt $ 5,000 2007 est. 140 Nauru $ 5,000 2005 est. 141 Mayotte $ 4,900 2005 est. 142 Jordan $ 4,700 2007 est. 143 Swaziland $ 4,700 2007 est. 144 Syria $ 4,700 2007 est. 145 Maldives $ 4,600 2007 est. 146 Bolivia $ 4,400 2007 est. 147 Georgia $ 4,400 2007 est. 148 Honduras $ 4,300 2007 est. 149 Sri Lanka $ 4,000 2007 est. 150 Paraguay $ 4,000 2007 est. 151 Fiji $ 3,900 2007 est. 152 Vanuatu $ 3,900 2007 est. 153 Montenegro $ 3,800 2005 est. 154 Wallis and Futuna $ 3,800 2004 est. 155 Guyana $ 3,700 2007 est. 156 Morocco $ 3,700 2007 est. 157 Iraq $ 3,700 2007 est. 158 Indonesia $ 3,600 2007 est. 159 Kiribati $ 3,600 2007 est. 160 Congo, Republic of the $ 3,400 2007 est. 161 Montserrat $ 3,400 2002 est. 162 Cape Verde $ 3,200 2007 est. 163 Philippines $ 3,200 2007 est. 164 Mongolia $ 2,900 2007 est. 165 Marshall Islands $ 2,900 2005 est. 166 Nicaragua $ 2,800 2007 est. 167 India $ 2,600 2007 est. 168 Vietnam $ 2,600 2007 est. 169 Saint Helena $ 2,500 1998 est. 170 Timor-Leste $ 2,500 2007 est. 171 Yemen $ 2,500 2007 est. 172 Pakistan $ 2,400 2007 est. 173 Uzbekistan $ 2,400 2007 est. 174 Djibouti $ 2,300 2007 est. 175 Micronesia, Federated States of $ 2,300 2005 est. 176 Moldova $ 2,300 2007 est. 177 Cameroon $ 2,200 2007 est. 178 Nigeria $ 2,100 2007 est. 179 Papua New Guinea $ 2,100 2007 est. 180 Kyrgyzstan $ 2,000 2007 est. 181 Laos $ 2,000 2007 est. 182 Burma $ 1,900 2007 est. 183 Solomon Islands $ 1,900 2007 est. 184 Sudan $ 1,900 2007 est. 185 Cambodia $ 1,900 2007 est. 186 Kosovo $ 1,800 2007 est. 187 Mauritania $ 1,800 2007 est. 188 Cote d'Ivoire $ 1,700 2007 est. 189 Korea, North $ 1,700 2007 est. 190 Kenya $ 1,700 2007 est. 191 Senegal $ 1,700 2007 est. 192 Tajikistan $ 1,600 2007 est. 193 Sao Tome and Principe $ 1,600 2007 est. 194 Tuvalu $ 1,600 2002 est. 195 Chad $ 1,500 2007 est. 196 Bangladesh $ 1,400 2007 est. 197 Zambia $ 1,400 2007 est. 198 Benin $ 1,400 2007 est. 199 Lesotho $ 1,400 2007 est. 200 Ghana $ 1,400 2007 est. 201 Haiti $ 1,300 2007 est. 202 Tanzania $ 1,300 2007 est. 203 Gambia, The $ 1,200 2007 est. 204 Burkina Faso $ 1,200 2007 est. 205 Comoros $ 1,100 2007 est. 206 Guinea $ 1,100 2007 est. 207 West Bank $ 1,100 2006 est. 208 Mali $ 1,100 2007 est. 209 Gaza Strip $ 1,100 2006 est. 210 Afghanistan $ 1,000 2007 est. 211 Uganda $ 1,000 2007 est. 212 Nepal $ 1,000 2007 est. 213 Tokelau $ 1,000 1993 est. 214 Madagascar $ 900 2007 est. 215 Togo $ 900 2007 est. 216 Eritrea $ 800 2007 est. 217 Rwanda $ 800 2007 est. 218 Malawi $ 800 2007 est. 219 Mozambique $ 800 2007 est. 220 Central African Republic $ 700 2007 est. 221 Niger $ 700 2007 est. 222 Ethiopia $ 700 2007 est. 223 Guinea-Bissau $ 600 2007 est. 224 Sierra Leone $ 600 2007 est. 225 Somalia $ 600 2007 est. 226 Liberia $ 500 2007 est. 227 Burundi $ 300 2007 est. 228 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ 300 2007 est. 229 Zimbabwe $ 200 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2034

Rank Country Military expenditures(% of GDP) Date of Information

1 Oman 11.40 2005 est. 2 Qatar 10.00 2005 est. 3 Saudi Arabia 10.00 2005 est. 4 Iraq 8.60 2006 5 Jordan 8.60 2006 6 Israel 7.30 2006 7 Yemen 6.60 2006 8 Armenia 6.50 FY01 9 Eritrea 6.30 2006 est. 10 Macedonia 6.00 2005 est. 11 Burundi 5.90 2006 est. 12 Syria 5.90 2005 est. 13 Angola 5.70 2006 14 Mauritania 5.50 2006 15 Maldives 5.50 2005 est. 16 Kuwait 5.30 2006 17 Turkey 5.30 2005 est. 18 El Salvador 5.00 2006 19 Morocco 5.00 2003 est. 20 Singapore 4.90 2005 est. 21 Swaziland 4.70 2006 22 Bahrain 4.50 2006 23 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.50 2005 est. 24 Brunei 4.50 2006 25 China 4.30 2006 26 Greece 4.30 2005 est. 27 Chad 4.20 2006 28 United States 4.06 2005 est. 29 Libya 3.90 2005 est. 30 Russia 3.90 2005 31 Tajikistan 3.90 2005 est. 32 Cuba 3.80 2006 est. 33 Djibouti 3.80 2006 34 Cyprus 3.80 2005 est. 35 Zimbabwe 3.80 2006 36 Namibia 3.70 2006 37 Colombia 3.40 2005 est. 38 Gabon 3.40 2005 est. 39 Egypt 3.40 2005 est. 40 Turkmenistan 3.40 2005 est. 41 Algeria 3.30 2006 42 Botswana 3.30 2006 43 United Arab Emirates 3.10 2005 est. 44 Guinea-Bissau 3.10 2005 est. 45 Lebanon 3.10 2005 est. 46 Congo, Republic of the 3.10 2006 47 Solomon Islands 3.00 2006 48 Cambodia 3.00 2005 est. 49 Ethiopia 3.00 2006 50 Indonesia 3.00 2005 est. 51 Sudan 3.00 2005 est. 52 Pakistan 3.00 2007 est. 53 Rwanda 2.90 2006 est. 54 Comoros 2.80 2006 55 Ecuador 2.80 2006 56 Kenya 2.80 2006 57 Chile 2.70 2006 58 Korea, South 2.70 2006 59 Azerbaijan 2.60 2005 est. 60 Lesotho 2.60 2006 61 France 2.60 2005 est. 62 Brazil 2.60 2006 est. 63 Sri Lanka 2.60 2006 64 Bulgaria 2.60 2005 est. 65 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2.50 2006 66 India 2.50 2006 67 Iran 2.50 2006 68 Vietnam 2.50 2005 est. 69 Australia 2.40 2006 70 United Kingdom 2.40 2005 est. 71 Croatia 2.39 2005 est. 72 Portugal 2.30 2005 est. 73 Sierra Leone 2.30 2006 74 Fiji 2.20 2005 est. 75 Taiwan 2.20 76 Uganda 2.20 2006 77 Burma 2.10 2005 est. 78 Malaysia 2.03 2005 est. 79 Estonia 2.00 2005 est. 80 World 2.00 2005 est. 81 Uzbekistan 2.00 2005 est. 82 Seychelles 2.00 2006 est. 83 Finland 2.00 2005 est. 84 Afghanistan 1.90 2006 est. 85 Romania 1.90 2007 est. 86 Norway 1.90 2005 est. 87 Mali 1.90 2006 88 Bolivia 1.90 2006 89 Slovakia 1.87 2005 est. 90 Guyana 1.80 2006 91 Thailand 1.80 2005 est. 92 Zambia 1.80 2005 est. 93 Italy 1.80 2005 est. 94 Hungary 1.75 2005 est. 95 Poland 1.71 2005 est. 96 Benin 1.70 2006 97 Guinea 1.70 2006 98 South Africa 1.70 2006 99 Slovenia 1.70 2005 est. 100 Cote d'Ivoire 1.60 2005 est 101 Netherlands 1.60 2005 est. 102 Togo 1.60 2005 est. 103 Uruguay 1.60 2006 104 Nepal 1.60 2006 105 Bangladesh 1.50 2006 106 Sweden 1.50 2005 est. 107 Peru 1.50 2006 108 Nigeria 1.50 2006 109 Denmark 1.50 110 Germany 1.50 2005 est. 111 Albania 1.49 2005 est. 112 Czech Republic 1.46 2007 est. 113 Belize 1.40 2006 114 Ukraine 1.40 2005 est. 115 Belarus 1.40 2005 est. 116 Kyrgyzstan 1.40 2005 est. 117 Papua New Guinea 1.40 2005 est. 118 Tunisia 1.40 2006 119 Senegal 1.40 2005 est. 120 Mongolia 1.40 2006 121 Argentina 1.30 2005 est. 122 Cameroon 1.30 2006 123 Niger 1.30 2006 124 Malawi 1.30 2006 125 Liberia 1.30 2006 est. 126 Belgium 1.30 2005 est. 127 Latvia 1.20 2005 est. 128 Burkina Faso 1.20 2006 129 Venezuela 1.20 2005 est. 130 Spain 1.20 2005 est. 131 Lithuania 1.20 132 Canada 1.10 2005 est. 133 Central African Republic 1.10 2006 est. 134 Bhutan 1.00 2005 est. 135 Madagascar 1.00 2006 136 Switzerland 1.00 2005 est. 137 Panama 1.00 2006 138 Paraguay 1.00 2006 est. 139 New Zealand 1.00 2005 est. 140 Austria 0.90 2005 est. 141 Kazakhstan 0.90 FY02 142 Luxembourg 0.90 2005 est. 143 Tonga 0.90 2006 est. 144 Somalia 0.90 2005 est. 145 Philippines 0.90 2005 est. 146 Ireland 0.90 2005 est. 147 Dominican Republic 0.80 2006 148 Sao Tome and Principe 0.80 2006 149 Japan 0.80 2006 150 Mozambique 0.80 2006 151 Ghana 0.80 2006 est. 152 Cape Verde 0.70 2005 153 Malta 0.70 2006 est. 154 Honduras 0.60 2006 est. 155 Nicaragua 0.60 2006 156 Suriname 0.60 2006 est. 157 Jamaica 0.60 2006 est. 158 Georgia 0.59 2005 est. 159 Barbados 0.50 2006 est. 160 Gambia, The 0.50 2006 161 Bahamas, The 0.50 2006 162 Mexico 0.50 2006 est. 163 Laos 0.50 2006 164 Costa Rica 0.40 2006 165 Guatemala 0.40 2006 166 Moldova 0.40 2005 est. 167 Haiti 0.40 2006 168 Mauritius 0.30 2006 est. 169 Trinidad and Tobago 0.30 2006 170 Tanzania 0.20 2005 est. 171 Bermuda 0.11 2005 est. 172 Equatorial Guinea 0.10 2006 est. 173 Iceland 0.00 2005 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2038

Rank Country Electricity - production(kWh) Date of Information

1 World 18,960,000,000,000 2007 est. 2 United States 4,167,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 China 3,256,000,000,000 2007 4 European Union 3,056,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 Japan 1,082,000,000,000 2007 est. 6 Russia 964,200,000,000 2007 est. 7 India 665,300,000,000 2007 est. 8 Canada 612,600,000,000 2007 est. 9 Germany 594,700,000,000 2007 est. 10 France 537,900,000,000 2007 est. 11 Brazil 437,300,000,000 2007 est. 12 Korea, South 412,700,000,000 2007 est. 13 United Kingdom 371,000,000,000 2007 est. 14 Italy 292,100,000,000 2007 est. 15 Spain 287,400,000,000 2007 est. 16 South Africa 264,000,000,000 2007 17 Australia 244,200,000,000 2007 est. 18 Mexico 243,300,000,000 2007 est. 19 Taiwan 216,600,000,000 2006 est. 20 Iran 189,900,000,000 2006 est. 21 Ukraine 182,400,000,000 2006 est. 22 Turkey 181,600,000,000 2007 est. 23 Saudi Arabia 179,100,000,000 2007 est. 24 Poland 149,300,000,000 2007 est. 25 Sweden 143,800,000,000 2007 est. 26 Norway 135,000,000,000 2007 est. 27 Thailand 130,700,000,000 2006 est. 28 Indonesia 125,700,000,000 2006 est. 29 Venezuela 110,700,000,000 2007 est. 30 Argentina 109,400,000,000 2006 est. 31 Egypt 109,100,000,000 2006 est. 32 Malaysia 102,900,000,000 2007 est. 33 Netherlands 97,330,000,000 2007 est. 34 Pakistan 93,260,000,000 2007 est. 35 Belgium 82,940,000,000 2007 est. 36 Czech Republic 82,880,000,000 2007 est. 37 Finland 77,020,000,000 2007 est. 38 Kazakhstan 74,930,000,000 2007 est. 39 Paraguay 70,000,000,000 2007 40 Switzerland 64,560,000,000 2007 est. 41 United Arab Emirates 62,760,000,000 2006 est. 42 Vietnam 61,020,000,000 2007 est. 43 Greece 59,330,000,000 2007 est. 44 Austria 59,310,000,000 2007 est. 45 Romania 58,250,000,000 2007 est. 46 Philippines 56,510,000,000 2007 est. 47 Colombia 51,830,000,000 2006 est. 48 Chile 50,370,000,000 2006 est. 49 Uzbekistan 48,790,000,000 2007 est. 50 Israel 48,700,000,000 2006 est. 51 Portugal 44,830,000,000 2007 est. 52 Kuwait 44,750,000,000 2006 est. 53 Bulgaria 43,150,000,000 2006 est. 54 New Zealand 42,410,000,000 2007 est. 55 Singapore 38,680,000,000 2007 est. 56 Hungary 37,660,000,000 2007 est. 57 Denmark 36,990,000,000 2007 est. 58 Hong Kong 36,610,000,000 2007 est. 59 Syria 34,940,000,000 2007 est. 60 Serbia 33,870,000,000 2004 61 Iraq 33,530,000,000 2007 est. 62 Algeria 33,120,000,000 2006 est. 63 Belarus 29,910,000,000 2006 est. 64 Slovakia 26,170,000,000 2007 est. 65 Ireland 25,770,000,000 2007 est. 66 Peru 24,920,000,000 2006 est. 67 Libya 23,980,000,000 2007 est. 68 Puerto Rico 23,840,000,000 2006 est. 69 Azerbaijan 23,800,000,000 2007 est. 70 Bangladesh 22,780,000,000 2007 est. 71 Nigeria 22,110,000,000 2006 est. 72 Morocco 21,880,000,000 2006 est. 73 Korea, North 21,720,000,000 2006 est. 74 Tajikistan 17,400,000,000 2007 75 Cuba 16,970,000,000 2007 est. 76 Kyrgyzstan 15,620,000,000 2006 est. 77 Ecuador 14,840,000,000 2006 est. 78 Mozambique 14,620,000,000 2006 est. 79 Qatar 14,410,000,000 2006 est. 80 Slovenia 14,130,000,000 2007 est. 81 Oman 13,580,000,000 2007 est. 82 Dominican Republic 13,370,000,000 2006 est. 83 Bosnia and Herzegovina 12,840,000,000 2006 est. 84 Turkmenistan 12,830,000,000 2006 est. 85 Tunisia 12,650,000,000 2006 est. 86 Croatia 12,410,000,000 2006 est. 87 Lithuania 11,910,000,000 2006 est. 88 Iceland 11,710,000,000 2007 est. 89 Jordan 10,870,000,000 2006 est. 90 Zimbabwe 9,467,000,000 2006 est. 91 Zambia 9,289,000,000 2006 est. 92 Bahrain 9,233,000,000 2006 est. 93 Uruguay 9,200,000,000 2007 94 Estonia 9,158,000,000 2006 est. 95 Lebanon 8,764,000,000 2006 est. 96 Costa Rica 8,521,000,000 2006 est. 97 Sri Lanka 8,317,000,000 2006 est. 98 Ghana 8,204,000,000 2006 est. 99 Trinidad and Tobago 7,704,000,000 2007 100 Guatemala 7,643,000,000 2006 est. 101 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 7,243,000,000 2006 est. 102 Georgia 7,116,000,000 2006 est. 103 Jamaica 7,040,000,000 2006 est. 104 Kenya 6,264,000,000 2006 est. 105 Macedonia 6,051,000,000 2007 106 Burma 5,961,000,000 2006 est. 107 Panama 5,805,000,000 2006 est. 108 Honduras 5,753,000,000 2006 est. 109 Bolivia 5,668,000,000 2007 est. 110 Armenia 5,544,000,000 2007 est. 111 El Salvador 5,338,000,000 2007 est. 112 Cote d'Ivoire 5,274,000,000 2006 est. 113 Yemen 5,017,000,000 2006 est. 114 Latvia 4,734,000,000 2006 est. 115 Cyprus 4,520,000,000 2007 est. 116 Bhutan 4,475,000,000 2007 est. 117 Sudan 4,037,000,000 2006 est. 118 Kosovo 3,996,000,000 2006 119 Cameroon 3,903,000,000 2006 est. 120 Moldova 3,824,000,000 2006 est. 121 Angola 3,513,000,000 2006 est. 122 Ethiopia 3,268,000,000 2006 est. 123 Brunei 3,100,000,000 2006 est. 124 Mongolia 3,078,000,000 2007 est. 125 Nicaragua 3,012,000,000 2006 est. 126 Luxembourg 3,010,000,000 2007 est. 127 Albania 2,892,000,000 2007 est. 128 Papua New Guinea 2,875,000,000 2006 est. 129 Montenegro 2,864,000,000 2005 est. 130 Nepal 2,703,000,000 2007 est. 131 Tanzania 2,682,000,000 2006 est. 132 Mauritius 2,321,000,000 2007 est. 133 Senegal 2,280,000,000 2006 est. 134 Malta 2,146,000,000 2007 est. 135 Bahamas, The 2,050,000,000 2007 est. 136 Guam 1,789,000,000 2006 est. 137 Gabon 1,671,000,000 2006 est. 138 Laos 1,639,000,000 2006 est. 139 Namibia 1,606,000,000 2007 est. 140 New Caledonia 1,602,000,000 2006 est. 141 Suriname 1,595,000,000 2006 est. 142 Macau 1,454,000,000 2007 est. 143 Netherlands Antilles 1,195,000,000 2006 est. 144 Cambodia 1,163,000,000 2006 est. 145 Uganda 1,161,000,000 2006 est. 146 Malawi 1,130,000,000 2006 est. 147 Madagascar 1,045,000,000 2007 est. 148 Barbados 1,003,000,000 2007 est. 149 Botswana 979,000,000 2006 est. 150 Virgin Islands 960,000,000 2006 est. 151 Fiji 928,000,000 2007 est. 152 Guyana 901,000,000 2006 est. 153 Afghanistan 839,000,000 2007 est. 154 Aruba 800,000,000 2006 est. 155 Guinea 800,000,000 2006 est. 156 Bermuda 675,600,000 2007 est. 157 Burkina Faso 611,600,000 2007 est. 158 Haiti 549,000,000 2006 est. 159 Cayman Islands 546,100,000 2007 est. 160 Mali 505,000,000 2006 est. 161 French Polynesia 475,000,000 2006 est. 162 Swaziland 460,000,000 2007 163 Congo, Republic of the 444,000,000 2006 est. 164 Mauritania 412,300,000 2006 est. 165 Saint Lucia 325,000,000 2007 est. 166 Liberia 320,000,000 2006 est. 167 Greenland 305,000,000 2006 est. 168 Faroe Islands 295,000,000 2006 est. 169 Somalia 280,000,000 2006 est. 170 Eritrea 253,000,000 2006 est. 171 Djibouti 250,000,000 2006 est. 172 Sierra Leone 250,000,000 2006 est. 173 Niger 240,000,000 2006 est. 174 Maldives 230,000,000 2007 est. 175 Belize 213,500,000 2007 est. 176 Seychelles 208,000,000 2006 est. 177 Togo 203,000,000 2006 est. 178 Gambia, The 200,200,000 2007 est. 179 Lesotho 200,000,000 2006 est. 180 Micronesia, Federated States of 192,000,000 2002 181 American Samoa 180,000,000 2006 est. 182 Grenada 167,200,000 2006 est. 183 Gibraltar 142,000,000 2006 est. 184 Rwanda 134,000,000 2006 est. 185 Saint Kitts and Nevis 130,000,000 2006 est. 186 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 129,000,000 2006 est. 187 Benin 120,000,000 2006 est. 188 Central African Republic 110,000,000 2006 est. 189 Samoa 109,000,000 2006 est. 190 Antigua and Barbuda 105,000,000 2006 est. 191 Chad 95,000,000 2006 est. 192 Dominica 90,000,000 2006 est. 193 Western Sahara 90,000,000 2006 est. 194 Burundi 87,000,000 2006 est. 195 Solomon Islands 70,000,000 2007 est. 196 Guinea-Bissau 60,000,000 2006 est. 197 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 53,000,000 2006 est. 198 Cape Verde 47,000,000 2006 est. 199 Vanuatu 46,000,000 2007 est. 200 British Virgin Islands 45,000,000 2006 est. 201 Tonga 43,000,000 2007 est. 202 Nauru 31,000,000 2006 est. 203 Cook Islands 30,000,000 2006 est. 204 Equatorial Guinea 27,000,000 2006 est. 205 Montserrat 22,000,000 2006 est. 206 Comoros 20,000,000 2006 est. 207 Sao Tome and Principe 18,000,000 2006 est. 208 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 16,000,000 2006 est. 209 Kiribati 10,000,000 2006 est. 210 Turks and Caicos Islands 10,000,000 2006 est. 211 Saint Helena 8,000,000 2006 est. 212 Niue 4,000,000 2006 est. 213 Gaza Strip 140,000 2005

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2042

Rank Country Electricity - consumption(kWh) Date of Information

1 World 16,880,000,000,000 2007 est. 2 United States 3,892,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 China 2,859,000,000,000 2006 4 European Union 2,858,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 Japan 982,500,000,000 2006 est. 6 Russia 819,600,000,000 2006 est. 7 Germany 549,100,000,000 2006 est. 8 Canada 530,000,000,000 2006 est. 9 India 517,200,000,000 2006 est. 10 France 447,300,000,000 2006 est. 11 Brazil 402,200,000,000 2007 est. 12 Korea, South 368,600,000,000 2007 13 United Kingdom 348,500,000,000 2006 est. 14 Italy 316,300,000,000 2006 est. 15 Spain 254,100,000,000 2006 est. 16 South Africa 241,400,000,000 2007 17 Australia 220,000,000,000 2006 est. 18 Taiwan 208,700,000,000 2006 est. 19 Mexico 202,000,000,000 2007 est. 20 Saudi Arabia 156,800,000,000 2006 est. 21 Iran 149,400,000,000 2006 est. 22 Ukraine 148,100,000,000 2006 est. 23 Turkey 141,500,000,000 2006 est. 24 Sweden 133,600,000,000 2006 est. 25 Poland 126,200,000,000 2006 est. 26 Thailand 123,900,000,000 2006 est. 27 Norway 111,500,000,000 2006 est. 28 Indonesia 110,700,000,000 2006 est. 29 Netherlands 109,600,000,000 2006 est. 30 Argentina 97,720,000,000 2006 est. 31 Egypt 96,200,000,000 2006 est. 32 Malaysia 95,980,000,000 2006 est. 33 Finland 86,040,000,000 2006 est. 34 Belgium 85,540,000,000 2006 est. 35 Venezuela 83,840,000,000 2006 est. 36 Pakistan 68,400,000,000 2006 est. 37 Austria 62,350,000,000 2006 est. 38 Kazakhstan 61,810,000,000 2006 est. 39 Czech Republic 61,520,000,000 2006 est. 40 Switzerland 58,770,000,000 2006 est. 41 United Arab Emirates 57,880,000,000 2006 est. 42 Greece 55,980,000,000 2006 est. 43 Romania 48,430,000,000 2006 est. 44 Vietnam 48,080,000,000 2006 est. 45 Portugal 48,020,000,000 2006 est. 46 Philippines 47,040,000,000 2006 est. 47 Chile 45,520,000,000 2006 est. 48 Israel 44,740,000,000 2006 est. 49 Uzbekistan 42,230,000,000 2006 est. 50 Colombia 39,580,000,000 2006 est. 51 Kuwait 39,540,000,000 2006 est. 52 New Zealand 38,930,000,000 2006 est. 53 Hong Kong 38,020,000,000 2006 est. 54 Hungary 37,110,000,000 2006 est. 55 Iraq 35,840,000,000 2007 est. 56 Singapore 35,130,000,000 2006 est. 57 Denmark 34,680,000,000 2006 est. 58 Syria 34,000,000,000 2007 est. 59 Bulgaria 30,500,000,000 2006 est. 60 Belarus 30,430,000,000 2006 est. 61 Azerbaijan 27,500,000,000 2007 est. 62 Algeria 26,910,000,000 2006 est. 63 Slovakia 26,000,000,000 2006 est. 64 Ireland 25,670,000,000 2006 est. 65 Peru 22,370,000,000 2006 est. 66 Puerto Rico 22,170,000,000 2006 est. 67 Bangladesh 21,370,000,000 2006 est. 68 Libya 20,710,000,000 2006 est. 69 Morocco 19,580,000,000 2006 est. 70 Korea, North 18,180,000,000 2006 est. 71 Tajikistan 17,900,000,000 2007 72 Nigeria 15,850,000,000 2006 est. 73 Croatia 15,570,000,000 2006 est. 74 Cuba 14,020,000,000 2007 est. 75 Slovenia 13,400,000,000 2006 est. 76 Qatar 13,190,000,000 2006 est. 77 Ecuador 12,900,000,000 2006 est. 78 Dominican Republic 11,810,000,000 2006 est. 79 Zimbabwe 11,590,000,000 2006 est. 80 Tunisia 10,750,000,000 2006 est. 81 Oman 10,530,000,000 2006 est. 82 Lithuania 10,400,000,000 2006 est. 83 Jordan 9,852,000,000 2006 est. 84 Turkmenistan 9,584,000,000 2006 est. 85 Mozambique 9,555,000,000 2006 est. 86 Iceland 9,312,000,000 2006 est. 87 Kyrgyzstan 8,997,000,000 2006 est. 88 Bahrain 8,742,000,000 2006 est. 89 Macedonia 8,651,000,000 2007 90 Zambia 8,625,000,000 2006 est. 91 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8,501,000,000 2006 est. 92 Lebanon 8,161,000,000 2006 est. 93 Costa Rica 7,779,000,000 2006 est. 94 Estonia 7,331,000,000 2006 est. 95 Trinidad and Tobago 7,083,000,000 2007 96 Uruguay 7,030,000,000 2007 97 Sri Lanka 6,884,000,000 2006 est. 98 Ghana 6,760,000,000 2006 est. 99 Luxembourg 6,748,000,000 2006 est. 100 Georgia 6,694,000,000 2006 est. 101 Guatemala 6,617,000,000 2006 est. 102 Latvia 6,424,000,000 2006 est. 103 Jamaica 6,100,000,000 2006 est. 104 Paraguay 6,000,000,000 2007 105 Moldova 5,806,000,000 2006 est. 106 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5,158,000,000 2006 est. 107 Kenya 5,124,000,000 2006 est. 108 Bolivia 5,092,000,000 2007 est. 109 Panama 4,768,000,000 2006 est. 110 Armenia 4,539,000,000 2006 est. 111 El Salvador 4,426,000,000 2007 est. 112 Burma 4,289,000,000 2006 est. 113 Kosovo 4,281,000,000 2006 114 Honduras 4,233,000,000 2006 est. 115 Cyprus 4,151,000,000 2006 est. 116 Yemen 3,804,000,000 2006 est. 117 Albania 3,607,000,000 2007 est. 118 Sudan 3,398,000,000 2006 est. 119 Cameroon 3,323,000,000 2006 est. 120 Namibia 3,194,000,000 2006 est. 121 Cote d'Ivoire 3,177,000,000 2006 est. 122 Angola 3,084,000,000 2006 est. 123 Macau 2,984,000,000 2007 est. 124 Ethiopia 2,941,000,000 2006 est. 125 Brunei 2,924,000,000 2006 est. 126 Papua New Guinea 2,674,000,000 2006 est. 127 Mongolia 2,638,000,000 2006 est. 128 Botswana 2,574,000,000 2006 est. 129 Nicaragua 2,413,000,000 2006 est. 130 Nepal 2,276,000,000 2006 est. 131 Tanzania 2,225,000,000 2006 est. 132 Mauritius 2,058,000,000 2006 est. 133 Malta 1,850,000,000 2006 est. 134 Bahamas, The 1,793,000,000 2006 est. 135 Guam 1,664,000,000 2006 est. 136 Senegal 1,657,000,000 2006 est. 137 New Caledonia 1,490,000,000 2006 est. 138 Suriname 1,457,000,000 2006 est. 139 Gabon 1,365,000,000 2006 est. 140 Laos 1,344,000,000 2006 est. 141 Swaziland 1,200,000,000 2007 142 Cambodia 1,178,000,000 2006 est. 143 Afghanistan 1,088,000,000 2006 est. 144 Malawi 1,051,000,000 2006 est. 145 Fiji 1,016,000,000 2006 est. 146 Netherlands Antilles 992,000,000 2006 est. 147 Barbados 939,900,000 2007 est. 148 Madagascar 907,000,000 2006 est. 149 Uganda 899,700,000 2006 est. 150 Virgin Islands 892,800,000 2006 est. 151 Guyana 747,000,000 2006 est. 152 Aruba 744,000,000 2006 est. 153 Guinea 744,000,000 2006 est. 154 Jersey 630,100,000 2004 est. 155 Bermuda 619,800,000 2006 est. 156 Togo 607,000,000 2006 est. 157 Benin 595,000,000 2006 est. 158 Congo, Republic of the 564,000,000 2006 est. 159 Cayman Islands 546,100,000 2007 est. 160 Bhutan 528,800,000 2007 est. 161 Burkina Faso 509,300,000 2006 est. 162 Mali 469,700,000 2006 est. 163 Niger 443,200,000 2006 est. 164 French Polynesia 441,800,000 2006 est. 165 Mauritania 383,400,000 2006 est. 166 Haiti 330,000,000 2006 est. 167 Liberia 297,600,000 2006 est. 168 Saint Lucia 289,200,000 2006 est. 169 Greenland 283,700,000 2006 est. 170 Faroe Islands 274,400,000 2006 est. 171 Somalia 260,400,000 2006 est. 172 Rwanda 234,600,000 2006 est. 173 Djibouti 232,500,000 2006 est. 174 Sierra Leone 232,500,000 2006 est. 175 Lesotho 226,000,000 2006 est. 176 Eritrea 216,000,000 2006 est. 177 Maldives 203,700,000 2006 est. 178 Seychelles 193,400,000 2006 est. 179 Belize 193,300,000 2006 est. 180 Micronesia, Federated States of 178,600,000 2002 181 American Samoa 167,400,000 2006 est. 182 Grenada 144,200,000 2006 est. 183 Gambia, The 143,600,000 2006 est. 184 Gibraltar 142,000,000 2006 est. 185 Mayotte 139,200,000 2005 186 Burundi 120,900,000 2006 est. 187 Saint Kitts and Nevis 120,900,000 2006 est. 188 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 120,000,000 2006 est. 189 Central African Republic 102,300,000 2006 est. 190 Samoa 101,400,000 2006 est. 191 Antigua and Barbuda 97,650,000 2006 est. 192 Chad 88,350,000 2006 est. 193 Dominica 83,700,000 2006 est. 194 Western Sahara 83,700,000 2006 est. 195 Solomon Islands 70,000,000 2007 est. 196 Guinea-Bissau 55,800,000 2006 est. 197 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 49,290,000 2006 est. 198 Cape Verde 43,710,000 2006 est. 199 British Virgin Islands 41,850,000 2006 est. 200 Vanuatu 39,990,000 2006 est. 201 Tonga 39,990,000 2006 est. 202 Nauru 28,830,000 2006 est. 203 Cook Islands 27,900,000 2006 est. 204 Equatorial Guinea 25,110,000 2006 est. 205 Montserrat 20,460,000 2006 est. 206 Comoros 18,600,000 2006 est. 207 Montenegro 18,600,000 2005 208 Sao Tome and Principe 16,740,000 2006 est. 209 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 14,880,000 2006 est. 210 Kiribati 9,300,000 2006 est. 211 Turks and Caicos Islands 9,300,000 2006 est. 212 Saint Helena 7,440,000 2006 est. 213 Niue 3,720,000 2006 est. 214 Gaza Strip 230,000 2005

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2053

Rank Country Airports Date of Information

1 World 49,024 2006 2 United States 14,947 2007 3 Brazil 4,263 2007 4 Mexico 1,834 2007 5 Canada 1,343 2007 6 Argentina 1,272 2007 7 Russia 1,260 2007 8 Bolivia 1,061 2007 9 Colombia 934 2007 10 Paraguay 838 2007 11 South Africa 728 2007 12 Indonesia 652 2007 13 Papua New Guinea 578 2007 14 Germany 550 2007 15 France 476 2007 16 China 467 2007 17 Australia 461 2007 18 United Kingdom 449 2007 19 Ukraine 437 2007 20 Ecuador 406 2007 21 Guatemala 402 2007 22 Venezuela 390 2007 23 Chile 358 2007 24 India 346 2007 25 Zimbabwe 341 2007 26 Iran 331 2007 27 Philippines 255 2007 28 Sweden 250 2007 29 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 237 2007 30 Peru 237 2007 31 Angola 232 2007 32 Kenya 225 2007 33 Bulgaria 214 2007 34 Saudi Arabia 213 2007 35 Japan 176 2007 36 Cuba 165 2007 37 Nicaragua 163 2007 38 Spain 154 2007 39 Costa Rica 151 2007 40 Algeria 150 2007 41 Finland 148 2007 42 Mozambique 147 2007 43 Pakistan 146 2007 44 Libya 141 2007 45 Oman 137 2007 46 Namibia 137 2007 47 Italy 132 2007 48 Tanzania 124 2007 49 Poland 123 2007 50 Czech Republic 122 2007 51 New Zealand 121 2007 52 Turkey 117 2007 53 Malaysia 116 2007 54 Panama 116 2007 55 Honduras 112 2007 56 Iraq 110 2007 57 Zambia 107 2007 58 Thailand 106 2007 59 Korea, South 105 2007 60 Madagascar 104 2007 61 Sudan 101 2007 62 Iceland 99 2007 63 Norway 98 2007 64 Kazakhstan 97 2007 65 Guyana 93 2007 66 Denmark 91 2007 67 Syria 90 2007 68 Egypt 88 2007 69 Lithuania 87 2007 70 Burma 86 2007 71 Botswana 85 2007 72 Ethiopia 84 2007 73 Greece 81 2007 74 Korea, North 77 2007 75 Nigeria 70 2007 76 Croatia 68 2007 77 Belarus 67 2007 78 Somalia 67 2007 79 Portugal 66 2007 80 El Salvador 65 2007 81 Switzerland 65 2007 82 Bahamas, The 62 2007 83 Romania 61 2007 84 Morocco 60 2007 85 Uruguay 60 2007 86 Austria 55 2007 87 Chad 55 2007 88 French Polynesia 54 2007 89 Uzbekistan 54 2007 90 Gabon 53 2007 91 Israel 53 2007 92 Liberia 53 2007 93 Central African Republic 51 2007 94 Suriname 50 2007 95 Yemen 50 2007 96 Nepal 47 2007 97 Afghanistan 46 2007 98 Hungary 46 2007 99 Cameroon 45 2007 100 Belize 44 2007 101 Mongolia 44 2007 102 Vietnam 44 2007 103 Belgium 43 2007 104 Laos 42 2007 105 Latvia 42 2007 106 Taiwan 41 2007 107 United Arab Emirates 39 2007 108 Serbia 39 2007 109 Malawi 39 2007 110 Azerbaijan 35 2007 111 Solomon Islands 35 2007 112 Slovakia 35 2007 113 Dominican Republic 34 2007 114 Ireland 34 2007 115 Jamaica 34 2007 116 Cote d'Ivoire 34 2007 117 Burkina Faso 33 2007 118 Uganda 32 2007 119 Congo, Republic of the 31 2007 120 Vanuatu 31 2007 121 Kyrgyzstan 30 2007 122 Tunisia 30 2007 123 Mali 29 2007 124 Puerto Rico 29 2007 125 Bosnia and Herzegovina 28 2007 126 Fiji 28 2007 127 Turkmenistan 28 2007 128 Niger 28 2007 129 Lesotho 28 2007 130 Antarctica 27 2008 131 Guinea-Bissau 27 2007 132 Netherlands 27 2007 133 Tajikistan 26 2007 134 Mauritania 25 2007 135 New Caledonia 25 2007 136 Georgia 23 2007 137 Senegal 20 2007 138 Estonia 19 2007 139 Kiribati 19 2007 140 Sri Lanka 18 2007 141 Eritrea 18 2007 142 Swaziland 18 2007 143 Cambodia 17 2007 144 Macedonia 17 2007 145 Jordan 17 2007 146 Bangladesh 16 2007 147 Guinea 16 2007 148 Cyprus 16 2007 149 Marshall Islands 15 2007 150 Seychelles 15 2007 151 Greenland 14 2007 152 Slovenia 14 2007 153 Haiti 14 2007 154 Djibouti 13 2007 155 Armenia 12 2007 156 Ghana 12 2007 157 Albania 11 2007 158 Kosovo 10 2008 159 Moldova 10 2007 160 Sierra Leone 10 2007 161 Cook Islands 9 2007 162 Rwanda 9 2007 163 Western Sahara 9 2007 164 Togo 9 2007 165 Burundi 8 2007 166 Cape Verde 8 2007 167 Singapore 8 2007 168 Turks and Caicos Islands 8 2007 169 Timor-Leste 8 2007 170 Kuwait 7 2007 171 Lebanon 7 2007 172 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 6 2007 173 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6 2007 174 Tonga 6 2007 175 Trinidad and Tobago 6 2007 176 Micronesia, Federated States of 6 2007 177 Benin 5 2007 178 Equatorial Guinea 5 2007 179 Northern Mariana Islands 5 2007 180 Mauritius 5 2007 181 Netherlands Antilles 5 2007 182 Qatar 5 2007 183 Maldives 5 2007 184 Montenegro 5 2007 185 Guam 5 2007 186 Comoros 4 2007 187 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 4 2006 188 Samoa 4 2007 189 Svalbard 4 2007 190 Antigua and Barbuda 3 2007 191 West Bank 3 2007 192 British Virgin Islands 3 2007 193 Palau 3 2007 194 Spratly Islands 3 2007 195 Grenada 3 2007 196 Bahrain 3 2007 197 Anguilla 3 2007 198 American Samoa 3 2007 199 Cayman Islands 3 2007 200 Bhutan 2 2007 201 Luxembourg 2 2007 202 Wallis and Futuna 2 2007 203 Virgin Islands 2 2007 204 Sao Tome and Principe 2 2007 205 Saint Lucia 2 2007 206 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2 2007 207 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2 2007 208 Montserrat 2 2007 209 Hong Kong 2 2007 210 Brunei 2 2007 211 Dominica 2 2007 212 Gaza Strip 2 2007 213 Guernsey 2 2007 214 Aruba 1 2007 215 Barbados 1 2007 216 Wake Island 1 2007 217 Tuvalu 1 2007 218 Saint Barthelemy 1 219 Saint Helena 1 2007 220 Saint Martin 1 221 Paracel Islands 1 2007 222 Nauru 1 2007 223 Norfolk Island 1 2007 224 Niue 1 2007 225 Malta 1 2007 226 Mayotte 1 2007 227 Macau 1 2007 228 Christmas Island 1 2007 229 Jan Mayen 1 2007 230 Jersey 1 2007 231 British Indian Ocean Territory 1 2007 232 Isle of Man 1 2007 233 Gibraltar 1 2007 234 Gambia, The 1 2007 235 Faroe Islands 1 2007 236 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 1 2007 237 Bermuda 1 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2054

Rank Country Birth rate(births/1,000 population) Date of Information

1 Niger 49.62 2008 est. 2 Mali 49.38 2008 est. 3 Uganda 48.15 2008 est. 4 Afghanistan 45.82 2008 est. 5 Sierra Leone 45.08 2008 est. 6 Burkina Faso 44.68 2008 est. 7 Somalia 44.12 2008 est. 8 Angola 44.09 2008 est. 9 Ethiopia 43.97 2008 est. 10 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 43.00 2008 est. 11 Liberia 42.92 2008 est. 12 Yemen 42.42 2008 est. 13 Malawi 41.79 2008 est. 14 Congo, Republic of the 41.76 2008 est. 15 Burundi 41.72 2008 est. 16 Chad 41.61 2008 est. 17 Zambia 40.52 2008 est. 18 Mauritania 40.14 2008 est. 19 Rwanda 39.97 2008 est. 20 Western Sahara 39.95 2008 est. 21 Benin 39.80 2008 est. 22 Mayotte 39.79 2008 est. 23 Sao Tome and Principe 39.12 2008 est. 24 Djibouti 38.61 2008 est. 25 Madagascar 38.38 2008 est. 26 Gambia, The 38.36 2008 est. 27 Mozambique 38.21 2008 est. 28 Kenya 37.89 2008 est. 29 Guinea 37.84 2008 est. 30 Gaza Strip 37.75 2008 est. 31 Nigeria 37.23 2008 est. 32 Equatorial Guinea 37.04 2008 est. 33 Togo 36.66 2008 est. 34 Senegal 36.52 2008 est. 35 Guinea-Bissau 36.40 2008 est. 36 Comoros 35.78 2008 est. 37 Gabon 35.75 2008 est. 38 Haiti 35.69 2008 est. 39 Oman 35.26 2008 est. 40 Tanzania 35.12 2008 est. 41 Eritrea 34.94 2008 est. 42 Cameroon 34.59 2008 est. 43 Laos 34.46 2008 est. 44 Sudan 34.31 2008 est. 45 Central African Republic 33.13 2008 est. 46 Cote d'Ivoire 32.73 2008 est. 47 Zimbabwe 31.62 2008 est. 48 Marshall Islands 31.52 2008 est. 49 Iraq 30.77 2008 est. 50 Kiribati 30.31 2008 est. 51 Nepal 29.92 2008 est. 52 Ghana 29.22 2008 est. 53 Bangladesh 28.86 2008 est. 54 Saudi Arabia 28.85 2008 est. 55 Guatemala 28.55 2008 est. 56 Solomon Islands 28.48 2008 est. 57 Paraguay 28.47 2008 est. 58 Pakistan 28.35 2008 est. 59 Samoa 28.20 2008 est. 60 Papua New Guinea 28.14 2008 est. 61 Belize 27.84 2008 est. 62 Tajikistan 27.18 2008 est. 63 Honduras 26.93 2008 est. 64 Swaziland 26.60 2008 est. 65 Syria 26.57 2008 est. 66 Timor-Leste 26.52 2008 est. 67 Philippines 26.42 2008 est. 68 West Bank 25.95 2008 est. 69 El Salvador 25.72 2008 est. 70 Cambodia 25.68 2008 est. 71 Libya 25.62 2008 est. 72 Turkmenistan 25.07 2008 est. 73 Lesotho 24.41 2008 est. 74 Nauru 24.26 2008 est. 75 Cape Verde 23.95 2008 est. 76 Nicaragua 23.70 2008 est. 77 American Samoa 23.66 2008 est. 78 Micronesia, Federated States of 23.66 2008 est. 79 Kyrgyzstan 23.31 2008 est. 80 Namibia 23.19 2008 est. 81 Botswana 22.96 2008 est. 82 Tuvalu 22.75 2008 est. 83 Dominican Republic 22.65 2008 est. 84 Malaysia 22.44 2008 est. 85 Bolivia 22.31 2008 est. 86 India 22.22 2008 est. 87 Fiji 22.15 2008 est. 88 Egypt 22.12 2008 est. 89 Vanuatu 21.95 2008 est. 90 Kuwait 21.90 2008 est. 91 Tonga 21.81 2008 est. 92 Grenada 21.61 2008 est. 93 Ecuador 21.54 2008 est. 94 Morocco 21.31 2008 est. 95 Turks and Caicos Islands 21.12 2008 est. 96 Mongolia 21.09 2008 est. 97 Venezuela 20.92 2008 est. 98 Panama 20.68 2008 est. 99 Bhutan 20.56 2008 est. 100 South Africa 20.23 2008 est. 101 World 20.18 2008 est. 102 Jordan 20.13 2008 est. 103 Jamaica 20.04 2008 est. 104 Mexico 20.04 2008 est. 105 Israel 20.02 2008 est. 106 Colombia 19.86 2008 est. 107 Peru 19.77 2008 est. 108 Indonesia 19.24 2008 est. 109 Northern Mariana Islands 19.04 2008 est. 110 Brazil 18.72 2008 est. 111 Brunei 18.39 2008 est. 112 Guam 18.37 2008 est. 113 Argentina 18.11 2008 est. 114 Uzbekistan 17.99 2008 est. 115 Guyana 17.85 2008 est. 116 Saint Kitts and Nevis 17.73 2008 est. 117 Costa Rica 17.71 2008 est. 118 Lebanon 17.61 2008 est. 119 Azerbaijan 17.52 2008 est. 120 Palau 17.40 2008 est. 121 New Caledonia 17.39 2008 est. 122 Bahrain 17.26 2008 est. 123 Burma 17.23 2008 est. 124 Bahamas, The 17.06 2008 est. 125 Algeria 17.03 2008 est. 126 Suriname 17.02 2008 est. 127 Iran 16.89 2008 est. 128 Antigua and Barbuda 16.78 2008 est. 129 Cook Islands 16.71 2008 est. 130 Sri Lanka 16.63 2008 est. 131 Vietnam 16.47 2008 est. 132 Kazakhstan 16.44 2008 est. 133 French Polynesia 16.16 2008 est. 134 Turkey 16.15 2008 est. 135 United Arab Emirates 16.06 2008 est. 136 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15.82 2008 est. 137 Dominica 15.73 2008 est. 138 Qatar 15.69 2008 est. 139 Seychelles 15.60 2008 est. 140 Tunisia 15.50 2008 est. 141 Saint Lucia 15.40 2008 est. 142 Albania 15.22 2008 est. 143 Greenland 14.87 2008 est. 144 Maldives 14.84 2008 est. 145 Chile 14.82 2008 est. 146 British Virgin Islands 14.72 2008 est. 147 Mauritius 14.64 2008 est. 148 Korea, North 14.61 2008 est. 149 Netherlands Antilles 14.37 2008 est. 150 Ireland 14.33 2008 est. 151 United States 14.18 2008 est. 152 Uruguay 14.17 2008 est. 153 New Zealand 14.09 2008 est. 154 China 13.71 2008 est. 155 Thailand 13.57 2008 est. 156 Iceland 13.50 2008 est. 157 Faroe Islands 13.25 2008 est. 158 Trinidad and Tobago 13.22 2008 est. 159 Anguilla 13.11 2008 est. 160 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 12.92 2008 est. 161 Aruba 12.81 2008 est. 162 France 12.73 2008 est. 163 Puerto Rico 12.61 2008 est. 164 Cyprus 12.56 2008 est. 165 Australia 12.55 2008 est. 166 Armenia 12.53 2008 est. 167 Barbados 12.48 2008 est. 168 Cayman Islands 12.43 2008 est. 169 Virgin Islands 12.29 2008 est. 170 Montserrat 12.01 2008 est. 171 Macedonia 12.00 2008 est. 172 Luxembourg 11.77 2008 est. 173 Saint Helena 11.45 2008 est. 174 Cuba 11.27 2008 est. 175 Montenegro 11.17 2008 est. 176 Bermuda 11.15 2008 est. 177 Norway 11.12 2008 est. 178 Russia 11.03 2008 est. 179 Moldova 11.01 2008 est. 180 Isle of Man 10.86 2008 est. 181 Denmark 10.71 2008 est. 182 Gibraltar 10.71 2008 est. 183 United Kingdom 10.65 2008 est. 184 Slovakia 10.64 2008 est. 185 Georgia 10.62 2008 est. 186 Romania 10.61 2008 est. 187 Andorra 10.59 2008 est. 188 Netherlands 10.53 2008 est. 189 Portugal 10.45 2008 est. 190 Finland 10.39 2008 est. 191 Malta 10.33 2008 est. 192 Canada 10.29 2008 est. 193 Estonia 10.28 2008 est. 194 European Union 10.25 2008 est. 195 Belgium 10.22 2008 est. 196 Sweden 10.15 2008 est. 197 Poland 10.01 2008 est. 198 Spain 9.87 2008 est. 199 Liechtenstein 9.86 2008 est. 200 San Marino 9.74 2008 est. 201 Croatia 9.64 2008 est. 202 Belarus 9.62 2008 est. 203 Switzerland 9.62 2008 est. 204 Latvia 9.62 2008 est. 205 Hungary 9.59 2008 est. 206 Bulgaria 9.58 2008 est. 207 Ukraine 9.55 2008 est. 208 Greece 9.54 2008 est. 209 Korea, South 9.09 2008 est. 210 Monaco 9.09 2008 est. 211 Lithuania 9.00 2008 est. 212 Slovenia 8.99 2008 est. 213 Taiwan 8.99 2008 est. 214 Singapore 8.99 2008 est. 215 Czech Republic 8.89 2008 est. 216 Jersey 8.84 2008 est. 217 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.82 2008 est. 218 Macau 8.69 2008 est. 219 Austria 8.66 2008 est. 220 Guernsey 8.57 2008 est. 221 Italy 8.36 2008 est. 222 Germany 8.18 2008 est. 223 Japan 7.87 2008 est. 224 Hong Kong 7.37 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2066

Rank Country Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) Date of Information

1 Swaziland 30.70 2008 est. 2 Angola 24.44 2008 est. 3 Lesotho 22.33 2008 est. 4 Sierra Leone 22.26 2008 est. 5 Liberia 21.45 2008 est. 6 Zambia 21.35 2008 est. 7 Mozambique 20.29 2008 est. 8 Niger 20.26 2008 est. 9 Afghanistan 19.56 2008 est. 10 Djibouti 19.16 2008 est. 11 Central African Republic 18.04 2008 est. 12 Malawi 17.89 2008 est. 13 Zimbabwe 17.29 2008 est. 14 South Africa 16.94 2008 est. 15 Nigeria 16.88 2008 est. 16 Chad 16.39 2008 est. 17 Mali 16.16 2008 est. 18 Russia 16.06 2008 est. 19 Guinea-Bissau 16.05 2008 est. 20 Ukraine 15.93 2008 est. 21 Somalia 15.89 2008 est. 22 Rwanda 14.46 2008 est. 23 Bulgaria 14.30 2008 est. 24 Namibia 14.07 2008 est. 25 Botswana 14.02 2008 est. 26 Belarus 13.92 2008 est. 27 Sudan 13.64 2008 est. 28 Latvia 13.63 2008 est. 29 Burkina Faso 13.59 2008 est. 30 Estonia 13.35 2008 est. 31 Hungary 12.99 2008 est. 32 Monaco 12.96 2008 est. 33 Tanzania 12.92 2008 est. 34 Burundi 12.91 2008 est. 35 Gabon 12.59 2008 est. 36 Cameroon 12.41 2008 est. 37 Uganda 12.32 2008 est. 38 Congo, Republic of the 12.28 2008 est. 39 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 11.88 2008 est. 40 Romania 11.84 2008 est. 41 Ethiopia 11.83 2008 est. 42 Gambia, The 11.74 2008 est. 43 Western Sahara 11.74 2008 est. 44 Croatia 11.66 2008 est. 45 Mauritania 11.61 2008 est. 46 Guinea 11.29 2008 est. 47 Cote d'Ivoire 11.17 2008 est. 48 Lithuania 11.12 2008 est. 49 Isle of Man 11.02 2008 est. 50 Laos 11.02 2008 est. 51 Trinidad and Tobago 10.93 2008 est. 52 Germany 10.80 2008 est. 53 Moldova 10.80 2008 est. 54 Senegal 10.72 2008 est. 55 Czech Republic 10.69 2008 est. 56 Portugal 10.62 2008 est. 57 Italy 10.61 2008 est. 58 Slovenia 10.51 2008 est. 59 Greece 10.42 2008 est. 60 European Union 10.39 2008 est. 61 Belgium 10.38 2008 est. 62 Kenya 10.30 2008 est. 63 Denmark 10.25 2008 est. 64 Sweden 10.24 2008 est. 65 Haiti 10.15 2008 est. 66 Guernsey 10.09 2008 est. 67 United Kingdom 10.05 2008 est. 68 Finland 10.00 2008 est. 69 Poland 9.99 2008 est. 70 Austria 9.91 2008 est. 71 Spain 9.90 2008 est. 72 Equatorial Guinea 9.72 2008 est. 73 Benin 9.69 2008 est. 74 Georgia 9.51 2008 est. 75 Slovakia 9.50 2008 est. 76 Togo 9.48 2008 est. 77 Gibraltar 9.46 2008 est. 78 Ghana 9.39 2008 est. 79 Kazakhstan 9.39 2008 est. 80 Jersey 9.36 2008 est. 81 Norway 9.33 2008 est. 82 Japan 9.26 2008 est. 83 Burma 9.23 2008 est. 84 Bahamas, The 9.22 2008 est. 85 Uruguay 9.12 2008 est. 86 Nepal 8.97 2008 est. 87 Montserrat 8.86 2008 est. 88 Macedonia 8.81 2008 est. 89 Netherlands 8.71 2008 est. 90 Faroe Islands 8.67 2008 est. 91 Eritrea 8.63 2008 est. 92 Barbados 8.58 2008 est. 93 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.54 2008 est. 94 Switzerland 8.54 2008 est. 95 Montenegro 8.51 2008 est. 96 France 8.48 2008 est. 97 Luxembourg 8.43 2008 est. 98 San Marino 8.37 2008 est. 99 Armenia 8.34 2008 est. 100 Azerbaijan 8.32 2008 est. 101 Madagascar 8.32 2008 est. 102 Dominica 8.32 2008 est. 103 Guyana 8.29 2008 est. 104 Malta 8.29 2008 est. 105 United States 8.27 2008 est. 106 Greenland 8.23 2008 est. 107 World 8.23 2008 est. 108 Saint Kitts and Nevis 8.19 2008 est. 109 Cambodia 8.16 2008 est. 110 Bangladesh 8.00 2008 est. 111 Bermuda 7.98 2008 est. 112 Kiribati 7.97 2008 est. 113 Puerto Rico 7.88 2008 est. 114 Pakistan 7.85 2008 est. 115 Yemen 7.83 2008 est. 116 Ireland 7.77 2008 est. 117 Comoros 7.76 2008 est. 118 Cyprus 7.76 2008 est. 119 Aruba 7.65 2008 est. 120 Canada 7.61 2008 est. 121 Vanuatu 7.61 2008 est. 122 Bhutan 7.54 2008 est. 123 Argentina 7.43 2008 est. 124 Liechtenstein 7.42 2008 est. 125 Mayotte 7.36 2008 est. 126 Bolivia 7.35 2008 est. 127 Korea, North 7.29 2008 est. 128 Cuba 7.19 2008 est. 129 Thailand 7.17 2008 est. 130 China 7.03 2008 est. 131 New Zealand 7.00 2008 est. 132 Tuvalu 6.98 2008 est. 133 Kyrgyzstan 6.97 2008 est. 134 Papua New Guinea 6.96 2008 est. 135 Tajikistan 6.94 2008 est. 136 Iceland 6.81 2008 est. 137 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 6.81 2008 est. 138 Palau 6.73 2008 est. 139 Saint Lucia 6.71 2008 est. 140 Australia 6.68 2008 est. 141 Taiwan 6.65 2008 est. 142 Hong Kong 6.60 2008 est. 143 Saint Helena 6.58 2008 est. 144 Mauritius 6.55 2008 est. 145 Virgin Islands 6.55 2008 est. 146 Nauru 6.54 2008 est. 147 Netherlands Antilles 6.43 2008 est. 148 India 6.40 2008 est. 149 Jamaica 6.37 2008 est. 150 Brazil 6.35 2008 est. 151 Grenada 6.31 2008 est. 152 Cape Verde 6.26 2008 est. 153 Indonesia 6.24 2008 est. 154 Seychelles 6.21 2008 est. 155 Vietnam 6.18 2008 est. 156 Mongolia 6.16 2008 est. 157 Peru 6.16 2008 est. 158 Antigua and Barbuda 6.14 2008 est. 159 Turkmenistan 6.11 2008 est. 160 Sri Lanka 6.07 2008 est. 161 Lebanon 6.06 2008 est. 162 Timor-Leste 6.02 2008 est. 163 Turkey 6.02 2008 est. 164 Sao Tome and Principe 5.98 2008 est. 165 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.96 2008 est. 166 Samoa 5.84 2008 est. 167 Belize 5.77 2008 est. 168 Chile 5.77 2008 est. 169 Korea, South 5.73 2008 est. 170 Iran 5.69 2008 est. 171 Fiji 5.66 2008 est. 172 New Caledonia 5.64 2008 est. 173 Andorra 5.59 2008 est. 174 Colombia 5.54 2008 est. 175 El Salvador 5.53 2008 est. 176 Suriname 5.51 2008 est. 177 Morocco 5.49 2008 est. 178 Albania 5.44 2008 est. 179 Israel 5.41 2008 est. 180 Honduras 5.36 2008 est. 181 Dominican Republic 5.30 2008 est. 182 Uzbekistan 5.30 2008 est. 183 Guatemala 5.19 2008 est. 184 Tunisia 5.17 2008 est. 185 Philippines 5.15 2008 est. 186 Iraq 5.14 2008 est. 187 Tonga 5.12 2008 est. 188 Venezuela 5.10 2008 est. 189 Egypt 5.09 2008 est. 190 Malaysia 5.02 2008 est. 191 Cayman Islands 4.83 2008 est. 192 Mexico 4.78 2008 est. 193 Panama 4.71 2008 est. 194 Syria 4.68 2008 est. 195 French Polynesia 4.67 2008 est. 196 Guam 4.65 2008 est. 197 Algeria 4.62 2008 est. 198 Marshall Islands 4.57 2008 est. 199 Micronesia, Federated States of 4.53 2008 est. 200 Singapore 4.53 2008 est. 201 Paraguay 4.49 2008 est. 202 Anguilla 4.39 2008 est. 203 British Virgin Islands 4.37 2008 est. 204 Nicaragua 4.33 2008 est. 205 Costa Rica 4.31 2008 est. 206 Bahrain 4.29 2008 est. 207 Ecuador 4.21 2008 est. 208 Turks and Caicos Islands 4.16 2008 est. 209 American Samoa 4.13 2008 est. 210 Solomon Islands 3.81 2008 est. 211 West Bank 3.70 2008 est. 212 Oman 3.68 2008 est. 213 Maldives 3.66 2008 est. 214 Gaza Strip 3.53 2008 est. 215 Libya 3.46 2008 est. 216 Macau 3.43 2008 est. 217 Brunei 3.28 2008 est. 218 Jordan 2.72 2008 est. 219 Saudi Arabia 2.49 2008 est. 220 Qatar 2.47 2008 est. 221 Kuwait 2.37 2008 est. 222 Northern Mariana Islands 2.31 2008 est. 223 United Arab Emirates 2.13 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2067

Rank Country Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) Date of Information

This file was last updated on 3 October, 2007

======================================================================

Rank code: @2078

Rank Country Exports Date of Information

1 World $ 13,890,000,000,000 2006 est. 2 Germany $ 1,354,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 European Union $ 1,330,000,000,000 2005 4 China $ 1,220,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 United States $ 1,148,000,000,000 2007 est. 6 Japan $ 678,100,000,000 2007 est. 7 France $ 546,000,000,000 2007 est. 8 Italy $ 502,400,000,000 2007 est. 9 Netherlands $ 456,800,000,000 2007 est. 10 United Kingdom $ 442,200,000,000 2007 est. 11 Canada $ 431,100,000,000 2007 est. 12 Korea, South $ 379,000,000,000 2007 est. 13 Russia $ 355,500,000,000 2007 est. 14 Hong Kong $ 345,900,000,000 2007 est. 15 Belgium $ 322,200,000,000 2007 est. 16 Singapore $ 302,700,000,000 2007 est. 17 Mexico $ 271,900,000,000 2007 est. 18 Spain $ 256,700,000,000 2007 est. 19 Taiwan $ 246,500,000,000 2007 est. 20 Saudi Arabia $ 226,700,000,000 2007 est. 21 Switzerland $ 200,100,000,000 2007 est. 22 United Arab Emirates $ 178,900,000,000 2007 est. 23 Malaysia $ 176,400,000,000 2007 est. 24 Sweden $ 170,100,000,000 2007 est. 25 Austria $ 162,100,000,000 2007 est. 26 Brazil $ 160,600,000,000 2007 est. 27 India $ 151,300,000,000 2007 est. 28 Thailand $ 151,100,000,000 2007 est. 29 Poland $ 144,600,000,000 2007 est. 30 Australia $ 142,100,000,000 2007 est. 31 Norway $ 140,300,000,000 2007 est. 32 Czech Republic $ 122,300,000,000 2007 est. 33 Indonesia $ 118,000,000,000 2007 est. 34 Ireland $ 115,500,000,000 2007 est. 35 Turkey $ 115,300,000,000 2007 est. 36 Denmark $ 101,200,000,000 2007 est. 37 Finland $ 89,910,000,000 2007 est. 38 Iran $ 88,260,000,000 2007 est. 39 Hungary $ 87,770,000,000 2007 est. 40 South Africa $ 76,190,000,000 2007 est. 41 Venezuela $ 69,170,000,000 2007 est. 42 Chile $ 67,640,000,000 2007 est. 43 Kuwait $ 63,720,000,000 2007 est. 44 Nigeria $ 61,790,000,000 2007 est. 45 Algeria $ 60,510,000,000 2007 est. 46 Slovakia $ 57,530,000,000 2007 est. 47 Argentina $ 55,780,000,000 2007 est. 48 Portugal $ 51,500,000,000 2007 est. 49 Israel $ 50,370,000,000 2007 est. 50 Ukraine $ 49,840,000,000 2007 est. 51 Philippines $ 49,320,000,000 2007 est. 52 Vietnam $ 48,560,000,000 2007 est. 53 Kazakhstan $ 48,350,000,000 2007 est. 54 Puerto Rico $ 46,900,000,000 2001 55 Angola $ 45,030,000,000 2007 est. 56 Libya $ 42,970,000,000 2007 est. 57 Qatar $ 42,020,000,000 2007 est. 58 Romania $ 40,320,000,000 2007 est. 59 Iraq $ 38,140,000,000 2007 est. 60 Colombia $ 30,580,000,000 2007 est. 61 Peru $ 27,960,000,000 2007 est. 62 New Zealand $ 27,350,000,000 2007 est. 63 Slovenia $ 27,060,000,000 2007 est. 64 Belarus $ 24,470,000,000 2007 est. 65 Egypt $ 24,450,000,000 2007 est. 66 Greece $ 23,910,000,000 2007 est. 67 Oman $ 23,100,000,000 2007 est. 68 Azerbaijan $ 21,270,000,000 2007 est. 69 Bulgaria $ 18,440,000,000 2007 est. 70 Luxembourg $ 18,420,000,000 2007 est. 71 Pakistan $ 18,120,000,000 2007 est. 72 Lithuania $ 17,180,000,000 2007 est. 73 Tunisia $ 15,150,000,000 2007 est. 74 Ecuador $ 14,370,000,000 2007 est. 75 Bahrain $ 13,790,000,000 2007 est. 76 Trinidad and Tobago $ 13,390,000,000 2007 est. 77 Morocco $ 12,750,000,000 2007 est. 78 Croatia $ 12,620,000,000 2007 est. 79 Bangladesh $ 12,450,000,000 2007 est. 80 Syria $ 11,140,000,000 2007 est. 81 Estonia $ 11,080,000,000 2007 est. 82 Equatorial Guinea $ 9,904,000,000 2007 est. 83 Panama $ 9,312,000,000 2007 est. 84 Costa Rica $ 9,268,000,000 2007 est. 85 Sudan $ 8,879,000,000 2007 est. 86 Serbia $ 8,824,000,000 2007 est. 87 Cote d'Ivoire $ 8,476,000,000 2007 est. 88 Latvia $ 8,143,000,000 2007 est. 89 Sri Lanka $ 8,135,000,000 2007 est. 90 Uzbekistan $ 8,050,000,000 2007 est. 91 Turkmenistan $ 7,567,000,000 2007 est. 92 Yemen $ 7,311,000,000 2007 est. 93 Dominican Republic $ 7,237,000,000 2007 est. 94 Gabon $ 6,956,000,000 2007 est. 95 Guatemala $ 6,940,000,000 2007 est. 96 Brunei $ 6,767,000,000 2006 97 Burma $ 6,122,000,000 2007 est. 98 Congo, Republic of the $ 5,800,000,000 2007 est. 99 Jordan $ 5,700,000,000 2007 est. 100 Honduras $ 5,594,000,000 2007 est. 101 Paraguay $ 5,463,000,000 2007 est. 102 Uruguay $ 5,063,000,000 2007 est. 103 Botswana $ 5,025,000,000 2007 est. 104 Iceland $ 4,793,000,000 2007 est. 105 Papua New Guinea $ 4,686,000,000 2007 est. 106 Zambia $ 4,594,000,000 2007 est. 107 Bolivia $ 4,490,000,000 2007 est. 108 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ 4,243,000,000 2007 est. 109 Virgin Islands $ 4,234,000,000 2001 110 Chad $ 4,201,000,000 2007 est. 111 Ghana $ 4,162,000,000 2007 est. 112 Kenya $ 4,127,000,000 2007 est. 113 Cambodia $ 4,089,000,000 2007 est. 114 Lebanon $ 4,077,000,000 2007 est. 115 El Salvador $ 4,035,000,000 2007 est. 116 Cameroon $ 3,827,000,000 2007 est. 117 Cuba $ 3,734,000,000 2007 est. 118 Netherlands Antilles $ 3,710,000,000 2006 119 Macedonia $ 3,350,000,000 2007 est. 120 Malta $ 3,238,000,000 2007 est. 121 Namibia $ 2,919,000,000 2007 est. 122 Macau $ 2,557,000,000 2006 123 Liechtenstein $ 2,470,000,000 1996 124 Mozambique $ 2,412,000,000 2007 est. 125 Jamaica $ 2,331,000,000 2007 est. 126 Nicaragua $ 2,313,000,000 2007 est. 127 Mauritius $ 2,231,000,000 2007 est. 128 Tanzania $ 2,227,000,000 2007 est. 129 Georgia $ 2,104,000,000 2007 est. 130 Swaziland $ 1,926,000,000 2007 est. 131 Mongolia $ 1,889,000,000 2007 132 Uganda $ 1,686,000,000 2007 est. 133 Senegal $ 1,650,000,000 2007 est. 134 Tajikistan $ 1,606,000,000 2007 est. 135 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ 1,587,000,000 2006 136 Zimbabwe $ 1,520,000,000 2007 est. 137 Cyprus $ 1,495,000,000 2007 est. 138 Korea, North $ 1,466,000,000 2006 139 Mauritania $ 1,395,000,000 2006 140 Suriname $ 1,391,000,000 2006 est. 141 Moldova $ 1,361,000,000 2007 est. 142 New Caledonia $ 1,341,000,000 2006 143 Kyrgyzstan $ 1,337,000,000 2007 est. 144 San Marino $ 1,291,000,000 2004 145 Ethiopia $ 1,288,000,000 2007 est. 146 Fiji $ 1,202,000,000 2006 147 Armenia $ 1,200,000,000 2007 est. 148 Liberia $ 1,197,000,000 2006 149 Guinea $ 1,128,000,000 2007 est. 150 Albania $ 1,076,000,000 2007 est. 151 Madagascar $ 986,000,000 2007 est. 152 Laos $ 970,000,000 2007 est. 153 Lesotho $ 853,000,000 2007 est. 154 Nepal $ 830,000,000 2006 155 Bermuda $ 763,000,000 2006 156 Monaco $ 716,300,000 2005 157 Togo $ 702,000,000 2007 est. 158 Guyana $ 683,000,000 2007 est. 159 Bahamas, The $ 674,000,000 2006 160 Faroe Islands $ 634,000,000 2006 161 Burkina Faso $ 617,000,000 2007 est. 162 Malawi $ 604,000,000 2007 est. 163 Benin $ 586,000,000 2007 est. 164 Haiti $ 522,000,000 2007 est. 165 Greenland $ 480,000,000 2006 166 American Samoa $ 445,600,000 FY04 est. 167 Belize $ 429,000,000 2007 est. 168 Niger $ 428,000,000 2006 169 Seychelles $ 395,000,000 2007 est. 170 Barbados $ 385,000,000 2006 171 Bhutan $ 350,000,000 2006 172 Djibouti $ 340,000,000 2006 173 Gaza Strip $ 301,000,000 2005 174 West Bank $ 301,000,000 2005 175 Somalia $ 300,000,000 2006 176 Mali $ 294,000,000 2006 177 Saint Lucia $ 288,000,000 2006 178 Afghanistan $ 274,000,000 2006 179 Gibraltar $ 271,000,000 2004 est. 180 Solomon Islands $ 237,000,000 2006 181 Sierra Leone $ 216,000,000 2006 182 French Polynesia $ 211,000,000 2005 est. 183 Svalbard $ 197,600,000 2004 184 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $ 193,000,000 2006 185 Rwanda $ 184,000,000 2007 est. 186 Montenegro $ 171,300,000 2003 187 Turks and Caicos Islands $ 169,200,000 2000 188 Maldives $ 167,000,000 2006 189 Andorra $ 148,700,000 2005 190 Kosovo $ 148,400,000 2007 191 Central African Republic $ 146,700,000 2007 est. 192 Guinea-Bissau $ 133,000,000 2006 193 Samoa $ 131,000,000 2006 194 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $ 125,000,000 2004 est. 195 Aruba $ 124,000,000 2006 196 Dominica $ 94,000,000 2006 197 Gambia, The $ 88,000,000 2007 est. 198 Antigua and Barbuda $ 84,300,000 2007 est. 199 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 84,000,000 2006 200 Cape Verde $ 76,500,000 2007 est. 201 Guam $ 45,000,000 2004 est. 202 Burundi $ 44,000,000 2007 est. 203 Vanuatu $ 40,000,000 2006 204 Grenada $ 38,000,000 2006 205 Comoros $ 32,000,000 2006 206 British Virgin Islands $ 25,300,000 2002 207 Tonga $ 22,000,000 2006 208 Saint Helena $ 19,000,000 2004 est. 209 Kiribati $ 17,000,000 2004 est. 210 Micronesia, Federated States of $ 14,000,000 2004 est. 211 Anguilla $ 13,000,000 2006 212 Eritrea $ 12,000,000 2007 est. 213 Timor-Leste $ 10,000,000 2005 est. 214 Marshall Islands $ 9,100,000 2000 215 Sao Tome and Principe $ 9,000,000 2007 est. 216 Mayotte $ 6,500,000 2005 217 Palau $ 5,882,000 2004 est. 218 Saint Pierre and Miquelon $ 5,500,000 2005 est. 219 Cook Islands $ 5,222,000 2005 220 Cayman Islands $ 2,520,000 2004 221 Norfolk Island $ 1,500,000 FY91/92 222 Tuvalu $ 1,000,000 2004 est. 223 Montserrat $ 700,000 2001 224 Niue $ 201,400 2004 225 Nauru $ 64,000 2005 est. 226 Wallis and Futuna $ 47,450 2004 227 Tokelau $ 0 2002

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2079

Rank Country Debt - external Date of Information

1 World $ 51,780,000,000,000 2004 est. 2 United States $ 12,250,000,000,000 30 June 2007 3 United Kingdom $ 10,450,000,000,000 30 June 2007 4 Germany $ 4,489,000,000,000 30 June 2007 5 France $ 4,396,000,000,000 30 June 2007 6 Netherlands $ 2,277,000,000,000 30 June 2007 7 Ireland $ 1,841,000,000,000 30 June 2007 8 Japan $ 1,492,000,000,000 30 June 2007 9 Switzerland $ 1,340,000,000,000 30 June 2007 10 Belgium $ 1,313,000,000,000 30 June 2007 11 Spain $ 1,084,000,000,000 30 June 2007 est. 12 Italy $ 996,300,000,000 31 December 2007 13 Australia $ 826,400,000,000 31 December 2007 14 Canada $ 758,600,000,000 30 June 2007 15 Austria $ 752,500,000,000 30 June 2007 16 Sweden $ 598,200,000,000 30 June 2006 17 Hong Kong $ 588,000,000,000 2007 est. 18 Denmark $ 492,600,000,000 30 June 2007 19 Norway $ 469,100,000,000 30 June 2007 20 Portugal $ 461,200,000,000 31 December 2007 21 China $ 363,000,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 22 Russia $ 356,500,000,000 31 December 2007 23 Finland $ 271,200,000,000 30 June 2007 24 Turkey $ 247,100,000,000 31 December 2007 25 Brazil $ 229,400,000,000 31 December 2007 26 Korea, South $ 220,100,000,000 31 December 2007 27 Mexico $ 179,800,000,000 31 December 2007 28 Poland $ 169,800,000,000 31 December 2007 29 India $ 149,200,000,000 31 December 2007 30 Indonesia $ 140,000,000,000 31 December 2007 31 Argentina $ 135,800,000,000 31 December 2007 32 Hungary $ 125,900,000,000 31 December 2007 33 Iraq $ 100,900,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 34 Taiwan $ 97,850,000,000 31 December 2007 35 Kazakhstan $ 96,360,000,000 31 December 2007 36 Israel $ 89,950,000,000 31 December 2007 37 Greece $ 86,720,000,000 31 December 2007 38 Czech Republic $ 74,700,000,000 31 December 2007 39 Romania $ 74,540,000,000 31 December 2007 40 Ukraine $ 69,040,000,000 31 December 2007 41 Philippines $ 61,780,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 42 United Arab Emirates $ 61,680,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 43 Thailand $ 59,520,000,000 31 December 2007 44 Saudi Arabia $ 58,600,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 45 Chile $ 57,600,000,000 31 December 2007 46 Malaysia $ 53,090,000,000 31 December 2007 47 New Zealand $ 51,440,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 48 Croatia $ 46,300,000,000 30 June 2007 49 Venezuela $ 43,330,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 50 Colombia $ 41,390,000,000 30 June 2007 51 Slovenia $ 40,420,000,000 30 June 2007 52 South Africa $ 39,780,000,000 31 December 2007 53 Pakistan $ 38,800,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 54 Slovakia $ 36,630,000,000 31 December 2007 55 Bulgaria $ 34,880,000,000 30 June 2007 56 Kuwait $ 33,620,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 57 Latvia $ 33,530,000,000 31 December 2007 58 Qatar $ 33,090,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 59 Peru $ 32,830,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 60 Lebanon $ 31,600,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 61 Sudan $ 29,420,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 62 Egypt $ 29,200,000,000 30 June 2007 63 Lithuania $ 27,190,000,000 31 December 2007 64 Cyprus $ 26,970,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 65 Serbia $ 26,240,000,000 2007 est. 66 Singapore $ 25,590,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 67 Estonia $ 24,820,000,000 30 June 2007 68 Vietnam $ 21,830,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 69 Bangladesh $ 21,230,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 70 Iran $ 20,680,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 71 Morocco $ 19,910,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 72 Tunisia $ 19,270,000,000 December 2007 73 Monaco $ 18,000,000,000 2000 est. 74 Ecuador $ 17,120,000,000 31 December 2007 75 Cuba $ 16,790,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 76 Cote d'Ivoire $ 13,790,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 77 Korea, North $ 12,500,000,000 2001 est. 78 Sri Lanka $ 12,200,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 79 Uruguay $ 11,420,000,000 31 December 2007 80 Panama $ 10,450,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 81 Dominican Republic $ 10,210,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 82 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ 10,000,000,000 2006 est. 83 Jamaica $ 9,657,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 84 El Salvador $ 9,574,000,000 December 2007 85 Angola $ 8,357,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 86 Jordan $ 8,133,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 87 Nigeria $ 8,007,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 88 Afghanistan $ 8,000,000,000 2004 89 Bahrain $ 7,858,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 90 Costa Rica $ 7,416,000,000 30 June 2007 91 Belarus $ 7,347,000,000 31 December 2007 92 Burma $ 7,022,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 93 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ 6,734,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 94 Kenya $ 6,713,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 95 Syria $ 6,633,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 96 Yemen $ 6,044,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 97 Guatemala $ 5,908,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 98 Oman $ 5,297,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 99 Zimbabwe $ 5,155,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 100 Congo, Republic of the $ 5,000,000,000 2000 est. 101 Gabon $ 4,895,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 102 Ghana $ 4,891,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 103 Libya $ 4,837,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 104 Madagascar $ 4,600,000,000 2002 105 Georgia $ 4,500,000,000 2007 106 Bolivia $ 4,495,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 107 Tanzania $ 4,382,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 108 Mozambique $ 4,189,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 109 Macedonia $ 3,967,000,000 31 December 2007 110 Algeria $ 3,957,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 111 Uzbekistan $ 3,927,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 112 Cambodia $ 3,890,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 113 Paraguay $ 3,492,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 114 Honduras $ 3,411,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 115 Guinea $ 3,351,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 116 Nicaragua $ 3,341,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 117 Moldova $ 3,300,000,000 31 December 2007 118 Liberia $ 3,200,000,000 2005 est. 119 Laos $ 3,179,000,000 2006 120 Iceland $ 3,073,000,000 2002 121 Nepal $ 3,070,000,000 March 2006 122 Somalia $ 3,000,000,000 2001 est. 123 Kyrgyzstan $ 2,966,000,000 30 June 2007 124 Trinidad and Tobago $ 2,869,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 125 Mali $ 2,800,000,000 2002 126 Netherlands Antilles $ 2,680,000,000 2004 127 Ethiopia $ 2,621,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 128 Zambia $ 2,596,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 129 Cameroon $ 2,554,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 130 Azerbaijan $ 2,439,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 131 Senegal $ 2,190,000,000 31 December 2007 132 Mauritius $ 2,149,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 133 Niger $ 2,100,000,000 2003 est. 134 Togo $ 2,000,000,000 2005 135 Papua New Guinea $ 1,646,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 136 Sierra Leone $ 1,610,000,000 2003 est. 137 Chad $ 1,600,000,000 2005 est. 138 Tajikistan $ 1,560,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 139 Albania $ 1,550,000,000 2004 140 Uganda $ 1,498,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 141 Haiti $ 1,475,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 142 Mongolia $ 1,438,000,000 2007 143 Rwanda $ 1,400,000,000 2004 est. 144 Turkmenistan $ 1,400,000,000 2004 est. 145 Armenia $ 1,372,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 146 Burkina Faso $ 1,330,000,000 2007 147 Belize $ 1,200,000,000 June 2005 est. 148 Burundi $ 1,200,000,000 2003 149 Guyana $ 1,200,000,000 2002 150 Benin $ 1,200,000,000 2007 151 Central African Republic $ 1,153,000,000 2007 est. 152 Seychelles $ 1,059,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 153 Namibia $ 1,003,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 154 Guinea-Bissau $ 941,500,000 2000 est. 155 Malawi $ 894,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 156 Bhutan $ 713,300,000 2006 157 Lesotho $ 689,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 158 Barbados $ 668,000,000 2003 159 Montenegro $ 650,000,000 2006 160 Gambia, The $ 628,800,000 2003 est. 161 Swaziland $ 524,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 162 Suriname $ 504,300,000 2005 est. 163 Maldives $ 482,000,000 2006 est. 164 Aruba $ 478,600,000 2005 est. 165 Djibouti $ 428,000,000 2006 166 Botswana $ 408,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 167 Antigua and Barbuda $ 359,800,000 June 2006 168 Grenada $ 347,000,000 2004 169 Bahamas, The $ 342,600,000 2004 est. 170 Equatorial Guinea $ 338,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 171 Cape Verde $ 325,000,000 2002 172 Sao Tome and Principe $ 318,000,000 2002 173 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 314,000,000 2004 174 Eritrea $ 311,000,000 2000 est. 175 Saint Lucia $ 257,000,000 2004 176 Comoros $ 232,000,000 2000 est. 177 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $ 223,000,000 2004 178 Dominica $ 213,000,000 2004 179 Malta $ 188,800,000 2005 180 Samoa $ 177,000,000 2004 181 Solomon Islands $ 166,000,000 2004 182 Bermuda $ 160,000,000 FY99/00 183 Cook Islands $ 141,000,000 1996 est. 184 Fiji $ 127,000,000 2004 est. 185 Marshall Islands $ 86,500,000 FY99/00 est. 186 Vanuatu $ 81,200,000 2004 187 Tonga $ 80,700,000 2004 188 New Caledonia $ 79,000,000 1998 est. 189 Cayman Islands $ 70,000,000 1996 190 Faroe Islands $ 64,000,000 1999 191 Micronesia, Federated States of $ 60,800,000 FY05 est. 192 British Virgin Islands $ 36,100,000 1997 193 Nauru $ 33,300,000 2002 194 Greenland $ 25,000,000 1999 195 Kiribati $ 10,000,000 1999 est. 196 Montserrat $ 8,900,000 1997 197 Anguilla $ 8,800,000 1998 198 Wallis and Futuna $ 3,670,000 2004 199 Niue $ 418,000 2002 est. 200 Brunei $ 0 2005 201 Liechtenstein $ 0 2001 202 Palau $ 0 FY99/00 203 Macau $ 0 2006

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2085

Rank Country Roadways(km) Date of Information

1 World 68,937,575 2008 2 United States 6,465,799 2007 3 European Union 5,454,446 2008 4 India 3,316,452 2006 5 China 1,930,544 2005 6 Brazil 1,751,868 2004 7 Japan 1,196,999 2006 8 Canada 1,042,300 2006 9 France 951,500 2006 10 Russia 933,000 2006 11 Australia 812,972 2004 12 Spain 681,224 2006 13 Germany 644,480 2006 14 Italy 487,700 2005 15 Turkey 426,951 2006 16 Sweden 425,300 2008 17 Poland 423,997 2006 18 United Kingdom 398,366 2006 19 Indonesia 391,009 2005 20 South Africa 362,099 2002 21 Mexico 356,945 2006 22 Pakistan 259,758 2005 23 Bangladesh 239,226 2003 24 Argentina 231,374 2004 25 Vietnam 222,179 2004 26 Saudi Arabia 221,372 2006 27 Philippines 200,037 2003 28 Romania 198,817 2004 29 Nigeria 193,200 2004 30 Thailand 180,053 2006 31 Iran 172,927 2006 32 Ukraine 169,422 2007 33 Colombia 164,257 2005 34 Hungary 159,568 2005 35 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 153,497 2004 36 Belgium 152,256 2006 37 Netherlands 134,981 2006 38 Czech Republic 128,512 2007 39 Greece 117,533 2005 40 Algeria 108,302 2004 41 Austria 107,262 2006 42 Korea, South 102,062 2006 43 Libya 100,024 2003 44 Malaysia 98,721 2004 45 Syria 97,401 2006 46 Sri Lanka 97,286 2003 47 Zimbabwe 97,267 2002 48 Ireland 96,602 2003 49 Venezuela 96,155 2002 50 Belarus 94,797 2005 51 New Zealand 93,576 2006 52 Norway 92,946 2007 53 Burkina Faso 92,495 2004 54 Egypt 92,370 2004 55 Kazakhstan 91,563 2006 56 Zambia 91,440 2001 57 Uzbekistan 86,496 2000 58 Portugal 82,900 2005 59 Chile 80,505 2004 60 Cote d'Ivoire 80,000 2006 61 Lithuania 79,984 2006 62 Tanzania 78,891 2003 63 Peru 78,829 2004 64 Finland 78,821 2008 65 Uruguay 77,732 2004 66 Denmark 72,362 2006 67 Yemen 71,300 2005 68 Switzerland 71,298 2006 69 Uganda 70,746 2003 70 Latvia 69,675 2006 71 Madagascar 65,663 2003 72 Kenya 63,265 2004 73 Bolivia 62,479 2004 74 Ghana 62,221 2006 75 Cuba 60,858 2000 76 Azerbaijan 59,141 2004 77 Turkmenistan 58,592 2002 78 Morocco 57,625 2006 79 Estonia 57,016 2005 80 Angola 51,429 2001 81 Cameroon 50,000 2004 82 Mongolia 49,250 2002 83 Iraq 44,900 2002 84 Guinea 44,348 2003 85 Slovakia 43,761 2006 86 Ecuador 43,670 2006 87 Oman 42,300 2005 88 Namibia 42,237 2002 89 Afghanistan 42,150 2006 90 Taiwan 40,262 2007 91 Bulgaria 40,231 2005 92 Slovenia 38,562 2006 93 Cambodia 38,257 2004 94 Serbia 36,875 2006 95 Ethiopia 36,469 2004 96 Costa Rica 35,330 2004 97 Chad 33,400 2002 98 Mozambique 30,400 2000 99 Laos 29,811 2006 100 Paraguay 29,500 2000 101 Croatia 28,788 2006 102 Tajikistan 27,767 2000 103 Burma 27,000 2006 104 Puerto Rico 26,186 2007 105 Botswana 25,798 2005 106 Korea, North 25,554 2006 107 Central African Republic 24,307 2000 108 Somalia 22,100 2000 109 Bosnia and Herzegovina 21,846 2006 110 Jamaica 21,552 2005 111 Georgia 20,329 2006 112 Dominican Republic 19,705 2002 113 Papua New Guinea 19,600 2000 114 Tunisia 19,232 2004 115 Nicaragua 19,036 2005 116 Mali 18,709 2004 117 Niger 18,550 2006 118 Kyrgyzstan 18,500 2003 119 Albania 18,000 2002 120 Israel 17,870 2007 121 Congo, Republic of the 17,289 2004 122 Nepal 17,280 2004 123 Benin 16,000 2006 124 Malawi 15,451 2003 125 Cyprus 14,630 2006 126 Guatemala 14,095 2000 127 Rwanda 14,008 2004 128 Honduras 13,600 2000 129 Senegal 13,576 2003 130 Macedonia 13,182 2002 131 Iceland 13,058 2007 132 Moldova 12,666 2007 133 Burundi 12,322 2004 134 Panama 11,978 2002 135 Sudan 11,900 2000 136 Sierra Leone 11,300 2002 137 Mauritania 11,066 2006 138 El Salvador 10,886 2000 139 Liberia 10,600 2000 140 Gabon 9,170 2004 141 Trinidad and Tobago 8,320 2000 142 Bhutan 8,050 2003 143 Guyana 7,970 2000 144 Qatar 7,790 2006 145 Armenia 7,700 2006 146 Jordan 7,694 2006 147 Togo 7,520 2000 148 Montenegro 7,368 2006 149 Lesotho 7,091 2003 150 Lebanon 6,970 2005 151 Timor-Leste 6,040 2005 152 Kuwait 5,749 2004 153 New Caledonia 5,622 2006 154 Luxembourg 5,227 2004 155 West Bank 5,147 2006 156 Suriname 4,304 2003 157 Haiti 4,160 2000 158 United Arab Emirates 4,080 2008 159 Eritrea 4,010 2000 160 Gambia, The 3,742 2004 161 Brunei 3,650 2005 162 Swaziland 3,594 2002 163 Bahrain 3,498 2003 164 Guinea-Bissau 3,455 2002 165 Fiji 3,440 2000 166 Singapore 3,262 2006 167 Djibouti 3,065 2000 168 Belize 3,007 2006 169 Equatorial Guinea 2,880 2000 170 Bahamas, The 2,717 2002 171 French Polynesia 2,590 1999 172 Samoa 2,337 2001 173 Malta 2,227 2005 174 Mauritius 2,028 2007 175 Marshall Islands 2,028 2007 176 Hong Kong 2,009 2007 177 Kosovo 1,924 2006 178 Barbados 1,600 2004 179 Solomon Islands 1,360 2002 180 Cape Verde 1,350 2000 181 Virgin Islands 1,257 2007 182 Saint Lucia 1,210 2002 183 Antigua and Barbuda 1,165 2002 184 Grenada 1,127 2000 185 Vanuatu 1,070 1999 186 Guam 1,045 2007 187 Comoros 880 2002 188 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 829 2003 189 Cayman Islands 785 2007 190 Dominica 780 2000 191 Tonga 680 2000 192 Kiribati 670 2000 193 Northern Mariana Islands 536 2007 194 Isle of Man 500 2008 195 Faroe Islands 463 2006 196 Seychelles 458 2003 197 Bermuda 447 2007 198 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 440 2008 199 Macau 384 2006 200 Liechtenstein 380 2007 201 Jersey 358 2002 202 Cook Islands 320 2003 203 Saint Kitts and Nevis 320 2002 204 Sao Tome and Principe 320 2000 205 San Marino 292 2006 206 Andorra 270 207 Micronesia, Federated States of 240 2000 208 American Samoa 221 2007 209 British Virgin Islands 200 2007 210 Saint Helena 198 2002 211 Anguilla 175 2004 212 Christmas Island 140 2007 213 Turks and Caicos Islands 121 2003 214 Niue 120 2008 215 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 117 2000 216 Maldives 88 2006 217 Norfolk Island 80 2008 218 Monaco 50 2007 219 Gibraltar 29 2007 220 Nauru 24 2002 221 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 22 2006 222 Tuvalu 8 2002

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2087

Rank Country Imports Date of Information

1 World $ 13,740,000,000,000 2006 est. 2 United States $ 1,968,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 European Union $ 1,466,000,000,000 2005 4 Germany $ 1,075,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 China $ 904,600,000,000 2007 est. 6 United Kingdom $ 621,400,000,000 2007 est. 7 France $ 600,900,000,000 2007 est. 8 Japan $ 573,300,000,000 2007 est. 9 Italy $ 498,100,000,000 2007 est. 10 Netherlands $ 406,300,000,000 2007 est. 11 Canada $ 386,400,000,000 2007 est. 12 Spain $ 380,200,000,000 2007 est. 13 Hong Kong $ 365,600,000,000 2007 est. 14 Korea, South $ 349,600,000,000 2007 est. 15 Belgium $ 323,200,000,000 2007 est. 16 Mexico $ 281,900,000,000 2007 est. 17 Singapore $ 252,000,000,000 2007 est. 18 India $ 230,500,000,000 2007 est. 19 Russia $ 223,400,000,000 2007 est. 20 Taiwan $ 215,100,000,000 2007 est. 21 Switzerland $ 187,100,000,000 2007 est. 22 Turkey $ 162,000,000,000 2007 est. 23 Austria $ 160,300,000,000 2007 est. 24 Poland $ 160,200,000,000 2007 est. 25 Australia $ 160,000,000,000 2007 est. 26 Sweden $ 151,400,000,000 2007 est. 27 Malaysia $ 139,100,000,000 2007 est. 28 Thailand $ 125,200,000,000 2007 est. 29 Brazil $ 120,600,000,000 2007 est. 30 United Arab Emirates $ 116,600,000,000 2007 est. 31 Czech Republic $ 116,600,000,000 2007 est. 32 Denmark $ 102,000,000,000 2007 est. 33 Hungary $ 86,880,000,000 2007 est. 34 Indonesia $ 84,930,000,000 2007 est. 35 Ireland $ 84,760,000,000 2007 est. 36 Saudi Arabia $ 82,640,000,000 2007 est. 37 South Africa $ 81,890,000,000 2007 est. 38 Greece $ 80,790,000,000 2007 est. 39 Finland $ 78,050,000,000 2007 est. 40 Norway $ 77,240,000,000 2007 est. 41 Portugal $ 75,300,000,000 2007 est. 42 Romania $ 64,540,000,000 2007 est. 43 Ukraine $ 60,410,000,000 2007 est. 44 Vietnam $ 58,920,000,000 2007 est. 45 Slovakia $ 58,400,000,000 2007 est. 46 Philippines $ 57,560,000,000 2007 est. 47 Israel $ 55,790,000,000 2007 est. 48 Iran $ 53,880,000,000 2007 est. 49 Venezuela $ 45,460,000,000 2007 est. 50 Egypt $ 44,950,000,000 2007 est. 51 Chile $ 43,990,000,000 2007 est. 52 Argentina $ 42,530,000,000 2007 est. 53 Nigeria $ 38,500,000,000 2007 est. 54 Kazakhstan $ 33,210,000,000 2007 est. 55 Colombia $ 31,170,000,000 2007 est. 56 Slovenia $ 29,390,000,000 2007 est. 57 Puerto Rico $ 29,100,000,000 2001 58 New Zealand $ 29,060,000,000 2007 est. 59 Pakistan $ 28,760,000,000 2007 est. 60 Bulgaria $ 28,670,000,000 2007 est. 61 Morocco $ 28,500,000,000 2007 est. 62 Belarus $ 28,320,000,000 2007 est. 63 Algeria $ 26,250,000,000 2007 est. 64 Croatia $ 25,990,000,000 2007 est. 65 Iraq $ 25,670,000,000 2007 est. 66 Luxembourg $ 23,130,000,000 2007 est. 67 Lithuania $ 22,800,000,000 2007 est. 68 Kuwait $ 20,640,000,000 2007 est. 69 Qatar $ 19,860,000,000 2007 est. 70 Peru $ 19,600,000,000 2007 est. 71 Serbia $ 18,350,000,000 2007 est. 72 Tunisia $ 18,020,000,000 2007 est. 73 Bangladesh $ 16,670,000,000 2007 est. 74 Netherlands Antilles $ 15,740,000,000 2006 75 Latvia $ 14,820,000,000 2007 est. 76 Estonia $ 14,750,000,000 2007 est. 77 Libya $ 14,430,000,000 2007 est. 78 Dominican Republic $ 13,820,000,000 2007 est. 79 Ecuador $ 12,760,000,000 2007 est. 80 Guatemala $ 12,620,000,000 2007 est. 81 Panama $ 12,620,000,000 2007 est. 82 Angola $ 12,290,000,000 2007 est. 83 Costa Rica $ 12,260,000,000 2007 est. 84 Jordan $ 12,020,000,000 2007 est. 85 Lebanon $ 11,930,000,000 2007 est. 86 Oman $ 11,000,000,000 2007 est. 87 Bahrain $ 10,930,000,000 2007 est. 88 Syria $ 10,500,000,000 2007 est. 89 Sri Lanka $ 10,360,000,000 2007 est. 90 Cuba $ 10,080,000,000 2007 est. 91 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ 9,947,000,000 2007 est. 92 Honduras $ 8,556,000,000 2007 est. 93 Kenya $ 8,540,000,000 2007 est. 94 El Salvador $ 8,108,000,000 2007 est. 95 Ghana $ 8,053,000,000 2007 est. 96 Cyprus $ 7,840,000,000 2007 est. 97 Sudan $ 7,722,000,000 2007 est. 98 Trinidad and Tobago $ 7,670,000,000 2007 est. 99 Liberia $ 7,143,000,000 2006 100 Yemen $ 6,735,000,000 2007 est. 101 Iceland $ 6,181,000,000 2007 est. 102 Paraguay $ 6,094,000,000 2007 est. 103 Azerbaijan $ 6,045,000,000 2007 est. 104 Cote d'Ivoire $ 5,932,000,000 2007 est. 105 Jamaica $ 5,784,000,000 2007 est. 106 Uruguay $ 5,554,000,000 2007 est. 107 Cambodia $ 5,424,000,000 2007 est. 108 Ethiopia $ 5,165,000,000 2007 est. 109 Georgia $ 4,977,000,000 2007 est. 110 Macedonia $ 4,977,000,000 2007 est. 111 Tanzania $ 4,861,000,000 2007 est. 112 Virgin Islands $ 4,609,000,000 2001 113 Macau $ 4,559,000,000 2006 114 Malta $ 4,541,000,000 2007 est. 115 Turkmenistan $ 4,516,000,000 2007 est. 116 Uzbekistan $ 4,480,000,000 2007 est. 117 Nicaragua $ 4,078,000,000 2007 est. 118 Albania $ 3,999,000,000 2007 est. 119 Afghanistan $ 3,823,000,000 2006 120 Senegal $ 3,731,000,000 2007 est. 121 Cameroon $ 3,714,000,000 2007 est. 122 Moldova $ 3,677,000,000 2007 est. 123 Mauritius $ 3,656,000,000 2007 est. 124 Zambia $ 3,611,000,000 2007 est. 125 Botswana $ 3,403,000,000 2007 est. 126 Bolivia $ 3,249,000,000 2007 est. 127 Fiji $ 3,120,000,000 2006 128 Namibia $ 3,091,000,000 2007 est. 129 Equatorial Guinea $ 3,083,000,000 2007 est. 130 Uganda $ 2,983,000,000 2007 est. 131 Gibraltar $ 2,967,000,000 2004 est. 132 Burma $ 2,942,000,000 2007 est. 133 Korea, North $ 2,879,000,000 2006 134 Mozambique $ 2,811,000,000 2007 est. 135 Armenia $ 2,807,000,000 2007 est. 136 Tajikistan $ 2,762,000,000 2007 est. 137 Kyrgyzstan $ 2,636,000,000 2007 est. 138 Congo, Republic of the $ 2,634,000,000 2007 est. 139 Papua New Guinea $ 2,629,000,000 2007 est. 140 Gaza Strip $ 2,440,000,000 2005 141 West Bank $ 2,440,000,000 2005 142 Bahamas, The $ 2,401,000,000 2006 143 Nepal $ 2,398,000,000 2006 144 Mali $ 2,358,000,000 2006 145 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ 2,263,000,000 2006 146 Zimbabwe $ 2,183,000,000 2007 est. 147 Mongolia $ 2,117,000,000 2007 148 Gabon $ 2,107,000,000 2007 est. 149 San Marino $ 2,035,000,000 2004 150 Brunei $ 2,000,000,000 2006 151 New Caledonia $ 1,998,000,000 2006 152 Madagascar $ 1,918,000,000 2007 est. 153 Swaziland $ 1,914,000,000 2007 est. 154 Andorra $ 1,879,000,000 2005 155 Haiti $ 1,734,000,000 2007 est. 156 French Polynesia $ 1,706,000,000 2005 est. 157 Barbados $ 1,586,000,000 2006 158 Djibouti $ 1,555,000,000 2006 159 Lesotho $ 1,536,000,000 2007 est. 160 Mauritania $ 1,475,000,000 2006 161 Laos $ 1,378,000,000 2007 est. 162 Suriname $ 1,297,000,000 2006 est. 163 Burkina Faso $ 1,296,000,000 2007 est. 164 Guinea $ 1,202,000,000 2007 est. 165 Togo $ 1,201,000,000 2007 est. 166 Bermuda $ 1,162,000,000 2006 167 Chad $ 1,158,000,000 2007 est. 168 Benin $ 1,085,000,000 2007 est. 169 Aruba $ 1,054,000,000 2006 170 Guyana $ 1,006,000,000 2007 est. 171 Maldives $ 930,000,000 2006 172 Liechtenstein $ 917,300,000 1996 173 Monaco $ 916,100,000 2005 174 Cayman Islands $ 866,900,000 2004 175 Malawi $ 866,000,000 2007 est. 176 Seychelles $ 823,000,000 2007 est. 177 Niger $ 800,000,000 2006 178 Somalia $ 798,000,000 2006 179 Saint Lucia $ 791,000,000 2006 180 Faroe Islands $ 751,000,000 2006 181 Cape Verde $ 743,600,000 2007 est. 182 Greenland $ 712,000,000 2006 183 Guam $ 701,000,000 2004 est. 184 Belize $ 642,000,000 2007 est. 185 Rwanda $ 637,000,000 2007 est. 186 Montenegro $ 601,700,000 2003 187 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $ 578,000,000 2006 188 Eritrea $ 573,000,000 2007 est. 189 Sierra Leone $ 560,000,000 2006 190 Antigua and Barbuda $ 522,800,000 2007 est. 191 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 383,000,000 2006 192 Grenada $ 343,000,000 2006 193 Mayotte $ 341,000,000 2005 194 Samoa $ 324,000,000 2006 195 Bhutan $ 320,000,000 2006 196 American Samoa $ 308,800,000 FY04 est. 197 Dominica $ 296,000,000 2006 198 Burundi $ 272,000,000 2007 est. 199 Gambia, The $ 271,000,000 2007 est. 200 Solomon Islands $ 256,000,000 2006 201 Central African Republic $ 237,300,000 2007 est. 202 Northern Mariana Islands $ 214,400,000 2001 203 Timor-Leste $ 202,000,000 2004 est. 204 Guinea-Bissau $ 200,000,000 2006 205 British Virgin Islands $ 187,000,000 2002 est. 206 Turks and Caicos Islands $ 175,600,000 2000 207 Vanuatu $ 156,000,000 2006 208 Anguilla $ 143,000,000 2006 209 Comoros $ 143,000,000 2006 210 Tonga $ 139,000,000 2006 211 Micronesia, Federated States of $ 132,700,000 2004 212 Palau $ 107,300,000 2004 est. 213 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $ 90,000,000 2004 est. 214 Cook Islands $ 81,040,000 2005 215 Saint Pierre and Miquelon $ 68,200,000 2005 est. 216 Sao Tome and Principe $ 66,000,000 2007 est. 217 Kiribati $ 62,000,000 2004 est. 218 Wallis and Futuna $ 61,170,000 2004 219 Marshall Islands $ 54,700,000 2000 220 Saint Helena $ 45,000,000 2004 est. 221 Nauru $ 20,000,000 2004 est. 222 Norfolk Island $ 17,900,000 FY91/92 223 Montserrat $ 17,000,000 2001 224 Tuvalu $ 12,910,000 2005 225 Niue $ 9,038,000 2004 226 Tokelau $ 969,200 2002

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2089

Rank Country Industrial production growth rate(%) Date of Information

1 Azerbaijan 25.00 2007 est. 2 Angola 23.90 2007 est. 3 Sudan 22.00 2007 est. 4 Slovakia 17.20 2007 est. 5 Cambodia 15.00 2007 est. 6 Bulgaria 14.00 2007 est. 7 China 13.40 2007 est. 8 Georgia 13.40 2007 est. 9 Rwanda 13.10 2007 est. 10 Uzbekistan 12.10 2007 est. 11 Laos 12.00 2007 est. 12 Lesotho 12.00 2007 est. 13 Chile 11.10 2007 est. 14 Ethiopia 11.00 2007 est. 15 Romania 10.60 2007 est. 16 Vietnam 10.60 2007 est. 17 Panama 10.50 2007 est. 18 Turkmenistan 10.30 2007 est. 19 Equatorial Guinea 10.10 2007 est. 20 Mozambique 10.00 2007 est. 21 Colombia 9.80 2007 est. 22 Czech Republic 9.80 2007 est. 23 Peru 9.80 2007 est. 24 Slovenia 9.50 2007 est. 25 Tanzania 9.50 2007 est. 26 Bhutan 9.30 1996 est. 27 Kyrgyzstan 9.30 2007 est. 28 Taiwan 9.20 2007 est. 29 Burma 9.00 2007 est. 30 Namibia 9.00 2007 est. 31 Iceland 9.00 2007 est. 32 Poland 8.90 2007 est. 33 India 8.50 2007 est. 34 Timor-Leste 8.50 2004 est. 35 Bangladesh 8.40 2007 est. 36 Finland 8.10 2007 est. 37 Faroe Islands 8.00 1999 est. 38 Pakistan 8.00 2007 est. 39 Qatar 8.00 2007 est. 40 Iraq 7.90 2007 est. 41 Uruguay 7.90 2007 est. 42 Ghana 7.80 2007 est. 43 Estonia 7.70 2007 est. 44 Jordan 7.70 2007 est. 45 Sri Lanka 7.60 2007 est. 46 Guinea 7.60 2007 est. 47 Argentina 7.50 2007 est. 48 Egypt 7.50 2007 est. 49 Cape Verde 7.50 2007 est. 50 Lithuania 7.40 2007 est. 51 Russia 7.40 2007 est. 52 Singapore 7.40 2007 est. 53 Costa Rica 7.30 2007 est. 54 Kazakhstan 7.20 2007 est. 55 Tunisia 7.20 2007 est. 56 Philippines 7.10 2007 est. 57 Seychelles 7.00 2007 est. 58 Sao Tome and Principe 7.00 2007 est. 59 Kenya 6.80 2007 est. 60 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.70 2007 est. 61 Suriname 6.50 1994 est. 62 Trinidad and Tobago 6.50 2007 est. 63 Switzerland 6.50 2006 est. 64 Burundi 6.40 2007 est. 65 Papua New Guinea 6.40 2007 est. 66 Zambia 6.30 2007 est. 67 Madagascar 6.00 2007 est. 68 Ukraine 6.00 2007 est. 69 Uganda 5.80 2007 est. 70 Austria 5.70 2007 est. 71 Libya 5.60 2007 est. 72 San Marino 5.60 2005 est. 73 Korea, South 5.50 2007 est. 74 Latvia 5.40 2007 est. 75 Turkey 5.40 2007 est. 76 Thailand 5.40 2007 est. 77 Croatia 5.30 2007 est. 78 Bahrain 5.20 2007 est. 79 Germany 5.20 2007 est. 80 Senegal 5.20 2007 est. 81 Gabon 5.20 2007 est. 82 Burkina Faso 5.20 2007 est. 83 Niger 5.10 2003 est. 84 Algeria 5.00 2007 est. 85 Belarus 5.00 2007 est. 86 Ireland 5.00 2007 est. 87 World 5.00 2007 est. 88 Tajikistan 5.00 2007 est. 89 Nicaragua 5.00 2007 est. 90 Morocco 5.00 2007 est. 91 Brazil 4.90 2007 est. 92 Guatemala 4.80 2007 est. 93 Iran 4.80 2007 est. 94 Indonesia 4.70 2007 est. 95 Guinea-Bissau 4.70 2003 est. 96 Mauritius 4.70 2007 est. 97 Benin 4.50 2007 est. 98 Honduras 4.40 2007 est. 99 South Africa 4.40 2007 est. 100 Malawi 4.40 2007 est. 101 United Arab Emirates 4.30 2007 est. 102 Botswana 4.20 2007 est. 103 Australia 4.10 2007 est. 104 Israel 4.10 2007 est. 105 Albania 4.00 2007 est. 106 Venezuela 3.90 2007 est. 107 Cyprus 3.80 2007 est. 108 Macau 3.80 3rd quarter, 2007 109 Cameroon 3.50 2007 est. 110 Hungary 3.50 2007 est. 111 El Salvador 3.40 2007 est. 112 Malaysia 3.30 2007 est. 113 Armenia 3.20 2007 est. 114 Oman 3.20 2007 est. 115 Yemen 3.20 2007 est. 116 Nigeria 3.20 2007 est. 117 Isle of Man 3.20 FY96/97 118 European Union 3.20 2006 est. 119 Anguilla 3.10 1997 est. 120 Spain 3.10 2007 est. 121 Netherlands 3.10 2007 est. 122 Central African Republic 3.00 2002 123 Sweden 3.00 2007 est. 124 Djibouti 3.00 1996 est. 125 Mongolia 3.00 2006 est. 126 Saudi Arabia 2.90 2007 est. 127 Belgium 2.80 2007 est. 128 Samoa 2.80 2000 129 Cuba 2.50 2007 est. 130 Haiti 2.50 2007 est. 131 Syria 2.50 2007 est. 132 Dominican Republic 2.40 2007 est. 133 West Bank 2.40 2005 134 Gaza Strip 2.40 2005 135 Portugal 2.30 2007 est. 136 Greece 2.20 2007 est. 137 Nepal 2.20 FY05/06 138 Chad 2.00 2007 est. 139 Mauritania 2.00 2000 est. 140 Eritrea 2.00 2007 est. 141 Brunei 1.80 2005 est. 142 France 1.80 2007 est. 143 Serbia 1.80 2007 est. 144 Kuwait 1.70 2007 est. 145 Luxembourg 1.70 2007 est. 146 Macedonia 1.70 2007 est. 147 New Zealand 1.50 2007 est. 148 Ecuador 1.40 2007 est. 149 Mexico 1.40 2007 est. 150 Japan 1.30 2007 est. 151 Jamaica 1.20 2007 est. 152 Bolivia 1.10 2007 est. 153 Swaziland 1.10 2007 est. 154 Cook Islands 1.00 2002 155 Moldova 1.00 2007 est. 156 Tonga 1.00 2003 est. 157 Togo 1.00 2007 est. 158 Vanuatu 1.00 1997 est. 159 Grenada 0.70 1997 est. 160 Kiribati 0.70 1991 est. 161 Italy 0.60 2007 est. 162 Belize 0.50 2007 est. 163 United Kingdom 0.50 2007 est. 164 Denmark 0.50 2007 est. 165 Canada 0.30 2007 est. 166 Norway 0.10 2007 est. 167 New Caledonia -0.60 1996 168 Hong Kong -0.80 2007 est. 169 Maldives -0.90 2004 est. 170 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -0.90 1997 est. 171 Paraguay -1.00 2007 est. 172 United States -1.70 2007 est. 173 Cote d'Ivoire -1.80 2007 est. 174 Comoros -2.00 1999 est. 175 Gambia, The -2.30 2007 est. 176 Barbados -3.20 2000 est. 177 Zimbabwe -5.00 2007 est. 178 Saint Lucia -8.90 1997 est. 179 Dominica -10.00 1997 est. 180 Congo, Republic of the -12.00 2007 est. 181 Guyana -26.40 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2091

Rank Country Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) Date of Information

1 Angola 182.31 2008 est. 2 Sierra Leone 156.48 2008 est. 3 Afghanistan 154.67 2008 est. 4 Liberia 143.89 2008 est. 5 Niger 115.42 2008 est. 6 Somalia 110.97 2008 est. 7 Mozambique 107.84 2008 est. 8 Mali 103.83 2008 est. 9 Guinea-Bissau 101.64 2008 est. 10 Zambia 100.96 2008 est. 11 Chad 100.36 2008 est. 12 Djibouti 99.13 2008 est. 13 Nigeria 95.74 2008 est. 14 Malawi 90.55 2008 est. 15 Sudan 86.98 2008 est. 16 Burkina Faso 86.02 2008 est. 17 Equatorial Guinea 83.75 2008 est. 18 Rwanda 83.42 2008 est. 19 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 83.11 2008 est. 20 Ethiopia 82.64 2008 est. 21 Central African Republic 82.13 2008 est. 22 Congo, Republic of the 81.29 2008 est. 23 Laos 79.61 2008 est. 24 Lesotho 78.59 2008 est. 25 Western Sahara 71.13 2008 est. 26 Tanzania 70.46 2008 est. 27 Cote d'Ivoire 69.76 2008 est. 28 Swaziland 69.59 2008 est. 29 Gambia, The 68.72 2008 est. 30 Comoros 68.58 2008 est. 31 Guinea 67.41 2008 est. 32 Pakistan 66.94 2008 est. 33 Mauritania 66.65 2008 est. 34 Benin 66.20 2008 est. 35 Uganda 65.99 2008 est. 36 Cameroon 64.57 2008 est. 37 Haiti 62.33 2008 est. 38 Nepal 62.00 2008 est. 39 Burundi 60.77 2008 est. 40 Senegal 58.93 2008 est. 41 Mayotte 57.88 2008 est. 42 Togo 57.66 2008 est. 43 Bangladesh 57.45 2008 est. 44 Cambodia 56.59 2008 est. 45 Azerbaijan 56.43 2008 est. 46 Yemen 56.27 2008 est. 47 Kenya 56.01 2008 est. 48 Madagascar 55.59 2008 est. 49 Gabon 52.65 2008 est. 50 Ghana 52.31 2008 est. 51 Bhutan 51.92 2008 est. 52 Turkmenistan 51.81 2008 est. 53 Vanuatu 50.77 2008 est. 54 Burma 49.12 2008 est. 55 Bolivia 49.09 2008 est. 56 Papua New Guinea 46.67 2008 est. 57 Namibia 45.64 2008 est. 58 Iraq 45.43 2008 est. 59 South Africa 45.11 2008 est. 60 Kiribati 44.69 2008 est. 61 Eritrea 44.34 2008 est. 62 Botswana 44.01 2008 est. 63 Cape Verde 42.55 2008 est. 64 Tajikistan 42.31 2008 est. 65 World 42.09 2008 est. 66 Timor-Leste 41.98 2008 est. 67 Mongolia 41.24 2008 est. 68 Sao Tome and Principe 38.36 2008 est. 69 Morocco 38.22 2008 est. 70 Turkey 36.98 2008 est. 71 Iran 36.93 2008 est. 72 Zimbabwe 33.86 2008 est. 73 India 32.31 2008 est. 74 Kyrgyzstan 32.30 2008 est. 75 Indonesia 31.04 2008 est. 76 Maldives 30.63 2008 est. 77 Guyana 30.43 2008 est. 78 Peru 29.53 2008 est. 79 Guatemala 28.79 2008 est. 80 Algeria 28.75 2008 est. 81 Egypt 28.36 2008 est. 82 Micronesia, Federated States of 27.03 2008 est. 83 Dominican Republic 26.93 2008 est. 84 Syria 26.78 2008 est. 85 Kazakhstan 26.56 2008 est. 86 Marshall Islands 26.36 2008 est. 87 Nicaragua 25.91 2008 est. 88 Paraguay 25.55 2008 est. 89 Samoa 25.04 2008 est. 90 Honduras 24.61 2008 est. 91 Uzbekistan 24.23 2008 est. 92 Romania 23.73 2008 est. 93 Bahamas, The 23.67 2008 est. 94 Belize 23.65 2008 est. 95 Vietnam 23.61 2008 est. 96 Trinidad and Tobago 23.59 2008 est. 97 Tunisia 23.43 2008 est. 98 Brazil 23.33 2008 est. 99 Lebanon 22.59 2008 est. 100 El Salvador 22.19 2008 est. 101 Venezuela 22.02 2008 est. 102 Libya 21.94 2008 est. 103 Korea, North 21.86 2008 est. 104 Ecuador 21.35 2008 est. 105 Philippines 21.20 2008 est. 106 China 21.16 2008 est. 107 Armenia 20.94 2008 est. 108 Solomon Islands 19.67 2008 est. 109 Colombia 19.51 2008 est. 110 Suriname 19.45 2008 est. 111 Albania 19.31 2008 est. 112 Sri Lanka 19.01 2008 est. 113 Mexico 19.01 2008 est. 114 Gaza Strip 19.00 2008 est. 115 Tuvalu 18.97 2008 est. 116 Bulgaria 18.51 2008 est. 117 Saint Helena 18.31 2008 est. 118 Thailand 18.23 2008 est. 119 Antigua and Barbuda 17.49 2008 est. 120 Oman 17.45 2008 est. 121 Georgia 16.78 2008 est. 122 West Bank 16.51 2008 est. 123 Montserrat 16.46 2008 est. 124 Malaysia 16.39 2008 est. 125 Bahrain 15.64 2008 est. 126 Jamaica 15.57 2008 est. 127 Jordan 15.57 2008 est. 128 British Virgin Islands 15.20 2008 est. 129 Seychelles 14.36 2008 est. 130 Turks and Caicos Islands 14.35 2008 est. 131 Saint Kitts and Nevis 14.34 2008 est. 132 Aruba 14.26 2008 est. 133 Dominica 14.12 2008 est. 134 Saint Lucia 13.80 2008 est. 135 Palau 13.69 2008 est. 136 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13.62 2008 est. 137 Grenada 13.58 2008 est. 138 Moldova 13.50 2008 est. 139 Panama 13.40 2008 est. 140 United Arab Emirates 13.11 2008 est. 141 Qatar 13.09 2008 est. 142 Brunei 12.69 2008 est. 143 Mauritius 12.56 2008 est. 144 Saudi Arabia 11.94 2008 est. 145 Fiji 11.88 2008 est. 146 Tonga 11.88 2008 est. 147 Argentina 11.78 2008 est. 148 Uruguay 11.66 2008 est. 149 Greenland 11.20 2008 est. 150 Barbados 11.05 2008 est. 151 Russia 10.81 2008 est. 152 American Samoa 10.46 2008 est. 153 Nauru 9.43 2008 est. 154 Netherlands Antilles 9.36 2008 est. 155 Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.34 2008 est. 156 Macedonia 9.27 2008 est. 157 Ukraine 9.23 2008 est. 158 Kuwait 9.22 2008 est. 159 Costa Rica 9.01 2008 est. 160 Latvia 8.96 2008 est. 161 Puerto Rico 8.65 2008 est. 162 Hungary 8.03 2008 est. 163 Chile 7.90 2008 est. 164 Bermuda 7.87 2008 est. 165 Virgin Islands 7.72 2008 est. 166 French Polynesia 7.70 2008 est. 167 Estonia 7.45 2008 est. 168 New Caledonia 7.19 2008 est. 169 Cayman Islands 7.10 2008 est. 170 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 7.04 2008 est. 171 Slovakia 6.98 2008 est. 172 Poland 6.93 2008 est. 173 Cyprus 6.75 2008 est. 174 Northern Mariana Islands 6.72 2008 est. 175 Lithuania 6.57 2008 est. 176 Guam 6.55 2008 est. 177 Belarus 6.53 2008 est. 178 Croatia 6.49 2008 est. 179 Faroe Islands 6.46 2008 est. 180 European Union 6.38 2008 est. 181 United States 6.30 2008 est. 182 Cuba 5.93 2008 est. 183 Isle of Man 5.62 2008 est. 184 Italy 5.61 2008 est. 185 Taiwan 5.45 2008 est. 186 San Marino 5.44 2008 est. 187 Greece 5.25 2008 est. 188 Monaco 5.18 2008 est. 189 Ireland 5.14 2008 est. 190 Canada 5.08 2008 est. 191 Jersey 5.01 2008 est. 192 New Zealand 4.99 2008 est. 193 United Kingdom 4.93 2008 est. 194 Gibraltar 4.91 2008 est. 195 Portugal 4.85 2008 est. 196 Australia 4.82 2008 est. 197 Netherlands 4.81 2008 est. 198 Luxembourg 4.62 2008 est. 199 Guernsey 4.53 2008 est. 200 Liechtenstein 4.52 2008 est. 201 Belgium 4.50 2008 est. 202 Austria 4.48 2008 est. 203 Denmark 4.40 2008 est. 204 Slovenia 4.30 2008 est. 205 Korea, South 4.29 2008 est. 206 Israel 4.28 2008 est. 207 Spain 4.26 2008 est. 208 Switzerland 4.23 2008 est. 209 Germany 4.03 2008 est. 210 Czech Republic 3.83 2008 est. 211 Malta 3.79 2008 est. 212 Andorra 3.68 2008 est. 213 Norway 3.61 2008 est. 214 Anguilla 3.54 2008 est. 215 Finland 3.50 2008 est. 216 France 3.36 2008 est. 217 Iceland 3.25 2008 est. 218 Macau 3.23 2008 est. 219 Hong Kong 2.93 2008 est. 220 Japan 2.80 2008 est. 221 Sweden 2.75 2008 est. 222 Singapore 2.30 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2092

Rank Country Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) Date of Information

1 Nauru -3.60 1993 2 San Marino -1.50 2006 3 Northern Mariana Islands -0.80 2000 4 Burkina Faso -0.20 2007 est. 5 Japan 0.10 2007 est. 6 Niger 0.10 2007 est. 7 Kiribati 0.20 2007 est. 8 Brunei 0.40 2007 est. 9 Israel 0.50 2007 est. 10 Switzerland 0.70 2007 est. 11 Norway 0.80 2007 est. 12 Central African Republic 0.90 2007 est. 13 Papua New Guinea 0.90 2007 est. 14 Greenland 1.00 2005 est. 15 Liechtenstein 1.00 2001 16 Togo 1.00 2007 est. 17 Cameroon 1.10 2007 est. 18 French Polynesia 1.10 2006 est. 19 Benin 1.30 2007 est. 20 Malta 1.30 2007 est. 21 New Caledonia 1.40 2000 est. 22 Antigua and Barbuda 1.50 2007 est. 23 France 1.50 2007 est. 24 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.60 2007 est. 25 Netherlands 1.60 2007 est. 26 Denmark 1.70 2007 est. 27 Mayotte 1.70 2005 28 Belgium 1.80 2007 est. 29 Taiwan 1.80 2007 est. 30 Peru 1.80 2007 est. 31 Italy 1.80 2007 est. 32 Faroe Islands 1.80 2005 33 European Union 1.80 2006 est. 34 Cote d'Ivoire 1.90 2007 est. 35 Monaco 1.90 2000 36 Saint Lucia 1.90 2007 est. 37 Hong Kong 2.00 2007 est. 38 Kosovo 2.00 2007 est. 39 Morocco 2.00 2007 est. 40 British Virgin Islands 2.00 2005 41 Malaysia 2.00 2007 est. 42 Canada 2.10 2007 est. 43 Cook Islands 2.10 2005 est. 44 Singapore 2.10 2007 est. 45 Netherlands Antilles 2.10 2003 est. 46 Austria 2.20 2007 est. 47 Virgin Islands 2.20 2003 48 Thailand 2.20 2007 est. 49 Micronesia, Federated States of 2.20 2005 50 Sweden 2.20 2007 est. 51 Australia 2.30 2007 est. 52 Luxembourg 2.30 2007 est. 53 Macedonia 2.30 2007 est. 54 Belize 2.30 2007 est. 55 United Kingdom 2.30 2007 est. 56 Germany 2.30 2007 est. 57 Ecuador 2.30 2007 est. 58 Bahamas, The 2.40 2007 est. 59 Portugal 2.40 2007 est. 60 New Zealand 2.40 2007 est. 61 Cyprus 2.40 2007 est. 62 Finland 2.50 2007 est. 63 Korea, South 2.50 2007 est. 64 Poland 2.50 2007 est. 65 Mali 2.50 2007 est. 66 Guam 2.50 2005 est. 67 Montserrat 2.60 2002 est. 68 Congo, Republic of the 2.70 2007 est. 69 Palau 2.70 2005 est. 70 Dominica 2.70 2007 est. 71 Bermuda 2.80 November 2005 72 Slovakia 2.80 2007 est. 73 Philippines 2.80 2007 est. 74 Spain 2.80 2007 est. 75 Wallis and Futuna 2.80 2005 76 Albania 2.90 2007 est. 77 Gibraltar 2.90 2005 78 United States 2.90 2007 est. 79 Greece 2.90 2007 est. 80 Czech Republic 2.90 2007 est. 81 Comoros 3.00 2007 est. 82 Marshall Islands 3.00 2005 est. 83 Cuba 3.10 2007 est. 84 Tunisia 3.10 2007 est. 85 Isle of Man 3.10 December 2006 est. 86 Andorra 3.20 2005 87 Saint Helena 3.20 1997 est. 88 Bahrain 3.30 2007 est. 89 Aruba 3.40 2005 90 Montenegro 3.40 2007 91 Guernsey 3.40 June 2006 92 Algeria 3.50 2007 est. 93 Brazil 3.60 2007 est. 94 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 3.60 1998 95 Gaza Strip 3.60 2006 96 Slovenia 3.60 2007 est. 97 West Bank 3.60 2006 98 Grenada 3.70 2007 est. 99 Jersey 3.70 December 2006 100 Guinea-Bissau 3.80 2007 est. 101 Tuvalu 3.80 2006 est. 102 Vanuatu 3.90 2007 est. 103 Chad 4.00 2007 est. 104 Mexico 4.00 2007 est. 105 Niue 4.00 2005 106 Turks and Caicos Islands 4.00 1995 107 Saudi Arabia 4.10 2007 est. 108 Lebanon 4.20 2007 est. 109 Panama 4.20 2007 est. 110 Armenia 4.40 2007 est. 111 Cape Verde 4.40 2007 est. 112 Cayman Islands 4.40 2004 113 Chile 4.40 2007 est. 114 Croatia 4.50 2007 est. 115 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.50 2007 est. 116 Laos 4.50 2007 est. 117 El Salvador 4.60 2007 est. 118 Iraq 4.70 2007 est. 119 China 4.80 2007 est. 120 Fiji 4.80 2007 121 Romania 4.80 2007 est. 122 Bhutan 4.90 2007 est. 123 Ireland 4.90 2007 est. 124 Djibouti 5.00 2007 est. 125 Gabon 5.00 2007 est. 126 Maldives 5.00 2007 est. 127 Gambia, The 5.10 2007 est. 128 Iceland 5.10 2007 est. 129 Anguilla 5.30 2006 est. 130 Seychelles 5.30 2007 est. 131 Jordan 5.40 2007 est. 132 Nigeria 5.40 2007 est. 133 Barbados 5.50 2007 est. 134 Kuwait 5.50 2007 est. 135 Colombia 5.50 2007 est. 136 Lithuania 5.70 2007 est. 137 Cambodia 5.90 2007 est. 138 Tonga 5.90 2007 est. 139 Senegal 5.90 2007 est. 140 Oman 5.90 2007 est. 141 Equatorial Guinea 6.00 2007 est. 142 Samoa 6.00 2007 est. 143 Dominican Republic 6.10 2007 est. 144 Uganda 6.10 2007 est. 145 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.10 2007 est. 146 Solomon Islands 6.30 2007 est. 147 Indonesia 6.30 2007 est. 148 Libya 6.30 2007 est. 149 India 6.40 2007 est. 150 Suriname 6.40 2007 est. 151 Nepal 6.40 2007 est. 152 Puerto Rico 6.50 2003 est. 153 South Africa 6.50 2007 est. 154 Estonia 6.60 2007 est. 155 Namibia 6.70 2007 est. 156 Guatemala 6.80 2007 est. 157 Serbia 6.80 2007 158 Honduras 6.90 2007 est. 159 Tanzania 7.00 2007 est. 160 Botswana 7.10 2007 est. 161 Macau 7.20 2006 162 Mauritania 7.30 2007 est. 163 Pakistan 7.60 2007 est. 164 Timor-Leste 7.80 2007 est. 165 Malawi 7.90 2007 est. 166 Trinidad and Tobago 7.90 2007 est. 167 Hungary 8.00 2007 est. 168 Sudan 8.00 2007 est. 169 Lesotho 8.00 2007 est. 170 Paraguay 8.10 2007 est. 171 Swaziland 8.10 2007 est. 172 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 8.10 2005 173 Uruguay 8.10 2007 est. 174 Mozambique 8.20 2007 est. 175 Burundi 8.30 2007 est. 176 Vietnam 8.30 2007 est. 177 Belarus 8.40 2007 est. 178 Haiti 8.50 2007 est. 179 Bolivia 8.70 2007 est. 180 Turkey 8.70 2007 est. 181 Argentina 8.80 2007 est. 182 Mauritius 8.80 2007 est. 183 Mongolia 9.00 2007 184 Russia 9.00 2007 est. 185 Bangladesh 9.10 2007 est. 186 Rwanda 9.10 2007 est. 187 Georgia 9.30 2007 est. 188 Costa Rica 9.40 2007 est. 189 Egypt 9.50 2007 est. 190 Jamaica 9.50 2007 est. 191 Kenya 9.70 2007 est. 192 Bulgaria 9.80 2007 est. 193 Yemen 10.00 2007 est. 194 Latvia 10.10 2007 est. 195 Kyrgyzstan 10.20 2007 est. 196 Madagascar 10.30 2007 est. 197 Zambia 10.60 2007 est. 198 Ghana 10.70 2007 est. 199 Kazakhstan 10.80 2007 est. 200 Nicaragua 11.10 2007 est. 201 Liberia 11.20 2007 est. 202 Turkmenistan 11.30 2007 est. 203 Sierra Leone 11.70 2007 est. 204 Uzbekistan 12.00 2007 est. 205 Angola 12.20 2007 est. 206 Syria 12.20 2007 est. 207 Guyana 12.30 2007 est. 208 Moldova 12.30 2007 est. 209 Ukraine 12.80 2007 est. 210 Afghanistan 13.00 2007 est. 211 Tajikistan 13.10 2007 est. 212 Qatar 13.70 2007 est. 213 United Arab Emirates 14.00 2007 est. 214 Sri Lanka 15.80 2007 est. 215 Azerbaijan 16.70 2007 est. 216 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 16.70 2007 est. 217 Eritrea 17.00 2007 est. 218 Iran 17.10 2007 est. 219 Ethiopia 17.20 2007 est. 220 Sao Tome and Principe 18.00 2007 est. 221 Venezuela 18.70 2007 est. 222 Guinea 23.40 2007 est. 223 Burma 35.00 2007 est. 224 Zimbabwe 12,563.00 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2093

Rank Country Waterways(km) Date of Information

1 World 671,886 2004 2 China 124,000 2006 3 Russia 102,000 2006 4 European Union 52,332 2006 5 Brazil 50,000 2007 6 United States 41,009 2007 7 Indonesia 21,579 2007 8 Colombia 18,000 2006 9 Vietnam 17,702 2005 10 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 15,000 2005 11 India 14,500 2006 12 Burma 12,800 2007 13 Argentina 11,000 2006 14 Papua New Guinea 11,000 2006 15 Bolivia 10,000 2007 16 Peru 8,808 2007 17 Nigeria 8,600 2007 18 France 8,500 2006 19 Bangladesh 8,370 2006 20 Finland 7,842 2006 21 Germany 7,467 2006 22 Malaysia 7,200 2005 23 Venezuela 7,100 2005 24 Netherlands 6,211 2006 25 Iraq 5,279 2006 26 Laos 4,600 2007 27 Sudan 4,068 2006 28 Kazakhstan 4,000 2006 29 Thailand 4,000 2005 30 Poland 3,997 2006 31 France 3,760 2006 32 Egypt 3,500 2006 33 Philippines 3,219 2007 34 United Kingdom 3,200 2003 35 Paraguay 3,100 2007 36 Mexico 2,900 2007 37 Central African Republic 2,800 2006 38 Belarus 2,500 2003 39 Cambodia 2,400 2005 40 Italy 2,400 2006 41 Ukraine 2,253 2006 42 Korea, North 2,250 2007 43 Zambia 2,250 2005 44 Nicaragua 2,220 2007 45 Sweden 2,052 2005 46 Belgium 2,043 2006 47 Australia 2,000 2006 48 Mali 1,800 2007 49 Japan 1,770 2007 50 Romania 1,731 2006 51 Hungary 1,622 2007 52 Korea, South 1,608 2007 53 Gabon 1,600 2007 54 Uruguay 1,600 2005 55 Norway 1,577 2007 56 Ecuador 1,500 2006 57 Angola 1,300 2007 58 Turkmenistan 1,300 2006 59 Guinea 1,300 2005 60 Ghana 1,293 2007 61 Afghanistan 1,200 2007 62 Turkey 1,200 2005 63 Suriname 1,200 2005 64 Congo, Republic of the 1,125 2006 65 Uzbekistan 1,100 2006 66 Senegal 1,000 2005 67 Spain 1,000 2003 68 Guatemala 990 2007 69 Cote d'Ivoire 980 2006 70 Ireland 956 2007 71 Syria 900 2005 72 Iran 850 2006 73 Belize 825 2007 74 Panama 800 2007 75 Sierra Leone 800 2005 76 Croatia 785 2007 77 Costa Rica 730 2007 78 Malawi 700 2007 79 Czech Republic 664 2006 80 Canada 636 2007 81 Kyrgyzstan 600 2007 82 Madagascar 600 2006 83 Serbia 587 2005 84 Mongolia 580 2004 85 Bulgaria 470 2007 86 Honduras 465 2007 87 Mozambique 460 2007 88 Lithuania 441 2006 89 Moldova 424 2007 90 Denmark 400 2007 91 Gambia, The 390 2006 92 Austria 358 2007 93 Estonia 320 2006 94 Latvia 300 2006 95 Niger 300 2005 96 Cuba 240 2007 97 Portugal 210 2006 98 Brunei 209 2007 99 Fiji 203 2006 100 Tajikistan 200 2006 101 Slovakia 172 2005 102 Sri Lanka 160 2006 103 Benin 150 2005 104 Switzerland 65 2003 105 Togo 50 2005 106 Albania 43 2007 107 Luxembourg 37 2007 108 Liechtenstein 28 2006 109 Greece 6 2007 110 Kiribati 5 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2095

Rank Country Labor force Date of Information

1 World 3,131,000,000 2007 est. 2 China 800,700,000 2007 est. 3 India 516,400,000 2007 est. 4 European Union 222,700,000 2006 est. 5 United States 153,100,000 2007 est. 6 Indonesia 109,900,000 2007 est. 7 Brazil 99,230,000 2007 est. 8 Russia 75,100,000 2007 est. 9 Bangladesh 69,400,000 2007 est. 10 Japan 66,690,000 2007 est. 11 Nigeria 50,130,000 2007 est. 12 Pakistan 48,230,000 2007 est. 13 Vietnam 46,420,000 2007 est. 14 Mexico 44,710,000 2007 est. 15 Germany 43,540,000 2007 est. 16 Thailand 36,900,000 2007 est. 17 Philippines 36,220,000 2007 est. 18 United Kingdom 30,890,000 2007 est. 19 Burma 29,260,000 2007 est. 20 Iran 28,700,000 2006 est. 21 France 27,910,000 2007 est. 22 Ethiopia 27,270,000 1999 23 Italy 24,740,000 2007 est. 24 Korea, South 24,220,000 2007 est. 25 Turkey 23,530,000 2007 est. 26 Spain 22,190,000 2007 est. 27 Egypt 22,100,000 2007 est. 28 Ukraine 21,580,000 2007 est. 29 Colombia 20,500,000 2007 est. 30 South Africa 20,490,000 2007 est. 31 Tanzania 20,040,000 2007 est. 32 Korea, North 20,000,000 2004 est. 33 Canada 17,950,000 2007 est. 34 Poland 16,860,000 2007 est. 35 Argentina 16,030,000 2007 est. 36 Afghanistan 15,000,000 2004 est. 37 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 15,000,000 2006 est. 38 Uzbekistan 14,600,000 2007 est. 39 Uganda 14,020,000 2007 est. 40 Venezuela 12,370,000 2007 est. 41 Kenya 11,850,000 2005 est. 42 Morocco 11,390,000 2007 est. 43 Ghana 11,290,000 2007 est. 44 Nepal 11,110,000 2006 est. 45 Australia 10,950,000 2007 est. 46 Malaysia 10,940,000 2007 est. 47 Taiwan 10,710,000 2007 est. 48 Peru 9,839,000 2007 est. 49 Mozambique 9,600,000 2007 est. 50 Algeria 9,380,000 2007 est. 51 Romania 9,300,000 2007 est. 52 Kazakhstan 8,229,000 2007 est. 53 Netherlands 7,604,000 2007 est. 54 Sri Lanka 7,489,000 2007 est. 55 Sudan 7,415,000 1996 est. 56 Iraq 7,400,000 2004 est. 57 Madagascar 7,300,000 2000 58 Chile 7,167,000 2007 est. 59 Angola 7,148,000 2007 est. 60 Cambodia 7,000,000 2003 est. 61 Cote d'Ivoire 6,907,000 2007 est. 62 Cameroon 6,674,000 2007 est. 63 Saudi Arabia 6,563,000 2007 est. 64 Yemen 6,305,000 2007 est. 65 Portugal 5,618,000 2007 est. 66 Syria 5,462,000 2007 est. 67 Mali 5,400,000 2007 est. 68 Benin 5,380,000 2007 est. 69 Czech Republic 5,360,000 2007 est. 70 Azerbaijan 5,243,000 2007 est. 71 Burkina Faso 5,000,000 2003 72 Zambia 4,989,000 2007 est. 73 Cuba 4,956,000 2007 est. 74 Belgium 4,940,000 2007 est. 75 Greece 4,920,000 2007 est. 76 Senegal 4,850,000 2007 est. 77 Sweden 4,839,000 2007 est. 78 Rwanda 4,600,000 2000 79 Ecuador 4,510,000 2007 est. 80 Malawi 4,500,000 2001 est. 81 Bolivia 4,377,000 2007 est. 82 Belarus 4,300,000 31 December 2005 83 Hungary 4,190,000 2007 est. 84 Zimbabwe 4,032,000 2007 est. 85 Dominican Republic 4,027,000 2007 est. 86 Guatemala 3,958,000 2007 est. 87 Switzerland 3,954,000 2007 est. 88 Chad 3,747,000 2006 89 Guinea 3,700,000 2006 est. 90 Somalia 3,700,000 1975 91 Hong Kong 3,640,000 2007 est. 92 Haiti 3,600,000 1995 93 Tunisia 3,593,000 2007 est. 94 Austria 3,566,000 2007 est. 95 Papua New Guinea 3,557,000 2007 est. 96 United Arab Emirates 3,065,000 2007 est. 97 Burundi 2,990,000 2002 98 Serbia 2,961,000 2002 est. 99 El Salvador 2,913,000 2007 est. 100 Israel 2,894,000 2007 est. 101 Denmark 2,860,000 2007 est. 102 Paraguay 2,787,000 2007 est. 103 Honduras 2,779,000 2007 est. 104 Singapore 2,751,000 2007 est. 105 Kyrgyzstan 2,700,000 2000 106 Finland 2,675,000 2007 est. 107 Slovakia 2,654,000 2007 est. 108 Bulgaria 2,593,000 2007 est. 109 Norway 2,507,000 2007 est. 110 Nicaragua 2,262,000 2007 est. 111 New Zealand 2,236,000 2007 est. 112 Ireland 2,217,000 2007 est. 113 Laos 2,100,000 2006 est. 114 Tajikistan 2,100,000 2007 115 Kuwait 2,093,000 2007 est. 116 Turkmenistan 2,089,000 2004 est. 117 Georgia 2,020,000 2007 est. 118 Costa Rica 1,920,000 2007 est. 119 Central African Republic 1,857,000 2006 120 Libya 1,830,000 2007 est. 121 Croatia 1,749,000 2007 est. 122 Uruguay 1,631,000 2007 est. 123 Lithuania 1,603,000 2007 est. 124 Jordan 1,563,000 2007 est. 125 Lebanon 1,500,000 2005 est. 126 Sierra Leone 1,369,000 1981 est. 127 Panama 1,362,000 2007 est. 128 Moldova 1,333,000 2007 est. 129 Togo 1,302,000 1998 130 Puerto Rico 1,300,000 2000 131 Jamaica 1,255,000 2007 est. 132 Armenia 1,200,000 2007 est. 133 Latvia 1,167,000 2007 est. 134 Albania 1,090,000 September 2006 est. 135 Mongolia 1,042,000 2006 136 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1,026,000 2001 137 Slovenia 925,000 2007 est. 138 Oman 920,000 2002 est. 139 Macedonia 890,000 2007 est. 140 Qatar 881,000 2007 est. 141 Lesotho 838,000 2000 est. 142 Kosovo 832,000 June 2007 est. 143 Mauritania 786,000 2001 144 Estonia 687,000 2007 est. 145 Namibia 660,000 2007 est. 146 Trinidad and Tobago 622,000 2007 est. 147 West Bank 605,000 2006 148 Gabon 582,000 2007 est. 149 Mauritius 574,000 2007 est. 150 Guinea-Bissau 480,000 1999 151 Bahrain 437,000 2007 est. 152 Guyana 418,000 2001 est. 153 Gambia, The 400,000 1996 154 Cyprus 393,000 2007 est. 155 Swaziland 300,000 2006 156 Botswana 288,400 2004 157 Djibouti 282,000 2000 158 Macau 275,000 2006 159 Gaza Strip 267,000 2006 160 Montenegro 259,100 2004 161 Solomon Islands 249,200 1999 162 Luxembourg 205,000 2007 est. 163 Bahamas, The 181,900 2006 164 Iceland 181,000 2007 est. 165 Brunei 180,400 2006 est. 166 Malta 166,000 2007 est. 167 Suriname 156,700 2004 168 Comoros 144,500 1996 est. 169 Barbados 128,500 2001 est. 170 Cape Verde 120,600 1990 171 Fiji 117,500 2006 est. 172 Belize 113,000 2006 est. 173 Maldives 101,300 2004 174 Samoa 90,000 2000 est. 175 Netherlands Antilles 83,600 2005 176 New Caledonia 78,990 2004 177 Vanuatu 76,410 1999 178 Niger 70,000 1995 179 French Polynesia 65,930 December 2005 180 Guam 62,050 2002 est. 181 Jersey 53,560 June 2006 182 Mayotte 44,560 2002 183 Northern Mariana Islands 44,470 2000 184 Monaco 44,000 2005 est. 185 Virgin Islands 43,980 2004 est. 186 Saint Lucia 43,800 2001 est. 187 Andorra 42,420 2005 188 Grenada 42,300 1996 189 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 41,680 1991 est. 190 Aruba 41,500 2004 est. 191 Isle of Man 39,690 2001 192 Seychelles 39,560 2006 193 Bermuda 38,360 2004 194 Micronesia, Federated States of 37,410 2000 195 Sao Tome and Principe 35,050 1991 196 Tonga 33,910 2003 197 Greenland 32,120 2004 198 Guernsey 31,470 March 2006 199 Antigua and Barbuda 30,000 1991 200 Liechtenstein 29,500 31 December 2001 201 Dominica 25,000 2000 est. 202 Faroe Islands 24,250 October 2000 203 Cayman Islands 23,450 2004 204 San Marino 20,470 2004 205 Saint Kitts and Nevis 18,170 June 1995 206 American Samoa 17,630 2005 207 Marshall Islands 14,680 2000 208 British Virgin Islands 12,770 2004 209 Gibraltar 12,690 2001 210 Western Sahara 12,000 2005 est. 211 Palau 9,777 2005 212 Kiribati 7,870 2001 est. 213 Cook Islands 6,820 2001 214 Anguilla 6,049 2001 215 Turks and Caicos Islands 4,848 1990 est. 216 Montserrat 4,521 2000 est. 217 Tuvalu 3,615 2004 est. 218 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 3,450 2005 219 Wallis and Futuna 3,104 2003 220 Saint Helena 2,486 1998 est. 221 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 1,724 1996 222 Niue 663 2001 223 Tokelau 440 2001 224 Pitcairn Islands 15 2004

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2102

Rank Country Life expectancy at birth(years) Date of Information

1 Macau 84.33 2008 est. 2 Andorra 82.67 2008 est. 3 Japan 82.07 2008 est. 4 Singapore 81.89 2008 est. 5 San Marino 81.88 2008 est. 6 Hong Kong 81.77 2008 est. 7 Australia 81.53 2008 est. 8 Canada 81.16 2008 est. 9 France 80.87 2008 est. 10 Sweden 80.74 2008 est. 11 Switzerland 80.74 2008 est. 12 Guernsey 80.65 2008 est. 13 Israel 80.61 2008 est. 14 Iceland 80.55 2008 est. 15 Anguilla 80.53 2008 est. 16 Cayman Islands 80.32 2008 est. 17 New Zealand 80.24 2008 est. 18 Italy 80.07 2008 est. 19 Gibraltar 80.06 2008 est. 20 Monaco 79.96 2008 est. 21 Liechtenstein 79.95 2008 est. 22 Spain 79.92 2008 est. 23 Norway 79.81 2008 est. 24 Jersey 79.65 2008 est. 25 Greece 79.52 2008 est. 26 Austria 79.36 2008 est. 27 Malta 79.30 2008 est. 28 Faroe Islands 79.29 2008 est. 29 Netherlands 79.25 2008 est. 30 Luxembourg 79.18 2008 est. 31 Germany 79.10 2008 est. 32 Belgium 79.07 2008 est. 33 Guam 78.93 2008 est. 34 Virgin Islands 78.92 2008 est. 35 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 78.91 2008 est. 36 United Kingdom 78.85 2008 est. 37 Finland 78.82 2008 est. 38 Isle of Man 78.80 2008 est. 39 Jordan 78.71 2008 est. 40 Korea, South 78.64 2008 est. 41 Puerto Rico 78.58 2008 est. 42 Bosnia and Herzegovina 78.33 2008 est. 43 Bermuda 78.30 2008 est. 44 Saint Helena 78.27 2008 est. 45 Cyprus 78.15 2008 est. 46 United States 78.14 2008 est. 47 Denmark 78.13 2008 est. 48 Ireland 78.07 2008 est. 49 Portugal 78.04 2008 est. 50 Albania 77.78 2008 est. 51 Taiwan 77.76 2008 est. 52 Kuwait 77.53 2008 est. 53 Costa Rica 77.40 2008 est. 54 European Union 77.32 2008 est. 55 Cuba 77.27 2008 est. 56 Chile 77.15 2008 est. 57 Libya 77.07 2008 est. 58 British Virgin Islands 77.07 2008 est. 59 Panama 76.88 2008 est. 60 Ecuador 76.81 2008 est. 61 Slovenia 76.73 2008 est. 62 Czech Republic 76.62 2008 est. 63 French Polynesia 76.51 2008 est. 64 Georgia 76.51 2008 est. 65 Northern Mariana Islands 76.50 2008 est. 66 Netherlands Antilles 76.45 2008 est. 67 Argentina 76.36 2008 est. 68 Saint Lucia 76.25 2008 est. 69 Uruguay 76.14 2008 est. 70 Saudi Arabia 76.09 2008 est. 71 United Arab Emirates 75.89 2008 est. 72 Mexico 75.84 2008 est. 73 Paraguay 75.56 2008 est. 74 Tunisia 75.56 2008 est. 75 Brunei 75.52 2008 est. 76 Poland 75.41 2008 est. 77 Dominica 75.33 2008 est. 78 Serbia 75.29 2008 est. 79 Qatar 75.19 2008 est. 80 Turks and Caicos Islands 75.19 2008 est. 81 Slovakia 75.17 2008 est. 82 Croatia 75.13 2008 est. 83 Aruba 75.06 2008 est. 84 Sri Lanka 74.97 2008 est. 85 Bahrain 74.92 2008 est. 86 New Caledonia 74.75 2008 est. 87 Lithuania 74.67 2008 est. 88 Macedonia 74.45 2008 est. 89 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 74.34 2008 est. 90 West Bank 74.29 2008 est. 91 Antigua and Barbuda 74.25 2008 est. 92 Oman 73.91 2008 est. 93 Algeria 73.77 2008 est. 94 Mauritius 73.75 2008 est. 95 Maldives 73.72 2008 est. 96 Jamaica 73.59 2008 est. 97 Suriname 73.48 2008 est. 98 American Samoa 73.47 2008 est. 99 Venezuela 73.45 2008 est. 100 Solomon Islands 73.44 2008 est. 101 Lebanon 73.41 2008 est. 102 Dominican Republic 73.39 2008 est. 103 Barbados 73.21 2008 est. 104 China 73.18 2008 est. 105 Hungary 73.18 2008 est. 106 Gaza Strip 73.16 2008 est. 107 Turkey 73.14 2008 est. 108 Malaysia 73.03 2008 est. 109 Saint Kitts and Nevis 72.94 2008 est. 110 Bulgaria 72.83 2008 est. 111 Thailand 72.83 2008 est. 112 Montserrat 72.60 2008 est. 113 Seychelles 72.60 2008 est. 114 Estonia 72.56 2008 est. 115 Colombia 72.54 2008 est. 116 Armenia 72.40 2008 est. 117 Korea, North 72.20 2008 est. 118 Romania 72.18 2008 est. 119 El Salvador 72.06 2008 est. 120 Latvia 71.88 2008 est. 121 Egypt 71.85 2008 est. 122 Brazil 71.71 2008 est. 123 Uzbekistan 71.69 2008 est. 124 Samoa 71.58 2008 est. 125 Morocco 71.52 2008 est. 126 Cape Verde 71.33 2008 est. 127 Vietnam 71.33 2008 est. 128 Nicaragua 71.21 2008 est. 129 Palau 71.00 2008 est. 130 Marshall Islands 70.90 2008 est. 131 Syria 70.90 2008 est. 132 Iran 70.86 2008 est. 133 Philippines 70.80 2008 est. 134 Micronesia, Federated States of 70.65 2008 est. 135 Moldova 70.50 2008 est. 136 Indonesia 70.46 2008 est. 137 Fiji 70.44 2008 est. 138 Peru 70.44 2008 est. 139 Tonga 70.44 2008 est. 140 Belarus 70.34 2008 est. 141 Guatemala 69.99 2008 est. 142 Iraq 69.62 2008 est. 143 Greenland 69.46 2008 est. 144 Honduras 69.37 2008 est. 145 India 69.25 2008 est. 146 Kyrgyzstan 69.12 2008 est. 147 Tuvalu 68.97 2008 est. 148 Turkmenistan 68.60 2008 est. 149 Belize 68.19 2008 est. 150 Ukraine 68.06 2008 est. 151 Sao Tome and Principe 68.00 2008 est. 152 Kazakhstan 67.55 2008 est. 153 Mongolia 67.32 2008 est. 154 Trinidad and Tobago 67.00 2008 est. 155 Timor-Leste 66.94 2008 est. 156 Bolivia 66.53 2008 est. 157 Guyana 66.43 2008 est. 158 Azerbaijan 66.31 2008 est. 159 World 66.26 2008 est. 160 Papua New Guinea 66.00 2008 est. 161 Russia 65.94 2008 est. 162 Bahamas, The 65.72 2008 est. 163 Grenada 65.60 2008 est. 164 Bhutan 65.53 2008 est. 165 Tajikistan 64.97 2008 est. 166 Pakistan 64.13 2008 est. 167 Nauru 63.81 2008 est. 168 Vanuatu 63.61 2008 est. 169 Bangladesh 63.21 2008 est. 170 Comoros 63.10 2008 est. 171 Burma 62.94 2008 est. 172 Yemen 62.90 2008 est. 173 Kiribati 62.85 2008 est. 174 Mayotte 62.54 2008 est. 175 Madagascar 62.52 2008 est. 176 Cambodia 61.69 2008 est. 177 Eritrea 61.38 2008 est. 178 Equatorial Guinea 61.23 2008 est. 179 Nepal 60.94 2008 est. 180 Ghana 59.49 2008 est. 181 Benin 58.56 2008 est. 182 Togo 58.28 2008 est. 183 Haiti 57.56 2008 est. 184 Senegal 57.08 2008 est. 185 Kenya 56.64 2008 est. 186 Guinea 56.58 2008 est. 187 Laos 56.29 2008 est. 188 Ethiopia 54.99 2008 est. 189 Gambia, The 54.95 2008 est. 190 Cote d'Ivoire 54.64 2008 est. 191 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 53.98 2008 est. 192 Western Sahara 53.92 2008 est. 193 Mauritania 53.91 2008 est. 194 Congo, Republic of the 53.74 2008 est. 195 Gabon 53.52 2008 est. 196 Cameroon 53.30 2008 est. 197 Burkina Faso 52.55 2008 est. 198 Uganda 52.34 2008 est. 199 Burundi 51.71 2008 est. 200 Tanzania 51.45 2008 est. 201 Sudan 50.28 2008 est. 202 Botswana 50.16 2008 est. 203 Mali 49.94 2008 est. 204 Namibia 49.89 2008 est. 205 Rwanda 49.76 2008 est. 206 Somalia 49.25 2008 est. 207 South Africa 48.89 2008 est. 208 Guinea-Bissau 47.52 2008 est. 209 Chad 47.43 2008 est. 210 Nigeria 46.53 2008 est. 211 Niger 44.28 2008 est. 212 Zimbabwe 44.28 2008 est. 213 Central African Republic 44.22 2008 est. 214 Afghanistan 44.21 2008 est. 215 Malawi 43.45 2008 est. 216 Djibouti 43.31 2008 est. 217 Liberia 41.13 2008 est. 218 Mozambique 41.04 2008 est. 219 Sierra Leone 40.93 2008 est. 220 Lesotho 40.17 2008 est. 221 Zambia 38.59 2008 est. 222 Angola 37.92 2008 est. 223 Swaziland 31.99 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2108

Rank Country Merchant marine Date of Information

1 Panama 6,323 2008 2 Liberia 2,204 2008 3 China 1,826 2008 4 Malta 1,438 2008 5 Singapore 1,292 2008 6 Bahamas, The 1,223 2008 7 Antigua and Barbuda 1,146 2008 8 Hong Kong 1,114 2008 9 Russia 1,074 2008 10 Marshall Islands 1,049 2008 11 Indonesia 971 2008 12 Greece 869 2008 13 Cyprus 858 2008 14 Korea, South 812 2008 15 Norway 688 2008 16 Japan 683 2008 17 Cambodia 626 2008 18 Netherlands 622 2008 19 Turkey 612 2008 20 Italy 609 2008 21 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 525 2008 22 United Kingdom 518 2008 23 India 501 2008 24 United States 422 2008 25 Thailand 398 2008 26 Germany 393 2008 27 Philippines 391 2008 28 Vietnam 387 2008 29 Denmark 327 2008 30 Malaysia 306 2008 31 Isle of Man 273 2008 32 Gibraltar 240 2008 33 Belize 216 2008 34 Sweden 195 2008 35 Georgia 191 2008 36 Ukraine 189 2008 37 Sierra Leone 182 2008 38 Canada 175 2008 39 Korea, North 167 2008 40 Saint Kitts and Nevis 159 2008 41 Spain 158 2008 42 Netherlands Antilles 147 2008 43 France 138 2008 44 Bermuda 137 2008 45 Brazil 136 2008 46 Comoros 136 2008 47 Honduras 123 2008 48 Portugal 117 2008 49 Cayman Islands 109 2008 50 Taiwan 102 2008 51 Finland 98 2008 52 Azerbaijan 89 2008 53 Barbados 85 2008 54 Croatia 80 2008 55 Tuvalu 80 2008 56 Belgium 79 2008 57 Mongolia 77 2008 58 Syria 77 2008 59 Bulgaria 74 2008 60 Iran 74 2008 61 Monaco 70 2008 62 Nigeria 68 2008 63 Egypt 67 2008 64 Saudi Arabia 62 2008 65 Venezuela 62 2008 66 United Arab Emirates 58 2008 67 Mexico 55 2008 68 Vanuatu 54 2008 69 Dominica 53 2008 70 Slovakia 51 2008 71 Australia 50 2008 72 Argentina 46 2008 73 Lithuania 45 2008 74 Luxembourg 45 2008 75 Chile 44 2008 76 Kiribati 43 2008 77 Bangladesh 40 2008 78 Moldova 39 2008 79 Kuwait 38 2008 80 Ecuador 37 2008 81 Morocco 35 2008 82 Switzerland 35 2008 83 Algeria 33 2008 84 Lebanon 33 2008 85 Ireland 29 2008 86 Maldives 29 2008 87 Estonia 29 2008 88 Slovenia 29 2008 89 Sri Lanka 26 2008 90 Cook Islands 26 2008 91 Albania 24 2008 92 Burma 24 2008 93 Bolivia 23 2008 94 Paraguay 23 2008 95 Latvia 22 2008 96 Qatar 22 2008 97 Jordan 21 2008 98 Papua New Guinea 21 2008 99 Jamaica 20 2008 100 Colombia 17 2008 101 Libya 17 2008 102 Uruguay 17 2008 103 Romania 17 2008 104 French Polynesia 15 2008 105 Pakistan 15 2008 106 Poland 15 2008 107 Iraq 14 2008 108 New Zealand 13 2008 109 Tonga 13 2008 110 Faroe Islands 12 2008 111 Cuba 11 2008 112 Israel 11 2008 113 Togo 10 2008 114 Bahrain 9 2008 115 Ethiopia 9 2008 116 Fiji 9 2008 117 Tanzania 9 2008 118 Trinidad and Tobago 9 2008 119 Brunei 8 2008 120 Madagascar 8 2008 121 Seychelles 8 2008 122 Wallis and Futuna 8 2008 123 Peru 8 2008 124 Guyana 8 2008 125 Cape Verde 8 2008 126 Tunisia 7 2008 127 Turkmenistan 7 2008 128 Angola 6 2008 129 Montenegro 6 2008 130 Sao Tome and Principe 6 2008 131 Eritrea 5 2008 132 Kazakhstan 5 2008 133 Gambia, The 5 2008 134 Austria 4 2008 135 Yemen 4 2008 136 Ghana 4 2008 137 Micronesia, Federated States of 3 2008 138 South Africa 3 2008 139 Sudan 3 2008 140 Puerto Rico 3 2008 141 Mauritius 3 2008 142 Oman 3 2008 143 Gabon 2 2008 144 Greenland 2 2008 145 Iceland 2 2008 146 New Caledonia 2 2008 147 Mozambique 2 2008 148 Congo, Republic of the 1 2008 149 Dominican Republic 1 2008 150 Czech Republic 1 2008 151 Suriname 1 2008 152 Turks and Caicos Islands 1 2008 153 British Virgin Islands 1 2008 154 Samoa 1 2008 155 Namibia 1 2008 156 Timor-Leste 1 2008 157 Somalia 1 2008 158 Equatorial Guinea 1 2008 159 Laos 1 2008 160 Kenya 1 2008 161 Costa Rica 1 2008 162 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1 2008

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2112

Rank Country Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) Date of Information

1 Macau 26.21 2008 est. 2 United Arab Emirates 24.41 2008 est. 3 Afghanistan 21.00 2008 est. 4 Cayman Islands 16.88 2008 est. 5 Kuwait 16.39 2008 est. 6 Liberia 15.14 2008 est. 7 Anguilla 14.60 2008 est. 8 Andorra 13.99 2008 est. 9 San Marino 10.44 2008 est. 10 Aruba 9.85 2008 est. 11 Turks and Caicos Islands 9.48 2008 est. 12 Luxembourg 8.54 2008 est. 13 British Virgin Islands 8.44 2008 est. 14 Monaco 7.62 2008 est. 15 Northern Mariana Islands 7.04 2008 est. 16 Singapore 6.88 2008 est. 17 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.38 2008 est. 18 Australia 6.34 2008 est. 19 Jordan 5.97 2008 est. 20 Burundi 5.62 2008 est. 21 Canada 5.62 2008 est. 22 Botswana 5.41 2008 est. 23 Isle of Man 5.25 2008 est. 24 South Africa 4.98 2008 est. 25 Ireland 4.76 2008 est. 26 Liechtenstein 4.70 2008 est. 27 Hong Kong 4.55 2008 est. 28 Guernsey 3.80 2008 est. 29 Portugal 3.23 2008 est. 30 United States 2.92 2008 est. 31 French Polynesia 2.77 2008 est. 32 Brunei 2.74 2008 est. 33 Jersey 2.73 2008 est. 34 New Zealand 2.62 2008 est. 35 Netherlands 2.55 2008 est. 36 Israel 2.52 2008 est. 37 Denmark 2.49 2008 est. 38 Antigua and Barbuda 2.41 2008 est. 39 Greece 2.33 2008 est. 40 Rwanda 2.29 2008 est. 41 Bermuda 2.28 2008 est. 42 Mayotte 2.22 2008 est. 43 Switzerland 2.21 2008 est. 44 Germany 2.19 2008 est. 45 United Kingdom 2.17 2008 est. 46 Italy 2.06 2008 est. 47 Malta 2.03 2008 est. 48 Austria 1.88 2008 est. 49 Angola 1.72 2008 est. 50 Norway 1.71 2008 est. 51 Sweden 1.66 2008 est. 52 Croatia 1.58 2008 est. 53 France 1.48 2008 est. 54 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.24 2008 est. 55 European Union 1.23 2008 est. 56 Belgium 1.22 2008 est. 57 Iceland 1.13 2008 est. 58 Spain 0.99 2008 est. 59 Czech Republic 0.97 2008 est. 60 Palau 0.90 2008 est. 61 Hungary 0.86 2008 est. 62 Finland 0.73 2008 est. 63 Sudan 0.67 2008 est. 64 Slovenia 0.64 2008 est. 65 Gambia, The 0.61 2008 est. 66 Costa Rica 0.48 2008 est. 67 Cyprus 0.42 2008 est. 68 Bahrain 0.40 2008 est. 69 Belarus 0.38 2008 est. 70 Namibia 0.35 2008 est. 71 Oman 0.33 2008 est. 72 Slovakia 0.30 2008 est. 73 Russia 0.28 2008 est. 74 Uganda 0.21 2008 est. 75 Taiwan 0.04 2008 est. 76 Argentina 0.00 2008 est. 77 Gibraltar 0.00 2008 est. 78 Benin 0.00 2008 est. 79 Gaza Strip 0.00 2008 est. 80 Kenya 0.00 2008 est. 81 West Bank 0.00 2008 est. 82 Turkey 0.00 2008 est. 83 Somalia 0.00 2008 est. 84 Sierra Leone 0.00 2008 est. 85 Senegal 0.00 2008 est. 86 Guinea-Bissau 0.00 2008 est. 87 India -0.05 2008 est. 88 Paraguay -0.07 2008 est. 89 Brazil -0.09 2008 est. 90 Mauritius -0.09 2008 est. 91 Nigeria -0.10 2008 est. 92 Ukraine -0.12 2008 est. 93 Romania -0.13 2008 est. 94 Uruguay -0.18 2008 est. 95 Egypt -0.21 2008 est. 96 Colombia -0.28 2008 est. 97 Algeria -0.31 2008 est. 98 Barbados -0.31 2008 est. 99 China -0.39 2008 est. 100 Vietnam -0.39 2008 est. 101 Netherlands Antilles -0.39 2008 est. 102 Tunisia -0.44 2008 est. 103 Poland -0.46 2008 est. 104 Pakistan -0.51 2008 est. 105 Suriname -0.52 2008 est. 106 Panama -0.53 2008 est. 107 Ghana -0.55 2008 est. 108 Macedonia -0.57 2008 est. 109 Niger -0.57 2008 est. 110 Haiti -0.61 2008 est. 111 Bangladesh -0.65 2008 est. 112 Lithuania -0.72 2008 est. 113 Morocco -0.77 2008 est. 114 Lesotho -0.78 2008 est. 115 Faroe Islands -0.82 2008 est. 116 Venezuela -0.84 2008 est. 117 Peru -0.97 2008 est. 118 Puerto Rico -1.03 2008 est. 119 Sri Lanka -1.12 2008 est. 120 Moldova -1.13 2008 est. 121 Nicaragua -1.13 2008 est. 122 Bolivia -1.14 2008 est. 123 Indonesia -1.25 2008 est. 124 Tajikistan -1.31 2008 est. 125 Honduras -1.33 2008 est. 126 Philippines -1.36 2008 est. 127 Tanzania -1.48 2008 est. 128 Cuba -1.57 2008 est. 129 Guinea -1.63 2008 est. 130 Azerbaijan -1.97 2008 est. 131 Sao Tome and Principe -1.97 2008 est. 132 Bahamas, The -2.14 2008 est. 133 Guatemala -2.26 2008 est. 134 Qatar -2.28 2008 est. 135 Latvia -2.29 2008 est. 136 Saint Kitts and Nevis -2.31 2008 est. 137 Dominican Republic -2.40 2008 est. 138 Congo, Republic of the -2.52 2008 est. 139 Kyrgyzstan -2.55 2008 est. 140 Fiji -2.62 2008 est. 141 Zambia -2.63 2008 est. 142 Turkmenistan -3.00 2008 est. 143 Uzbekistan -3.04 2008 est. 144 Estonia -3.24 2008 est. 145 Chad -3.27 2008 est. 146 Iran -3.28 2008 est. 147 Kazakhstan -3.31 2008 est. 148 El Salvador -3.40 2008 est. 149 Bulgaria -3.41 2008 est. 150 Gabon -3.62 2008 est. 151 Mexico -3.84 2008 est. 152 Saint Lucia -4.33 2008 est. 153 Georgia -4.36 2008 est. 154 Albania -4.41 2008 est. 155 Armenia -4.95 2008 est. 156 Saint Pierre and Miquelon -4.97 2008 est. 157 Seychelles -5.11 2008 est. 158 Dominica -5.46 2008 est. 159 Marshall Islands -5.52 2008 est. 160 Virgin Islands -5.72 2008 est. 161 Jamaica -5.88 2008 est. 162 Mali -5.97 2008 est. 163 Greenland -5.99 2008 est. 164 Saudi Arabia -6.82 2008 est. 165 American Samoa -7.17 2008 est. 166 Guyana -7.45 2008 est. 167 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -7.56 2008 est. 168 Ecuador -7.98 2008 est. 169 Samoa -9.14 2008 est. 170 Trinidad and Tobago -11.20 2008 est. 171 Grenada -11.23 2008 est. 172 Cape Verde -11.74 2008 est. 173 Micronesia, Federated States of -21.04 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2119

Rank Country Population Date of Information

1 World 6,706,993,152 July 2008 est. 2 China 1,330,044,544 July 2008 est. 3 India 1,147,995,904 July 2008 est. 4 European Union 491,018,683 July 2008 est. 5 United States 303,824,640 July 2008 est. 6 Indonesia 237,512,352 July 2008 est. 7 Brazil 196,342,592 July 2008 est. 8 Pakistan 172,800,048 July 2008 est. 9 Bangladesh 153,546,896 July 2008 est. 10 Nigeria 146,255,312 July 2008 est. 11 Russia 140,702,096 July 2008 est. 12 Japan 127,288,416 July 2008 est. 13 Mexico 109,955,400 July 2008 est. 14 Philippines 96,061,680 July 2008 est. 15 Vietnam 86,116,560 July 2008 est. 16 Ethiopia 82,544,840 July 2008 est. 17 Germany 82,369,552 July 2008 est. 18 Egypt 81,713,520 July 2008 est. 19 Turkey 71,892,808 July 2008 est. 20 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 66,514,504 July 2008 est. 21 Iran 65,875,224 July 2008 est. 22 Thailand 65,493,296 July 2008 est. 23 France 64,057,792 July 2008 est. 24 United Kingdom 60,943,912 July 2008 est. 25 Italy 58,145,320 July 2008 est. 26 South Africa 48,782,756 July 2008 est. 27 Korea, South 48,379,392 July 2008 est. 28 Burma 47,758,180 July 2008 est. 29 Ukraine 45,994,288 July 2008 est. 30 Colombia 45,013,672 July 2008 est. 31 Spain 40,491,052 July 2008 est. 32 Argentina 40,482,000 July 2008 est. 33 Sudan 40,218,456 July 2008 est. 34 Tanzania 40,213,160 July 2008 est. 35 Poland 38,500,696 July 2008 est. 36 Kenya 37,953,840 July 2008 est. 37 Morocco 34,343,220 July 2008 est. 38 Algeria 33,769,668 July 2008 est. 39 Canada 33,212,696 July 2008 est. 40 Afghanistan 32,738,376 July 2008 est. 41 Uganda 31,367,972 July 2008 est. 42 Nepal 29,519,114 July 2008 est. 43 Peru 29,180,900 July 2008 est. 44 Iraq 28,221,180 July 2008 est. 45 Saudi Arabia 28,146,656 July 2008 est. 46 Uzbekistan 27,345,026 July 2008 est. 47 Venezuela 26,414,816 July 2008 est. 48 Malaysia 25,274,132 July 2008 est. 49 Korea, North 23,479,088 July 2008 est. 50 Ghana 23,382,848 July 2008 est. 51 Yemen 23,013,376 July 2008 est. 52 Taiwan 22,920,946 July 2008 est. 53 Romania 22,246,862 July 2008 est. 54 Mozambique 21,284,700 July 2008 est. 55 Sri Lanka 21,128,772 July 2008 est. 56 Australia 21,007,310 July 2008 est. 57 Cote d'Ivoire 20,179,602 July 2008 est. 58 Madagascar 20,042,552 July 2008 est. 59 Syria 19,747,586 July 2008 est. 60 Cameroon 18,467,692 July 2008 est. 61 Netherlands 16,645,313 July 2008 est. 62 Chile 16,454,143 July 2008 est. 63 Kazakhstan 15,340,533 July 2008 est. 64 Burkina Faso 15,264,735 July 2008 est. 65 Cambodia 14,241,640 July 2008 est. 66 Malawi 13,931,831 July 2008 est. 67 Ecuador 13,927,650 July 2008 est. 68 Niger 13,272,679 July 2008 est. 69 Guatemala 13,002,206 July 2008 est. 70 Senegal 12,853,259 July 2008 est. 71 Angola 12,531,357 July 2008 est. 72 Mali 12,324,029 July 2008 est. 73 Zambia 11,669,534 July 2008 est. 74 Cuba 11,423,952 July 2008 est. 75 Zimbabwe 11,350,111 July 2008 est. 76 Greece 10,722,816 July 2008 est. 77 Portugal 10,676,910 July 2008 est. 78 Belgium 10,403,951 July 2008 est. 79 Tunisia 10,383,577 July 2008 est. 80 Czech Republic 10,220,911 July 2008 est. 81 Rwanda 10,186,063 July 2008 est. 82 Serbia 10,159,046 July 2008 est. 83 Chad 10,111,337 July 2008 est. 84 Hungary 9,930,915 July 2008 est. 85 Guinea 9,806,509 July 2008 est. 86 Belarus 9,685,768 July 2008 est. 87 Somalia 9,558,666 July 2008 est. 88 Dominican Republic 9,507,133 July 2008 est. 89 Bolivia 9,247,816 July 2008 est. 90 Sweden 9,045,389 July 2008 est. 91 Haiti 8,924,553 July 2008 est. 92 Burundi 8,691,005 July 2008 est. 93 Benin 8,532,547 July 2008 est. 94 Austria 8,205,533 July 2008 est. 95 Azerbaijan 8,177,717 July 2008 est. 96 Honduras 7,639,327 July 2008 est. 97 Switzerland 7,581,520 July 2008 est. 98 Bulgaria 7,262,675 July 2008 est. 99 Tajikistan 7,211,884 July 2008 est. 100 Israel 7,112,359 July 2008 est. 101 El Salvador 7,066,403 July 2008 est. 102 Hong Kong 7,018,636 July 2008 est. 103 Paraguay 6,831,306 July 2008 est. 104 Laos 6,677,534 July 2008 est. 105 Sierra Leone 6,294,774 July 2008 est. 106 Jordan 6,198,677 July 2008 est. 107 Libya 6,173,579 July 2008 est. 108 Papua New Guinea 5,931,769 July 2008 est. 109 Togo 5,858,673 July 2008 est. 110 Nicaragua 5,785,846 July 2008 est. 111 Eritrea 5,502,026 July 2008 est. 112 Denmark 5,484,723 July 2008 est. 113 Slovakia 5,455,407 July 2008 est. 114 Kyrgyzstan 5,356,869 July 2008 est. 115 Finland 5,244,749 July 2008 est. 116 Turkmenistan 5,179,571 July 2008 est. 117 Norway 4,644,457 July 2008 est. 118 Georgia 4,630,841 July 2008 est. 119 United Arab Emirates 4,621,399 July 2008 est. 120 Singapore 4,608,167 July 2008 est. 121 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4,590,310 July 2008 est. 122 Croatia 4,491,543 July 2008 est. 123 Central African Republic 4,444,330 July 2008 est. 124 Moldova 4,324,450 July 2008 est. 125 Costa Rica 4,195,914 July 2008 est. 126 New Zealand 4,173,460 July 2008 est. 127 Ireland 4,156,119 July 2008 est. 128 Lebanon 3,971,941 July 2008 est. 129 Puerto Rico 3,958,128 July 2008 est. 130 Congo, Republic of the 3,903,318 July 2008 est. 131 Albania 3,619,778 July 2008 est. 132 Lithuania 3,565,205 July 2008 est. 133 Uruguay 3,477,778 July 2008 est. 134 Mauritania 3,364,940 July 2008 est. 135 Liberia 3,334,587 July 2008 est. 136 Oman 3,311,640 July 2008 est. 137 Panama 3,309,679 July 2008 est. 138 Mongolia 2,996,081 July 2008 est. 139 Armenia 2,968,586 July 2008 est. 140 Jamaica 2,804,332 July 2008 est. 141 Kuwait 2,596,799 July 2008 est. 142 West Bank 2,407,681 July 2008 est. 143 Latvia 2,245,423 July 2008 est. 144 Lesotho 2,128,180 July 2008 est. 145 Kosovo 2,126,708 2007 est. 146 Namibia 2,088,669 July 2008 est. 147 Macedonia 2,061,315 July 2008 est. 148 Slovenia 2,007,711 July 2008 est. 149 Botswana 1,842,323 July 2008 est. 150 Gambia, The 1,735,464 July 2008 est. 151 Guinea-Bissau 1,503,182 July 2008 est. 152 Gaza Strip 1,500,202 July 2008 est. 153 Gabon 1,485,832 July 2008 est. 154 Estonia 1,307,605 July 2008 est. 155 Mauritius 1,274,189 July 2008 est. 156 Swaziland 1,128,814 July 2008 est. 157 Timor-Leste 1,108,777 July 2008 est. 158 Trinidad and Tobago 1,047,366 July 2008 est. 159 Fiji 931,741 July 2008 est. 160 Qatar 824,789 July 2008 est. 161 Cyprus 792,604 July 2008 est. 162 Guyana 770,794 July 2008 est. 163 Comoros 731,775 July 2008 est. 164 Bahrain 718,306 July 2008 est. 165 Bhutan 682,321 July 2008 est. 166 Montenegro 678,177 July 2008 est. 167 Equatorial Guinea 616,459 July 2008 est. 168 Solomon Islands 581,318 July 2008 est. 169 Macau 545,674 July 2008 est. 170 Djibouti 506,221 July 2008 est. 171 Luxembourg 486,006 July 2008 est. 172 Suriname 475,996 July 2008 est. 173 Cape Verde 426,998 July 2008 est. 174 Malta 403,532 July 2008 est. 175 Western Sahara 393,831 July 2008 est. 176 Maldives 385,925 July 2008 est. 177 Brunei 381,371 July 2008 est. 178 Bahamas, The 307,451 July 2008 est. 179 Iceland 304,367 July 2008 est. 180 Belize 301,270 July 2008 est. 181 French Polynesia 283,019 July 2008 est. 182 Barbados 281,968 July 2008 est. 183 Netherlands Antilles 225,369 July 2008 est. 184 New Caledonia 224,824 July 2008 est. 185 Samoa 217,083 July 2008 est. 186 Mayotte 216,306 July 2008 est. 187 Vanuatu 215,446 July 2008 est. 188 Sao Tome and Principe 206,178 July 2008 est. 189 Guam 175,877 July 2008 est. 190 Saint Lucia 159,585 July 2008 est. 191 Tonga 119,009 July 2008 est. 192 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 118,432 July 2008 est. 193 Kiribati 110,356 July 2008 est. 194 Virgin Islands 109,840 July 2008 est. 195 Micronesia, Federated States of 107,665 July 2008 est. 196 Aruba 101,541 July 2008 est. 197 Jersey 91,533 July 2008 est. 198 Grenada 90,343 July 2008 est. 199 Northern Mariana Islands 86,616 July 2008 est. 200 Antigua and Barbuda 84,522 July 2008 est. 201 Andorra 82,627 July 2008 est. 202 Seychelles 82,247 July 2008 est. 203 Isle of Man 76,220 July 2008 est. 204 Dominica 72,514 July 2008 est. 205 Bermuda 66,536 July 2008 est. 206 Guernsey 65,726 July 2008 est. 207 American Samoa 64,827 July 2008 est. 208 Marshall Islands 63,174 July 2008 est. 209 Greenland 57,564 July 2008 est. 210 Faroe Islands 48,668 July 2008 est. 211 Cayman Islands 47,862 July 2008 est. 212 Saint Kitts and Nevis 39,817 July 2008 est. 213 Liechtenstein 34,498 July 2008 est. 214 Monaco 32,796 July 2008 est. 215 San Marino 29,973 July 2008 est. 216 Saint Martin 29,376 July 2008 est. 217 Gibraltar 28,002 July 2008 est. 218 British Virgin Islands 24,041 July 2008 est. 219 Turks and Caicos Islands 22,352 July 2008 est. 220 Palau 21,093 July 2008 est. 221 Akrotiri 15,700 222 Dhekelia 15,700 223 Wallis and Futuna 15,237 July 2008 est. 224 Anguilla 14,108 July 2008 est. 225 Nauru 13,770 July 2008 est. 226 Cook Islands 12,271 July 2008 est. 227 Tuvalu 12,177 July 2008 est. 228 Saint Helena 7,601 July 2008 est. 229 Saint Barthelemy 7,492 July 2008 est. 230 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 7,044 July 2008 est. 231 Montserrat 5,079 July 2008 est. 232 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 3,140 July 2008 est. 233 Svalbard 2,165 July 2008 est. 234 Norfolk Island 2,128 July 2008 est. 235 Niue 1,444 July 2008 est. 236 Tokelau 1,433 July 2008 est. 237 Christmas Island 1,402 July 2007 est. 238 Holy See (Vatican City) 824 July 2008 est. 239 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 596 July 2007 est. 240 Pitcairn Islands 48 July 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2121

Rank Country Railways(km) Date of Information

1 World 1,370,782 2006 2 European Union 236,436 2007 3 United States 226,612 2005 4 Russia 87,157 2006 5 China 75,438 2005 6 India 63,221 2006 7 Germany 48,215 2006 8 Canada 48,068 2006 9 Australia 38,550 2006 10 Argentina 31,902 2006 11 France 29,370 2006 12 Brazil 29,295 2006 13 Japan 23,474 2006 14 Poland 23,072 2006 15 Ukraine 22,473 2006 16 South Africa 20,872 2006 17 Italy 19,460 2006 18 Mexico 17,665 2006 19 United Kingdom 16,567 2006 20 Spain 14,974 2006 21 Kazakhstan 13,700 2006 22 Sweden 11,528 2006 23 Romania 11,385 2006 24 Czech Republic 9,597 2006 25 Turkey 8,697 2006 26 Iran 8,367 2006 27 Pakistan 8,163 2006 28 Hungary 8,057 2006 29 Chile 6,585 2006 30 Indonesia 6,458 2006 31 Austria 6,383 2006 32 Sudan 5,978 2006 33 Finland 5,741 2006 34 Belarus 5,512 2006 35 Korea, North 5,235 2006 36 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5,138 2006 37 Egypt 5,063 2006 38 Switzerland 4,839 2006 39 Bulgaria 4,294 2006 40 Cuba 4,226 2006 41 New Zealand 4,128 2006 42 Norway 4,114 2008 43 Thailand 4,071 2006 44 Algeria 3,973 2006 45 Burma 3,955 2006 46 Uzbekistan 3,950 2006 47 Tanzania 3,690 2006 48 Slovakia 3,662 2006 49 Belgium 3,536 2006 50 Nigeria 3,505 2006 51 Bolivia 3,504 2006 52 Korea, South 3,472 2006 53 Serbia 3,379 2006 54 Colombia 3,304 2006 55 Ireland 3,237 2006 56 Mozambique 3,123 2006 57 Zimbabwe 3,077 2006 58 Netherlands 2,797 2006 59 Portugal 2,786 2006 60 Kenya 2,778 2006 61 Bangladesh 2,768 2006 62 Angola 2,761 2006 63 Croatia 2,726 2006 64 Syria 2,711 2006 65 Denmark 2,644 2007 66 Vietnam 2,600 2006 67 Greece 2,571 2006 68 Turkmenistan 2,440 2006 69 Namibia 2,382 2006 70 Latvia 2,303 2006 71 Iraq 2,272 2006 72 Zambia 2,157 2006 73 Tunisia 2,153 2006 74 Azerbaijan 2,122 2006 75 Uruguay 2,073 2006 76 Peru 1,989 2006 77 Morocco 1,907 2006 78 Malaysia 1,890 2006 79 Mongolia 1,810 2006 80 Lithuania 1,771 2006 81 Georgia 1,612 2006 82 Taiwan 1,588 2007 83 Sri Lanka 1,449 2006 84 Saudi Arabia 1,392 2006 85 Uganda 1,244 2006 86 Slovenia 1,229 2006 87 Moldova 1,138 2006 88 Cameroon 987 2006 89 Estonia 968 2006 90 Ecuador 966 2006 91 Ghana 953 2006 92 Senegal 906 2006 93 Philippines 897 2006 94 Congo, Republic of the 894 2006 95 Botswana 888 2006 96 Guatemala 886 2006 97 Madagascar 854 2006 98 Israel 853 2006 99 Armenia 839 2006 100 Guinea 837 2006 101 Gabon 814 2006 102 Malawi 797 2006 103 Benin 758 2006 104 Mali 729 2006 105 Ethiopia 699 2006 106 Macedonia 699 2006 107 Honduras 699 2006 108 Venezuela 682 2006 109 Cote d'Ivoire 660 2006 110 Burkina Faso 622 2006 111 Bosnia and Herzegovina 608 2006 112 Cambodia 602 2006 113 Fiji 597 2006 114 Togo 568 2006 115 El Salvador 562 2007 116 Dominican Republic 517 2006 117 Jordan 505 2006 118 Liberia 490 2008 119 Tajikistan 482 2006 120 Kyrgyzstan 470 2006 121 Albania 447 2006 122 Kosovo 430 2005 123 Lebanon 401 2006 124 Panama 355 2006 125 Eritrea 306 2006 126 Swaziland 301 2006 127 Costa Rica 278 2007 128 Luxembourg 275 2006 129 Montenegro 250 2006 130 Djibouti 100 2006 131 Puerto Rico 96 2006 132 Isle of Man 65 2006 133 Nepal 59 2006 134 Saint Kitts and Nevis 50 2006 135 Paraguay 36 2006 136 Nicaragua 6 2006

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2127

Rank Country Total fertility rate(children born/woman) Date of Information

1 Mali 7.34 2008 est. 2 Niger 7.29 2008 est. 3 Uganda 6.81 2008 est. 4 Somalia 6.60 2008 est. 5 Afghanistan 6.58 2008 est. 6 Yemen 6.41 2008 est. 7 Burundi 6.40 2008 est. 8 Burkina Faso 6.34 2008 est. 9 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.28 2008 est. 10 Angola 6.20 2008 est. 11 Ethiopia 6.17 2008 est. 12 Sierra Leone 5.95 2008 est. 13 Congo, Republic of the 5.92 2008 est. 14 Liberia 5.87 2008 est. 15 Mauritania 5.69 2008 est. 16 Western Sahara 5.69 2008 est. 17 Malawi 5.67 2008 est. 18 Oman 5.62 2008 est. 19 Mayotte 5.60 2008 est. 20 Benin 5.58 2008 est. 21 Chad 5.43 2008 est. 22 Sao Tome and Principe 5.43 2008 est. 23 Rwanda 5.31 2008 est. 24 Guinea 5.25 2008 est. 25 Mozambique 5.24 2008 est. 26 Zambia 5.23 2008 est. 27 Gaza Strip 5.19 2008 est. 28 Madagascar 5.19 2008 est. 29 Equatorial Guinea 5.16 2008 est. 30 Djibouti 5.14 2008 est. 31 Gambia, The 5.13 2008 est. 32 Nigeria 5.01 2008 est. 33 Comoros 4.90 2008 est. 34 Senegal 4.86 2008 est. 35 Togo 4.85 2008 est. 36 Eritrea 4.84 2008 est. 37 Haiti 4.79 2008 est. 38 Guinea-Bissau 4.72 2008 est. 39 Kenya 4.70 2008 est. 40 Gabon 4.68 2008 est. 41 Tanzania 4.62 2008 est. 42 Sudan 4.58 2008 est. 43 Laos 4.50 2008 est. 44 Cameroon 4.41 2008 est. 45 Central African Republic 4.23 2008 est. 46 Cote d'Ivoire 4.23 2008 est. 47 Samoa 4.18 2008 est. 48 Kiribati 4.08 2008 est. 49 Iraq 3.97 2008 est. 50 Nepal 3.91 2008 est. 51 Saudi Arabia 3.89 2008 est. 52 Paraguay 3.80 2008 est. 53 Ghana 3.78 2008 est. 54 Pakistan 3.73 2008 est. 55 Zimbabwe 3.72 2008 est. 56 Papua New Guinea 3.71 2008 est. 57 Marshall Islands 3.68 2008 est. 58 Solomon Islands 3.65 2008 est. 59 Guatemala 3.59 2008 est. 60 Belize 3.44 2008 est. 61 Honduras 3.38 2008 est. 62 Timor-Leste 3.36 2008 est. 63 American Samoa 3.35 2008 est. 64 Swaziland 3.34 2008 est. 65 Philippines 3.32 2008 est. 66 West Bank 3.31 2008 est. 67 Syria 3.21 2008 est. 68 Cape Verde 3.17 2008 est. 69 Libya 3.15 2008 est. 70 Lesotho 3.13 2008 est. 71 Bangladesh 3.08 2008 est. 72 Cambodia 3.08 2008 est. 73 Turkmenistan 3.07 2008 est. 74 El Salvador 3.04 2008 est. 75 Tajikistan 3.04 2008 est. 76 Micronesia, Federated States of 2.98 2008 est. 77 Malaysia 2.98 2008 est. 78 Turks and Caicos Islands 2.98 2008 est. 79 Nauru 2.94 2008 est. 80 Tuvalu 2.94 2008 est. 81 Kuwait 2.81 2008 est. 82 Namibia 2.81 2008 est. 83 Dominican Republic 2.78 2008 est. 84 Israel 2.77 2008 est. 85 India 2.76 2008 est. 86 Egypt 2.72 2008 est. 87 Fiji 2.68 2008 est. 88 Bolivia 2.67 2008 est. 89 Kyrgyzstan 2.67 2008 est. 90 Botswana 2.66 2008 est. 91 Nicaragua 2.63 2008 est. 92 World 2.61 2008 est. 93 Ecuador 2.59 2008 est. 94 Morocco 2.57 2008 est. 95 Vanuatu 2.57 2008 est. 96 Panama 2.57 2008 est. 97 Guam 2.55 2008 est. 98 Bahrain 2.53 2008 est. 99 Venezuela 2.52 2008 est. 100 Tonga 2.50 2008 est. 101 Colombia 2.49 2008 est. 102 Bhutan 2.48 2008 est. 103 Jordan 2.47 2008 est. 104 Qatar 2.47 2008 est. 105 Faroe Islands 2.45 2008 est. 106 Palau 2.45 2008 est. 107 United Arab Emirates 2.43 2008 est. 108 South Africa 2.43 2008 est. 109 Peru 2.42 2008 est. 110 Argentina 2.37 2008 est. 111 Mexico 2.37 2008 est. 112 Indonesia 2.34 2008 est. 113 Jamaica 2.30 2008 est. 114 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.28 2008 est. 115 Grenada 2.27 2008 est. 116 Mongolia 2.24 2008 est. 117 Brazil 2.22 2008 est. 118 Greenland 2.22 2008 est. 119 New Caledonia 2.21 2008 est. 120 Costa Rica 2.17 2008 est. 121 Bahamas, The 2.13 2008 est. 122 New Zealand 2.11 2008 est. 123 Dominica 2.10 2008 est. 124 United States 2.10 2008 est. 125 Antigua and Barbuda 2.08 2008 est. 126 Azerbaijan 2.05 2008 est. 127 Guyana 2.03 2008 est. 128 Albania 2.02 2008 est. 129 Sri Lanka 2.02 2008 est. 130 Suriname 2.01 2008 est. 131 Uzbekistan 2.01 2008 est. 132 Korea, North 2.00 2008 est. 133 France 1.98 2008 est. 134 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1.98 2008 est. 135 Netherlands Antilles 1.98 2008 est. 136 Maldives 1.97 2008 est. 137 Chile 1.95 2008 est. 138 French Polynesia 1.95 2008 est. 139 Brunei 1.94 2008 est. 140 Uruguay 1.94 2008 est. 141 Burma 1.92 2008 est. 142 Iceland 1.91 2008 est. 143 Cayman Islands 1.89 2008 est. 144 Bermuda 1.88 2008 est. 145 Kazakhstan 1.88 2008 est. 146 Virgin Islands 1.88 2008 est. 147 Lebanon 1.87 2008 est. 148 Turkey 1.87 2008 est. 149 Saint Lucia 1.86 2008 est. 150 Vietnam 1.86 2008 est. 151 Aruba 1.85 2008 est. 152 Ireland 1.85 2008 est. 153 Mauritius 1.83 2008 est. 154 Algeria 1.82 2008 est. 155 Cyprus 1.79 2008 est. 156 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.79 2008 est. 157 Australia 1.78 2008 est. 158 Luxembourg 1.78 2008 est. 159 Norway 1.78 2008 est. 160 China 1.77 2008 est. 161 Puerto Rico 1.76 2008 est. 162 Anguilla 1.75 2008 est. 163 Monaco 1.75 2008 est. 164 Denmark 1.74 2008 est. 165 Finland 1.73 2008 est. 166 Seychelles 1.73 2008 est. 167 Tunisia 1.73 2008 est. 168 Trinidad and Tobago 1.73 2008 est. 169 Iran 1.71 2008 est. 170 British Virgin Islands 1.71 2008 est. 171 Serbia 1.69 2008 est. 172 Sweden 1.67 2008 est. 173 Netherlands 1.66 2008 est. 174 United Kingdom 1.66 2008 est. 175 Barbados 1.65 2008 est. 176 Isle of Man 1.65 2008 est. 177 Gibraltar 1.65 2008 est. 178 Belgium 1.65 2008 est. 179 Thailand 1.64 2008 est. 180 Cuba 1.60 2008 est. 181 Jersey 1.58 2008 est. 182 Macedonia 1.58 2008 est. 183 Canada 1.57 2008 est. 184 Saint Helena 1.56 2008 est. 185 Liechtenstein 1.51 2008 est. 186 Malta 1.51 2008 est. 187 European Union 1.50 2008 est. 188 Portugal 1.49 2008 est. 189 Switzerland 1.44 2008 est. 190 Georgia 1.43 2008 est. 191 Estonia 1.42 2008 est. 192 Germany 1.41 2008 est. 193 Croatia 1.41 2008 est. 194 Bulgaria 1.40 2008 est. 195 Russia 1.40 2008 est. 196 Guernsey 1.40 2008 est. 197 Austria 1.38 2008 est. 198 Romania 1.38 2008 est. 199 Greece 1.36 2008 est. 200 Armenia 1.35 2008 est. 201 San Marino 1.35 2008 est. 202 Hungary 1.34 2008 est. 203 Slovakia 1.34 2008 est. 204 Andorra 1.32 2008 est. 205 Italy 1.30 2008 est. 206 Spain 1.30 2008 est. 207 Latvia 1.29 2008 est. 208 Poland 1.27 2008 est. 209 Slovenia 1.27 2008 est. 210 Moldova 1.26 2008 est. 211 Ukraine 1.25 2008 est. 212 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.24 2008 est. 213 Belarus 1.23 2008 est. 214 Czech Republic 1.23 2008 est. 215 Japan 1.22 2008 est. 216 Montserrat 1.22 2008 est. 217 Lithuania 1.22 2008 est. 218 Korea, South 1.20 2008 est. 219 Northern Mariana Islands 1.18 2008 est. 220 Taiwan 1.13 2008 est. 221 Singapore 1.08 2008 est. 222 Hong Kong 1.00 2008 est. 223 Macau 0.90 2008 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2129

Rank Country Unemployment rate(%) Date of Information

1 Andorra 0.00 1996 est. 2 Monaco 0.00 2005 3 Qatar 0.70 2007 est. 4 Uzbekistan 0.80 2007 est. 5 Guernsey 0.90 March 2006 est. 6 Azerbaijan 1.00 2007 est. 7 Iceland 1.00 2007 est. 8 Liechtenstein 1.30 September 2002 9 Thailand 1.40 2007 est. 10 Isle of Man 1.50 December 2006 est. 11 Belarus 1.60 2005 12 Vanuatu 1.70 1999 13 Cuba 1.80 2007 est. 14 Papua New Guinea 1.90 2004 15 Kiribati 2.00 1992 est. 16 Seychelles 2.00 2006 est. 17 Bermuda 2.10 2004 est. 18 Singapore 2.10 2007 est. 19 Moldova 2.10 2007 est. 20 Faroe Islands 2.10 2006 21 Jersey 2.20 2006 est. 22 Kuwait 2.20 2004 est. 23 Ukraine 2.30 2007 est. 24 United Arab Emirates 2.40 2001 25 Laos 2.40 2005 est. 26 Tajikistan 2.40 2007 est. 27 Bangladesh 2.50 2007 est. 28 Cambodia 2.50 2000 est. 29 Bhutan 2.50 2004 30 Norway 2.50 2007 est. 31 Denmark 2.80 2007 est. 32 Switzerland 2.80 2007 est. 33 Gibraltar 3.00 2005 est. 34 Mongolia 3.00 2007 35 Macau 3.10 2006 36 Guatemala 3.20 2005 est. 37 Malaysia 3.20 2007 est. 38 Korea, South 3.30 2007 est. 39 Lithuania 3.50 2007 est. 40 New Zealand 3.60 2007 est. 41 British Virgin Islands 3.60 1997 42 Mexico 3.70 2007 est. 43 Japan 3.80 2007 est. 44 San Marino 3.80 2004 45 Northern Mariana Islands 3.90 2001 46 Cyprus 3.90 2007 est. 47 Taiwan 3.90 2007 est. 48 Brunei 4.00 2006 49 China 4.00 2007 est. 50 Hong Kong 4.00 2007 est. 51 Romania 4.10 2007 est. 52 Palau 4.20 2005 est. 53 Vietnam 4.30 2007 est. 54 Australia 4.40 2007 est. 55 Austria 4.40 2007 est. 56 Cayman Islands 4.40 2004 57 Luxembourg 4.40 2007 est. 58 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.50 1997 59 Trinidad and Tobago 4.50 2007 est. 60 Costa Rica 4.60 2007 est. 61 Ireland 4.60 2007 est. 62 Netherlands 4.60 2007 est. 63 United States 4.60 2007 est. 64 Estonia 4.70 2007 est. 65 Nigeria 4.90 2007 est. 66 Nicaragua 4.90 2007 est. 67 Burma 5.20 2007 est. 68 Namibia 5.20 2007 est. 69 United Kingdom 5.30 2007 est. 70 Paraguay 5.60 2007 est. 71 Pakistan 5.60 2007 est. 72 Latvia 5.70 2007 est. 73 Canada 6.00 2007 est. 74 Montserrat 6.00 1998 est. 75 Sri Lanka 6.00 2007 est. 76 Sweden 6.10 2007 est. 77 El Salvador 6.20 2007 est. 78 Italy 6.20 2007 est. 79 Virgin Islands 6.20 2004 80 Russia 6.20 2007 est. 81 Malta 6.40 2007 est. 82 Panama 6.40 2007 est. 83 Czech Republic 6.60 2007 est. 84 Aruba 6.90 2005 est. 85 Peru 6.90 2007 est. 86 Finland 6.90 2007 est. 87 Chile 7.00 2007 est. 88 Armenia 7.10 2007 est. 89 India 7.20 2007 est. 90 Hungary 7.30 2007 est. 91 Israel 7.30 2007 est. 92 Kazakhstan 7.30 2007 est. 93 Philippines 7.30 2007 est. 94 Botswana 7.50 2007 est. 95 Belgium 7.50 2007 est. 96 Bolivia 7.50 2007 est. 97 Bahamas, The 7.60 2006 est. 98 Fiji 7.60 1999 99 Bulgaria 7.70 2007 est. 100 Slovenia 7.70 2007 est. 101 France 7.90 2007 est. 102 Anguilla 8.00 2002 103 Portugal 8.00 2007 est. 104 Central African Republic 8.00 2001 est. 105 Greece 8.30 2007 est. 106 Spain 8.30 2007 est. 107 Slovakia 8.40 2007 est. 108 Argentina 8.50 2007 est. 109 Venezuela 8.50 2007 est. 110 European Union 8.50 2006 est. 111 Ecuador 8.80 2007 est. 112 Mauritius 8.80 2007 est. 113 Germany 9.00 2007 est. 114 Syria 9.00 2007 est. 115 Egypt 9.10 2007 est. 116 Indonesia 9.10 2007 est. 117 Uruguay 9.20 2007 est. 118 Brazil 9.30 2007 est. 119 Greenland 9.30 2005 est. 120 Belize 9.40 2006 121 Suriname 9.50 2004 122 Morocco 9.80 2007 est. 123 Jamaica 9.90 2007 est. 124 Turkey 9.90 2007 est. 125 Turks and Caicos Islands 10.00 1997 est. 126 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 10.30 1999 127 Barbados 10.70 2003 est. 128 Antigua and Barbuda 11.00 2001 est. 129 Ghana 11.00 2000 est. 130 Colombia 11.20 2007 est. 131 Guam 11.40 2002 est. 132 French Polynesia 11.70 2005 133 Algeria 11.80 2007 est. 134 Croatia 11.80 2007 est. 135 Iran 12.00 2007 est. 136 Niue 12.00 2001 137 Puerto Rico 12.00 2002 138 Grenada 12.50 2000 139 Poland 12.80 2007 est. 140 Saudi Arabia 13.00 2004 est. 141 Tonga 13.00 FY03/04 est. 142 Cook Islands 13.10 2005 143 Albania 13.20 2007 est. 144 Jordan 13.50 2007 est. 145 Georgia 13.60 2006 est. 146 Saint Helena 14.00 1998 est. 147 Tunisia 14.10 2007 est. 148 Montenegro 14.70 2007 est. 149 Bahrain 15.00 2005 est. 150 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15.00 2001 est. 151 Oman 15.00 2004 est. 152 Wallis and Futuna 15.20 2003 153 Dominican Republic 15.60 2007 est. 154 Netherlands Antilles 17.00 2002 est. 155 New Caledonia 17.10 2004 156 Iraq 18.00 2006 est. 157 Kyrgyzstan 18.00 2004 est. 158 West Bank 18.60 2006 159 Sudan 18.70 2002 est. 160 Serbia 18.80 2007 est. 161 Comoros 20.00 1996 est. 162 Lebanon 20.00 2006 est. 163 Mauritania 20.00 2004 est. 164 Saint Lucia 20.00 2003 est. 165 Cape Verde 21.00 2000 est. 166 Gabon 21.00 2006 est. 167 Mozambique 21.00 1997 est. 168 Micronesia, Federated States of 22.00 2000 est. 169 Dominica 23.00 2000 est. 170 South Africa 24.30 2007 est. 171 Mayotte 25.40 2005 172 Honduras 27.80 2007 est. 173 American Samoa 29.80 2005 174 Cameroon 30.00 2001 est. 175 Libya 30.00 2004 est. 176 Equatorial Guinea 30.00 1998 est. 177 Mali 30.00 2004 est. 178 World 30.00 2007 est. 179 Marshall Islands 30.90 2000 est. 180 Gaza Strip 34.80 2006 181 Macedonia 34.90 2007 est. 182 Yemen 35.00 2003 est. 183 Afghanistan 40.00 2005 est. 184 Kenya 40.00 2001 est. 185 Swaziland 40.00 2006 est. 186 Nepal 42.00 2004 est. 187 Kosovo 43.00 2007 est. 188 Lesotho 45.00 2002 189 Bosnia and Herzegovina 45.50 31 December 2004 est. 190 Senegal 48.00 2007 est. 191 Timor-Leste 50.00 2001 est. 192 Zambia 50.00 2000 est. 193 Djibouti 59.00 2007 est. 194 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 60.00 2000 est. 195 Turkmenistan 60.00 2004 est. 196 Burkina Faso 77.00 2004 197 Zimbabwe 80.00 2005 est. 198 Liberia 85.00 2003 est. 199 Nauru 90.00 2004 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2147

Rank Country Area(sq km) Date of Information

1 World 510,072,000 2 Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 3 Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 4 Indian Ocean 68,556,000 5 Southern Ocean 20,327,000 6 Russia 17,075,200 7 Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 8 Antarctica 14,000,000 9 Canada 9,984,670 10 United States 9,826,630 11 China 9,596,960 12 Brazil 8,511,965 13 Australia 7,686,850 14 European Union 4,324,782 15 India 3,287,590 16 Argentina 2,766,890 17 Kazakhstan 2,717,300 18 Sudan 2,505,810 19 Algeria 2,381,740 20 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2,345,410 21 Greenland 2,166,086 22 Saudi Arabia 2,149,690 23 Mexico 1,972,550 24 Indonesia 1,919,440 25 Libya 1,759,540 26 Iran 1,648,000 27 Mongolia 1,564,116 28 Peru 1,285,220 29 Chad 1,284,000 30 Niger 1,267,000 31 Angola 1,246,700 32 Mali 1,240,000 33 South Africa 1,219,912 34 Colombia 1,138,910 35 Ethiopia 1,127,127 36 Bolivia 1,098,580 37 Mauritania 1,030,700 38 Egypt 1,001,450 39 Tanzania 945,087 40 Nigeria 923,768 41 Venezuela 912,050 42 Namibia 825,418 43 Pakistan 803,940 44 Mozambique 801,590 45 Turkey 780,580 46 Chile 756,950 47 Zambia 752,614 48 Burma 678,500 49 Afghanistan 647,500 50 France 643,427 51 Somalia 637,657 52 Central African Republic 622,984 53 Ukraine 603,700 54 Botswana 600,370 55 Madagascar 587,040 56 Kenya 582,650 57 Yemen 527,970 58 Thailand 514,000 59 Spain 504,782 60 Turkmenistan 488,100 61 Cameroon 475,440 62 Papua New Guinea 462,840 63 Sweden 449,964 64 Uzbekistan 447,400 65 Morocco 446,550 66 Iraq 437,072 67 Paraguay 406,750 68 Zimbabwe 390,580 69 Japan 377,835 70 Germany 357,021 71 Congo, Republic of the 342,000 72 Finland 338,145 73 Malaysia 329,750 74 Vietnam 329,560 75 Norway 323,802 76 Cote d'Ivoire 322,460 77 Poland 312,679 78 Italy 301,230 79 Philippines 300,000 80 Ecuador 283,560 81 Burkina Faso 274,200 82 New Zealand 268,680 83 Gabon 267,667 84 Western Sahara 266,000 85 Guinea 245,857 86 United Kingdom 244,820 87 Ghana 239,460 88 Romania 237,500 89 Laos 236,800 90 Uganda 236,040 91 Guyana 214,970 92 Oman 212,460 93 Belarus 207,600 94 Kyrgyzstan 198,500 95 Senegal 196,190 96 Syria 185,180 97 Cambodia 181,040 98 Uruguay 176,220 99 Tunisia 163,610 100 Suriname 163,270 101 Nepal 147,181 102 Bangladesh 144,000 103 Tajikistan 143,100 104 Greece 131,940 105 Nicaragua 129,494 106 Eritrea 121,320 107 Korea, North 120,540 108 Malawi 118,480 109 Benin 112,620 110 Honduras 112,090 111 Liberia 111,370 112 Bulgaria 110,910 113 Cuba 110,860 114 Guatemala 108,890 115 Iceland 103,000 116 Korea, South 98,480 117 Hungary 93,030 118 Portugal 92,391 119 Jordan 92,300 120 Azerbaijan 86,600 121 Austria 83,870 122 United Arab Emirates 83,600 123 Czech Republic 78,866 124 Panama 78,200 125 Serbia 77,474 126 Sierra Leone 71,740 127 Ireland 70,280 128 Georgia 69,700 129 Sri Lanka 65,610 130 Lithuania 65,300 131 Latvia 64,589 132 Svalbard 61,020 133 Togo 56,785 134 Croatia 56,542 135 British Indian Ocean Territory 54,400 136 Bosnia and Herzegovina 51,209 137 Costa Rica 51,100 138 Slovakia 48,845 139 Dominican Republic 48,730 140 Bhutan 47,000 141 Estonia 45,226 142 Denmark 43,094 143 Netherlands 41,526 144 Switzerland 41,290 145 Guinea-Bissau 36,120 146 Taiwan 35,980 147 Moldova 33,843 148 Belgium 30,528 149 Lesotho 30,355 150 Armenia 29,743 151 Albania 28,748 152 Solomon Islands 28,450 153 Equatorial Guinea 28,051 154 Burundi 27,830 155 Haiti 27,750 156 Rwanda 26,338 157 Macedonia 25,333 158 Djibouti 23,000 159 Belize 22,966 160 El Salvador 21,040 161 Israel 20,770 162 Slovenia 20,273 163 New Caledonia 19,060 164 Fiji 18,270 165 Kuwait 17,820 166 Swaziland 17,363 167 Timor-Leste 15,007 168 Montenegro 14,026 169 Bahamas, The 13,940 170 Puerto Rico 13,790 171 Vanuatu 12,200 172 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 12,173 173 Qatar 11,437 174 Gambia, The 11,300 175 Jamaica 10,991 176 Kosovo 10,887 177 Lebanon 10,400 178 Cyprus 9,250 179 West Bank 5,860 180 Brunei 5,770 181 Trinidad and Tobago 5,128 182 French Polynesia 4,167 183 Cape Verde 4,033 184 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 3,903 185 Samoa 2,944 186 Luxembourg 2,586 187 Comoros 2,170 188 Mauritius 2,040 189 Virgin Islands 1,910 190 Faroe Islands 1,399 191 Hong Kong 1,092 192 Sao Tome and Principe 1,001 193 Netherlands Antilles 960 194 Kiribati 811 195 Dominica 754 196 Tonga 748 197 Micronesia, Federated States of 702 198 Singapore 693 199 Bahrain 665 200 Saint Lucia 616 201 Isle of Man 572 202 Guam 541 203 Northern Mariana Islands 477 204 Andorra 468 205 Palau 458 206 Seychelles 455 207 Antigua and Barbuda 443 208 Barbados 431 209 Turks and Caicos Islands 430 210 Saint Helena 413 211 Heard Island and McDonald Islands 412 212 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 389 213 Jan Mayen 377 214 Mayotte 374 215 Gaza Strip 360 216 Grenada 344 217 Malta 316 218 Maldives 300 219 Wallis and Futuna 274 220 Cayman Islands 262 221 Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 222 Niue 260 223 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 242 224 Cook Islands 237 225 American Samoa 199 226 Aruba 193 227 Marshall Islands 181 228 Liechtenstein 160 229 British Virgin Islands 153 230 Christmas Island 135 231 Dhekelia 131 232 Akrotiri 123 233 Jersey 116 234 Anguilla 102 235 Montserrat 102 236 Guernsey 78 237 San Marino 61 238 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 55 239 Saint Martin 54 240 Bermuda 53 241 Bouvet Island 49 242 Pitcairn Islands 47 243 Norfolk Island 35 244 Macau 28 245 Tuvalu 26 246 United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges 22 247 Nauru 21 248 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 14 249 Tokelau 10 250 Gibraltar 7 251 Wake Island 7 252 Clipperton Island 6 253 Navassa Island 5 254 Ashmore and Cartier Islands 5 255 Spratly Islands 5 256 Coral Sea Islands 3 257 Monaco 2 258 Holy See (Vatican City) 0

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2150

Rank Country Telephones - main lines in use Date of Information

1 World 1,263,367,600 2005 2 China 365,400,000 2007 3 European Union 238,000,000 2005 4 United States 163,200,000 2007 5 Germany 53,750,000 2007 6 Japan 51,232,000 2007 7 Russia 43,900,000 2006 8 Brazil 39,400,000 2007 9 India 38,760,000 2008 10 France 35,533,000 2007 11 United Kingdom 33,682,000 2007 12 Italy 26,890,000 2006 13 Korea, South 23,905,000 2007 14 Iran 23,835,000 2007 15 Canada 21,000,000 2006 16 Mexico 19,754,000 2007 17 Spain 18,583,000 2007 18 Turkey 18,413,000 2007 19 Indonesia 17,828,000 2007 20 Taiwan 14,313,000 2007 21 Ukraine 12,858,000 2007 22 Egypt 11,229,000 2007 23 Vietnam 10,800,000 2007 24 Poland 10,336,000 2007 25 Australia 9,760,000 2007 26 Argentina 9,500,000 2007 27 Colombia 7,936,000 2007 28 Netherlands 7,334,000 2007 29 Thailand 7,024,000 2007 30 Greece 6,227,000 2007 31 Sweden 5,506,000 2007 32 Venezuela 5,082,000 2007 33 Switzerland 5,000,000 2007 34 Belgium 4,668,000 2007 35 South Africa 4,642,000 2007 36 Pakistan 4,546,000 2008 37 Malaysia 4,350,000 2007 38 Romania 4,300,000 2007 39 Portugal 4,139,000 2007 40 Saudi Arabia 3,996,000 2007 41 Hong Kong 3,875,000 2007 42 Belarus 3,672,000 2007 43 Philippines 3,633,000 2006 44 Syria 3,452,000 2007 45 Chile 3,379,000 2007 46 Austria 3,374,000 2007 47 Hungary 3,251,000 2007 48 Kazakhstan 3,237,000 2007 49 Algeria 3,068,000 2007 50 Israel 3,005,000 2006 51 Serbia 2,993,000 2007 52 Czech Republic 2,888,000 2006 53 Denmark 2,824,000 2007 54 Sri Lanka 2,742,000 2007 55 Peru 2,673,000 2007 56 Morocco 2,394,000 2007 57 Bulgaria 2,300,000 2007 58 Ireland 2,112,000 2007 59 Norway 1,988,000 2007 60 Singapore 1,859,000 2007 61 Croatia 1,825,000 2007 62 Ecuador 1,805,000 2007 63 Uzbekistan 1,793,000 2005 64 Finland 1,740,000 2007 65 New Zealand 1,706,000 2007 66 Nigeria 1,580,000 2007 67 Iraq 1,547,000 2005 68 Costa Rica 1,437,000 2007 69 United Arab Emirates 1,385,000 2007 70 Guatemala 1,355,000 2006 71 Tunisia 1,273,000 2007 72 Azerbaijan 1,254,000 2007 73 Bangladesh 1,187,000 2007 74 Korea, North 1,180,000 2007 75 Slovakia 1,151,000 2007 76 El Salvador 1,080,000 2007 77 Moldova 1,080,000 2007 78 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1,065,000 2007 79 Cuba 1,043,000 2007 80 Puerto Rico 1,038,000 2005 81 Yemen 968,300 2006 82 Uruguay 965,200 2007 83 Dominican Republic 907,000 2007 84 Ethiopia 880,100 2007 85 Slovenia 857,100 2007 86 Libya 852,300 2005 87 Lithuania 799,400 2007 88 Nepal 766,400 2007 89 Cote d'Ivoire 730,000 2007 90 Honduras 713,600 2006 91 Lebanon 681,400 2006 92 Bolivia 678,200 2007 93 Latvia 644,000 2007 94 Armenia 603,900 2006 95 Jordan 585,500 2007 96 Georgia 544,000 2007 97 Kuwait 517,000 2006 98 Burma 503,900 2005 99 Estonia 495,500 2007 100 Panama 491,900 2007 101 Kyrgyzstan 482,100 2007 102 Macedonia 463,600 2007 103 Paraguay 453,800 2007 104 Turkmenistan 398,100 2005 105 Ghana 376,500 2007 106 Cyprus 376,000 107 Mauritius 357,300 2006 108 Albania 353,600 2005 109 Montenegro 353,300 2006 110 Gaza Strip 350,400 2007 111 West Bank 350,400 2007 112 Sudan 345,200 2007 113 Zimbabwe 344,500 2007 114 Jamaica 342,000 2006 115 Trinidad and Tobago 323,800 2007 116 Tajikistan 280,200 2005 117 Afghanistan 280,000 2005 118 Senegal 269,100 2007 119 Oman 268,100 2007 120 Kenya 264,800 2007 121 Luxembourg 248,200 2007 122 Nicaragua 247,900 2006 123 Qatar 237,400 2007 124 Malta 198,100 2007 125 Bahrain 194,200 2006 126 Iceland 186,700 2007 127 Macau 177,851 2008 128 Malawi 175,200 2007 129 Tanzania 165,013 2008 130 Uganda 162,300 2007 131 Mongolia 158,900 2006 132 Haiti 150,000 2006 133 Namibia 138,100 2007 134 Botswana 136,900 2006 135 Barbados 134,900 2005 136 Madagascar 133,900 2007 137 Bahamas, The 132,900 2007 138 Cameroon 130,700 2006 139 Benin 110,300 2007 140 Guyana 110,100 2005 141 Fiji 108,400 2007 142 Kosovo 106,300 2006 143 Somalia 100,000 2007 144 Angola 98,200 2006 145 Laos 94,800 2007 146 Burkina Faso 94,800 2006 147 Zambia 91,800 2007 148 Mali 85,000 2007 149 Togo 82,100 2006 150 Suriname 81,500 2006 151 Netherlands Antilles 81,000 2001 152 Brunei 79,200 2007 153 Gambia, The 76,400 2007 154 Jersey 73,900 2001 155 Virgin Islands 71,700 2005 156 Cape Verde 71,600 2006 157 Mozambique 67,000 2006 158 Guam 65,500 2003 159 New Caledonia 60,200 2007 160 Papua New Guinea 60,000 2007 161 Bermuda 57,700 2006 162 French Polynesia 53,600 2006 163 Lesotho 53,100 2006 164 Saint Lucia 51,100 2002 165 Isle of Man 51,000 1999 166 Guernsey 45,100 2005 167 Swaziland 44,000 2006 168 Aruba 38,700 2006 169 Cayman Islands 38,000 2002 170 Antigua and Barbuda 37,500 2006 171 Eritrea 37,500 2006 172 Cambodia 37,500 2007 173 Andorra 37,200 2007 174 Greenland 36,000 2006 175 Burundi 35,000 2006 176 Mauritania 34,900 2006 177 Monaco 34,000 2005 178 Belize 33,900 2007 179 Maldives 33,200 2007 180 Bhutan 29,900 2007 181 Grenada 27,700 2006 182 Gabon 26,500 2007 183 Guinea 26,300 2005 184 Saint Kitts and Nevis 25,000 2004 185 Gibraltar 24,512 2002 186 Niger 24,000 2005 187 Sierra Leone 24,000 2002 188 Rwanda 23,100 2007 189 Faroe Islands 23,000 2006 190 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 22,800 2007 191 Seychelles 22,700 2007 192 Northern Mariana Islands 21,000 2000 193 San Marino 21,000 2006 194 Tonga 21,000 2007 195 Dominica 21,000 2004 196 Liechtenstein 20,000 2005 197 Samoa 19,500 2005 198 Comoros 19,100 2006 199 Congo, Republic of the 15,900 2005 200 Chad 13,000 2006 201 Central African Republic 12,000 2006 202 British Virgin Islands 11,700 2002 203 Djibouti 10,800 2005 204 American Samoa 10,400 2004 205 Equatorial Guinea 10,000 2005 206 Mayotte 10,000 2002 207 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 9,700 2006 208 Vanuatu 8,800 2007 209 Micronesia, Federated States of 8,700 2007 210 Sao Tome and Principe 7,700 2007 211 Solomon Islands 7,600 2006 212 Liberia 6,900 2002 213 Palau 6,700 2002 214 Anguilla 6,200 2002 215 Cook Islands 6,200 2002 216 Turks and Caicos Islands 5,700 2002 217 Holy See (Vatican City) 5,120 2005 218 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 4,800 2002 219 Guinea-Bissau 4,600 2007 220 Kiribati 4,500 2002 221 Marshall Islands 4,500 2004 222 Norfolk Island 2,532 2004 223 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 2,400 2002 224 Timor-Leste 2,400 2006 225 Saint Helena 2,200 2002 226 Nauru 1,900 2002 227 Wallis and Futuna 1,900 2002 228 Niue 1,100 2002 est. 229 Tuvalu 900 2005 230 Tokelau 300 2002 231 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 287 1992 232 Pitcairn Islands 1 2004 233 Antarctica 0 2001

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2151

Rank Country Telephones - mobile cellular Date of Information

1 World 2,168,433,600 2005 2 China 547,286,000 2007 3 European Union 466,000,000 2005 4 India 296,080,000 2008 5 United States 255,000,000 2007 6 Russia 170,000,000 2007 7 Brazil 120,980,000 2007 8 Japan 107,339,000 2007 9 Germany 97,151,000 2007 10 Pakistan 88,020,000 2008 11 Indonesia 81,835,000 2007 12 Italy 78,571,000 2006 13 United Kingdom 71,992,000 2007 14 Mexico 68,254,000 2007 15 Turkey 61,976,000 2007 16 France 56,719,000 2007 17 Ukraine 55,240,000 2007 18 Philippines 51,795,000 2007 19 Thailand 51,377,000 2007 20 Spain 48,813,000 2007 21 Korea, South 43,500,000 2007 22 South Africa 42,300,000 2007 23 Poland 41,389,000 2007 24 Argentina 40,402,000 2007 25 Nigeria 40,395,000 2007 26 Bangladesh 34,370,000 2007 27 Colombia 33,941,000 2007 28 Vietnam 33,200,000 2007 29 Egypt 30,065,000 2007 30 Iran 29,770,000 2007 31 Saudi Arabia 28,381,000 2007 32 Algeria 27,563,000 2007 33 Taiwan 24,302,000 2007 34 Venezuela 23,820,000 2007 35 Malaysia 23,347,000 2007 36 Romania 22,875,000 2007 37 Australia 21,260,000 2007 38 Morocco 20,029,000 2007 39 Canada 18,749,000 2006 40 Netherlands 17,300,000 2006 41 Peru 15,417,000 2007 42 Iraq 14,021,000 2007 43 Chile 13,955,000 2007 44 Portugal 13,413,000 2007 45 Czech Republic 13,075,000 2007 46 Kazakhstan 12,588,000 2007 47 Greece 11,997,000 2007 48 Kenya 11,440,000 2007 49 Hungary 11,030,000 2007 50 Hong Kong 10,550,000 2007 51 Sweden 10,371,000 2007 52 Belgium 10,230,000 2007 53 Guatemala 10,150,000 2007 54 Ecuador 10,086,000 2007 55 Bulgaria 9,897,000 2007 56 Austria 9,768,000 2007 57 Tanzania 9,358,000 2008 58 Israel 8,902,000 2007 59 Serbia 8,453,000 2007 60 Switzerland 8,096,000 2007 61 Sri Lanka 7,983,000 2007 62 Tunisia 7,842,000 2007 63 Ghana 7,604,000 2007 64 United Arab Emirates 7,595,000 2007 65 Sudan 7,464,000 2007 66 Cote d'Ivoire 7,050,000 2007 67 Syria 6,700,000 2007 68 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6,592,000 2007 69 Denmark 6,243,000 2007 70 El Salvador 6,137,000 2007 71 Finland 6,080,000 2007 72 Slovakia 6,068,000 2007 73 Belarus 5,960,000 2006 74 Uzbekistan 5,800,000 2007 75 Singapore 5,619,000 2007 76 Dominican Republic 5,513,000 2007 77 Afghanistan 5,400,000 2008 78 Norway 5,192,000 2007 79 Croatia 5,035,000 2007 80 Ireland 4,940,000 2007 81 Lithuania 4,912,000 2007 82 Jordan 4,771,000 2007 83 Cameroon 4,536,000 2007 84 Libya 4,500,000 2007 85 Paraguay 4,330,000 2007 86 Azerbaijan 4,300,000 2007 87 New Zealand 4,245,000 2007 88 Uganda 4,195,000 2007 89 Senegal 4,123,000 2007 90 Puerto Rico 3,354,000 2005 91 Angola 3,307,000 2007 92 Mozambique 3,300,000 2007 93 Bolivia 3,254,000 2007 94 Uruguay 3,004,000 2007 95 Yemen 2,978,000 2006 96 Kuwait 2,774,000 2007 97 Zambia 2,639,000 2007 98 Cambodia 2,583,000 2007 99 Oman 2,500,000 2007 100 Jamaica 2,495,000 2006 101 Mali 2,483,000 2007 102 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2,450,000 2007 103 Georgia 2,400,000 2007 104 Panama 2,392,000 2007 105 Albania 2,300,000 2007 106 Honduras 2,241,000 2006 107 Madagascar 2,218,000 2007 108 Latvia 2,217,000 2007 109 Haiti 2,200,000 2007 110 Kyrgyzstan 2,152,000 2007 111 Nicaragua 2,123,000 2007 112 Estonia 1,982,000 2007 113 Slovenia 1,928,000 2007 114 Benin 1,895,000 2007 115 Moldova 1,883,000 2007 116 Burkina Faso 1,611,000 2007 117 Macedonia 1,518,000 2007 118 Costa Rica 1,503,000 2007 119 Laos 1,478,000 2007 120 Botswana 1,427,000 2007 121 Congo, Republic of the 1,334,000 2007 122 Mauritania 1,300,000 2007 123 Qatar 1,264,000 2007 124 Lebanon 1,260,000 2007 125 Zimbabwe 1,226,000 2007 126 Ethiopia 1,208,000 2007 127 Togo 1,190,000 2007 128 Armenia 1,185,400 2006 129 Gabon 1,169,000 2007 130 Nepal 1,157,000 2006 131 Bahrain 1,116,000 2007 132 Malawi 1,051,000 2007 133 Gaza Strip 1,026,000 2007 134 West Bank 1,026,000 2007 135 Trinidad and Tobago 1,008,000 2007 136 Cyprus 962,200 137 Mauritius 936,000 2007 138 Chad 918,400 2007 139 Niger 900,000 2007 140 Macau 856,200 2008 141 Namibia 800,300 2007 142 Gambia, The 795,900 2007 143 Sierra Leone 776,000 2007 144 Mongolia 775,300 2006 145 Montenegro 643,700 2006 146 Rwanda 635,100 2007 147 Luxembourg 604,200 2007 148 Somalia 600,000 2007 149 Liberia 563,000 2007 150 Kosovo 562,000 2006 151 Lesotho 456,000 2007 152 Fiji 437,000 2007 153 Swaziland 380,000 2007 154 Bahamas, The 374,000 2007 155 Malta 371,500 2007 156 Iceland 347,500 2007 157 Brunei 339,800 2007 158 Suriname 320,000 2006 159 Maldives 317,800 2007 160 Papua New Guinea 300,000 2007 161 Guinea-Bissau 296,200 2007 162 Guyana 281,400 2005 163 Tajikistan 265,000 2005 164 Burundi 250,000 2007 165 Barbados 237,100 2006 166 Equatorial Guinea 220,000 2007 167 Turkmenistan 216,900 2006 168 Burma 214,200 2006 169 Netherlands Antilles 200,000 2004 170 Cuba 198,300 2007 171 Guinea 189,000 2005 172 New Caledonia 176,400 2007 173 French Polynesia 174,800 2007 174 Bhutan 149,400 2007 175 Cape Verde 148,000 2007 176 Central African Republic 130,000 2007 177 Belize 118,300 2007 178 Antigua and Barbuda 110,200 2006 179 Aruba 105,700 2006 180 Saint Lucia 105,700 2005 181 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 104,000 2007 182 Guam 98,000 2004 183 Samoa 86,000 2007 184 Jersey 83,900 2004 185 Virgin Islands 80,300 2005 186 Seychelles 77,300 2007 187 Eritrea 70,000 2007 188 Timor-Leste 69,000 2007 189 Andorra 68,500 2007 190 Greenland 66,400 2007 191 Bermuda 60,100 2006 192 Faroe Islands 50,000 2006 193 Mayotte 48,100 2005 194 Tonga 46,500 2007 195 Grenada 46,200 2006 196 Djibouti 45,000 2007 197 Guernsey 43,800 2004 198 Dominica 41,800 2004 199 Comoros 40,000 2007 200 Cayman Islands 33,800 2004 201 Sao Tome and Principe 30,100 2007 202 Liechtenstein 27,500 2005 203 Micronesia, Federated States of 27,400 2007 204 Vanuatu 26,000 2007 205 Northern Mariana Islands 20,500 2004 206 San Marino 17,390 2006 207 Monaco 17,200 2005 208 Solomon Islands 10,900 2007 209 Saint Kitts and Nevis 10,000 2004 210 Gibraltar 9,797 2002 211 British Virgin Islands 8,000 2002 212 American Samoa 2,200 2004 213 Anguilla 1,800 2002 214 Turks and Caicos Islands 1,700 1999 215 Cook Islands 1,500 2002 216 Nauru 1,500 2002 217 Tuvalu 1,300 2005 218 Palau 1,000 2002 219 Kiribati 700 2005 220 Marshall Islands 700 2005 221 Niue 400 2002 222 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2001 223 Norfolk Island 0 2002 224 Western Sahara 0 1999

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2153

Rank Country Internet users Date of Information

1 World 1,018,057,389 2005 2 China 253,000,000 2008 3 European Union 247,000,000 2006 4 United States 223,000,000 2008 5 Japan 88,110,000 2007 6 India 80,000,000 2007 7 Brazil 50,000,000 2007 8 Germany 42,500,000 2007 9 United Kingdom 40,200,000 2007 10 Korea, South 35,590,000 2007 11 Italy 32,000,000 2007 12 France 31,295,000 2007 13 Russia 30,000,000 2007 14 Canada 28,000,000 2007 15 Iran 23,000,000 2007 16 Mexico 22,812,000 2007 17 Spain 19,690,000 2007 18 Vietnam 17,870,000 2007 19 Pakistan 17,500,000 2007 20 Poland 16,000,000 2007 21 Malaysia 15,868,000 2007 22 Netherlands 15,000,000 2007 23 Taiwan 14,760,000 2007 24 Thailand 13,416,000 2007 25 Turkey 13,150,000 2006 26 Indonesia 13,000,000 2007 27 Colombia 12,100,000 2007 28 Romania 12,000,000 2007 29 Australia 11,240,000 2007 30 Nigeria 10,000,000 2007 31 Ukraine 10,000,000 2007 32 Argentina 9,309,000 2007 33 Egypt 8,620,000 2007 34 Peru 7,636,000 2007 35 Morocco 7,300,000 2007 36 Sweden 7,000,000 2007 37 Saudi Arabia 6,200,000 2007 38 Belarus 6,000,000 2007 39 Venezuela 5,720,000 2007 40 Chile 5,570,000 2007 41 Philippines 5,300,000 2007 42 Belgium 5,220,000 2007 43 South Africa 5,100,000 2005 44 Switzerland 4,610,000 2007 45 Czech Republic 4,400,000 2007 46 Austria 4,277,000 2007 47 Hungary 4,200,000 2007 48 Hong Kong 3,961,000 2007 49 Norway 3,800,000 2007 50 Finland 3,600,000 2007 51 Portugal 3,549,000 2007 52 Algeria 3,500,000 2007 53 Denmark 3,500,000 2007 54 Syria 3,470,000 2007 55 New Zealand 3,360,000 2007 56 Singapore 3,105,000 2007 57 Kenya 3,000,000 2007 58 Greece 2,540,000 2007 59 Slovakia 2,350,000 2007 60 United Arab Emirates 2,300,000 2007 61 Israel 2,000,000 2007 62 Uganda 2,000,000 2007 63 Croatia 1,995,000 2007 64 Kazakhstan 1,901,000 2006 65 Bulgaria 1,899,000 2007 66 Tunisia 1,722,000 2007 67 Ireland 1,708,000 2007 68 Dominican Republic 1,677,000 2007 69 Ecuador 1,549,000 2006 70 Costa Rica 1,500,000 2007 71 Sudan 1,500,000 2007 72 Serbia 1,500,000 2007 73 Jamaica 1,500,000 2007 74 Zimbabwe 1,351,000 2007 75 Lithuania 1,333,000 2007 76 Guatemala 1,320,000 2006 77 Cuba 1,310,000 2007 78 Slovenia 1,300,000 2007 79 Uzbekistan 1,200,000 2007 80 Latvia 1,177,000 2007 81 Jordan 1,127,000 2007 82 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1,055,000 2007 83 Azerbaijan 1,036,000 2007 84 Bolivia 1,000,000 2007 85 Puerto Rico 1,000,000 2007 86 Haiti 1,000,000 2007 87 Uruguay 968,000 2007 88 Lebanon 950,000 2006 89 Kuwait 900,000 2007 90 Senegal 820,000 2007 91 Estonia 780,000 2007 92 Sri Lanka 771,700 2007 93 Kyrgyzstan 750,000 2007 94 El Salvador 700,000 2006 95 Moldova 700,000 2007 96 Macedonia 685,000 2007 97 Ghana 650,000 2007 98 Afghanistan 580,000 2007 99 Panama 525,200 2007 100 Bangladesh 500,000 2007 101 Zambia 500,000 2007 102 Albania 471,200 2006 103 Trinidad and Tobago 430,800 2007 104 Tanzania 400,000 2007 105 Cyprus 380,000 2007 106 Cameroon 370,000 2006 107 Georgia 360,000 2007 108 Gaza Strip 355,500 2007 109 West Bank 355,500 2007 110 Qatar 351,000 2007 111 Luxembourg 345,000 2007 112 Honduras 344,100 2006 113 Mauritius 340,000 2007 114 Oman 340,000 2007 115 Nepal 337,100 2007 116 Mongolia 320,000 2007 117 Togo 320,000 2006 118 Yemen 320,000 2007 119 Cote d'Ivoire 300,000 2006 120 Macau 300,000 2007 121 Ethiopia 291,000 2007 122 Montenegro 280,000 2007 123 Paraguay 280,000 2007 124 Libya 260,000 2006 125 Bahrain 250,000 2007 126 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 230,400 2007 127 Iceland 202,300 2007 128 Mozambique 200,000 2007 129 Brunei 199,532 2007 130 Guyana 190,000 2007 131 Armenia 172,800 2006 132 Barbados 160,000 2005 133 Malta 158,000 2007 134 Nicaragua 155,000 2006 135 Benin 150,000 2007 136 Gabon 145,000 2007 137 Malawi 139,500 2007 138 Bahamas, The 120,000 2007 139 Eritrea 120,000 2007 140 Madagascar 110,000 2006 141 Papua New Guinea 110,000 2006 142 Saint Lucia 110,000 2007 143 Namibia 101,000 2007 144 Gambia, The 100,200 2007 145 Angola 100,000 2007 146 Rwanda 100,000 2007 147 Mali 100,000 2007 148 Laos 100,000 2007 149 Somalia 98,000 2007 150 Botswana 80,000 2007 151 New Caledonia 80,000 2006 152 Burkina Faso 80,000 2006 153 Fiji 80,000 2006 154 French Polynesia 75,000 2007 155 Cambodia 70,000 2007 156 Lesotho 70,000 2007 157 Turkmenistan 70,000 2007 158 Congo, Republic of the 70,000 2006 159 Guam 65,000 2005 160 Antigua and Barbuda 60,000 2007 161 Burundi 60,000 2006 162 Chad 60,000 2006 163 Andorra 58,900 2007 164 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 57,000 2007 165 Iraq 54,000 2007 166 Greenland 52,000 2007 167 Guinea 50,000 2006 168 Bermuda 48,000 2007 169 Suriname 44,000 2007 170 Swaziland 42,000 2006 171 Burma 40,000 2007 172 Bhutan 40,000 2007 173 Niger 40,000 2006 174 Cape Verde 37,000 2007 175 Guinea-Bissau 37,000 2006 176 Guernsey 36,000 2005 177 Faroe Islands 34,000 2006 178 Maldives 33,000 2007 179 Belize 32,000 2007 180 Seychelles 32,000 2007 181 Mauritania 30,000 2006 182 Virgin Islands 30,000 2007 183 Jersey 27,000 2005 184 Dominica 26,500 2006 185 Aruba 24,000 2007 186 Grenada 23,000 2007 187 Sao Tome and Principe 23,000 2007 188 Cayman Islands 22,000 2007 189 Liechtenstein 22,000 2006 190 Comoros 21,000 2006 191 Monaco 20,000 2006 192 Tajikistan 19,500 2005 193 Vanuatu 17,000 2007 194 San Marino 15,400 2006 195 Micronesia, Federated States of 15,000 2007 196 Central African Republic 13,000 2006 197 Sierra Leone 13,000 2007 198 Djibouti 11,000 2006 199 Northern Mariana Islands 10,000 2003 200 Saint Kitts and Nevis 10,000 2002 201 Tonga 8,400 2007 202 Solomon Islands 8,000 2006 203 Equatorial Guinea 8,000 2006 204 Samoa 8,000 2006 205 Gibraltar 6,200 2002 206 British Virgin Islands 4,000 2002 207 Cook Islands 3,600 2002 208 Anguilla 3,000 2002 209 Marshall Islands 2,200 2006 210 Kiribati 2,000 2007 211 Netherlands Antilles 2,000 2000 212 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 1,900 2002 213 Tuvalu 1,300 2002 214 Timor-Leste 1,200 2006 215 Liberia 1,000 2002 216 Saint Helena 1,000 2003 217 Niue 900 2002 218 Wallis and Futuna 900 2002 219 Norfolk Island 700 2002 est. 220 Christmas Island 464 2001 221 Nauru 300 2002 222 Holy See (Vatican City) 93 2000

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2155

Rank Country HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) Date of Information

1 Swaziland 38.80 2003 est. 2 Botswana 37.30 2003 est. 3 Lesotho 28.90 2003 est. 4 Zimbabwe 24.60 2001 est. 5 South Africa 21.50 2003 est. 6 Namibia 21.30 2003 est. 7 Zambia 16.50 2003 est. 8 Malawi 14.20 2003 est. 9 Central African Republic 13.50 2003 est. 10 Mozambique 12.20 2003 est. 11 Guinea-Bissau 10.00 2003 est. 12 Tanzania 8.80 2003 est. 13 Gabon 8.10 2003 est. 14 Cote d'Ivoire 7.00 2003 est. 15 Sierra Leone 7.00 2001 est. 16 Cameroon 6.90 2003 est. 17 Kenya 6.70 2003 est. 18 Burundi 6.00 2003 est. 19 Liberia 5.90 2003 est. 20 Haiti 5.60 2003 est. 21 Nigeria 5.40 2003 est. 22 Rwanda 5.10 2003 est. 23 Congo, Republic of the 4.90 2003 est. 24 Chad 4.80 2003 est. 25 Ethiopia 4.40 2003 est. 26 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 4.20 2003 est. 27 Burkina Faso 4.20 2003 est. 28 Togo 4.10 2003 est. 29 Uganda 4.10 2003 est. 30 Angola 3.90 2003 est. 31 Equatorial Guinea 3.40 2001 est. 32 Guinea 3.20 2003 est. 33 Trinidad and Tobago 3.20 2003 est. 34 Ghana 3.10 2003 est. 35 Bahamas, The 3.00 2003 est. 36 Djibouti 2.90 2003 est. 37 Eritrea 2.70 2003 est. 38 Cambodia 2.60 2003 est. 39 Guyana 2.50 2003 est. 40 Belize 2.40 2003 est. 41 Sudan 2.30 2001 est. 42 Benin 1.90 2003 est. 43 Mali 1.90 2003 est. 44 Honduras 1.80 2003 est. 45 Dominican Republic 1.70 2003 est. 46 Madagascar 1.70 2003 est. 47 Suriname 1.70 2001 est. 48 Barbados 1.50 2003 est. 49 Thailand 1.50 2003 est. 50 Ukraine 1.40 2003 est. 51 Burma 1.20 2003 est. 52 Niger 1.20 2003 est. 53 Jamaica 1.20 2003 est. 54 Gambia, The 1.20 2003 est. 55 Estonia 1.10 2001 est. 56 Russia 1.10 2001 est. 57 Guatemala 1.10 2003 est. 58 Somalia 1.00 2001 est. 59 India 0.90 2001 est. 60 Panama 0.90 2003 est. 61 Senegal 0.80 2003 est. 62 Argentina 0.70 2001 est. 63 Brazil 0.70 2003 est. 64 Venezuela 0.70 2001 est. 65 Spain 0.70 2001 est. 66 El Salvador 0.70 2003 est. 67 Colombia 0.70 2003 est. 68 Costa Rica 0.60 2003 est. 69 Mauritania 0.60 2003 est. 70 Latvia 0.60 2001 est. 71 United States 0.60 2003 est. 72 Papua New Guinea 0.60 2003 est. 73 Italy 0.50 2001 est. 74 Paraguay 0.50 2003 est. 75 Peru 0.50 2003 est. 76 Nepal 0.50 2001 est. 77 France 0.40 2003 est. 78 Vietnam 0.40 2003 est. 79 Switzerland 0.40 2001 est. 80 Portugal 0.40 2001 est. 81 Malaysia 0.40 2003 est. 82 Austria 0.30 2003 est. 83 Ecuador 0.30 2003 est. 84 Belarus 0.30 2001 est. 85 Uruguay 0.30 2001 est. 86 Chile 0.30 2003 est. 87 Mexico 0.30 2003 est. 88 Libya 0.30 2001 est. 89 Canada 0.30 2003 est. 90 Bermuda 0.30 2005 91 Bahrain 0.20 2001 est. 92 Belgium 0.20 2003 est. 93 United Kingdom 0.20 2001 est. 94 Singapore 0.20 2003 est. 95 Nicaragua 0.20 2003 est. 96 Netherlands 0.20 2001 est. 97 Malta 0.20 2001 est. 98 Moldova 0.20 2001 est. 99 Luxembourg 0.20 2001 est. 100 Kazakhstan 0.20 2001 est. 101 Iran 0.20 2005 est. 102 Iceland 0.20 2001 est. 103 Greece 0.20 2001 est. 104 Denmark 0.20 2003 est. 105 United Arab Emirates 0.18 2001 est. 106 Comoros 0.12 2001 est. 107 Kuwait 0.12 2001 est. 108 Algeria 0.10 2001 est. 109 Australia 0.10 2003 est. 110 Bangladesh 0.10 2001 est. 111 Bolivia 0.10 2003 est. 112 Bulgaria 0.10 2001 est. 113 Sri Lanka 0.10 2001 est. 114 Mauritius 0.10 2001 est. 115 Morocco 0.10 2001 est. 116 Georgia 0.10 2001 est. 117 Fiji 0.10 2003 est. 118 Finland 0.10 2003 est. 119 Czech Republic 0.10 2001 est. 120 Ireland 0.10 2001 est. 121 Egypt 0.10 2001 est. 122 Cyprus 0.10 2003 est. 123 Cuba 0.10 2003 est. 124 China 0.10 2003 est. 125 Tajikistan 0.10 2001 est. 126 Syria 0.10 2001 est. 127 Sweden 0.10 2001 est. 128 Slovenia 0.10 2001 est. 129 Philippines 0.10 2003 est. 130 Romania 0.10 2001 est. 131 Poland 0.10 2001 est. 132 Pakistan 0.10 2001 est. 133 Macedonia 0.10 2001 est. 134 Yemen 0.10 2001 est. 135 Uzbekistan 0.10 2001 est. 136 Turkmenistan 0.10 2004 est. 137 Turkey 0.10 2001 est. 138 Tunisia 0.10 2005 est. 139 Mongolia 0.10 2003 est. 140 Slovakia 0.10 2001 est. 141 Lithuania 0.10 2001 est. 142 Lebanon 0.10 2001 est. 143 Laos 0.10 2003 est. 144 Korea, South 0.10 2003 est. 145 Kyrgyzstan 0.10 2001 est. 146 Jordan 0.10 2001 est. 147 New Zealand 0.10 2003 est. 148 Norway 0.10 2001 est. 149 Maldives 0.10 2001 est. 150 Oman 0.10 2001 est. 151 Japan 0.10 2003 est. 152 Iraq 0.10 2001 est. 153 Israel 0.10 2001 est. 154 Indonesia 0.10 2003 est. 155 Hungary 0.10 2001 est. 156 Croatia 0.10 2001 est. 157 Hong Kong 0.10 2003 est. 158 Germany 0.10 2001 est. 159 Brunei 0.10 2003 est. 160 Bhutan 0.10 2001 est. 161 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.10 2001 est. 162 Azerbaijan 0.10 2003 est. 163 Armenia 0.10 2003 est. 164 Qatar 0.09 2001 est. 165 Cape Verde 0.04 166 Afghanistan 0.01 2001 est. 167 Saudi Arabia 0.01 2001 est. 168 Svalbard 0.00 2001

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2156

Rank Country HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS Date of Information

1 South Africa 5,300,000 2003 est. 2 India 5,100,000 2001 est. 3 Nigeria 3,600,000 2003 est. 4 Zimbabwe 1,800,000 2001 est. 5 Tanzania 1,600,000 2003 est. 6 Ethiopia 1,500,000 2003 est. 7 Mozambique 1,300,000 2003 est. 8 Kenya 1,200,000 2003 est. 9 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1,100,000 2003 est. 10 United States 950,000 2003 est. 11 Zambia 920,000 2003 est. 12 Malawi 900,000 2003 est. 13 Russia 860,000 2001 est. 14 China 840,000 2003 est. 15 Brazil 660,000 2003 est. 16 Cote d'Ivoire 570,000 2003 est. 17 Thailand 570,000 2003 est. 18 Cameroon 560,000 2003 est. 19 Uganda 530,000 2001 est. 20 Sudan 400,000 2001 est. 21 Ukraine 360,000 2001 est. 22 Botswana 350,000 2003 est. 23 Ghana 350,000 2003 est. 24 Burma 330,000 2003 est. 25 Lesotho 320,000 2003 est. 26 Burkina Faso 300,000 2003 est. 27 Haiti 280,000 2003 est. 28 Central African Republic 260,000 2003 est. 29 Burundi 250,000 2003 est. 30 Rwanda 250,000 2003 est. 31 Angola 240,000 2003 est. 32 Vietnam 220,000 2003 est. 33 Swaziland 220,000 2003 est. 34 Namibia 210,000 2001 est. 35 Chad 200,000 2003 est. 36 Colombia 190,000 2003 est. 37 Cambodia 170,000 2003 est. 38 Sierra Leone 170,000 2001 est. 39 Mexico 160,000 2003 est. 40 Guinea 140,000 2003 est. 41 Madagascar 140,000 2003 est. 42 Italy 140,000 2001 est. 43 Mali 140,000 2003 est. 44 Spain 140,000 2001 est. 45 Argentina 130,000 2001 est. 46 France 120,000 2003 est. 47 Indonesia 110,000 2003 est. 48 Togo 110,000 2003 est. 49 Venezuela 110,000 1999 est. 50 Liberia 100,000 2003 est. 51 Congo, Republic of the 90,000 2003 est. 52 Dominican Republic 88,000 2003 est. 53 Peru 82,000 2003 est. 54 Guatemala 78,000 2003 est. 55 Pakistan 74,000 2001 est. 56 Niger 70,000 2003 est. 57 Benin 68,000 2003 est. 58 Iran 66,000 2005 est. 59 Honduras 63,000 2003 est. 60 Nepal 61,000 2001 est. 61 Eritrea 60,000 2003 est. 62 Papua New Guinea 60,000 2005 est. 63 Canada 56,000 2003 est. 64 Malaysia 52,000 2003 est. 65 United Kingdom 51,000 2001 est. 66 Gabon 48,000 2003 est. 67 Senegal 44,000 2003 est. 68 Germany 43,000 2001 est. 69 Somalia 43,000 2001 est. 70 El Salvador 29,000 2003 est. 71 Trinidad and Tobago 29,000 2003 est. 72 Chile 26,000 2003 est. 73 Jamaica 22,000 2003 est. 74 Portugal 22,000 2001 est. 75 Ecuador 21,000 2003 est. 76 Netherlands 19,000 2001 est. 77 Guinea-Bissau 17,000 2001 est. 78 Kazakhstan 16,500 2001 est. 79 Panama 16,000 2003 est. 80 Belarus 15,000 2001 est. 81 Morocco 15,000 2001 est. 82 Paraguay 15,000 1999 est. 83 Australia 14,000 2003 est. 84 Poland 14,000 2003 est. 85 Bangladesh 13,000 2001 est. 86 Switzerland 13,000 2001 est. 87 Costa Rica 12,000 2003 est. 88 Yemen 12,000 2001 est. 89 Japan 12,000 2003 est. 90 Egypt 12,000 2001 est. 91 Guyana 11,000 2003 est. 92 Uzbekistan 11,000 2003 est. 93 Austria 10,000 2003 est. 94 Belgium 10,000 2003 est. 95 Libya 10,000 2001 est. 96 Mauritania 9,500 2003 est. 97 Algeria 9,100 2003 est. 98 Greece 9,100 2001 est. 99 Djibouti 9,100 2003 est. 100 Philippines 9,000 2003 est. 101 Korea, South 8,300 2003 est. 102 Estonia 7,800 2003 est. 103 Latvia 7,600 2001 est. 104 Puerto Rico 7,397 105 Gambia, The 6,800 2003 est. 106 Romania 6,500 2001 est. 107 Nicaragua 6,400 2003 est. 108 Uruguay 6,000 2001 est. 109 Equatorial Guinea 5,900 2001 est. 110 Bahamas, The 5,600 2003 est. 111 Moldova 5,500 2001 est. 112 Suriname 5,200 2001 est. 113 Denmark 5,000 2003 est. 114 Bolivia 4,900 2003 est. 115 Singapore 4,100 2003 est. 116 Kyrgyzstan 3,900 2003 est. 117 Belize 3,600 2003 est. 118 Sweden 3,600 2001 est. 119 Sri Lanka 3,500 2001 est. 120 Cuba 3,300 2003 est. 121 Georgia 3,000 2003 est. 122 Israel 3,000 1999 est. 123 Ireland 2,800 2001 est. 124 Lebanon 2,800 2003 est. 125 Hungary 2,800 2001 est. 126 Armenia 2,600 2003 est. 127 Hong Kong 2,600 2003 est. 128 Barbados 2,500 2003 est. 129 Czech Republic 2,500 2001 est. 130 Norway 2,100 2001 est. 131 Laos 1,700 2003 est. 132 Finland 1,500 2003 est. 133 Azerbaijan 1,400 2003 est. 134 New Zealand 1,400 2003 est. 135 Lithuania 1,300 2003 est. 136 Oman 1,300 2001 est. 137 Cyprus 1,000 1999 est. 138 Tunisia 1,000 2003 est. 139 Bosnia and Herzegovina 900 2003 est. 140 Cape Verde 775 141 Mauritius 700 2001 est. 142 Bahrain 600 2003 est. 143 Jordan 600 2003 est. 144 Fiji 600 2003 est. 145 Iraq 500 2003 est. 146 Mongolia 500 2003 est 147 Syria 500 2003 est. 148 Malta 500 2003 est. 149 Luxembourg 500 2003 est. 150 Bulgaria 346 2001 est. 151 Slovenia 280 2001 est. 152 Iceland 220 2001 est. 153 Brunei 200 2003 est. 154 Slovakia 200 2003 est. 155 Croatia 200 2001 est. 156 Macedonia 200 2003 est. 157 Turkmenistan 200 2003 est. 158 Tajikistan 200 2003 est. 159 Bermuda 163 2005 160 Bhutan 100 1999 est. 161 Maldives 100 2001 est. 162 Greenland 100 163 Svalbard 0 2001

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2157

Rank Country HIV/AIDS - deaths Date of Information

1 South Africa 370,000 2003 est. 2 India 310,000 2001 est. 3 Nigeria 310,000 2003 est. 4 Zimbabwe 170,000 2003 est. 5 Tanzania 160,000 2003 est. 6 Kenya 150,000 2003 est. 7 Ethiopia 120,000 2003 est. 8 Mozambique 110,000 2003 est. 9 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 100,000 2003 est. 10 Zambia 89,000 2003 est. 11 Malawi 84,000 2003 est. 12 Uganda 78,000 2003 est. 13 Thailand 58,000 2003 est. 14 Cameroon 49,000 2003 est. 15 Cote d'Ivoire 47,000 2003 est. 16 China 44,000 2003 est. 17 Botswana 33,000 2003 est. 18 Ghana 30,000 2003 est. 19 Lesotho 29,000 2003 est. 20 Burkina Faso 29,000 2003 est. 21 Burundi 25,000 2003 est. 22 Haiti 24,000 2003 est. 23 Central African Republic 23,000 2003 est. 24 Sudan 23,000 2003 est. 25 Rwanda 22,000 2003 est. 26 Angola 21,000 2003 est. 27 Burma 20,000 2003 est. 28 Ukraine 20,000 2003 est. 29 Chad 18,000 2003 est. 30 United States 17,011 2005 est. 31 Swaziland 17,000 2003 est. 32 Namibia 16,000 2003 est. 33 Brazil 15,000 2003 est. 34 Cambodia 15,000 2003 est. 35 Mali 12,000 2003 est. 36 Sierra Leone 11,000 2001 est. 37 Togo 10,000 2003 est. 38 Congo, Republic of the 9,700 2003 est. 39 Guinea 9,000 2003 est. 40 Russia 9,000 2001 est. 41 Vietnam 9,000 2003 est. 42 Dominican Republic 7,900 2003 est. 43 Madagascar 7,500 2003 est. 44 Liberia 7,200 2003 est. 45 Eritrea 6,300 2003 est. 46 Benin 5,800 2003 est. 47 Guatemala 5,800 2003 est. 48 Mexico 5,000 2003 est. 49 Pakistan 4,900 2003 est. 50 Niger 4,800 2003 est. 51 Peru 4,200 2003 est. 52 Honduras 4,100 2003 est. 53 Venezuela 4,100 2003 est. 54 Colombia 3,600 2003 est. 55 Senegal 3,500 2003 est. 56 Nepal 3,100 2003 est. 57 Gabon 3,000 2003 est. 58 Indonesia 2,400 2003 est. 59 El Salvador 2,200 2003 est. 60 Malaysia 2,000 2003 est. 61 Trinidad and Tobago 1,900 2003 est. 62 Ecuador 1,700 2003 est. 63 Iran 1,600 2005 est. 64 Argentina 1,500 2003 est. 65 Canada 1,500 2003 est. 66 Chile 1,400 2003 est. 67 Guinea-Bissau 1,200 2001 est. 68 Guyana 1,100 2003 est. 69 Belarus 1,000 2001 est. 70 France 1,000 2003 est. 71 Italy 1,000 2003 est. 72 Spain 1,000 2003 est. 73 Portugal 1,000 2003 est. 74 Germany 1,000 2003 est. 75 Costa Rica 900 2003 est. 76 Jamaica 900 2003 est. 77 Egypt 700 2003 est. 78 Djibouti 690 2003 est. 79 Bangladesh 650 2001 est. 80 Gambia, The 600 2003 est. 81 Paraguay 600 2003 est. 82 Papua New Guinea 600 2003 est. 83 Algeria 500 2003 est. 84 Japan 500 2003 est. 85 Bolivia 500 2003 est. 86 Jordan 500 2003 est. 87 Latvia 500 2003 est. 88 Suriname 500 2003 est. 89 Uzbekistan 500 2003 est. 90 Uruguay 500 2003 est. 91 United Kingdom 500 2003 est. 92 Philippines 500 2003 est. 93 Panama 500 2003 est. 94 Nicaragua 500 2003 est. 95 Mauritania 500 2003 est. 96 Bermuda 392 2005 97 Equatorial Guinea 370 2001 est. 98 Romania 350 2001 est. 99 Moldova 300 2001 est. 100 Cape Verde 225 101 Armenia 200 2003 est. 102 Belize 200 2003 est. 103 Oman 200 2003 est. 104 Lithuania 200 2003 est. 105 Lebanon 200 2003 est. 106 Laos 200 2003 est. 107 Kazakhstan 200 2003 est. 108 Korea, South 200 2003 est. 109 Kyrgyzstan 200 2003 est. 110 Hong Kong 200 2003 est. 111 Georgia 200 2003 est. 112 Fiji 200 2003 est. 113 Tunisia 200 2003 est. 114 Syria 200 2003 est. 115 Singapore 200 2003 est. 116 New Zealand 200 2003 est. 117 Mongolia 200 2003 est. 118 Estonia 200 2003 est. 119 Cuba 200 2003 est. 120 Sri Lanka 200 2003 est. 121 Brunei 200 2003 est. 122 Bahamas, The 200 2003 est. 123 Barbados 200 2003 est. 124 Bahrain 200 2003 est. 125 Azerbaijan 100 2001 est. 126 Turkmenistan 100 2004 est. 127 Tajikistan 100 2001 est. 128 Switzerland 100 2003 est. 129 Sweden 100 2003 est. 130 Slovenia 100 2003 est. 131 Poland 100 2001 est. 132 Norway 100 2003 est. 133 Netherlands 100 2003 est. 134 Malta 100 2003 est. 135 Mauritius 100 2001 est. 136 Macedonia 100 2003 est. 137 Luxembourg 100 2003 est. 138 Slovakia 100 2001 est. 139 Israel 100 2001 est. 140 Iceland 100 2003 est. 141 Hungary 100 2001 est. 142 Greece 100 2003 est. 143 Finland 100 2003 est. 144 Bulgaria 100 2001 est. 145 Bosnia and Herzegovina 100 2001 est. 146 Denmark 100 2003 est. 147 Ireland 100 2003 est. 148 Belgium 100 2003 est. 149 Austria 100 2003 est. 150 Czech Republic 10 2001 est. 151 Croatia 10 2001 est. 152 Svalbard 0 2001

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2173

Rank Country Oil - production(bbl/day) Date of Information

1 World 84,790,000 2007 est. 2 Saudi Arabia 10,250,000 2007 est. 3 Russia 9,876,000 2007 est. 4 United States 8,457,000 2007 est. 5 Iran 4,033,000 2007 est. 6 China 3,725,000 2008 est. 7 Mexico 3,501,000 2007 est. 8 Canada 3,425,000 2007 est. 9 United Arab Emirates 2,948,000 2007 est. 10 European Union 2,674,000 2007 11 Venezuela 2,667,000 2007 est. 12 Kuwait 2,613,000 2007 est. 13 Norway 2,565,000 2007 est. 14 Nigeria 2,352,000 2007 est. 15 Brazil 2,277,000 2007 est. 16 Algeria 2,173,000 2007 est. 17 Iraq 2,094,000 2007 est. 18 Angola 1,910,000 2008 est. 19 Libya 1,845,000 2007 est. 20 United Kingdom 1,690,000 2007 est. 21 Kazakhstan 1,445,000 2007 est. 22 Qatar 1,125,000 2007 est. 23 Azerbaijan 1,099,000 2008 est. 24 Indonesia 1,044,000 2007 est. 25 India 880,500 2007 est. 26 Argentina 790,800 2007 est. 27 Malaysia 753,700 2008 est. 28 Oman 714,300 2007 est. 29 Egypt 664,000 2007 est. 30 Australia 600,000 2008 est. 31 Colombia 550,000 2008 est. 32 Ecuador 511,600 2007 est. 33 Sudan 466,100 2007 est. 34 Syria 433,200 2007 est. 35 Equatorial Guinea 368,500 2007 est. 36 Vietnam 350,700 2007 est. 37 Thailand 348,600 2007 est. 38 Yemen 320,600 2007 est. 39 Denmark 313,800 2007 est. 40 Congo, Republic of the 261,000 41 Gabon 243,900 2007 est. 42 South Africa 199,100 2007 est. 43 Brunei 180,500 2007 est. 44 Turkmenistan 180,400 2007 est. 45 Italy 166,600 2007 est. 46 Trinidad and Tobago 163,300 2007 est. 47 Chad 156,000 2008 est. 48 Germany 148,100 2007 est. 49 Japan 129,800 2007 est. 50 Peru 125,000 2008 est. 51 Romania 112,400 2007 est. 52 Ukraine 102,400 2007 est. 53 Uzbekistan 99,260 2007 est. 54 Netherlands 88,950 2007 est. 55 Cameroon 87,400 2008 est. 56 Tunisia 86,210 2007 est. 57 Timor-Leste 78,480 2007 est. 58 France 69,680 2007 est. 59 Pakistan 68,670 2007 est. 60 Bolivia 61,790 2007 est. 61 Cuba 61,300 2008 est. 62 Cote d'Ivoire 54,400 2008 est. 63 Bahrain 48,610 2007 est. 64 New Zealand 47,850 2007 est. 65 Turkey 42,800 2007 est. 66 Papua New Guinea 42,100 2008 est. 67 Poland 37,670 2007 est. 68 Belarus 33,700 2007 est. 69 Hungary 32,580 2007 est. 70 Spain 29,000 2007 est. 71 Austria 24,920 2007 est. 72 Philippines 23,930 2007 est. 73 Croatia 23,620 2007 est. 74 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 22,160 2007 est. 75 Burma 21,900 2007 est. 76 Korea, South 20,970 2007 est. 77 Virgin Islands 17,620 2007 est. 78 Guatemala 15,820 2007 est. 79 Mauritania 14,990 2007 est. 80 Czech Republic 13,530 2007 est. 81 Suriname 13,000 2007 est. 82 Slovakia 12,770 2007 est. 83 Chile 11,610 2007 est. 84 Serbia 11,410 2007 est. 85 Taiwan 10,600 2007 est. 86 Singapore 9,836 2007 est. 87 Finland 8,951 2007 est. 88 Belgium 8,671 2007 est. 89 Lithuania 8,250 2007 est. 90 Ghana 7,571 2007 est. 91 Estonia 7,430 2007 est. 92 Bangladesh 6,746 2007 est. 93 Albania 6,425 2007 est. 94 Portugal 6,281 2007 est. 95 Israel 5,966 2007 est. 96 Greece 4,265 2007 est. 97 Morocco 3,746 2007 est. 98 Bulgaria 3,661 2007 est. 99 Switzerland 3,202 2007 est. 100 Belize 3,000 2007 est. 101 Aruba 2,356 2007 est. 102 Sweden 2,350 2007 est. 103 Puerto Rico 1,354 2007 est. 104 Barbados 1,111 2007 est. 105 Georgia 979 2007 est. 106 Kyrgyzstan 965 2007 est. 107 Uruguay 936 2007 est. 108 Tajikistan 281 2007 est. 109 Zambia 150 2007 est. 110 Korea, North 141 2007 est. 111 Madagascar 92 2007 est. 112 Dominican Republic 12 2004 113 Ethiopia 7 2007 est. 114 Slovenia 5 2007 est. 115 Sierra Leone 1 2007 est. 116 Antigua and Barbuda 0 2007 est. 117 Botswana 0 2007 est. 118 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 2007 est. 119 Solomon Islands 0 2007 est. 120 Zimbabwe 0 2007 est. 121 Swaziland 0 2007 est. 122 Samoa 0 2007 est. 123 Western Sahara 0 2007 est. 124 Namibia 0 2007 est. 125 British Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 126 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2007 est. 127 Burkina Faso 0 2007 est. 128 Uganda 0 2007 est. 129 Tanzania 0 2007 est. 130 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2007 est. 131 Togo 0 2007 est. 132 Tonga 0 2007 est. 133 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2007 est. 134 Saint Lucia 0 2007 est. 135 Somalia 0 2007 est. 136 Saint Helena 0 2007 est. 137 Senegal 0 2005 est. 138 Seychelles 0 2007 est. 139 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2007 est. 140 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2007 est. 141 Rwanda 0 2007 est. 142 Guinea-Bissau 0 2007 est. 143 Panama 0 2007 est. 144 Paraguay 0 2007 est. 145 Nicaragua 0 2005 est. 146 Netherlands Antilles 0 2005 est. 147 Nauru 0 2007 est. 148 Nepal 0 2007 est. 149 Vanuatu 0 2007 est. 150 Niger 0 2007 est. 151 Niue 0 2007 est. 152 New Caledonia 0 2007 est. 153 Mozambique 0 2007 est. 154 Maldives 0 2007 est. 155 Malta 0 2007 est. 156 Mauritius 0 2007 est. 157 Macau 0 2007 est. 158 Luxembourg 0 2007 est. 159 Lesotho 0 2007 est. 160 Liberia 0 2007 est. 161 Latvia 0 2007 est. 162 Lebanon 0 2007 est. 163 Laos 0 2007 est. 164 Kosovo 0 2007 165 Kiribati 0 2007 est. 166 Mali 0 2007 est. 167 Macedonia 0 2007 168 Montenegro 0 2007 est. 169 Malawi 0 2007 est. 170 Montserrat 0 2007 est. 171 Mongolia 0 2007 est. 172 Moldova 0 2007 est. 173 Kenya 0 2008 est. 174 Jordan 0 2005 est. 175 Jamaica 0 2005 est. 176 Iceland 0 2007 est. 177 Gambia, The 0 2007 est. 178 French Polynesia 0 2007 est. 179 Faroe Islands 0 2007 est. 180 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2007 est. 181 Fiji 0 2007 est. 182 El Salvador 0 2005 183 Eritrea 0 2007 est. 184 Ireland 0 2005 est. 185 Dominica 0 2007 est. 186 Djibouti 0 2007 est. 187 Cyprus 0 2008 est. 188 Cook Islands 0 2007 est. 189 Honduras 0 2007 est. 190 Hong Kong 0 2007 est. 191 Haiti 0 2007 est. 192 Guyana 0 2007 est. 193 Guinea 0 2007 est. 194 Guam 0 2007 est. 195 Greenland 0 2007 est. 196 Grenada 0 2007 est. 197 Gibraltar 0 2007 est. 198 Cape Verde 0 2007 est. 199 Central African Republic 0 2007 est. 200 Costa Rica 0 2004 201 Comoros 0 2007 est. 202 Cayman Islands 0 2007 est. 203 Sri Lanka 0 2005 est. 204 Cambodia 0 2007 est. 205 Burundi 0 2007 est. 206 Bhutan 0 2007 est. 207 Benin 0 2007 est. 208 Bahamas, The 0 2007 est. 209 Bermuda 0 2007 est. 210 Armenia 0 2007 est. 211 American Samoa 0 2007 est. 212 Afghanistan 0 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2174

Rank Country Oil - consumption(bbl/day) Date of Information

1 World 85,270,000 2007 est. 2 United States 20,680,000 2007 est. 3 European Union 14,390,000 2007 4 China 7,578,000 2007 est. 5 Japan 5,007,000 2007 est. 6 Russia 2,858,000 2007 est. 7 India 2,722,000 2007 est. 8 Germany 2,456,000 2007 est. 9 Brazil 2,372,000 2007 est. 10 Canada 2,371,000 2007 est. 11 Saudi Arabia 2,311,000 2007 est. 12 Korea, South 2,214,000 2007 est. 13 Mexico 2,119,000 2007 est. 14 France 1,950,000 2007 est. 15 United Kingdom 1,763,000 2007 est. 16 Italy 1,702,000 2007 est. 17 Iran 1,679,000 2006 est. 18 Spain 1,611,000 2007 est. 19 Indonesia 1,219,000 2006 est. 20 Netherlands 984,200 2007 est. 21 Australia 966,200 2007 est. 22 Taiwan 950,500 2006 est. 23 Thailand 928,600 2006 est. 24 Singapore 834,600 2006 est. 25 Venezuela 738,300 2007 est. 26 Turkey 676,600 2007 est. 27 Egypt 652,700 2006 est. 28 Belgium 628,500 2007 est. 29 Argentina 525,100 2006 est. 30 Poland 524,000 2007 est. 31 South Africa 504,900 2006 est. 32 Malaysia 501,100 2006 est. 33 Greece 441,400 2007 est. 34 United Arab Emirates 381,000 2006 est. 35 Sweden 353,700 2007 est. 36 Pakistan 345,000 2006 est. 37 Ukraine 344,000 2006 est. 38 Philippines 340,100 2006 est. 39 Kuwait 334,700 2006 est. 40 Nigeria 312,000 2006 est. 41 Portugal 301,000 2007 est. 42 Iraq 295,000 2007 est. 43 Hong Kong 293,100 2006 est. 44 Austria 289,400 2007 est. 45 Algeria 279,800 2006 est. 46 Libya 278,700 2006 est. 47 Vietnam 271,100 2007 est. 48 Colombia 265,400 2006 est. 49 Syria 261,000 2006 est. 50 Chile 253,000 2006 est. 51 Switzerland 244,900 2007 est. 52 Kazakhstan 243,100 2006 est. 53 Romania 238,200 2006 est. 54 Israel 232,300 2006 est. 55 Finland 228,200 2007 est. 56 Norway 224,500 2007 est. 57 Puerto Rico 215,000 2007 est. 58 Czech Republic 207,400 2007 est. 59 Cuba 203,500 2006 est. 60 Ireland 200,900 2007 est. 61 Denmark 190,600 2007 est. 62 Belarus 179,700 2006 est. 63 Morocco 179,700 2006 est. 64 Peru 167,900 2006 est. 65 Hungary 162,800 2007 est. 66 Ecuador 160,500 2006 est. 67 Azerbaijan 160,000 2007 est. 68 New Zealand 158,400 2007 est. 69 Uzbekistan 157,100 2006 est. 70 Yemen 135,400 2006 est. 71 Dominican Republic 117,300 2006 est. 72 Jordan 110,700 2006 est. 73 Bulgaria 109,600 2006 est. 74 Qatar 108,900 2006 est. 75 Turkmenistan 107,400 2006 est. 76 Lebanon 106,000 2006 est. 77 Croatia 101,800 2006 est. 78 Panama 92,790 2006 est. 79 Virgin Islands 91,680 2007 est. 80 Tunisia 91,110 2006 est. 81 Bangladesh 89,940 2006 est. 82 Sri Lanka 86,030 2006 est. 83 Serbia 85,000 2003 est. 84 Slovakia 82,860 2007 est. 85 Sudan 79,760 2006 est. 86 Guatemala 74,230 2006 est. 87 Jamaica 73,370 2006 est. 88 Oman 69,100 2006 est. 89 Netherlands Antilles 67,450 2006 est. 90 Kenya 65,530 2006 est. 91 Luxembourg 60,640 2007 est. 92 Cyprus 57,830 2006 est. 93 Lithuania 57,170 2006 est. 94 Angola 55,640 2006 est. 95 Slovenia 54,310 2006 est. 96 Ghana 49,300 2006 est. 97 Honduras 46,830 2006 est. 98 Costa Rica 45,600 2006 est. 99 El Salvador 44,330 2006 est. 100 Burma 43,140 2006 est. 101 Armenia 41,090 2006 est. 102 Senegal 36,200 2006 est. 103 Latvia 35,180 2006 est. 104 Uruguay 33,400 2007 est. 105 Bahrain 32,830 2006 est. 106 Tajikistan 31,590 2006 est. 107 Bolivia 31,500 2007 est. 108 Albania 30,900 2006 est. 109 Ethiopia 30,450 2006 est. 110 Estonia 30,440 2006 est. 111 Papua New Guinea 29,050 2006 est. 112 Nicaragua 28,880 2006 est. 113 Trinidad and Tobago 28,730 2006 est. 114 Bosnia and Herzegovina 27,590 2006 est. 115 Paraguay 27,410 2006 est. 116 Tanzania 27,270 2006 est. 117 Bahamas, The 26,830 2006 est. 118 Cote d'Ivoire 25,950 2006 est. 119 Cameroon 24,500 2006 est. 120 Korea, North 24,000 2006 est. 121 Gibraltar 22,620 2006 est. 122 Mauritius 22,450 2006 est. 123 Iceland 21,120 2007 est. 124 Namibia 19,840 2006 est. 125 Macedonia 19,590 2006 est. 126 Mauritania 19,320 2006 est. 127 Malta 18,680 2006 est. 128 Madagascar 18,190 2006 est. 129 Togo 17,770 2006 est. 130 Nepal 16,960 2006 est. 131 Macau 16,570 2006 est. 132 Moldova 15,770 2006 est. 133 Zambia 14,760 2006 est. 134 Zimbabwe 14,590 2006 est. 135 Mozambique 14,390 2006 est. 136 Brunei 13,200 2006 est. 137 Gabon 13,170 2006 est. 138 Georgia 12,980 2006 est. 139 Mongolia 12,860 2006 est. 140 Guam 12,780 2007 est. 141 Haiti 12,370 2006 est. 142 Suriname 12,370 2006 est. 143 Kyrgyzstan 12,330 2006 est. 144 Djibouti 12,170 2006 est. 145 Botswana 11,640 2006 est. 146 Uganda 11,570 2006 est. 147 New Caledonia 11,560 2006 est. 148 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 10,460 2006 est. 149 Guyana 10,440 2006 est. 150 Fiji 9,971 2006 est. 151 Benin 9,232 2007 est. 152 Barbados 8,674 2006 est. 153 Guinea 8,559 2006 est. 154 Burkina Faso 8,470 2006 est. 155 Sierra Leone 8,430 2006 est. 156 Congo, Republic of the 7,677 2006 est. 157 Aruba 7,102 2006 est. 158 Belize 7,000 2006 est. 159 Seychelles 6,560 2006 est. 160 Malawi 6,160 2006 est. 161 French Polynesia 6,082 2006 est. 162 Niger 5,550 2006 est. 163 Maldives 5,490 2006 est. 164 Rwanda 5,320 2006 est. 165 Eritrea 5,186 2006 est. 166 Somalia 5,040 2006 est. 167 Afghanistan 5,036 2006 est. 168 Mali 4,640 2006 est. 169 Faroe Islands 4,628 2006 est. 170 Bermuda 4,566 2006 est. 171 Antigua and Barbuda 4,109 2006 est. 172 American Samoa 4,053 2006 est. 173 Greenland 3,927 2006 est. 174 Cambodia 3,736 2006 est. 175 Liberia 3,687 2006 est. 176 Swaziland 3,490 2006 est. 177 Laos 2,996 2006 est. 178 Burundi 2,956 2006 est. 179 Saint Lucia 2,780 2006 est. 180 Cayman Islands 2,767 2006 est. 181 Guinea-Bissau 2,520 2006 est. 182 Central African Republic 2,322 2006 est. 183 Cape Verde 2,117 2006 est. 184 Gambia, The 2,082 2006 est. 185 Grenada 2,043 2006 est. 186 Western Sahara 1,760 2006 est. 187 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,570 2006 est. 188 Lesotho 1,400 2006 est. 189 Chad 1,352 2006 est. 190 Solomon Islands 1,320 2006 est. 191 Bhutan 1,250 2006 est. 192 Samoa 1,130 2006 est. 193 Nauru 1,070 2006 est. 194 Saint Kitts and Nevis 950 2006 est. 195 Equatorial Guinea 918 2006 est. 196 Tonga 870 2006 est. 197 Dominica 851 2006 est. 198 Comoros 712 2006 est. 199 Vanuatu 660 2006 est. 200 Sao Tome and Principe 660 2006 est. 201 British Virgin Islands 650 2006 est. 202 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 560 2006 est. 203 Montserrat 506 2006 est. 204 Cook Islands 464 2006 est. 205 Montenegro 450 2004 206 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 252 2006 est. 207 Kiribati 232 2006 est. 208 Turks and Caicos Islands 80 2006 est. 209 Saint Helena 60 2006 est. 210 Niue 20 2006 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2175

Rank Country Oil - imports(bbl/day) Date of Information

1 World 65,410,000 2005 2 European Union 17,710,000 2001 3 United States 13,710,000 2005 4 Japan 5,470,000 2005 5 China 3,190,000 2007 6 Germany 3,026,000 2005 7 Netherlands 2,648,000 2005 8 France 2,465,000 2005 9 Korea, South 2,410,000 2006 10 Italy 2,223,000 2005 11 India 2,159,000 2005 est. 12 Singapore 2,003,000 2005 13 Spain 1,777,000 2005 14 United Kingdom 1,673,000 2005 15 Canada 1,229,000 2005 16 Taiwan 1,208,000 2006 17 Belgium 1,119,000 2005 18 Thailand 832,900 2005 19 Turkey 714,100 2005 20 Brazil 648,800 2005 21 Australia 615,000 2005 22 Sweden 581,000 2005 23 Greece 527,200 2005 24 Indonesia 500,000 2006 est. 25 Poland 499,200 2005 26 Virgin Islands 492,300 2005 27 Ukraine 441,200 2005 28 Belarus 394,100 2005 est. 29 Portugal 390,300 2005 30 Mexico 385,400 2005 31 Philippines 355,800 2005 32 Israel 334,300 2005 33 South Africa 319,000 2006 est. 34 Hong Kong 314,700 2006 35 Austria 313,500 2005 36 Malaysia 308,500 2005 37 Pakistan 290,600 2005 38 Finland 281,300 January-September 2007 est. 39 Netherlands Antilles 277,600 2005 40 Switzerland 274,900 2005 41 Vietnam 271,100 2007 42 Aruba 238,200 2005 43 United Arab Emirates 232,300 2005 44 Puerto Rico 230,700 2005 45 Czech Republic 224,600 2005 46 Chile 222,900 2006 est. 47 Bahrain 221,500 2005 48 Romania 219,000 2005 49 Lithuania 206,700 2005 50 Ireland 194,000 2005 51 Morocco 192,500 2005 est. 52 Hungary 178,400 2005 53 Iran 167,800 2005 54 Denmark 164,000 2006 est. 55 Syria 160,000 2007 est. 56 Bulgaria 158,400 2005 est. 57 Nigeria 154,300 2005 58 Egypt 140,000 2005 59 New Zealand 137,300 2005 60 Slovakia 134,100 2005 61 Kazakhstan 127,600 2005 62 Cuba 123,200 2005 63 Dominican Republic 116,600 2005 64 Peru 115,600 2005 65 Jordan 112,300 2005 est. 66 Croatia 112,200 2005 67 Lebanon 97,590 2005 68 Norway 92,650 2005 69 Tunisia 89,130 2005 70 Panama 88,790 2005 71 Sri Lanka 87,090 2005 72 Bangladesh 83,220 2005 73 Russia 73,140 2005 74 Guatemala 72,960 2006 est. 75 Kenya 72,780 2005 76 Trinidad and Tobago 72,780 2005 77 Cote d'Ivoire 71,850 2005 78 Jamaica 71,280 2005 79 Bahamas, The 69,780 2005 80 Luxembourg 63,760 2005 81 Yemen 62,850 2005 82 Slovenia 59,110 2005 83 Cyprus 55,970 2005 84 Cameroon 50,750 2005 85 Ecuador 47,060 2005 86 Ghana 45,520 2005 87 Latvia 45,340 2005 88 El Salvador 45,210 2006 89 Armenia 44,670 2005 90 Honduras 44,040 2005 91 Uruguay 43,670 2007 92 Costa Rica 43,110 2005 93 Saudi Arabia 41,680 2005 94 Senegal 40,450 2005 95 Uzbekistan 31,440 2005 96 Ethiopia 29,820 2005 97 Nicaragua 29,700 2005 est. 98 Estonia 28,170 2005 99 Bosnia and Herzegovina 27,370 2005 100 Tanzania 26,760 2005 101 Macedonia 26,470 2005 102 Paraguay 25,940 2007 103 Gibraltar 25,080 2005 104 Albania 24,860 2005 est. 105 Papua New Guinea 24,150 2005 106 Mauritius 23,650 2006 107 Mauritania 23,630 2005 108 Argentina 23,380 2005 109 Burma 22,180 2005 est. 110 Angola 19,550 2005 111 Malta 18,910 2005 112 Namibia 17,750 2005 113 Iceland 17,450 2005 114 Madagascar 17,100 2005 115 Benin 16,830 2007 est. 116 Togo 16,650 2005 117 Georgia 15,820 2005 118 Zimbabwe 15,800 2005 est. 119 Oman 15,440 2005 120 Botswana 14,500 2005 121 Moldova 14,450 2005 122 Kyrgyzstan 14,240 2005 123 Macau 13,870 2006 124 Zambia 13,810 2005 125 Guam 13,530 2005 126 Mozambique 13,240 2005 127 Algeria 13,110 2005 est. 128 Mongolia 12,630 2005 est. 129 Colombia 12,480 2005 130 Haiti 11,980 2005 131 Djibouti 11,810 2005 132 New Caledonia 11,780 2005 133 Uganda 11,540 2005 134 Nepal 11,530 2006 est. 135 Guyana 10,960 2005 136 Fiji 10,900 2005 137 Barbados 10,710 2005 138 Korea, North 10,520 2006 est. 139 Guinea 8,811 2005 140 Bolivia 8,600 2007 est. 141 Burkina Faso 8,446 2005 142 Sierra Leone 8,271 2005 143 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 8,220 2006 est. 144 Kuwait 8,022 2005 145 Tajikistan 7,600 2007 146 Sudan 7,558 2005 147 Belize 7,122 2005 148 Malawi 6,788 2005 149 Suriname 6,369 2005 150 French Polynesia 6,271 2005 151 Seychelles 5,722 2005 152 Rwanda 5,597 2005 153 Niger 5,425 2005 154 Maldives 5,362 2005 155 Turkmenistan 5,283 2005 156 Eritrea 4,924 2005 157 Mali 4,860 2005 est. 158 Somalia 4,772 2005 159 Faroe Islands 4,636 2005 160 Antigua and Barbuda 4,556 2005 161 Afghanistan 4,534 2005 162 Bermuda 4,378 2005 163 Azerbaijan 4,267 2005 164 Greenland 4,089 2005 165 American Samoa 4,066 2005 166 Cambodia 3,618 2005 167 Liberia 3,593 2005 168 Swaziland 3,530 2005 169 Laos 3,036 2005 170 Cayman Islands 2,818 2005 171 Burundi 2,635 2005 172 Saint Lucia 2,631 2005 173 Guinea-Bissau 2,560 2005 174 Gabon 2,485 2005 175 Gambia, The 2,123 2005 176 Central African Republic 2,057 2005 177 Western Sahara 1,925 2005 178 Grenada 1,844 2005 179 Cape Verde 1,785 2005 180 Congo, Republic of the 1,702 2005 181 Lesotho 1,500 2005 182 Chad 1,492 2005 183 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,460 2005 184 Solomon Islands 1,426 2005 185 Bhutan 1,152 2005 186 Samoa 1,128 2005 187 Equatorial Guinea 1,070 2005 188 Nauru 1,049 2005 189 Tonga 1,035 2005 190 Saint Kitts and Nevis 918 2005 191 Comoros 755 2005 192 Vanuatu 671 2005 193 Dominica 670 2005 194 Sao Tome and Principe 660 2005 195 British Virgin Islands 650 2005 196 Libya 575 2005 197 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 557 2005 198 Montserrat 483 2005 199 Cook Islands 476 2005 200 Brunei 304 2005 201 Kiribati 259 2005 202 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 249 2005 203 Saint Helena 85 2005 204 Turks and Caicos Islands 84 2005 205 Niue 27 2005 206 Qatar 0 2005 207 Venezuela 0 2006 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2176

Rank Country Oil - exports(bbl/day) Date of Information

1 World 66,190,000 2005 2 Saudi Arabia 8,900,000 2007 est. 3 European Union 6,979,000 2001 4 Russia 5,080,000 2007 5 Norway 2,714,000 2005 6 United Arab Emirates 2,703,000 2005 est. 7 Iran 2,520,000 2006 est. 8 Nigeria 2,473,000 2005 9 Kuwait 2,356,000 2005 10 Canada 2,225,000 2005 11 Mexico 2,204,000 2005 12 Venezuela 2,203,000 2006 est. 13 Algeria 1,844,000 2005 est. 14 United Kingdom 1,749,000 2005 15 Iraq 1,670,000 2007 est. 16 Netherlands 1,639,000 2005 17 Libya 1,455,000 2005 18 Kazakhstan 1,236,000 2005 est. 19 Angola 1,230,000 2005 20 Singapore 1,203,000 2005 21 United States 1,165,000 2005 22 Qatar 1,026,000 2005 23 Azerbaijan 795,600 2007 est. 24 Oman 722,000 2005 25 Italy 616,700 2005 26 France 584,700 2005 27 Germany 563,400 2005 28 Malaysia 546,300 2005 29 Belgium 528,700 2005 30 Brazil 481,100 2005 31 Indonesia 470,000 2006 est. 32 India 450,700 2005 est. 33 Ecuador 421,700 2005 est. 34 Virgin Islands 398,500 2005 35 Vietnam 394,400 2005 36 Equatorial Guinea 375,400 2005 37 Argentina 339,900 2005 38 Australia 337,400 2005 39 Yemen 336,600 2005 40 Denmark 320,000 2006 41 Taiwan 289,200 2006 42 Sudan 282,100 2005 43 Colombia 276,100 2005 44 South Africa 267,700 2005 45 Belarus 256,400 2005 est. 46 Gabon 255,500 2005 47 Syria 254,500 2005 est. 48 Bahrain 238,900 2005 49 Aruba 233,300 2005 50 Congo, Republic of the 230,200 2005 est. 51 Sweden 219,200 2005 52 Trinidad and Tobago 218,800 2005 53 Thailand 207,400 2005 54 Netherlands Antilles 206,900 2005 55 Egypt 204,700 2005 est. 56 Brunei 200,000 2005 57 Ukraine 190,500 2005 58 Spain 181,800 2005 59 Chad 176,700 2005 60 Japan 168,800 2005 61 Lithuania 148,400 2005 62 Finland 126,300 January-September 2007 est. 63 Romania 125,200 2005 64 Greece 125,100 2005 65 Turkey 114,600 2005 66 Cameroon 108,800 2005 67 Cote d'Ivoire 84,940 2005 68 Israel 82,910 2005 69 China 79,060 2007 70 Tunisia 73,790 2005 71 Slovakia 72,240 2005 72 Peru 69,090 2005 est. 73 Hungary 66,660 2005 74 Poland 57,920 2005 75 Bulgaria 50,530 2005 est. 76 Portugal 50,490 2005 77 Austria 46,300 2005 78 Croatia 43,680 2005 79 Philippines 41,160 2005 80 Turkmenistan 40,000 2007 est. 81 Papua New Guinea 39,310 2005 82 Bahamas, The 38,740 2005 83 Chile 32,500 2005 84 Ireland 29,780 2005 85 Pakistan 28,060 2005 86 Czech Republic 27,360 2005 87 Morocco 24,360 2005 est. 88 Hong Kong 22,420 2006 89 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 19,820 2005 90 Bolivia 18,500 2007 est. 91 Guatemala 15,560 2006 est. 92 New Zealand 14,570 2005 93 Uzbekistan 11,940 2005 94 Puerto Rico 10,610 2005 95 Latvia 10,070 2005 96 Switzerland 9,370 2005 97 Estonia 7,000 2005 98 Macedonia 6,768 2005 99 Benin 6,484 2005 100 Ghana 5,709 2005 101 Kenya 5,137 2005 102 Burma 5,000 2006 est. 103 El Salvador 4,963 2006 104 Slovenia 4,535 2005 105 Panama 4,447 2005 106 Uruguay 4,410 2007 107 Senegal 4,298 2005 108 Suriname 2,899 2005 109 Fiji 2,848 2005 110 Kyrgyzstan 2,534 2005 111 Georgia 2,492 2005 112 Costa Rica 2,115 2005 113 Belize 1,960 2006 114 Barbados 1,750 2005 115 Togo 1,547 2005 116 Jamaica 1,535 2005 117 Maldives 1,499 2005 118 Bangladesh 1,351 2005 119 Iceland 861 2005 120 Nicaragua 809 2005 121 Albania 749 2005 est. 122 Madagascar 480 2005 123 Sierra Leone 432 2005 124 Honduras 418 2005 125 New Caledonia 356 2005 126 Sri Lanka 292 2005 127 Luxembourg 282 2005 128 Tajikistan 248 2005 129 Zambia 191 2005 130 Antigua and Barbuda 158 2005 131 Greenland 150 2005 132 Uganda 115 2005 133 Eritrea 55 2005 134 Moldova 50 2005 135 Gambia, The 42 2005 136 Liberia 23 2005 137 Djibouti 19 2005 138 Afghanistan 0 2005 139 Bermuda 0 2005 140 American Samoa 0 2005 141 Bhutan 0 2005 142 Cayman Islands 0 2005 143 Central African Republic 0 2005 144 Saint Lucia 0 2005 145 Somalia 0 2005 146 Saint Helena 0 2005 147 Seychelles 0 2006 148 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2005 149 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2005 150 Rwanda 0 2005 151 Guinea-Bissau 0 2005 152 Mongolia 0 2005 est. 153 Zimbabwe 0 2005 est. 154 Swaziland 0 2005 155 Samoa 0 2005 156 Western Sahara 0 2005 157 Namibia 0 2005 158 British Virgin Islands 0 2005 159 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2005 160 Burkina Faso 0 2005 161 Tanzania 0 2005 162 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2005 163 Tonga 0 2007 est. 164 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2005 165 Macau 0 2005 166 Lesotho 0 2005 167 Lebanon 0 2005 168 Laos 0 2005 169 Kiribati 0 2005 170 Korea, North 0 2006 171 Jordan 0 2005 est. 172 Faroe Islands 0 2005 173 Paraguay 0 2007 174 Nauru 0 2005 175 Nepal 0 2005 176 Vanuatu 0 2005 177 Niger 0 2005 178 Niue 0 2005 179 Mozambique 0 2005 180 Malta 0 2005 181 Mauritania 0 2005 182 Mauritius 0 2006 183 Mali 0 2006 184 Malawi 0 2005 185 Montserrat 0 2005 186 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2005 187 Ethiopia 0 2005 188 Dominican Republic 0 2005 189 Dominica 0 2005 190 Cyprus 0 2005 191 Cook Islands 0 2005 192 Cape Verde 0 2005 193 Cuba 0 2006 194 Haiti 0 2005 195 Guyana 0 2005 196 Guinea 0 2005 197 Guam 0 2005 198 Grenada 0 2005 199 Gibraltar 0 2005 200 French Polynesia 0 2005 201 Comoros 0 2005 202 Cambodia 0 2005 203 Burundi 0 2005 204 Solomon Islands 0 2005 205 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 2005 206 Botswana 0 2005 207 Armenia 0 2005

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2178

Rank Country Oil - proved reserves(bbl) Date of Information

1 World 1,332,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 2 Saudi Arabia 266,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 3 Canada 178,600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 4 Iran 138,400,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 5 Iraq 115,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 6 Kuwait 104,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 7 United Arab Emirates 97,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 8 Venezuela 87,040,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 9 Russia 60,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 10 Libya 41,460,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 11 Nigeria 36,220,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 12 Kazakhstan 30,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 13 United States 20,970,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 14 China 16,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 15 Qatar 15,210,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 16 Algeria 12,200,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 17 Brazil 12,180,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 18 Mexico 11,650,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 19 Angola 9,035,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 20 Azerbaijan 7,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 21 Norway 6,865,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 22 European Union 6,144,000,000 1 January 2008 23 India 5,625,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 24 Oman 5,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 25 Sudan 5,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 26 Ecuador 4,517,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 27 Indonesia 4,370,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 28 Malaysia 4,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 29 Egypt 3,700,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 30 United Kingdom 3,600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 31 Yemen 3,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 32 Argentina 2,587,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 33 Syria 2,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 34 Gabon 2,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 35 Congo, Republic of the 1,600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 36 Colombia 1,506,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 37 Australia 1,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 38 Chad 1,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 39 Denmark 1,188,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 40 Brunei 1,100,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 41 Equatorial Guinea 1,100,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 42 Trinidad and Tobago 728,300,000 1 January 2008 est. 43 Romania 600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 44 Turkmenistan 600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 45 Vietnam 600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 46 Uzbekistan 594,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 47 Bolivia 465,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 48 Thailand 460,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 49 Italy 406,500,000 1 January 2008 est. 50 Tunisia 400,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 51 Ukraine 395,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 52 Peru 382,900,000 1 January 2008 est. 53 Germany 367,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 54 Turkey 300,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 55 Pakistan 289,200,000 1 January 2008 est. 56 Cameroon 200,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 57 Albania 199,100,000 1 January 2008 est. 58 Belarus 198,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 59 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 180,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 60 Chile 150,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 61 Spain 150,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 62 Philippines 138,500,000 1 January 2008 est. 63 Bahrain 124,600,000 1 January 2008 est. 64 Cuba 124,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 65 France 119,800,000 1 January 2008 est. 66 Cote d'Ivoire 100,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 67 Mauritania 100,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 68 Netherlands 100,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 69 Poland 96,380,000 1 January 2008 est. 70 Suriname 88,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 71 Papua New Guinea 88,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 72 Guatemala 83,070,000 1 January 2008 est. 73 Croatia 79,150,000 1 January 2008 est. 74 Serbia 77,500,000 1 January 2008 est. 75 New Zealand 55,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 76 Austria 50,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 77 Burma 50,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 78 Japan 44,120,000 1 January 2008 est. 79 Kyrgyzstan 40,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 80 Georgia 35,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 81 Bangladesh 28,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 82 Hungary 20,180,000 1 January 2008 est. 83 Bulgaria 15,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 84 Czech Republic 15,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 85 South Africa 15,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 86 Ghana 15,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 87 Lithuania 12,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 88 Tajikistan 12,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 89 Greece 10,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 90 Slovakia 9,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 91 Benin 8,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 92 Belize 6,700,000 1 January 2008 est. 93 Taiwan 2,380,000 1 January 2008 est. 94 Barbados 2,200,000 1 January 2008 est. 95 Israel 1,940,000 1 January 2008 est. 96 Jordan 1,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 97 Morocco 836,000 1 January 2008 est. 98 Ethiopia 428,000 1 January 2008 est. 99 Aruba 0 1 January 2006 est. 100 Afghanistan 0 1 January 2006 est. 101 Botswana 0 1 January 2006 est. 102 Zimbabwe 0 1 January 2006 est. 103 Swaziland 0 1 January 2006 est. 104 Samoa 0 1 January 2006 est. 105 Western Sahara 0 1 January 2006 est. 106 Namibia 0 1 January 2006 est. 107 British Virgin Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 108 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 1 January 2006 est. 109 Burkina Faso 0 1 January 2006 est. 110 Uganda 0 1 January 2006 est. 111 Tanzania 0 1 January 2006 est. 112 Sao Tome and Principe 0 1 January 2006 est. 113 Togo 0 1 January 2006 est. 114 Tonga 0 1 January 2007 est. 115 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 116 Sweden 0 1 January 2006 est. 117 Saint Lucia 0 1 January 2006 est. 118 Somalia 0 1 January 2006 est. 119 Singapore 0 1 January 2006 est. 120 Sierra Leone 0 1 January 2006 est. 121 Slovenia 0 1 January 2006 est. 122 Saint Helena 0 1 January 2006 est. 123 Senegal 0 1 January 2006 est. 124 Seychelles 0 1 January 2006 125 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 1 January 2006 est. 126 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 1 January 2006 est. 127 Rwanda 0 1 January 2006 est. 128 Puerto Rico 0 1 January 2006 est. 129 New Caledonia 0 1 January 2006 est. 130 Mozambique 0 1 January 2006 est. 131 Maldives 0 1 January 2006 est. 132 Malta 0 1 January 2006 est. 133 Mauritius 0 1 January 2006 est. 134 Mali 0 1 January 2006 est. 135 Macedonia 0 1 January 2008 est. 136 Montenegro 0 1 January 2006 est. 137 Malawi 0 1 January 2006 est. 138 Guinea-Bissau 0 1 January 2006 est. 139 Panama 0 1 January 2006 est. 140 Paraguay 0 1 January 2006 est. 141 Nicaragua 0 1 January 2006 est. 142 Netherlands Antilles 0 1 January 2006 est. 143 Nauru 0 1 January 2006 est. 144 Nepal 0 1 January 2006 est. 145 Vanuatu 0 1 January 2006 est. 146 Niue 0 1 January 2006 est. 147 Montserrat 0 1 January 2006 est. 148 Mongolia 0 1 January 2006 est. 149 Moldova 0 1 January 2006 est. 150 Macau 0 1 January 2006 est. 151 Madagascar 0 1 January 2006 est. 152 Luxembourg 0 1 January 2006 est. 153 Iceland 0 1 January 2006 est. 154 Grenada 0 1 January 2006 est. 155 Gibraltar 0 1 January 2006 est. 156 Gambia, The 0 1 January 2006 est. 157 French Polynesia 0 1 January 2006 est. 158 Faroe Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 159 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 1 January 2006 est. 160 Fiji 0 1 January 2006 est. 161 El Salvador 0 1 January 2006 est. 162 Eritrea 0 1 January 2006 est. 163 Honduras 0 1 January 2006 est. 164 Hong Kong 0 1 January 2006 est. 165 Haiti 0 1 January 2006 est. 166 Guyana 0 1 January 2006 est. 167 Guinea 0 1 January 2006 est. 168 Guam 0 1 January 2006 est. 169 Greenland 0 1 January 2006 est. 170 Estonia 0 1 January 2006 est. 171 Ireland 0 1 January 2006 est. 172 Dominican Republic 0 1 January 2006 est. 173 Dominica 0 1 January 2006 est. 174 Djibouti 0 1 January 2006 est. 175 Cook Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 176 Cape Verde 0 1 January 2006 est. 177 Central African Republic 0 1 January 2006 est. 178 Lesotho 0 1 January 2006 est. 179 Liberia 0 1 January 2006 est. 180 Latvia 0 1 January 2006 est. 181 Lebanon 0 1 January 2006 est. 182 Laos 0 1 January 2006 est. 183 Korea, South 0 1 January 2006 est. 184 Kiribati 0 1 January 2006 est. 185 Kenya 0 1 January 2006 est. 186 Jamaica 0 1 January 2006 est. 187 Costa Rica 0 1 January 2006 est. 188 Comoros 0 1 January 2006 est. 189 Cayman Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 190 Sri Lanka 0 1 January 2006 est. 191 Cambodia 0 1 January 2006 est. 192 Burundi 0 1 January 2006 est. 193 Bhutan 0 1 January 2006 est. 194 Solomon Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 195 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 1 January 2006 est. 196 Belgium 0 1 January 2006 est. 197 Bahamas, The 0 1 January 2006 est. 198 Bermuda 0 1 January 2006 est. 199 Armenia 0 1 January 2006 est. 200 American Samoa 0 1 January 2006 est. 201 Antigua and Barbuda 0 1 January 2006 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2179

Rank Country Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) Date of Information

1 World 175,400,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 2 Russia 47,570,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 3 Iran 26,850,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 4 Qatar 25,630,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 5 Saudi Arabia 7,167,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 6 United Arab Emirates 6,071,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 7 United States 5,977,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 8 Nigeria 5,210,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 9 Venezuela 4,708,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 10 Algeria 4,502,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 11 Iraq 3,170,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 12 Kazakhstan 2,832,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 13 Turkmenistan 2,832,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 14 Indonesia 2,659,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 15 European Union 2,476,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 16 Malaysia 2,350,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 17 China 2,265,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 18 Norway 2,241,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 19 Uzbekistan 1,841,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 20 Egypt 1,656,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 21 Canada 1,648,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 22 Kuwait 1,586,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 23 Libya 1,419,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 24 Netherlands 1,416,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 25 Ukraine 1,104,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 26 India 1,075,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 27 Azerbaijan 849,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 28 Australia 849,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 29 Oman 849,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 30 Pakistan 792,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 31 Bolivia 750,400,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 32 Trinidad and Tobago 531,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 33 Yemen 478,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 34 Argentina 446,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 35 United Kingdom 412,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 36 Mexico 392,200,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 37 Brunei 390,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 38 Brazil 347,700,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 39 Peru 337,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 40 Thailand 331,200,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 41 Burma 283,200,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 42 Angola 269,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 43 Germany 254,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 44 Syria 240,700,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 45 Papua New Guinea 226,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 46 Timor-Leste 200,000,000,000 1 January 2006 est. 47 Vietnam 192,500,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 48 Poland 164,800,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 49 Bangladesh 141,600,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 50 Cameroon 135,100,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 51 Mozambique 127,400,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 52 Colombia 122,900,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 53 Philippines 98,540,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 54 Chile 97,970,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 55 Italy 94,150,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 56 Bahrain 92,030,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 57 Congo, Republic of the 90,610,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 58 Sudan 84,950,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 59 Cuba 70,790,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 60 Denmark 70,510,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 61 Tunisia 65,130,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 62 Romania 63,000,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 63 Namibia 62,290,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 64 Rwanda 56,630,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 65 Afghanistan 49,550,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 66 Serbia 48,140,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 67 Equatorial Guinea 36,810,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 68 Israel 30,440,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 69 New Zealand 29,670,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 70 Croatia 28,540,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 71 Gabon 28,320,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 72 Mauritania 28,320,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 73 Cote d'Ivoire 28,320,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 74 Ethiopia 24,920,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 75 Ghana 22,650,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 76 Japan 20,900,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 77 Austria 16,140,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 78 Slovakia 14,160,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 79 Ireland 9,911,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 80 Ecuador 9,369,000,000 1 January 2006 est. 81 Georgia 8,495,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 82 Turkey 8,495,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 83 Hungary 8,098,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 84 France 7,277,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 85 Tanzania 6,513,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 86 Taiwan 6,229,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 87 Jordan 6,031,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 88 Bulgaria 5,663,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 89 Somalia 5,663,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 90 Tajikistan 5,663,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 91 Kyrgyzstan 5,663,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 92 Czech Republic 3,964,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 93 Guatemala 2,960,000,000 1 January 2006 est. 94 Belarus 2,832,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 95 Spain 2,548,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 96 Greece 1,982,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 97 Morocco 1,557,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 98 Benin 1,133,000,000 1 January 2008 est. 99 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 991,100,000 1 January 2008 est. 100 Albania 849,500,000 1 January 2008 est. 101 Barbados 141,600,000 1 January 2008 est. 102 South Africa 27,160,000 1 January 2006 est. 103 Aruba 0 1 January 2006 104 Botswana 0 1 January 2006 est. 105 Belgium 0 1 January 2006 106 Solomon Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 107 Mali 0 1 January 2006 est. 108 Macedonia 0 1 January 2008 est. 109 Malawi 0 1 January 2006 est. 110 Montserrat 0 1 January 2006 est. 111 Mongolia 0 1 January 2006 est. 112 Moldova 0 1 January 2006 est. 113 Macau 0 1 January 2006 est. 114 Madagascar 0 1 January 2006 est. 115 Lithuania 0 1 January 2006 est. 116 Zimbabwe 0 1 January 2006 est. 117 Zambia 0 1 January 2006 est. 118 Swaziland 0 1 January 2006 est. 119 Samoa 0 1 January 2006 est. 120 Western Sahara 0 1 January 2006 est. 121 Virgin Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 122 British Virgin Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 123 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 1 January 2006 est. 124 Uruguay 0 1 January 2006 est. 125 Burkina Faso 0 1 January 2006 est. 126 Uganda 0 1 January 2006 est. 127 Sao Tome and Principe 0 1 January 2006 est. 128 Togo 0 1 January 2006 est. 129 Tonga 0 1 January 2007 est. 130 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 131 Switzerland 0 1 January 2006 est. 132 Sweden 0 1 January 2006 est. 133 Saint Lucia 0 1 January 2006 est. 134 Singapore 0 1 January 2006 est. 135 Sierra Leone 0 1 January 2006 est. 136 Slovenia 0 1 January 2006 est. 137 Saint Helena 0 1 January 2006 est. 138 Seychelles 0 1 January 2006 est. 139 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 1 January 2006 est. 140 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 1 January 2006 est. 141 Puerto Rico 0 1 January 2006 est. 142 Guinea-Bissau 0 1 January 2006 est. 143 Portugal 0 1 January 2006 est. 144 Panama 0 1 January 2006 est. 145 Paraguay 0 1 January 2007 est. 146 Nicaragua 0 1 January 2006 est. 147 Netherlands Antilles 0 1 January 2006 est. 148 Suriname 0 1 January 2006 est. 149 Nauru 0 1 January 2006 est. 150 Nepal 0 1 January 2006 est. 151 Vanuatu 0 1 January 2006 est. 152 Niger 0 1 January 2006 est. 153 Niue 0 1 January 2006 est. 154 New Caledonia 0 1 January 2006 est. 155 Maldives 0 1 January 2006 est. 156 Malta 0 1 January 2006 est. 157 Mauritius 0 1 January 2006 est. 158 Lebanon 0 1 January 2006 est. 159 Laos 0 1 January 2006 est. 160 Korea, South 0 1 January 2006 est. 161 Kiribati 0 1 January 2006 est. 162 Korea, North 0 1 January 2007 163 Kenya 0 1 January 2006 est. 164 Jamaica 0 1 January 2006 est. 165 Iceland 0 1 January 2006 est. 166 Luxembourg 0 1 January 2006 est. 167 Lesotho 0 1 January 2006 est. 168 Liberia 0 1 January 2006 est. 169 Honduras 0 1 January 2006 est. 170 Hong Kong 0 1 January 2006 est. 171 Haiti 0 1 January 2006 est. 172 Guyana 0 1 January 2006 est. 173 Guinea 0 1 January 2006 est. 174 Guam 0 1 January 2006 est. 175 Greenland 0 1 January 2006 est. 176 Grenada 0 1 January 2006 est. 177 Gibraltar 0 1 January 2006 est. 178 Gambia, The 0 1 January 2006 est. 179 French Polynesia 0 1 January 2006 est. 180 Faroe Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 181 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 1 January 2006 est. 182 Fiji 0 1 January 2006 est. 183 Finland 0 1 January 2006 184 El Salvador 0 1 January 2006 est. 185 Eritrea 0 1 January 2006 est. 186 Estonia 0 1 January 2006 est. 187 Dominican Republic 0 1 January 2006 est. 188 Dominica 0 1 January 2006 est. 189 Djibouti 0 1 January 2006 est. 190 Cyprus 0 1 January 2006 191 Cook Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 192 Cape Verde 0 1 January 2006 est. 193 Central African Republic 0 1 January 2006 194 Costa Rica 0 1 January 2006 est. 195 Comoros 0 1 January 2006 est. 196 Cayman Islands 0 1 January 2006 est. 197 Sri Lanka 0 1 January 2006 est. 198 Chad 0 1 January 2006 est. 199 Burundi 0 1 January 2006 est. 200 Bhutan 0 1 January 2006 est. 201 Belize 0 1 January 2006 est. 202 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 1 January 2006 203 Bahamas, The 0 1 January 2006 est. 204 Bermuda 0 1 January 2006 est. 205 Armenia 0 1 January 2006 206 American Samoa 0 1 January 2006 est. 207 Antigua and Barbuda 0 1 January 2006 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2180

Rank Country Natural gas - production(cu m) Date of Information

1 World 3,021,000,000,000 2007 est. 2 Russia 656,200,000,000 2007 est. 3 United States 545,900,000,000 2007 est. 4 European Union 197,800,000,000 2007 est. 5 Canada 187,000,000,000 2007 est. 6 Iran 111,900,000,000 2007 est. 7 Norway 92,600,000,000 2007 est. 8 Algeria 85,700,000,000 2007 est. 9 Netherlands 76,330,000,000 2007 est. 10 Saudi Arabia 75,900,000,000 2007 est. 11 United Kingdom 72,300,000,000 2007 est. 12 China 69,270,000,000 2007 est. 13 Turkmenistan 68,880,000,000 2007 est. 14 Uzbekistan 65,190,000,000 2007 est. 15 Malaysia 64,500,000,000 2007 est. 16 Qatar 59,800,000,000 2007 est. 17 Indonesia 56,000,000,000 2007 est. 18 Mexico 55,980,000,000 2007 est. 19 United Arab Emirates 48,790,000,000 2006 est. 20 Egypt 47,500,000,000 2007 est. 21 Argentina 44,800,000,000 2007 est. 22 Australia 43,620,000,000 2007 est. 23 Trinidad and Tobago 39,000,000,000 2007 est. 24 Nigeria 34,100,000,000 2007 est. 25 India 31,700,000,000 2007 est. 26 Pakistan 30,800,000,000 2007 est. 27 Kazakhstan 27,880,000,000 2007 est. 28 Venezuela 26,500,000,000 2007 est. 29 Thailand 25,400,000,000 2007 est. 30 Oman 24,100,000,000 2007 est. 31 Ukraine 19,500,000,000 2007 est. 32 Germany 17,960,000,000 2007 est. 33 Bangladesh 15,700,000,000 2007 est. 34 Libya 14,800,000,000 2006 est. 35 Bolivia 14,700,000,000 2007 est. 36 Brunei 13,800,000,000 2006 est. 37 Burma 12,600,000,000 2006 est. 38 Kuwait 12,500,000,000 2006 est. 39 Romania 12,500,000,000 2006 est. 40 Bahrain 11,330,000,000 2006 est. 41 Brazil 9,800,000,000 2007 est. 42 Azerbaijan 9,770,000,000 2007 est. 43 Italy 9,706,000,000 2007 est. 44 Denmark 9,223,000,000 2007 est. 45 Syria 7,800,000,000 2007 est. 46 Colombia 7,220,000,000 2006 est. 47 Vietnam 6,860,000,000 2007 est. 48 Poland 6,025,000,000 2007 est. 49 New Zealand 4,573,000,000 2007 est. 50 Japan 3,729,000,000 2007 est. 51 Iraq 3,500,000,000 2007 est. 52 South Africa 2,900,000,000 2006 est. 53 Tunisia 2,550,000,000 2006 est. 54 Hungary 2,545,000,000 2007 est. 55 Philippines 2,200,000,000 2006 est. 56 Austria 1,848,000,000 2007 est. 57 Chile 1,800,000,000 2007 est. 58 Peru 1,780,000,000 2006 est. 59 Mozambique 1,650,000,000 2006 est. 60 Croatia 1,580,000,000 2006 est. 61 Equatorial Guinea 1,300,000,000 2006 est. 62 Cote d'Ivoire 1,300,000,000 2006 est. 63 Cuba 1,058,000,000 2006 64 Israel 970,000,000 2006 est. 65 France 953,000,000 2007 est. 66 Turkey 893,000,000 2007 est. 67 Angola 680,000,000 2006 est. 68 Serbia 650,000,000 2005 est. 69 Ireland 457,000,000 2007 est. 70 Taiwan 400,000,000 2007 est. 71 Korea, South 390,000,000 2007 est. 72 Jordan 320,000,000 2006 est. 73 Ecuador 280,000,000 2006 est. 74 Congo, Republic of the 180,000,000 2006 est. 75 Czech Republic 172,000,000 2007 est. 76 Belarus 164,000,000 2007 est. 77 Tanzania 146,000,000 2006 est. 78 Papua New Guinea 140,000,000 2006 est. 79 Slovakia 128,000,000 2007 est. 80 Gabon 100,000,000 2006 est. 81 Spain 88,000,000 2007 est. 82 Morocco 60,000,000 2006 est. 83 Moldova 50,000,000 2006 est. 84 Senegal 50,000,000 2006 est. 85 Tajikistan 32,000,000 2007 est. 86 Albania 30,000,000 2006 est. 87 Barbados 29,170,000 2006 est. 88 Greece 24,000,000 2007 est. 89 Afghanistan 20,000,000 2006 est. 90 Cameroon 20,000,000 2006 est. 91 Kyrgyzstan 18,000,000 2007 est. 92 Georgia 10,000,000 2007 est. 93 Slovenia 4,000,000 2006 est. 94 Aruba 0 2007 est. 95 Botswana 0 2007 est. 96 Belgium 0 2007 est. 97 Belize 0 2007 est. 98 Benin 0 2007 est. 99 Bhutan 0 2007 est. 100 Guinea 0 2007 est. 101 Guatemala 0 2007 est. 102 Guam 0 2007 est. 103 Greenland 0 2007 est. 104 Grenada 0 2007 est. 105 Gibraltar 0 2007 est. 106 Ghana 0 2007 est. 107 Gambia, The 0 2007 est. 108 French Polynesia 0 2007 est. 109 Zimbabwe 0 2007 est. 110 Zambia 0 2007 est. 111 Yemen 0 2007 est. 112 Swaziland 0 2007 est. 113 Samoa 0 2007 est. 114 Western Sahara 0 2007 est. 115 Namibia 0 2007 est. 116 Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 117 British Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 118 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2007 est. 119 Uruguay 0 2007 est. 120 Burkina Faso 0 2007 est. 121 Uganda 0 2007 est. 122 Timor-Leste 0 2007 est. 123 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2007 est. 124 Togo 0 2007 est. 125 Tonga 0 2007 est. 126 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2007 est. 127 Switzerland 0 2007 est. 128 Sweden 0 2007 est. 129 Sudan 0 2007 est. 130 Saint Lucia 0 2007 est. 131 Somalia 0 2007 est. 132 Singapore 0 2007 est. 133 Sierra Leone 0 2007 est. 134 Saint Helena 0 2007 est. 135 Seychelles 0 2007 est. 136 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2007 est. 137 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2007 est. 138 Rwanda 0 2007 est. 139 Puerto Rico 0 2007 est. 140 Guinea-Bissau 0 2007 est. 141 Portugal 0 2007 est. 142 Panama 0 2007 est. 143 Nepal 0 2007 est. 144 Vanuatu 0 2007 est. 145 Niger 0 2007 est. 146 Niue 0 2007 est. 147 New Caledonia 0 2007 est. 148 Maldives 0 2007 est. 149 Malta 0 2007 est. 150 Mauritania 0 2007 est. 151 Mauritius 0 2007 est. 152 Paraguay 0 2007 est. 153 Nicaragua 0 2007 est. 154 Netherlands Antilles 0 2007 est. 155 Suriname 0 2007 est. 156 Nauru 0 2007 est. 157 Mali 0 2007 est. 158 Macedonia 0 2007 est. 159 Malawi 0 2007 est. 160 Montserrat 0 2007 est. 161 Mongolia 0 2007 est. 162 Macau 0 2007 est. 163 Madagascar 0 2007 est. 164 Luxembourg 0 2007 est. 165 Lesotho 0 2007 est. 166 Liberia 0 2007 est. 167 Lithuania 0 2007 est. 168 Latvia 0 2007 est. 169 Lebanon 0 2007 est. 170 Laos 0 2007 est. 171 Kosovo 0 2007 172 Kiribati 0 2007 est. 173 Korea, North 0 2007 est. 174 Kenya 0 2007 est. 175 Jamaica 0 2007 est. 176 Iceland 0 2007 est. 177 Honduras 0 2007 est. 178 Hong Kong 0 2007 est. 179 Haiti 0 2007 est. 180 Guyana 0 2007 est. 181 Faroe Islands 0 2007 est. 182 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2007 est. 183 Fiji 0 2007 est. 184 Finland 0 2007 est. 185 Ethiopia 0 2007 est. 186 El Salvador 0 2007 est. 187 Eritrea 0 2007 est. 188 Estonia 0 2007 est. 189 Dominican Republic 0 2007 est. 190 Dominica 0 2007 est. 191 Djibouti 0 2007 est. 192 Cyprus 0 2007 est. 193 Cook Islands 0 2007 est. 194 Cape Verde 0 2007 est. 195 Central African Republic 0 2007 est. 196 Costa Rica 0 2007 est. 197 Comoros 0 2007 est. 198 Cayman Islands 0 2007 est. 199 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0 2007 est. 200 Sri Lanka 0 2007 est. 201 Chad 0 2007 est. 202 Cambodia 0 2007 est. 203 Burundi 0 2007 est. 204 Bulgaria 0 2007 est. 205 Solomon Islands 0 2007 est. 206 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 2007 est. 207 Bahamas, The 0 2007 est. 208 Bermuda 0 2007 est. 209 Armenia 0 2007 est. 210 American Samoa 0 2007 est. 211 Antigua and Barbuda 0 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2181

Rank Country Natural gas - consumption(cu m) Date of Information

1 World 3,198,000,000,000 2007 est. 2 United States 652,900,000,000 2007 est. 3 Russia 610,000,000,000 2007 est. 4 European Union 500,100,000,000 2007 est. 5 Iran 111,800,000,000 2007 est. 6 Japan 100,300,000,000 2007 est. 7 Germany 97,440,000,000 2007 est. 8 Canada 92,900,000,000 2007 est. 9 United Kingdom 91,100,000,000 2007 est. 10 Ukraine 84,900,000,000 2007 est. 11 Italy 84,890,000,000 2007 est. 12 Saudi Arabia 75,900,000,000 2007 est. 13 China 70,510,000,000 2007 est. 14 Mexico 68,290,000,000 2007 est. 15 Uzbekistan 51,180,000,000 2007 est. 16 Netherlands 46,420,000,000 2007 est. 17 Argentina 44,100,000,000 2007 est. 18 United Arab Emirates 43,110,000,000 2006 est. 19 France 42,690,000,000 2007 est. 20 India 41,700,000,000 2007 est. 21 Turkey 36,600,000,000 2007 est. 22 Thailand 35,300,000,000 2007 est. 23 Korea, South 34,830,000,000 2007 est. 24 Spain 34,430,000,000 2007 est. 25 Malaysia 32,900,000,000 2007 est. 26 Egypt 31,800,000,000 2007 est. 27 Pakistan 30,800,000,000 2007 est. 28 Kazakhstan 30,580,000,000 2007 est. 29 Australia 29,400,000,000 2007 est. 30 Venezuela 26,500,000,000 2007 est. 31 Algeria 26,300,000,000 2007 est. 32 Indonesia 23,400,000,000 2007 est. 33 Belarus 21,760,000,000 2007 est. 34 Trinidad and Tobago 20,800,000,000 2007 est. 35 Qatar 20,500,000,000 2007 est. 36 Brazil 19,800,000,000 2007 est. 37 Turkmenistan 19,480,000,000 2007 est. 38 Belgium 17,390,000,000 2007 est. 39 Romania 17,090,000,000 2007 40 Poland 16,380,000,000 2007 est. 41 Bangladesh 15,700,000,000 2007 est. 42 Hungary 13,360,000,000 2007 est. 43 Nigeria 12,900,000,000 2007 est. 44 Kuwait 12,500,000,000 2006 est. 45 Bahrain 11,330,000,000 2006 est. 46 Taiwan 11,300,000,000 2007 est. 47 Oman 11,000,000,000 2007 est. 48 Azerbaijan 9,770,000,000 2007 est. 49 Czech Republic 8,622,000,000 2007 est. 50 Austria 8,436,000,000 2007 est. 51 Colombia 7,220,000,000 2006 est. 52 Vietnam 6,860,000,000 2007 est. 53 Norway 6,500,000,000 2007 est. 54 Singapore 6,500,000,000 2007 est. 55 Libya 6,390,000,000 2006 est. 56 Slovakia 6,216,000,000 2007 est. 57 Bulgaria 5,600,000,000 2006 est. 58 Ireland 4,984,000,000 2007 est. 59 Finland 4,581,000,000 2007 est. 60 New Zealand 4,572,000,000 2007 est. 61 Denmark 4,555,000,000 2007 est. 62 Syria 4,400,000,000 2007 est. 63 Chile 4,200,000,000 2007 est. 64 Portugal 4,112,000,000 2007 est. 65 Greece 4,069,000,000 2007 est. 66 Brunei 3,990,000,000 2006 est. 67 Tunisia 3,850,000,000 2006 est. 68 Burma 3,620,000,000 2006 est. 69 Lithuania 3,440,000,000 2007 est. 70 Switzerland 3,232,000,000 2007 est. 71 South Africa 3,100,000,000 2006 est. 72 Bolivia 3,000,000,000 2007 est. 73 Croatia 2,730,000,000 2006 est. 74 Hong Kong 2,690,000,000 2007 est. 75 Serbia 2,550,000,000 2005 est. 76 Moldova 2,440,000,000 2007 est. 77 Jordan 2,250,000,000 2006 est. 78 Philippines 2,200,000,000 2006 est. 79 Armenia 2,050,000,000 2007 est. 80 Latvia 2,040,000,000 2007 est. 81 Iraq 1,800,000,000 2006 est. 82 Peru 1,780,000,000 2006 est. 83 Georgia 1,490,000,000 2007 est. 84 Estonia 1,480,000,000 2007 est. 85 Mozambique 1,450,000,000 2006 est. 86 Luxembourg 1,329,000,000 2007 est. 87 Equatorial Guinea 1,300,000,000 2006 est. 88 Cote d'Ivoire 1,300,000,000 2006 est. 89 Slovenia 1,105,000,000 2006 est. 90 Cuba 1,058,000,000 2006 91 Sweden 1,006,000,000 2007 est. 92 Israel 970,000,000 2006 est. 93 Tajikistan 842,000,000 2007 est. 94 Kyrgyzstan 768,000,000 2007 est. 95 Puerto Rico 736,200,000 2007 est. 96 Angola 680,000,000 2006 est. 97 Bosnia and Herzegovina 400,000,000 2006 est. 98 Ecuador 280,000,000 2006 est. 99 Dominican Republic 250,000,000 2006 est. 100 Congo, Republic of the 180,000,000 2006 est. 101 Tanzania 146,000,000 2006 est. 102 Papua New Guinea 140,000,000 2006 est. 103 Uruguay 102,800,000 2007 est. 104 Gabon 100,000,000 2006 est. 105 Macedonia 100,000,000 2006 est. 106 Morocco 60,000,000 2006 est. 107 Senegal 50,000,000 2006 est. 108 Albania 30,000,000 2006 est. 109 Barbados 29,170,000 2006 est. 110 Afghanistan 20,000,000 2006 est. 111 Cameroon 20,000,000 2006 est. 112 Aruba 0 2007 est. 113 Bahamas, The 0 2007 est. 114 Solomon Islands 0 2007 est. 115 Burundi 0 2007 est. 116 Zimbabwe 0 2007 est. 117 Zambia 0 2007 est. 118 Yemen 0 2007 est. 119 Swaziland 0 2007 est. 120 Samoa 0 2007 est. 121 Western Sahara 0 2007 est. 122 Namibia 0 2007 est. 123 Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 124 British Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 125 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2007 est. 126 Burkina Faso 0 2007 est. 127 Uganda 0 2007 est. 128 Timor-Leste 0 2007 est. 129 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2007 est. 130 Togo 0 2007 est. 131 Tonga 0 2007 est. 132 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2007 est. 133 Sudan 0 2007 est. 134 Saint Lucia 0 2007 est. 135 Somalia 0 2007 est. 136 Sierra Leone 0 2007 est. 137 Saint Helena 0 2007 est. 138 Guinea-Bissau 0 2007 est. 139 Panama 0 2007 est. 140 Paraguay 0 2007 est. 141 Nicaragua 0 2007 est. 142 Netherlands Antilles 0 2007 est. 143 Suriname 0 2007 est. 144 Nauru 0 2007 est. 145 Nepal 0 2007 est. 146 Maldives 0 2007 est. 147 Seychelles 0 2007 est. 148 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2007 est. 149 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2007 est. 150 Rwanda 0 2007 est. 151 Malta 0 2007 est. 152 Mauritania 0 2007 est. 153 Mauritius 0 2007 est. 154 Mali 0 2007 est. 155 Malawi 0 2007 est. 156 Montserrat 0 2007 est. 157 Mongolia 0 2007 est. 158 Macau 0 2007 est. 159 Vanuatu 0 2007 est. 160 Niger 0 2007 est. 161 Niue 0 2007 est. 162 New Caledonia 0 2007 est. 163 Kenya 0 2007 est. 164 Jamaica 0 2007 est. 165 Iceland 0 2007 est. 166 Honduras 0 2007 est. 167 Haiti 0 2007 est. 168 Guyana 0 2007 est. 169 Guinea 0 2007 est. 170 Guatemala 0 2007 est. 171 Guam 0 2007 est. 172 Ethiopia 0 2007 est. 173 El Salvador 0 2007 est. 174 Eritrea 0 2007 est. 175 Dominica 0 2007 est. 176 Djibouti 0 2007 est. 177 Cook Islands 0 2007 est. 178 Cape Verde 0 2007 est. 179 Central African Republic 0 2007 est. 180 Costa Rica 0 2007 est. 181 Comoros 0 2007 est. 182 Cayman Islands 0 2007 est. 183 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0 2007 est. 184 Sri Lanka 0 2007 est. 185 Chad 0 2007 est. 186 Cambodia 0 2007 est. 187 Madagascar 0 2007 est. 188 Lesotho 0 2007 est. 189 Liberia 0 2007 est. 190 Lebanon 0 2007 est. 191 Laos 0 2007 est. 192 Kosovo 0 2007 193 Kiribati 0 2007 est. 194 Korea, North 0 2007 est. 195 Greenland 0 2007 est. 196 Grenada 0 2007 est. 197 Gibraltar 0 2007 est. 198 Ghana 0 2007 est. 199 Gambia, The 0 2007 est. 200 French Polynesia 0 2007 est. 201 Faroe Islands 0 2007 est. 202 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2007 est. 203 Fiji 0 2007 est. 204 Bhutan 0 2007 est. 205 Benin 0 2007 est. 206 Belize 0 2007 est. 207 Bermuda 0 2007 est. 208 American Samoa 0 2007 est. 209 Botswana 0 2007 est. 210 Antigua and Barbuda 0 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2182

Rank Country Natural gas - imports(cu m) Date of Information

1 World 957,600,000,000 2007 2 European Union 361,200,000,000 2005 est. 3 United States 130,300,000,000 2007 est. 4 Japan 95,620,000,000 2007 est. 5 Germany 88,350,000,000 2007 est. 6 Italy 73,950,000,000 2007 est. 7 Ukraine 65,400,000,000 2007 est. 8 Russia 58,300,000,000 2007 est. 9 France 42,900,000,000 2007 est. 10 Turkey 35,830,000,000 2007 est. 11 Spain 34,470,000,000 2007 est. 12 Korea, South 33,380,000,000 2007 est. 13 United Kingdom 29,200,000,000 2007 est. 14 Netherlands 25,730,000,000 2007 est. 15 Belarus 21,600,000,000 2007 est. 16 Belgium 17,340,000,000 2007 est. 17 Canada 13,200,000,000 2007 est. 18 Mexico 11,690,000,000 2007 est. 19 Taiwan 10,900,000,000 2007 est. 20 Kazakhstan 10,800,000,000 2007 est. 21 Hungary 10,450,000,000 2007 est. 22 Poland 10,120,000,000 2007 est. 23 Brazil 10,000,000,000 2007 est. 24 India 10,000,000,000 2007 est. 25 Thailand 9,800,000,000 2007 est. 26 Austria 9,658,000,000 2007 est. 27 Czech Republic 8,628,000,000 2007 est. 28 Singapore 6,500,000,000 2007 est. 29 Slovakia 6,268,000,000 2007 est. 30 Iran 6,100,000,000 2007 est. 31 Australia 5,689,000,000 2007 est. 32 Bulgaria 5,179,000,000 2005 33 Romania 4,800,000,000 2007 est. 34 Finland 4,576,000,000 2007 est. 35 Ireland 4,552,000,000 2007 est. 36 Greece 4,100,000,000 2007 est. 37 Portugal 4,095,000,000 2007 est. 38 China 3,920,000,000 2007 est. 39 Lithuania 3,440,000,000 2007 est. 40 Switzerland 3,232,000,000 2007 est. 41 Hong Kong 2,690,000,000 2007 est. 42 Moldova 2,440,000,000 2007 est. 43 Chile 2,400,000,000 2007 est. 44 Jordan 2,400,000,000 2007 est. 45 Serbia 2,100,000,000 2004 est. 46 Armenia 2,050,000,000 2007 est. 47 Latvia 2,040,000,000 2007 est. 48 Argentina 1,900,000,000 2007 est. 49 Estonia 1,480,000,000 2007 est. 50 Georgia 1,480,000,000 2007 est. 51 United Arab Emirates 1,343,000,000 2005 52 Luxembourg 1,329,000,000 2007 est. 53 Croatia 1,103,000,000 2005 54 Slovenia 1,073,000,000 2005 55 Sweden 1,006,000,000 2007 est. 56 Tajikistan 810,000,000 2007 est. 57 Kyrgyzstan 750,000,000 2007 est. 58 Puerto Rico 736,200,000 2007 est. 59 Dominican Republic 239,800,000 2005 60 Uruguay 116,900,000 2007 61 Macedonia 102,800,000 2007 62 Aruba 0 2007 est. 63 Afghanistan 0 2007 est. 64 Bahrain 0 2007 est. 65 Botswana 0 2007 est. 66 Solomon Islands 0 2007 est. 67 Benin 0 2007 est. 68 Burma 0 2007 est. 69 Bolivia 0 2007 est. 70 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 2005 71 Belize 0 2007 est. 72 Bangladesh 0 2007 est. 73 Bahamas, The 0 2007 est. 74 Bermuda 0 2007 est. 75 Faroe Islands 0 2007 est. 76 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2007 est. 77 Fiji 0 2007 est. 78 Ethiopia 0 2007 est. 79 El Salvador 0 2007 est. 80 Eritrea 0 2007 est. 81 Equatorial Guinea 0 2007 est. 82 Egypt 0 2007 est. 83 Denmark 0 2007 est. 84 Lebanon 0 2007 est. 85 Laos 0 2007 est. 86 Kuwait 0 2007 est. 87 Kiribati 0 2007 est. 88 Korea, North 0 2007 est. 89 Kenya 0 2007 est. 90 Jamaica 0 2007 est. 91 Iraq 0 2007 est. 92 Cote d'Ivoire 0 2007 est. 93 Mozambique 0 2007 est. 94 Malaysia 0 2007 est. 95 Maldives 0 2007 est. 96 Oman 0 2007 est. 97 Malta 0 2007 est. 98 Mauritania 0 2007 est. 99 Mauritius 0 2007 est. 100 Morocco 0 2007 est. 101 Mali 0 2007 est. 102 Zimbabwe 0 2007 est. 103 Zambia 0 2007 est. 104 Yemen 0 2007 est. 105 Swaziland 0 2007 est. 106 Samoa 0 2007 est. 107 Western Sahara 0 2007 est. 108 Namibia 0 2007 est. 109 Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 110 Vietnam 0 2007 est. 111 British Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 112 Venezuela 0 2007 est. 113 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2007 est. 114 Uzbekistan 0 2007 est. 115 Burkina Faso 0 2007 est. 116 Uganda 0 2007 est. 117 Tanzania 0 2007 est. 118 Turkmenistan 0 2007 est. 119 Timor-Leste 0 2007 est. 120 Tunisia 0 2005 121 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2007 est. 122 Togo 0 2007 est. 123 Tonga 0 2007 est. 124 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2007 est. 125 Trinidad and Tobago 0 2007 est. 126 Syria 0 2007 est. 127 Sudan 0 2007 est. 128 Saint Lucia 0 2007 est. 129 Somalia 0 2007 est. 130 Sierra Leone 0 2007 est. 131 Saint Helena 0 2007 est. 132 South Africa 0 2005 133 Seychelles 0 2007 est. 134 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2007 est. 135 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2007 est. 136 Saudi Arabia 0 2007 est. 137 Rwanda 0 2007 est. 138 Philippines 0 2007 est. 139 Qatar 0 2007 est. 140 Guinea-Bissau 0 2007 est. 141 Papua New Guinea 0 2007 est. 142 Panama 0 2007 est. 143 Pakistan 0 2007 est. 144 Peru 0 2007 est. 145 Paraguay 0 2007 est. 146 New Zealand 0 2007 est. 147 Nicaragua 0 2007 est. 148 Netherlands Antilles 0 2007 est. 149 Suriname 0 2007 est. 150 Nauru 0 2007 est. 151 Nepal 0 2007 est. 152 Norway 0 2007 est. 153 Nigeria 0 2007 est. 154 Vanuatu 0 2007 est. 155 Niger 0 2007 est. 156 Niue 0 2007 est. 157 New Caledonia 0 2007 est. 158 Malawi 0 2007 est. 159 Montserrat 0 2007 est. 160 Mongolia 0 2007 est. 161 Macau 0 2007 est. 162 Madagascar 0 2007 est. 163 Libya 0 2007 est. 164 Lesotho 0 2007 est. 165 Liberia 0 2007 est. 166 Israel 0 2007 est. 167 Indonesia 0 2007 est. 168 Iceland 0 2007 est. 169 Honduras 0 2007 est. 170 Haiti 0 2007 est. 171 Guyana 0 2007 est. 172 Guinea 0 2007 est. 173 Guatemala 0 2007 est. 174 Guam 0 2007 est. 175 Greenland 0 2007 est. 176 Grenada 0 2007 est. 177 Gibraltar 0 2007 est. 178 Ghana 0 2007 est. 179 Gabon 0 2007 est. 180 Gambia, The 0 2007 est. 181 French Polynesia 0 2007 est. 182 Cook Islands 0 2007 est. 183 Cape Verde 0 2007 est. 184 Cuba 0 2007 est. 185 Central African Republic 0 2007 est. 186 Costa Rica 0 2007 est. 187 Colombia 0 2007 est. 188 Comoros 0 2007 est. 189 Cameroon 0 2007 est. 190 Ecuador 0 2007 est. 191 Dominica 0 2007 est. 192 Djibouti 0 2007 est. 193 Cayman Islands 0 2007 est. 194 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0 2007 est. 195 Congo, Republic of the 0 2007 est. 196 Chad 0 2007 est. 197 Cambodia 0 2007 est. 198 Burundi 0 2007 est. 199 Brunei 0 2007 est. 200 Bhutan 0 2007 est. 201 Barbados 0 2007 est. 202 Azerbaijan 0 2005 203 American Samoa 0 2007 est. 204 Angola 0 2007 est. 205 Albania 0 2007 est. 206 Algeria 0 2007 est. 207 Antigua and Barbuda 0 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2183

Rank Country Natural gas - exports(cu m) Date of Information

1 World 929,900,000,000 2007 est. 2 Russia 237,200,000,000 2007 est. 3 Canada 107,300,000,000 2007 est. 4 Norway 86,100,000,000 2007 est. 5 European Union 76,480,000,000 2005 est. 6 Algeria 59,400,000,000 2007 est. 7 Netherlands 55,660,000,000 2007 est. 8 Turkmenistan 49,400,000,000 2007 est. 9 Qatar 39,300,000,000 2007 est. 10 Indonesia 32,600,000,000 2007 est. 11 Malaysia 31,600,000,000 2007 est. 12 United States 23,280,000,000 2007 est. 13 Nigeria 21,200,000,000 2007 est. 14 Australia 19,910,000,000 2007 est. 15 Trinidad and Tobago 18,100,000,000 2007 est. 16 Egypt 15,700,000,000 2007 est. 17 Uzbekistan 14,010,000,000 2007 est. 18 Oman 13,100,000,000 2007 est. 19 Germany 12,220,000,000 2007 est. 20 Bolivia 11,700,000,000 2007 est. 21 United Kingdom 10,400,000,000 2007 est. 22 Burma 9,900,000,000 2007 est. 23 Libya 9,900,000,000 2007 est. 24 Brunei 9,400,000,000 2007 est. 25 Kazakhstan 8,100,000,000 2007 est. 26 United Arab Emirates 6,848,000,000 2005 est. 27 Iran 6,200,000,000 2007 est. 28 Denmark 4,517,000,000 2007 est. 29 Ukraine 4,000,000,000 2006 est. 30 Mexico 2,973,000,000 2007 est. 31 Austria 2,767,000,000 2007 est. 32 China 2,690,000,000 2007 est. 33 Argentina 2,600,000,000 2007 est. 34 France 966,000,000 2007 est. 35 Czech Republic 402,000,000 2007 est. 36 Slovakia 180,000,000 2007 est. 37 Hungary 138,000,000 2007 est. 38 Italy 68,000,000 2007 est. 39 Poland 45,000,000 2007 est. 40 Turkey 31,000,000 2007 est. 41 Aruba 0 2007 est. 42 Azerbaijan 0 2007 est. 43 Bahrain 0 2007 est. 44 Botswana 0 2007 est. 45 Solomon Islands 0 2007 est. 46 Belarus 0 2007 est. 47 Benin 0 2007 est. 48 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 2007 est. 49 Belize 0 2007 est. 50 Bangladesh 0 2007 est. 51 Bahamas, The 0 2007 est. 52 Belgium 0 2007 est. 53 Bermuda 0 2007 est. 54 Cuba 0 2007 est. 55 Central African Republic 0 2007 est. 56 Costa Rica 0 2007 est. 57 Colombia 0 2007 est. 58 Comoros 0 2007 est. 59 Cameroon 0 2007 est. 60 Cayman Islands 0 2007 est. 61 Chile 0 2007 est. 62 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0 2007 est. 63 Greenland 0 2007 est. 64 Grenada 0 2007 est. 65 Gibraltar 0 2007 est. 66 Ghana 0 2007 est. 67 Georgia 0 2007 est. 68 Gabon 0 2007 est. 69 Gambia, The 0 2007 est. 70 French Polynesia 0 2007 est. 71 Faroe Islands 0 2007 est. 72 Jordan 0 2007 est. 73 Jamaica 0 2007 est. 74 Japan 0 2007 est. 75 Iraq 0 2007 est. 76 Cote d'Ivoire 0 2007 est. 77 Israel 0 2007 est. 78 India 0 2007 est. 79 Iceland 0 2007 est. 80 Croatia 0 2007 est. 81 Mongolia 0 2007 est. 82 Moldova 0 2007 est. 83 Macau 0 2007 est. 84 Madagascar 0 2007 est. 85 Luxembourg 0 2007 est. 86 Lesotho 0 2007 est. 87 Liberia 0 2007 est. 88 Lithuania 0 2007 est. 89 Latvia 0 2007 est. 90 Zimbabwe 0 2007 est. 91 Zambia 0 2007 est. 92 Yemen 0 2007 est. 93 Swaziland 0 2007 est. 94 Samoa 0 2007 est. 95 Western Sahara 0 2007 est. 96 Namibia 0 2007 est. 97 Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 98 Vietnam 0 2007 est. 99 British Virgin Islands 0 2007 est. 100 Venezuela 0 2007 est. 101 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2007 est. 102 Uruguay 0 2007 est. 103 Burkina Faso 0 2007 est. 104 Uganda 0 2007 est. 105 Tanzania 0 2007 est. 106 Taiwan 0 2007 est. 107 Timor-Leste 0 2007 est. 108 Tunisia 0 2007 est. 109 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2007 est. 110 Togo 0 2007 est. 111 Tonga 0 2007 est. 112 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2007 est. 113 Tajikistan 0 2007 est. 114 Thailand 0 2007 est. 115 Switzerland 0 2007 est. 116 Sweden 0 2007 est. 117 Sudan 0 2007 est. 118 Saint Lucia 0 2007 est. 119 Spain 0 2007 est. 120 Somalia 0 2007 est. 121 Singapore 0 2007 est. 122 Sierra Leone 0 2007 est. 123 Slovenia 0 2007 est. 124 Saint Helena 0 2007 est. 125 South Africa 0 2007 est. 126 Seychelles 0 2007 est. 127 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2007 est. 128 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2007 est. 129 Saudi Arabia 0 2007 est. 130 Rwanda 0 2007 est. 131 Puerto Rico 0 2007 est. 132 Philippines 0 2007 est. 133 Romania 0 2007 est. 134 Serbia 0 2005 est. 135 Guinea-Bissau 0 2007 est. 136 Papua New Guinea 0 2007 est. 137 Portugal 0 2007 est. 138 Panama 0 2007 est. 139 Pakistan 0 2007 est. 140 Peru 0 2007 est. 141 Paraguay 0 2007 est. 142 New Zealand 0 2007 est. 143 Nicaragua 0 2007 est. 144 Netherlands Antilles 0 2007 est. 145 Suriname 0 2007 est. 146 Nauru 0 2007 est. 147 Nepal 0 2007 est. 148 Vanuatu 0 2007 est. 149 Niger 0 2007 est. 150 Niue 0 2007 est. 151 New Caledonia 0 2007 est. 152 Mozambique 0 2005 est. 153 Maldives 0 2007 est. 154 Malta 0 2007 est. 155 Mauritania 0 2007 est. 156 Mauritius 0 2007 est. 157 Morocco 0 2007 est. 158 Mali 0 2007 est. 159 Macedonia 0 2007 est. 160 Malawi 0 2007 est. 161 Montserrat 0 2007 est. 162 Lebanon 0 2007 est. 163 Laos 0 2007 est. 164 Kuwait 0 2007 est. 165 Korea, South 0 2007 est. 166 Kiribati 0 2007 est. 167 Korea, North 0 2007 est. 168 Kyrgyzstan 0 2007 est. 169 Kenya 0 2007 est. 170 Honduras 0 2007 est. 171 Hong Kong 0 2007 est. 172 Haiti 0 2007 est. 173 Guyana 0 2007 est. 174 Guinea 0 2007 est. 175 Guatemala 0 2007 est. 176 Greece 0 2007 est. 177 Guam 0 2007 est. 178 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2007 est. 179 Fiji 0 2007 est. 180 Finland 0 2007 est. 181 Ethiopia 0 2007 est. 182 El Salvador 0 2007 est. 183 Eritrea 0 2007 est. 184 Estonia 0 2007 est. 185 Equatorial Guinea 0 2007 est. 186 Ireland 0 2007 est. 187 Ecuador 0 2007 est. 188 Dominican Republic 0 2007 est. 189 Dominica 0 2007 est. 190 Djibouti 0 2007 est. 191 Cyprus 0 2007 est. 192 Cook Islands 0 2007 est. 193 Cape Verde 0 2007 est. 194 Congo, Republic of the 0 2007 est. 195 Sri Lanka 0 2007 est. 196 Chad 0 2007 est. 197 Cambodia 0 2007 est. 198 Burundi 0 2007 est. 199 Bulgaria 0 2007 est. 200 Bhutan 0 2007 est. 201 Brazil 0 2007 est. 202 Barbados 0 2007 est. 203 Armenia 0 2007 est. 204 American Samoa 0 2007 est. 205 Angola 0 2007 est. 206 Albania 0 2007 est. 207 Afghanistan 0 2007 est. 208 Antigua and Barbuda 0 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2184

Rank Country Internet hosts Date of Information

1 United States 316,000,000 2 Japan 39,909,000 2008 3 Germany 22,606,000 2008 4 Italy 17,702,000 2008 5 China 14,306,000 2008 6 France 14,256,000 2008 7 Australia 11,134,000 2008 8 Netherlands 10,983,000 2008 9 Mexico 10,653,000 2008 10 Brazil 9,573,000 2008 11 United Kingdom 8,269,000 2008 12 Poland 7,808,000 2008 13 Taiwan 5,225,000 2008 14 Canada 5,119,000 2008 15 Russia 4,822,000 2008 16 Finland 3,877,000 2008 17 Belgium 3,841,000 2008 18 Argentina 3,813,000 2008 19 Denmark 3,642,000 2008 20 Sweden 3,579,000 2008 21 Switzerland 3,437,000 2008 22 Spain 3,264,000 2008 23 Norway 2,995,000 2008 24 Austria 2,806,000 2008 25 India 2,707,000 2008 26 Turkey 2,667,000 2008 27 Czech Republic 2,434,000 2008 28 Romania 2,195,000 2008 29 Hungary 1,879,000 2008 30 Portugal 1,858,000 2008 31 New Zealand 1,720,000 2008 32 Greece 1,626,000 2008 33 Colombia 1,554,000 2008 34 Israel 1,415,000 2008 35 South Africa 1,297,000 2008 36 Ireland 1,242,000 2008 37 Thailand 1,116,000 2008 38 Croatia 1,111,000 2008 39 Chile 847,215 2008 40 Singapore 837,559 2008 41 Hong Kong 817,766 2008 42 Lithuania 812,083 2008 43 Indonesia 753,200 2008 44 Slovakia 717,744 2008 45 Estonia 645,495 2008 46 Ukraine 524,202 2008 47 Bulgaria 513,470 2008 48 Uruguay 480,593 2008 49 Niue 382,599 2008 50 United Arab Emirates 381,915 2008 51 Malaysia 377,716 2008 52 Korea, South 333,823 2008 53 Philippines 283,579 2008 54 Morocco 275,889 2008 55 Peru 271,745 2008 56 Iceland 263,980 2008 57 Moldova 223,869 2008 58 Latvia 220,082 2008 59 Pakistan 197,264 2008 60 Luxembourg 180,756 2008 61 Egypt 175,342 2008 62 Trinidad and Tobago 155,722 2008 63 Venezuela 145,394 2008 64 Cyprus 143,099 2008 65 Saudi Arabia 141,232 2008 66 Guatemala 124,095 2008 67 Dominican Republic 105,546 2008 68 Vietnam 84,151 2008 69 Slovenia 75,984 2008 70 Bolivia 68,428 2008 71 Belarus 68,118 2008 72 Nicaragua 58,157 2008 73 Kyrgyzstan 56,905 2008 74 Tuvalu 56,209 2008 75 Bosnia and Herzegovina 56,032 2008 76 Netherlands Antilles 47,597 2008 77 Ecuador 45,404 2008 78 Nepal 42,219 2008 79 Uzbekistan 38,183 2008 80 Macedonia 36,905 2008 81 Lebanon 36,681 2008 82 Kazakhstan 36,417 2008 83 European Union 31,693 84 Georgia 27,905 2008 85 Kenya 27,376 2008 86 Malta 26,494 2008 87 Armenia 26,081 2008 88 Tanzania 24,271 2008 89 Ghana 24,018 2008 90 Andorra 23,368 2008 91 Mozambique 22,532 2008 92 Jordan 21,150 2008 93 Monaco 21,058 2008 94 Paraguay 19,691 2008 95 Tonga 19,231 2008 96 Zimbabwe 19,157 2008 97 Aruba 17,661 2008 98 Costa Rica 16,440 2008 99 New Caledonia 15,487 2008 100 Brunei 14,950 2008 101 Greenland 14,132 2008 102 French Polynesia 14,070 2008 103 Honduras 13,370 2008 104 Fiji 12,592 2008 105 El Salvador 11,434 2008 106 Samoa 11,307 2008 107 Madagascar 11,016 2008 108 Albania 10,162 2008 109 Mauritius 9,609 2008 110 Bhutan 9,046 2008 111 Faroe Islands 8,516 2008 112 Panama 7,858 2008 113 Syria 7,857 2008 114 Antarctica 7,748 2008 115 Liechtenstein 7,639 2008 116 Zambia 7,610 2008 117 Azerbaijan 6,995 2008 118 San Marino 6,665 2008 119 Botswana 6,374 2008 120 Namibia 6,296 2008 121 Guyana 6,218 2008 122 Cote d'Ivoire 5,569 2008 123 Sri Lanka 4,940 2008 124 Oman 4,785 2008 125 Cayman Islands 4,648 2008 126 Virgin Islands 4,610 2008 127 Solomon Islands 3,804 2008 128 Cuba 3,664 2008 129 Angola 3,562 2008 130 Papua New Guinea 3,422 2008 131 Kuwait 3,289 2008 132 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3,211 2008 133 Iran 2,860 2008 134 Belize 2,751 2008 135 Bahrain 2,621 2008 136 Swaziland 2,582 2008 137 Rwanda 2,363 2008 138 Turks and Caicos Islands 2,352 2008 139 Cook Islands 2,234 2008 140 Antigua and Barbuda 2,215 2008 141 American Samoa 1,923 2008 142 Gibraltar 1,904 2008 143 Christmas Island 1,821 2008 144 Bermuda 1,628 2008 145 Maldives 1,600 2008 146 Bangladesh 1,440 2008 147 Sao Tome and Principe 1,355 2008 148 Jamaica 1,292 2008 149 Cambodia 1,230 2008 150 Tajikistan 1,158 2008 151 Uganda 1,090 2008 152 Eritrea 1,074 2008 153 Nigeria 1,048 2008 154 Laos 1,015 2008 155 Vanuatu 990 2008 156 Micronesia, Federated States of 866 2008 157 Benin 848 2008 158 Togo 769 2008 159 Turkmenistan 640 2008 160 Qatar 563 2008 161 Algeria 477 2008 162 British Virgin Islands 465 2008 163 Isle of Man 426 2008 164 Montserrat 409 2008 165 Puerto Rico 404 2008 166 Mali 387 2008 167 Tunisia 376 2008 168 Mongolia 356 2008 169 Gambia, The 320 2008 170 Saint Helena 306 2008 171 Timor-Leste 285 2008 172 Seychelles 284 2008 173 Tokelau 273 2008 174 Macau 263 2008 175 Senegal 217 2008 176 Niger 216 2008 177 Anguilla 205 2008 178 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 196 2008 179 Jersey 190 2008 180 Yemen 167 2008 181 Burundi 162 2008 182 Djibouti 161 2008 183 Guernsey 156 2008 184 Ethiopia 128 2008 185 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 124 2008 186 Burkina Faso 116 2008 187 Burma 108 2008 188 Malawi 107 2008 189 Barbados 104 2008 190 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 91 2008 191 British Indian Ocean Territory 89 2008 192 Gabon 88 2008 193 Lesotho 83 2008 194 Guinea-Bissau 82 2008 195 Cameroon 69 2008 196 Holy See (Vatican City) 55 2008 197 Norfolk Island 51 2008 198 Saint Kitts and Nevis 45 2008 199 Nauru 42 2008 200 Bahamas, The 41 2008 201 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 38 2008 202 Guam 36 2008 203 Mauritania 34 2008 204 Suriname 33 2008 205 Sudan 33 2008 206 Afghanistan 31 2008 207 Libya 31 2008 208 Dominica 29 2008 209 Central African Republic 21 2008 210 Cape Verde 20 2008 211 Saint Lucia 17 2008 212 Guinea 16 2008 213 Pitcairn Islands 12 2008 214 Equatorial Guinea 9 2008 215 Kiribati 9 2008 216 Grenada 9 2008 217 Comoros 8 2008 218 Sierra Leone 8 2008 219 Haiti 7 2008 220 Liberia 7 2008 221 Bouvet Island 6 2008 222 Northern Mariana Islands 6 2008 223 Chad 5 2008 224 Congo, Republic of the 5 2008 225 Iraq 3 2008 226 Marshall Islands 3 2008 227 Mayotte 1 2008 228 Wallis and Futuna 1 2008 229 Somalia 1 2008 230 Palau 0 2008 231 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2008

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2185

Rank Country Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) Date of Information

1 Lesotho 51.90 2007 est. 2 Qatar 43.30 2007 est. 3 China 42.70 2007 est. 4 Congo, Republic of the 40.40 2007 est. 5 Equatorial Guinea 37.90 2007 est. 6 Vietnam 37.10 2007 est. 7 Cape Verde 37.00 2007 est. 8 Sao Tome and Principe 36.90 2007 est. 9 Guyana 34.90 2007 est. 10 Jamaica 34.20 2007 est. 11 India 33.90 2007 est. 12 Armenia 33.60 2007 est. 13 Moldova 33.30 2007 est. 14 Latvia 32.50 2007 est. 15 Turkmenistan 32.50 2007 est. 16 Estonia 31.90 2007 est. 17 Nicaragua 31.80 2007 est. 18 Ghana 31.60 2007 est. 19 Spain 31.10 2007 est. 20 Belarus 30.80 2007 est. 21 Montenegro 30.50 2006 est. 22 Honduras 30.40 2007 est. 23 Kazakhstan 30.30 2007 est. 24 Croatia 30.10 2007 est. 25 Bulgaria 29.80 2007 est. 26 Morocco 29.70 2007 est. 27 Georgia 29.40 2007 est. 28 Kosovo 29.00 2006 est. 29 Haiti 28.90 2006 est. 30 Korea, South 28.80 2007 est. 31 Slovenia 28.70 2007 est. 32 Romania 28.00 2007 est. 33 Jordan 27.90 2007 est. 34 Iran 27.60 2007 est. 35 Iceland 27.50 2007 est. 36 Ukraine 27.40 2007 est. 37 Australia 27.30 2007 est. 38 Thailand 26.80 2007 est. 39 Lithuania 26.60 2007 est. 40 Ireland 26.30 2007 est. 41 Zambia 26.20 2007 est. 42 Ethiopia 25.90 2007 est. 43 Madagascar 25.90 2007 est. 44 Greece 25.70 2007 est. 45 Slovakia 25.70 2007 est. 46 Kyrgyzstan 25.60 2007 est. 47 Gambia, The 25.40 2007 est. 48 Uganda 25.40 2007 est. 49 Senegal 25.20 2007 est. 50 Mauritius 25.10 2007 est. 51 Yemen 25.00 2007 est. 52 Indonesia 24.90 2007 est. 53 Singapore 24.90 2007 est. 54 Sri Lanka 24.70 2007 est. 55 Algeria 24.50 2007 est. 56 Burundi 24.40 2007 est. 57 Bangladesh 24.30 2007 est. 58 Argentina 24.20 2007 est. 59 Gabon 24.20 2007 est. 60 Togo 24.20 2007 est. 61 Czech Republic 24.10 2007 est. 62 Namibia 23.80 2007 est. 63 Nigeria 23.70 2007 est. 64 Venezuela 23.70 2007 est. 65 Tunisia 23.60 2007 est. 66 Albania 23.30 2007 est. 67 New Zealand 23.30 2007 est. 68 Japan 23.20 2007 est. 69 Tanzania 23.20 2007 est. 70 Peru 23.00 2007 est. 71 Denmark 22.90 2007 est. 72 World 22.70 2007 est. 73 Canada 22.60 2007 est. 74 Colombia 22.50 2007 est. 75 Bahrain 22.30 2007 est. 76 Lebanon 22.00 2007 est. 77 Rwanda 22.00 2007 est. 78 Ecuador 21.90 2007 est. 79 Malaysia 21.70 2007 est. 80 Poland 21.70 2007 est. 81 Portugal 21.70 2007 est. 82 Costa Rica 21.60 2007 est. 83 European Union 21.50 2006 est. 84 Syria 21.50 2007 est. 85 Switzerland 21.50 2007 est. 86 Turkey 21.50 2007 est. 87 France 21.50 2007 est. 88 Belgium 21.30 2007 est. 89 Mozambique 21.30 2007 est. 90 Pakistan 21.30 2007 est. 91 Egypt 21.20 2007 est. 92 Taiwan 21.20 2007 est. 93 Burkina Faso 21.10 2007 est. 94 Italy 21.00 2007 est. 95 Russia 21.00 2007 est. 96 Hungary 20.90 2007 est. 97 Cyprus 20.80 2007 est. 98 Mexico 20.80 2007 est. 99 Norway 20.80 2007 est. 100 Kenya 20.70 2007 est. 101 Austria 20.60 2007 est. 102 South Africa 20.60 2007 est. 103 Chile 20.60 2007 est. 104 United Arab Emirates 20.30 2007 est. 105 Hong Kong 20.30 2007 est. 106 Finland 20.30 2007 est. 107 Luxembourg 20.20 2007 est. 108 Panama 20.20 2007 est. 109 Serbia 20.10 2007 est. 110 Azerbaijan 20.00 2007 est. 111 Oman 20.00 2007 est. 112 Netherlands 20.00 2007 est. 113 Saudi Arabia 20.00 2007 est. 114 Belize 19.70 2007 est. 115 Kuwait 19.70 2007 est. 116 Benin 19.30 2007 est. 117 Papua New Guinea 19.30 2007 est. 118 Botswana 19.20 2007 est. 119 Cambodia 19.20 2007 est. 120 Eritrea 19.10 2007 est. 121 Sudan 19.00 2007 est. 122 Sweden 19.00 2007 est. 123 Malta 18.90 2007 est. 124 Paraguay 18.90 2007 est. 125 Dominican Republic 18.80 2007 est. 126 Swaziland 18.60 2007 est. 127 Germany 18.50 2007 est. 128 Israel 18.50 2007 est. 129 United Kingdom 18.20 2007 est. 130 Macedonia 17.70 2007 est. 131 Brazil 17.60 2007 est. 132 Cameroon 17.30 2007 est. 133 Guatemala 17.10 2007 est. 134 Trinidad and Tobago 16.70 2007 est. 135 Zimbabwe 16.70 2007 est. 136 Bolivia 16.10 2007 est. 137 El Salvador 16.10 2007 est. 138 United States 15.50 2007 est. 139 Philippines 14.80 2007 est. 140 Uruguay 13.90 2007 est. 141 Burma 13.10 2007 est. 142 Cuba 13.10 2007 est. 143 Tajikistan 12.40 2007 est. 144 Chad 11.40 2007 est. 145 Guinea 11.30 2007 est. 146 Angola 9.10 2007 est. 147 Seychelles 8.90 2007 est. 148 Cote d'Ivoire 8.80 2007 est. 149 Libya 8.80 2007 est. 150 Malawi 8.40 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2186

Rank Country Public debt(% of GDP) Date of Information

1 Zimbabwe 218.20 2007 est. 2 Lebanon 186.60 2007 est. 3 Japan 170.00 2007 est. 4 Jamaica 126.50 2007 est. 5 Sudan 105.90 2007 est. 6 Egypt 105.80 2007 est. 7 Italy 104.00 2007 est. 8 Singapore 96.30 2007 est. 9 Seychelles 92.30 2007 est. 10 Greece 89.50 2007 est. 11 Sri Lanka 85.80 2007 est. 12 Belgium 84.60 2007 est. 13 Norway 83.10 2007 est. 14 Bhutan 81.40 2004 15 Israel 80.60 2007 est. 16 Cote d'Ivoire 75.20 2007 est. 17 Jordan 72.40 2007 est. 18 Morocco 67.40 2007 est. 19 Hungary 67.00 2007 est. 20 Germany 64.90 2007 est. 21 Uruguay 64.80 2007 est. 22 Canada 64.20 2007 est. 23 France 63.90 2007 est. 24 Portugal 63.60 2007 est. 25 Mauritius 63.10 2007 est. 26 Nicaragua 62.90 2007 est. 27 United States 60.80 2007 est. 28 Cyprus 59.60 2007 est. 29 Austria 59.10 2007 est. 30 Ghana 58.50 2007 est. 31 India 58.20 2007 est. 32 Argentina 56.10 2007 est. 33 Philippines 55.80 2007 est. 34 Tunisia 55.40 2007 est. 35 Panama 53.00 2007 est. 36 Colombia 52.80 2007 est. 37 Gabon 52.80 2007 est. 38 Albania 51.40 2007 est. 39 Malawi 50.60 2007 est. 40 Pakistan 50.60 2007 est. 41 Kenya 48.70 2007 est. 42 Croatia 47.80 2007 est. 43 Costa Rica 46.60 2007 est. 44 Aruba 46.30 2005 45 Bolivia 46.30 2007 est. 46 Netherlands 45.50 2007 est. 47 Brazil 45.10 2007 est. 48 Ethiopia 44.50 2007 est. 49 Switzerland 44.20 2007 est. 50 United Kingdom 43.60 2007 est. 51 Poland 43.10 2007 est. 52 Vietnam 42.00 2007 est. 53 Sweden 41.70 2007 est. 54 Malaysia 41.60 2007 est. 55 Dominican Republic 41.00 2007 est. 56 Papua New Guinea 40.10 2007 est. 57 Turkey 38.90 2007 est. 58 Montenegro 38.00 2006 59 Thailand 37.90 2007 est. 60 Syria 37.70 2007 est. 61 Bangladesh 37.40 2007 est. 62 El Salvador 37.30 2007 est. 63 Serbia 37.00 2007 est. 64 Cuba 36.80 2007 est. 65 Spain 36.20 2007 est. 66 Finland 35.90 2007 est. 67 Slovakia 35.90 2007 est. 68 Bosnia and Herzegovina 34.00 2007 est. 69 Indonesia 34.00 2007 est. 70 Yemen 33.50 2007 est. 71 Ecuador 33.10 2007 est. 72 South Africa 31.30 2007 est. 73 Bahrain 31.20 2007 est. 74 Macedonia 30.80 2007 est. 75 Peru 29.20 2007 est. 76 Korea, South 28.20 2007 est. 77 Zambia 28.10 2007 est. 78 Trinidad and Tobago 27.90 2007 est. 79 Taiwan 27.90 2007 est. 80 Iceland 27.60 2007 est. 81 Paraguay 27.00 2007 est. 82 Denmark 26.00 2007 est. 83 Czech Republic 26.00 2007 est. 84 Ireland 24.90 2007 est. 85 Saudi Arabia 24.30 2007 est. 86 Honduras 24.10 2007 est. 87 Slovenia 23.60 2007 est. 88 Moldova 23.30 2007 est. 89 Senegal 22.90 2007 est. 90 Mexico 22.80 2007 est. 91 Namibia 22.30 2007 est. 92 Mozambique 22.20 2007 est. 93 United Arab Emirates 21.20 2007 est. 94 Guatemala 20.90 2007 est. 95 New Zealand 20.70 2007 est. 96 Uganda 20.60 2007 est. 97 Tanzania 19.60 2007 est. 98 Venezuela 19.30 2007 est. 99 Uzbekistan 18.70 2007 est. 100 China 18.40 2007 est. 101 Algeria 18.00 2007 est. 102 Lithuania 17.30 2007 est. 103 Iran 17.20 2007 est. 104 Gibraltar 15.70 2005 est. 105 Australia 15.60 2007 est. 106 Cameroon 15.50 2007 est. 107 Nigeria 14.40 2007 est. 108 Romania 13.00 2007 est. 109 Hong Kong 12.50 2007 est. 110 Angola 12.00 2007 est. 111 Ukraine 11.70 2007 est. 112 Qatar 11.00 2007 est. 113 Bulgaria 10.50 2007 est. 114 Kuwait 9.70 2007 est. 115 Kazakhstan 7.70 2007 est. 116 Latvia 7.40 2007 est. 117 Azerbaijan 6.70 2007 est. 118 Luxembourg 6.40 2007 est. 119 Russia 5.90 2007 est. 120 Wallis and Futuna 5.60 2004 est. 121 Botswana 5.40 2007 est. 122 Libya 4.70 2007 est. 123 Chile 4.10 2007 est. 124 Oman 3.70 2007 est. 125 Estonia 3.40 2007 est. 126 Equatorial Guinea 1.60 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2187

Rank Country Current account balance Date of Information

1 China $ 371,800,000,000 2007 est. 2 Germany $ 254,500,000,000 2007 est. 3 Japan $ 210,500,000,000 2007 est. 4 Saudi Arabia $ 86,620,000,000 2007 est. 5 Russia $ 78,310,000,000 2007 est. 6 Switzerland $ 72,350,000,000 2007 est. 7 Norway $ 64,070,000,000 2007 est. 8 Kuwait $ 47,500,000,000 2007 est. 9 Netherlands $ 47,310,000,000 2007 est. 10 Singapore $ 46,390,000,000 2007 est. 11 Sweden $ 37,970,000,000 2007 est. 12 United Arab Emirates $ 34,530,000,000 2007 est. 13 Taiwan $ 32,880,000,000 2007 est. 14 Algeria $ 32,050,000,000 2007 est. 15 Iran $ 28,950,000,000 2007 est. 16 Malaysia $ 28,930,000,000 2007 est. 17 Hong Kong $ 28,040,000,000 2007 est. 18 Libya $ 26,380,000,000 2007 est. 19 Venezuela $ 20,000,000,000 2007 est. 20 Thailand $ 14,920,000,000 2007 est. 21 Angola $ 13,580,000,000 2007 est. 22 Canada $ 12,670,000,000 2007 est. 23 Austria $ 12,030,000,000 2007 est. 24 Finland $ 11,400,000,000 2007 est. 25 Indonesia $ 11,010,000,000 2007 est. 26 Qatar $ 10,410,000,000 2007 est. 27 Azerbaijan $ 9,019,000,000 2007 est. 28 Argentina $ 7,438,000,000 2007 est. 29 Chile $ 7,200,000,000 2007 est. 30 Brunei $ 7,101,000,000 2007 est. 31 Philippines $ 6,351,000,000 2007 est. 32 Iraq $ 6,025,000,000 2007 est. 33 Korea, South $ 5,954,000,000 2007 est. 34 Trinidad and Tobago $ 5,378,000,000 2007 est. 35 Israel $ 5,197,000,000 2007 est. 36 Luxembourg $ 4,921,000,000 2007 est. 37 Oman $ 4,866,000,000 2007 est. 38 Uzbekistan $ 4,615,000,000 2007 est. 39 Denmark $ 4,279,000,000 2007 est. 40 Belgium $ 3,282,000,000 2007 est. 41 Bahrain $ 2,907,000,000 2007 est. 42 Nigeria $ 2,514,000,000 2007 est. 43 Botswana $ 1,973,000,000 2007 est. 44 Bolivia $ 1,796,000,000 2007 est. 45 Brazil $ 1,712,000,000 2007 est. 46 Turkmenistan $ 1,705,000,000 2007 est. 47 Gabon $ 1,552,000,000 2007 est. 48 Peru $ 1,516,000,000 2007 est. 49 Burma $ 1,427,000,000 2007 est. 50 Timor-Leste $ 1,161,000,000 2007 est. 51 Ecuador $ 1,064,000,000 2007 est. 52 Syria $ 908,000,000 2007 est. 53 Namibia $ 805,200,000 2007 est. 54 Bangladesh $ 804,700,000 2007 est. 55 Egypt $ 500,900,000 2007 est. 56 Equatorial Guinea $ 415,000,000 2007 est. 57 Cuba $ 240,000,000 2007 est. 58 British Virgin Islands $ 134,300,000 1999 59 Papua New Guinea $ 125,800,000 2007 est. 60 Paraguay $ 119,000,000 2007 est. 61 Bhutan $ 116,000,000 2007 est. 62 Nepal $ 58,000,000 2007 63 Lesotho $ 49,000,000 2007 est. 64 Cook Islands $ 26,670,000 2005 65 Suriname $ 24,000,000 2007 est. 66 Palau $ 15,090,000 FY03/04 67 Comoros $ 8,000,000 2007 est. 68 Guinea-Bissau $ -6,000,000 2007 est. 69 Tuvalu $ -11,680,000 2003 70 Kiribati $ -21,000,000 2007 est. 71 Mongolia $ -23,000,000 2007 est. 72 Tonga $ -23,000,000 2007 est. 73 Samoa $ -24,000,000 2007 est. 74 Swaziland $ -24,000,000 2007 est. 75 Micronesia, Federated States of $ -34,300,000 FY05 est. 76 Anguilla $ -42,870,000 2003 est. 77 Belize $ -43,000,000 2007 est. 78 Sao Tome and Principe $ -55,000,000 2007 est. 79 Kosovo $ -58,300,000 2007 80 Vanuatu $ -60,000,000 2007 est. 81 Sierra Leone $ -63,000,000 2007 est. 82 Gambia, The $ -71,000,000 2007 est. 83 Dominica $ -72,000,000 2007 est. 84 Central African Republic $ -77,000,000 2007 est. 85 Burundi $ -101,000,000 2007 est. 86 Cape Verde $ -132,600,000 2007 est. 87 Grenada $ -138,000,000 2007 est. 88 Solomon Islands $ -143,000,000 2007 est. 89 Cote d'Ivoire $ -146,000,000 2007 est. 90 Rwanda $ -147,000,000 2007 est. 91 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $ -149,000,000 2007 est. 92 Guyana $ -157,000,000 2007 est. 93 Togo $ -159,000,000 2007 est. 94 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ -163,000,000 2007 est. 95 Chad $ -171,000,000 2007 est. 96 Mauritania $ -184,000,000 2007 est. 97 Uruguay $ -185,600,000 2007 est. 98 Saint Lucia $ -199,000,000 2007 est. 99 Eritrea $ -205,000,000 2007 est. 100 Antigua and Barbuda $ -211,000,000 2007 est. 101 Djibouti $ -212,000,000 2007 est. 102 Liberia $ -224,000,000 2007 103 Zambia $ -228,000,000 2007 est. 104 Macedonia $ -249,000,000 2007 est. 105 Barbados $ -254,000,000 2007 est. 106 Kyrgyzstan $ -267,900,000 2007 est. 107 Seychelles $ -272,000,000 2007 est. 108 Laos $ -285,000,000 2007 est. 109 Malawi $ -318,000,000 2007 est. 110 Niger $ -321,000,000 2007 est. 111 Cameroon $ -325,000,000 2007 est. 112 Tajikistan $ -351,000,000 2007 est. 113 Yemen $ -362,000,000 2007 est. 114 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $ -402,000,000 2007 est. 115 Mauritius $ -408,300,000 2007 est. 116 Guinea $ -424,000,000 2007 est. 117 Malta $ -424,500,000 2007 est. 118 Benin $ -441,000,000 2007 est. 119 Mali $ -446,000,000 2007 est. 120 Haiti $ -467,000,000 2007 est. 121 Maldives $ -472,000,000 2007 122 Cambodia $ -506,300,000 2007 est. 123 Fiji $ -507,000,000 2007 est. 124 Armenia $ -571,400,000 2007 est. 125 Zimbabwe $ -649,000,000 2007 est. 126 Moldova $ -694,700,000 2007 est. 127 Burkina Faso $ -706,000,000 2007 est. 128 Uganda $ -744,700,000 2007 est. 129 Mozambique $ -795,100,000 2007 est. 130 Ethiopia $ -826,800,000 2007 est. 131 Madagascar $ -890,000,000 2007 est. 132 Tunisia $ -905,000,000 2007 est. 133 Nicaragua $ -1,001,000,000 2007 est. 134 Sri Lanka $ -1,019,000,000 2007 est. 135 El Salvador $ -1,119,000,000 2007 est. 136 Kenya $ -1,147,000,000 2007 est. 137 Albania $ -1,202,000,000 2007 est. 138 Honduras $ -1,225,000,000 2007 est. 139 Bahamas, The $ -1,442,000,000 2007 est. 140 Senegal $ -1,458,000,000 2007 est. 141 Congo, Republic of the $ -1,491,000,000 2007 est. 142 Costa Rica $ -1,499,000,000 2007 est. 143 Ghana $ -1,549,000,000 2007 est. 144 Panama $ -1,577,000,000 2007 est. 145 Guatemala $ -1,663,000,000 2007 est. 146 Jamaica $ -1,830,000,000 2007 est. 147 Morocco $ -1,834,000,000 2007 est. 148 Tanzania $ -1,856,000,000 2007 est. 149 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ -1,939,000,000 2007 est. 150 Georgia $ -2,044,000,000 2007 est. 151 Lebanon $ -2,046,000,000 2007 est. 152 Cyprus $ -2,144,000,000 2007 est. 153 Slovenia $ -2,181,000,000 2007 est. 154 Dominican Republic $ -2,231,000,000 2007 est. 155 Jordan $ -2,767,000,000 2007 est. 156 Belarus $ -2,876,000,000 2007 est. 157 Iceland $ -3,189,000,000 2007 est. 158 Sudan $ -3,447,000,000 2007 est. 159 Estonia $ -3,771,000,000 2007 est. 160 Slovakia $ -3,998,000,000 2007 est. 161 Czech Republic $ -4,534,000,000 2007 est. 162 Croatia $ -4,850,000,000 2007 est. 163 Lithuania $ -5,260,000,000 2007 est. 164 Mexico $ -5,525,000,000 2007 est. 165 Colombia $ -5,862,000,000 2007 est. 166 Ukraine $ -5,918,000,000 2007 est. 167 Latvia $ -6,231,000,000 2007 est. 168 Serbia $ -6,889,000,000 2007 est. 169 Vietnam $ -6,993,000,000 2007 est. 170 Kazakhstan $ -7,184,000,000 2007 est. 171 Hungary $ -8,018,000,000 2007 est. 172 Pakistan $ -8,255,000,000 2007 est. 173 Bulgaria $ -8,530,000,000 2007 est. 174 New Zealand $ -10,230,000,000 2007 est. 175 India $ -12,110,000,000 2007 est. 176 Ireland $ -14,120,000,000 2007 est. 177 Poland $ -15,910,000,000 2007 est. 178 South Africa $ -20,630,000,000 2007 est. 179 Portugal $ -21,750,000,000 2007 est. 180 Romania $ -23,020,000,000 2007 est. 181 France $ -31,250,000,000 2007 est. 182 Turkey $ -37,580,000,000 2007 est. 183 Greece $ -44,400,000,000 2007 est. 184 Italy $ -51,030,000,000 2007 est. 185 Australia $ -56,780,000,000 2007 est. 186 United Kingdom $ -119,200,000,000 2007 est. 187 Spain $ -145,300,000,000 2007 est. 188 United States $ -731,200,000,000 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2188

Rank Country Reserves of foreign exchange and gold Date of Information

1 China $ 1,534,000,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 2 Japan $ 954,100,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 3 Russia $ 476,400,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 4 India $ 275,000,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 5 Taiwan $ 275,000,000,000 31 December 2007 6 Korea, South $ 262,200,000,000 31 December 2007 7 Brazil $ 180,300,000,000 31 December 2007 8 Singapore $ 163,000,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 9 Hong Kong $ 152,700,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 10 Germany $ 136,200,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 11 France $ 115,700,000,000 2006 est. 12 Algeria $ 110,600,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 13 Malaysia $ 101,100,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 14 Italy $ 94,330,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 15 Thailand $ 87,460,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 16 Mexico $ 87,190,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 17 Libya $ 79,600,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 18 United Arab Emirates $ 77,240,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 19 Turkey $ 76,510,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 20 Switzerland $ 75,370,000,000 2006 est. 21 United States $ 70,570,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 22 Iran $ 69,200,000,000 2007 est. 23 Poland $ 65,750,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 24 Norway $ 60,840,000,000 2006 est. 25 United Kingdom $ 57,300,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 26 Indonesia $ 56,920,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 27 Nigeria $ 51,330,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 28 Argentina $ 46,120,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 29 Canada $ 41,080,000,000 2007 est. 30 Romania $ 39,960,000,000 31 December 2007 31 Czech Republic $ 34,590,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 32 Denmark $ 34,320,000,000 2006 est. 33 Saudi Arabia $ 34,010,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 34 Philippines $ 33,750,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 35 Venezuela $ 33,480,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 36 South Africa $ 32,940,000,000 31 December 2007 37 Ukraine $ 32,480,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 38 Egypt $ 31,370,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 39 Sweden $ 31,040,000,000 2006 est. 40 Israel $ 28,520,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 41 Peru $ 27,780,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 42 Netherlands $ 26,980,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 43 Australia $ 26,910,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 44 Iraq $ 25,660,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 45 Morocco $ 24,720,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 46 Hungary $ 24,050,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 47 Vietnam $ 23,870,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 48 Colombia $ 20,950,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 49 Lebanon $ 20,550,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 50 Spain $ 19,050,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 51 Slovakia $ 18,980,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 52 Austria $ 18,220,000,000 2006 est. 53 Kazakhstan $ 17,630,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 54 Bulgaria $ 17,380,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 55 New Zealand $ 17,250,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 56 Chile $ 16,840,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 57 Kuwait $ 16,780,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 58 Belgium $ 16,510,000,000 2007 est. 59 Pakistan $ 15,690,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 60 Serbia $ 14,220,000,000 2007 est. 61 Croatia $ 13,670,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 62 Portugal $ 11,550,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 63 Angola $ 11,200,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 64 Botswana $ 9,790,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 65 Qatar $ 9,752,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 66 Oman $ 9,524,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 67 Finland $ 8,385,000,000 2007 68 Jordan $ 7,929,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 69 Tunisia $ 7,854,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 70 Yemen $ 7,760,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 71 Lithuania $ 7,721,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 72 Uzbekistan $ 6,750,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 73 Trinidad and Tobago $ 6,745,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 74 Cyprus $ 6,507,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 75 Syria $ 6,046,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 76 Latvia $ 5,758,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 77 Slovenia $ 5,682,000,000 30 September 2007 est. 78 Bolivia $ 5,318,000,000 31 October 2007 79 Bangladesh $ 5,278,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 80 Turkmenistan $ 5,172,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 81 Bosnia and Herzegovina $ 4,525,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 82 Azerbaijan $ 4,273,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 83 Belarus $ 4,266,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 84 Cuba $ 4,247,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 85 Guatemala $ 4,139,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 86 Uruguay $ 4,121,000,000 December 2007 est. 87 Costa Rica $ 4,114,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 88 Bahrain $ 4,101,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 89 Equatorial Guinea $ 3,846,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 90 Malta $ 3,798,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 91 Greece $ 3,658,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 92 Sri Lanka $ 3,644,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 93 Ecuador $ 3,521,000,000 30 November 2007 est. 94 Kenya $ 3,355,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 95 Estonia $ 3,270,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 96 Cameroon $ 2,932,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 97 Tanzania $ 2,910,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 98 Dominican Republic $ 2,562,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 99 Uganda $ 2,560,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 100 Honduras $ 2,546,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 101 Cote d'Ivoire $ 2,519,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 102 Paraguay $ 2,463,000,000 31 December 2007 103 Iceland $ 2,436,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 104 Macedonia $ 2,265,000,000 31 December 2007 105 Burma $ 2,262,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 106 Congo, Republic of the $ 2,206,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 107 Ghana $ 2,204,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 108 El Salvador $ 2,199,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 109 Albania $ 2,162,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 110 Cambodia $ 2,143,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 111 Papua New Guinea $ 2,087,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 112 Panama $ 1,935,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 113 Jamaica $ 1,905,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 114 Mauritius $ 1,822,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 115 Senegal $ 1,660,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 116 Armenia $ 1,657,000,000 December 2007 est. 117 Mozambique $ 1,445,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 118 Sudan $ 1,378,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 119 Georgia $ 1,361,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 120 Moldova $ 1,334,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 121 Ethiopia $ 1,294,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 122 Gabon $ 1,238,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 123 Benin $ 1,209,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 124 Kyrgyzstan $ 1,177,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 125 Nicaragua $ 1,103,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 126 Zambia $ 1,090,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 127 Burkina Faso $ 1,029,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 128 Chad $ 969,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 129 Ireland $ 926,200,000 2006 est. 130 Namibia $ 896,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 131 Lesotho $ 852,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 132 Madagascar $ 846,700,000 31 December 2007 est. 133 Swaziland $ 762,700,000 31 December 2007 est. 134 Barbados $ 620,000,000 2007 135 Rwanda $ 552,800,000 31 December 2007 est. 136 Laos $ 540,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 137 Haiti $ 444,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 138 Togo $ 438,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 139 Cape Verde $ 398,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 140 Guyana $ 313,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 141 Suriname $ 263,300,000 2006 142 Tajikistan $ 242,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 143 Malawi $ 217,200,000 31 December 2007 est. 144 Luxembourg $ 205,500,000 2006 est. 145 Burundi $ 177,100,000 31 December 2007 est. 146 Gambia, The $ 142,800,000 31 December 2007 est. 147 Zimbabwe $ 120,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 148 Guinea $ 119,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 149 Belize $ 109,000,000 31 December 2007 est. 150 Samoa $ 70,150,000 FY03/04 151 Tonga $ 40,830,000 yearend, FY04/05 152 Seychelles $ 40,800,000 31 December 2007 est. 153 Vanuatu $ 40,540,000 2003 154 Sao Tome and Principe $ 34,600,000 31 December 2007 est. 155 Eritrea $ 23,000,000 31 December 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2198

Rank Country Stock of direct foreign investment - at home Date of Information

1 World 14,000,000,000,000.00 year-end 2007 est. 2 United States 2,093,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 3 United Kingdom 1,288,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 4 Hong Kong 1,185,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 5 France 942,300,000,000.00 2007 est. 6 Germany 855,800,000,000.00 2007 est. 7 China 758,900,000,000.00 2007 est. 8 Belgium 678,200,000,000.00 2007 est. 9 Netherlands 673,400,000,000.00 2007 est. 10 Spain 568,800,000,000.00 2007 est. 11 Canada 527,400,000,000.00 2007 est. 12 Italy 364,800,000,000.00 2007 est. 13 Australia 315,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 14 Switzerland 306,400,000,000.00 2007 est. 15 Russia 271,600,000,000.00 2006 16 Mexico 260,900,000,000.00 2007 est. 17 Brazil 248,900,000,000.00 2007 est. 18 Austria 222,900,000,000.00 2007 est. 19 Sweden 216,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 20 Singapore 214,500,000,000.00 2007 est. 21 Ireland 191,400,000,000.00 2007 est. 22 Denmark 149,700,000,000.00 2007 est. 23 Poland 143,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 24 Korea, South 119,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 25 Japan 110,800,000,000.00 2007 est. 26 Hungary 108,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 27 Turkey 106,400,000,000.00 2007 est. 28 India 95,960,000,000.00 2007 est. 29 South Africa 93,510,000,000.00 2007 est. 30 Taiwan 92,830,000,000.00 2007 31 Chile 91,490,000,000.00 2007 est. 32 Portugal 91,190,000,000.00 2007 est. 33 Czech Republic 86,750,000,000.00 2007 est. 34 Malaysia 86,160,000,000.00 2007 est. 35 Finland 85,240,000,000.00 2007 est. 36 Thailand 80,830,000,000.00 2007 est. 37 New Zealand 71,310,000,000.00 2007 est. 38 Argentina 65,310,000,000.00 2007 est. 39 Norway 62,630,000,000.00 2007 est. 40 Romania 60,820,000,000.00 2007 est. 41 Israel 57,970,000,000.00 2007 est. 42 Indonesia 57,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 43 Colombia 56,190,000,000.00 2007 est. 44 Greece 52,840,000,000.00 2007 est. 45 Egypt 48,460,000,000.00 2007 est. 46 Slovakia 45,250,000,000.00 2007 est. 47 United Arab Emirates 44,370,000,000.00 2007 est. 48 Venezuela 43,960,000,000.00 2007 est. 49 Kazakhstan 40,160,000,000.00 2007 est. 50 Bulgaria 33,910,000,000.00 2007 est. 51 Nigeria 33,640,000,000.00 2007 est. 52 Morocco 32,900,000,000.00 2007 est. 53 Vietnam 32,740,000,000.00 2007 est. 54 Ukraine 31,080,000,000.00 2007 est. 55 Tunisia 26,220,000,000.00 2007 est. 56 Peru 24,720,000,000.00 2007 est. 57 Croatia 23,130,000,000.00 2007 est. 58 Pakistan 20,010,000,000.00 2007 est. 59 Philippines 19,880,000,000.00 2007 est. 60 Jordan 18,180,000,000.00 2007 est. 61 Angola 17,230,000,000.00 2007 est. 62 Estonia 16,590,000,000.00 2007 est. 63 Ecuador 16,310,000,000.00 2007 est. 64 Lithuania 14,630,000,000.00 2007 est. 65 Cyprus 13,360,000,000.00 2007 est. 66 Bahrain 13,310,000,000.00 2007 est. 67 Dominican Republic 12,750,000,000.00 2007 est. 68 Trinidad and Tobago 12,440,000,000.00 2007 69 Algeria 12,040,000,000.00 2007 est. 70 Serbia 11,950,000,000.00 2006 est. 71 Cuba 11,240,000,000.00 2006 est. 72 Qatar 11,180,000,000.00 2007 est. 73 Slovenia 10,410,000,000.00 2007 est. 74 Latvia 8,620,000,000.00 2007 est. 75 Costa Rica 8,530,000,000.00 2007 est. 76 Azerbaijan 7,829,000,000.00 2007 est. 77 Bolivia 6,880,000,000.00 31 December 2004 78 Macau 6,500,000,000.00 2006 79 Libya 6,286,000,000.00 2007 est. 80 Iran 6,026,000,000.00 2007 est. 81 El Salvador 5,918,000,000.00 2007 est. 82 Bangladesh 4,971,000,000.00 2007 est. 83 Chad 4,500,000,000.00 2006 est. 84 Uruguay 4,190,000,000.00 2007 85 Macedonia 2,405,000,000.00 2007 est. 86 Kenya 1,249,000,000.00 2007 est. 87 Kuwait 898,000,000.00 2007 est. 88 Paraguay 2,057,000.00 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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Rank code: @2199

Rank Country Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad Date of Information

1 World 14,000,000,000,000.00 year-end 2007 est. 2 United States 2,791,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 3 United Kingdom 1,707,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 4 France 1,307,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 5 Germany 1,218,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 6 Hong Kong 1,027,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 7 Netherlands 851,300,000,000.00 2007 est. 8 Spain 681,700,000,000.00 2007 est. 9 Switzerland 605,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 10 Belgium 540,100,000,000.00 2007 est. 11 Japan 533,100,000,000.00 2007 est. 12 Italy 520,100,000,000.00 2007 est. 13 Canada 514,700,000,000.00 2007 est. 14 Australia 280,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 15 Sweden 261,500,000,000.00 2007 est. 16 Russia 209,600,000,000.00 2006 17 Austria 208,100,000,000.00 2007 est. 18 Denmark 166,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 19 Ireland 139,600,000,000.00 2007 est. 20 Norway 126,100,000,000.00 2007 est. 21 Finland 113,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 22 Singapore 111,200,000,000.00 2005 23 Taiwan 108,900,000,000.00 2007 24 Brazil 107,100,000,000.00 2007 est. 25 China 93,750,000,000.00 2007 est. 26 Korea, South 82,100,000,000.00 2006 27 Portugal 54,850,000,000.00 2007 est. 28 South Africa 53,980,000,000.00 2007 est. 29 Hungary 45,540,000,000.00 2007 est. 30 Malaysia 42,550,000,000.00 2007 est. 31 Israel 41,960,000,000.00 2007 est. 32 Mexico 39,010,000,000.00 2007 est. 33 India 37,500,000,000.00 2007 est. 34 Greece 30,800,000,000.00 2007 est. 35 Argentina 26,260,000,000.00 2007 est. 36 Chile 24,680,000,000.00 2007 est. 37 Kuwait 24,220,000,000.00 2007 est. 38 Poland 19,690,000,000.00 2007 est. 39 United Arab Emirates 14,140,000,000.00 2007 est. 40 Venezuela 13,810,000,000.00 2007 est. 41 Nigeria 12,630,000,000.00 2007 est. 42 Turkey 11,350,000,000.00 2007 est. 43 Colombia 10,380,000,000.00 2007 est. 44 Indonesia 9,225,000,000.00 2006 est. 45 Bahrain 7,720,000,000.00 2007 est. 46 Thailand 7,013,000,000.00 2007 est. 47 Slovenia 6,127,000,000.00 2007 est. 48 Czech Republic 6,058,000,000.00 2007 est. 49 Estonia 5,873,000,000.00 2007 est. 50 Qatar 5,625,000,000.00 2007 est. 51 Philippines 5,584,000,000.00 2007 est. 52 Cyprus 5,419,000,000.00 2007 est. 53 Azerbaijan 4,912,000,000.00 2007 est. 54 Cuba 4,138,000,000.00 2006 est. 55 Kazakhstan 3,970,000,000.00 September 2007 56 Libya 3,333,000,000.00 2007 est. 57 Croatia 3,161,000,000.00 2007 est. 58 Lithuania 1,642,000,000.00 2007 est. 59 Slovakia 1,509,000,000.00 2007 est. 60 Peru 1,476,000,000.00 2007 est. 61 Ecuador 1,456,000,000.00 2007 est. 62 Trinidad and Tobago 1,419,000,000.00 2007 63 Egypt 1,295,000,000.00 2007 est. 64 Macau 1,100,000,000.00 2006 65 Pakistan 982,000,000.00 2007 est. 66 Romania 915,000,000.00 2007 est. 67 Iran 903,000,000.00 2007 est. 68 Ukraine 895,000,000.00 2007 est. 69 Morocco 882,000,000.00 2006 est. 70 Algeria 851,000,000.00 2007 est. 71 Latvia 699,000,000.00 2007 est. 72 Bulgaria 559,000,000.00 2007 est. 73 Costa Rica 490,000,000.00 2007 est. 74 El Salvador 384,000,000.00 2007 est. 75 Angola 227,000,000.00 2006 est. 76 Uruguay 156,000,000.00 2007 77 Tunisia 118,000,000.00 2007 est. 78 Bangladesh 104,000,000.00 2007 est. 79 Dominican Republic 59,000,000.00 2007 est. 80 Kenya 47,000,000.00 2007 est.

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2200

Rank Country Market value of publicly traded shares Date of Information

1 World 53,510,000,000,000.00 2006 2 United States 17,000,000,000,000.00 2005 3 European Union 11,640,000,000,000.00 2006 4 Japan 4,737,000,000,000.00 2005 5 China 4,477,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 est. 6 United Kingdom 3,058,000,000,000.00 2005 7 Hong Kong 2,970,000,000,000.00 2007 est. 8 France 1,710,000,000,000.00 2005 9 Canada 1,481,000,000,000.00 2005 10 Russia 1,322,000,000,000.00 2006 11 Germany 1,221,000,000,000.00 2005 12 Finland 1,095,000,000,000.00 January 2008 13 Korea, South 1,051,000,000,000.00 2007 14 Spain 960,000,000,000.00 2005 15 Switzerland 938,600,000,000.00 2005 16 Netherlands 924,400,000,000.00 November 2007 17 South Africa 842,000,000,000.00 January 2008 18 India 818,900,000,000.00 2006 19 Australia 804,100,000,000.00 2005 20 Italy 798,200,000,000.00 2005 21 Brazil 711,100,000,000.00 2006 22 Taiwan 654,000,000,000.00 28 December 2007 23 Netherlands Antilles 488,600,000,000.00 2003 24 Belgium 422,700,000,000.00 2006 25 Sweden 403,900,000,000.00 2005 26 Singapore 382,400,000,000.00 2007 27 Mexico 348,300,000,000.00 2006 28 Saudi Arabia 326,900,000,000.00 2006 29 Malaysia 235,400,000,000.00 2006 30 Norway 191,000,000,000.00 2005 31 Denmark 178,000,000,000.00 2005 32 Chile 174,600,000,000.00 2006 33 Israel 173,300,000,000.00 2006 34 Turkey 162,400,000,000.00 2006 35 Poland 149,100,000,000.00 2006 36 Greece 145,000,000,000.00 2005 37 Thailand 139,600,000,000.00 2006 38 Indonesia 138,900,000,000.00 2006 39 United Arab Emirates 138,500,000,000.00 2006 40 Kuwait 128,900,000,000.00 2006 41 Austria 126,300,000,000.00 2005 42 Ireland 114,100,000,000.00 2005 43 Philippines 103,400,000,000.00 2007 44 Egypt 93,480,000,000.00 2006 45 Argentina 79,730,000,000.00 2006 46 Luxembourg 79,400,000,000.00 2006 47 Portugal 66,980,000,000.00 2005 48 Qatar 61,560,000,000.00 2006 49 Peru 59,660,000,000.00 2006 50 Colombia 56,200,000,000.00 2006 51 Morocco 49,600,000,000.00 2006 52 Czech Republic 48,600,000,000.00 2006 53 Cyprus 48,200,000,000.00 2005 54 Pakistan 45,520,000,000.00 2006 55 Romania 45,420,000,000.00 2007 56 Iran 45,200,000,000.00 December 2007 57 Ukraine 42,870,000,000.00 2006 58 Hungary 41,930,000,000.00 2006 59 New Zealand 40,620,000,000.00 2005 60 Nigeria 32,820,000,000.00 2006 61 Jordan 29,730,000,000.00 2006 62 Croatia 29,010,000,000.00 2006 63 Iceland 27,800,000,000.00 2005 64 Zimbabwe 26,560,000,000.00 2006 65 Bahrain 21,120,000,000.00 2006 66 Oman 16,160,000,000.00 2006 67 Trinidad and Tobago 15,570,000,000.00 2006 68 Slovenia 15,180,000,000.00 2006 69 Ghana 13,010,000,000.00 2007 70 Jamaica 12,280,000,000.00 2006 71 Kenya 11,380,000,000.00 2006 72 Kazakhstan 10,520,000,000.00 2005 73 Bulgaria 10,320,000,000.00 2006 74 Lithuania 10,190,000,000.00 2006 75 Lebanon 8,279,000,000.00 2006 76 Venezuela 8,251,000,000.00 2006 77 Sri Lanka 7,769,000,000.00 2006 78 Estonia 5,963,000,000.00 2006 79 Mauritius 5,700,000,000.00 2007 80 Slovakia 5,574,000,000.00 2006 81 Barbados 5,513,000,000.00 2005 82 Serbia 5,409,000,000.00 2005 83 Panama 5,074,000,000.00 2005 84 Papua New Guinea 4,863,000,000.00 2005 85 Zambia 4,500,000,000.00 2007 86 West Bank 4,461,000,000.00 2005 87 Tunisia 4,446,000,000.00 2006 88 Cote d'Ivoire 4,155,000,000.00 2006 89 Malta 4,097,000,000.00 2005 90 Ecuador 4,040,000,000.00 2006 91 Botswana 3,947,000,000.00 2006 92 El Salvador 3,623,000,000.00 2005 93 Bangladesh 3,610,000,000.00 2006 94 Latvia 2,705,000,000.00 2006 95 Bolivia 2,200,000,000.00 2005 96 Bermuda 2,125,000,000.00 2005 97 Costa Rica 1,478,000,000.00 2005 98 Georgia 1,390,000,000.00 2007 99 Nepal 963,500,000.00 2005 100 Macedonia 646,000,000.00 2005 101 Mongolia 613,300,000.00 2007 102 Tanzania 587,900,000.00 2005 103 Fiji 586,700,000.00 2005 104 Moldova 573,900,000.00 2004 105 Namibia 541,800,000.00 2006 106 Macau 413,100,000.00 2004 107 Paraguay 233,800,000.00 2005 108 Uruguay 224,000,000.00 2007 109 Swaziland 196,800,000.00 2005 110 Guyana 187,300,000.00 2005 111 Cayman Islands 130,000,000.00 2005 112 Uganda 103,400,000.00 2005 113 Armenia 42,800,000.00 2005 114 Kyrgyzstan 41,990,000.00 2005 115 Uzbekistan 36,890,000.00 2005

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2206

Rank Country Education expenditures(% of GDP) Date of Information

1 Kiribati 17.80 2002 2 Lesotho 13.00 2006 3 Marshall Islands 11.80 2004 4 Palau 10.30 2002 5 Yemen 9.60 2001 6 Vanuatu 9.50 2003 7 Uzbekistan 9.40 1991 8 Saint Kitts and Nevis 9.30 2005 9 Cuba 9.10 2006 10 Botswana 8.70 2007 11 Djibouti 8.40 2006 12 Denmark 8.30 2005 13 Guyana 8.30 2006 14 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8.10 2005 15 Maldives 8.00 2006 16 Iceland 7.60 2004 17 Moldova 7.60 2006 18 Micronesia, Federated States of 7.30 2000 19 Tunisia 7.30 2005 20 Norway 7.20 2005 21 Sweden 7.10 2005 22 Bhutan 7.00 2005 23 Swaziland 7.00 2005 24 Barbados 6.90 2005 25 Israel 6.90 2004 26 Namibia 6.90 2003 27 Kenya 6.90 2006 28 Saudi Arabia 6.80 2004 29 Saint Lucia 6.60 2006 30 Fiji 6.50 2004 31 Seychelles 6.50 2006 32 Bolivia 6.40 2003 33 Finland 6.40 2005 34 Cape Verde 6.30 2006 35 Cyprus 6.30 2004 36 Ukraine 6.30 2006 37 Malaysia 6.20 2004 38 New Zealand 6.20 2006 39 Belarus 6.10 2006 40 Belgium 6.00 2004 41 Slovenia 6.00 2005 42 Sudan 6.00 1991 43 Ethiopia 6.00 2006 44 Malawi 5.80 2003 45 Switzerland 5.80 2005 46 France 5.70 2005 47 United Kingdom 5.60 2005 48 Hungary 5.50 2005 49 Mexico 5.50 2005 50 Portugal 5.50 2005 51 Poland 5.50 2005 52 Austria 5.40 2005 53 South Africa 5.40 2006 54 Ghana 5.40 2005 55 Belize 5.30 2004 56 Jamaica 5.30 2005 57 United States 5.30 2005 58 Netherlands 5.30 2005 59 Brunei 5.20 2000 60 Guinea-Bissau 5.20 1999 61 Uganda 5.20 2004 62 Grenada 5.20 2003 63 Canada 5.20 2002 64 Algeria 5.10 1999 65 Malta 5.10 2004 66 Latvia 5.10 2004 67 Iran 5.10 2006 68 Estonia 5.10 2004 69 Burundi 5.10 2005 70 Dominica 5.00 1999 71 Tonga 5.00 2004 72 Lithuania 5.00 2005 73 Mongolia 5.00 2004 74 Senegal 5.00 2006 75 Mozambique 5.00 2005 76 Costa Rica 4.90 2004 77 Jordan 4.90 1999 78 Kyrgyzstan 4.90 2005 79 Aruba 4.80 2005 80 Colombia 4.70 2006 81 Ireland 4.70 2005 82 Germany 4.60 2004 83 Cote d'Ivoire 4.60 2001 84 Zimbabwe 4.60 2000 85 Korea, South 4.60 2004 86 Australia 4.50 2005 87 Mali 4.50 2006 88 Italy 4.50 2005 89 Croatia 4.50 2004 90 Bulgaria 4.50 2005 91 Benin 4.40 2004 92 Greece 4.40 2005 93 Monaco 4.40 2004 94 Czech Republic 4.40 2004 95 Samoa 4.30 2002 96 Egypt 4.20 2006 97 Spain 4.20 2005 98 Burkina Faso 4.20 2006 99 Thailand 4.20 2005 100 Trinidad and Tobago 4.20 200 101 Anguilla 4.00 2005 102 Turkey 4.00 2004 103 Oman 4.00 2006 104 Paraguay 4.00 2004 105 Brazil 4.00 2004 106 Antigua and Barbuda 3.90 2002 107 Bahrain 3.90 1991 108 Turkmenistan 3.90 1991 109 Syria 3.90 1999 110 Mauritius 3.90 2006 111 Slovakia 3.90 2005 112 Hong Kong 3.90 2006 113 Argentina 3.80 2004 114 Panama 3.80 2004 115 Rwanda 3.80 2005 116 Sierra Leone 3.80 2005 117 Russia 3.80 2005 118 Gabon 3.80 2000 119 Kuwait 3.80 2006 120 Comoros 3.80 2002 121 Honduras 3.80 1991 122 Singapore 3.70 2001 123 British Virgin Islands 3.70 2006 124 Venezuela 3.70 2006 125 Bahamas, The 3.60 2000 126 Dominican Republic 3.60 2006 127 Indonesia 3.60 2006 128 Japan 3.50 2005 129 Romania 3.50 2005 130 Macedonia 3.50 2002 131 Luxembourg 3.40 1999 132 Tajikistan 3.40 2006 133 Nepal 3.40 2003 134 Niger 3.40 2006 135 Solomon Islands 3.30 1999 136 Qatar 3.30 2005 137 Montserrat 3.30 2004 138 Cameroon 3.30 2006 139 Armenia 3.20 2001 140 India 3.20 2005 141 Chile 3.20 2006 142 El Salvador 3.10 2006 143 Nicaragua 3.10 2003 144 Madagascar 3.10 2006 145 Georgia 3.10 2006 146 Laos 3.00 2006 147 Albania 2.90 2002 148 Uruguay 2.90 2006 149 Mauritania 2.90 2006 150 Cayman Islands 2.80 2005 151 Bangladesh 2.70 2005 152 Libya 2.70 1999 153 Lebanon 2.70 2006 154 Guatemala 2.60 2006 155 Pakistan 2.60 2006 156 Togo 2.60 2002 157 Peru 2.50 2006 158 Philippines 2.50 2005 159 Angola 2.40 2005 160 Macau 2.40 2005 161 Eritrea 2.40 2006 162 Andorra 2.30 2006 163 Kazakhstan 2.30 2005 164 Tanzania 2.20 1999 165 Azerbaijan 2.10 2006 166 Gambia, The 2.00 2004 167 Zambia 2.00 2005 168 Chad 1.90 2005 169 Congo, Republic of the 1.90 2005 170 China 1.90 1999 171 Vietnam 1.80 1991 172 Cambodia 1.70 2004 173 Guinea 1.60 2005 174 Central African Republic 1.40 2006 175 Haiti 1.40 1991 176 United Arab Emirates 1.30 2005 177 Bermuda 1.20 2006 178 Burma 1.20 2001 179 Ecuador 1.00 2001 180 Nigeria 0.90 1991 181 Equatorial Guinea 0.60 2003 182 Cook Islands 0.20 2001

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2207

Rank Country Central bank discount rate(%) Date of Information

1 Zimbabwe 975.00 31 December 2007 2 Venezuela 28.50 31 December 2007 3 Sao Tome and Principe 28.00 31 December 2007 4 Turkey 25.00 31 December 2007 5 Guinea 22.25 31 December 2005 6 Iraq 20.00 31 December 2007 7 Paraguay 20.00 31 December 2007 8 Angola 19.57 31 December 2007 9 Brazil 17.85 31 December 2007 10 Costa Rica 17.00 31 December 2007 11 Tanzania 16.40 31 December 2007 12 Iceland 15.25 31 December 2007 13 Sri Lanka 15.00 31 December 2007 14 Tajikistan 15.00 31 December 2007 15 Malawi 15.00 31 December 2007 16 Uganda 14.68 31 December 2007 17 Botswana 14.50 31 December 2007 18 Ghana 13.50 31 December 2007 19 Azerbaijan 13.00 31 December 2007 20 Lesotho 12.82 31 December 2007 21 Laos 12.67 31 December 2007 22 Maldives 12.50 31 December 2007 23 Rwanda 12.50 31 December 2007 24 Barbados 12.00 31 December 2007 25 Burma 12.00 31 December 2007 26 Belize 12.00 31 December 2007 27 Lebanon 12.00 31 December 2007 28 Zambia 11.73 31 December 2007 29 Colombia 11.50 31 December 2007 30 Kazakhstan 11.00 31 December 2007 31 South Africa 11.00 31 December 2007 32 Swaziland 11.00 31 December 2007 33 Ecuador 10.72 31 December 2007 34 Namibia 10.50 31 December 2007 35 Burundi 10.12 31 December 2007 36 Belarus 10.00 31 December 2007 37 Trinidad and Tobago 10.00 31 December 2007 38 Uruguay 10.00 31 December 2007 39 Russia 10.00 31 December 2007 40 Gambia, The 10.00 31 December 2007 41 Pakistan 10.00 31 December 2007 42 Mozambique 9.95 31 December 2007 43 Mongolia 9.87 31 December 2007 44 Serbia 9.57 31 December 2007 45 Nigeria 9.50 31 December 2007 46 Fiji 9.25 31 December 2007 47 Egypt 9.00 31 December 2007 48 Croatia 9.00 31 December 2007 49 Cape Verde 8.50 31 December 2007 50 New Zealand 8.25 31 December 2007 51 Indonesia 8.00 31 December 2007 52 Ukraine 8.00 31 December 2007 53 Hungary 7.50 31 December 2007 54 Papua New Guinea 7.38 31 December 2007 55 Jordan 7.00 31 December 2007 56 Antigua and Barbuda 6.50 31 December 2007 57 Anguilla 6.50 31 December 2007 58 Vietnam 6.50 31 December 2007 59 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.50 31 December 2007 60 Saint Lucia 6.50 31 December 2007 61 Saint Kitts and Nevis 6.50 31 December 2007 62 Macedonia 6.50 31 December 2007 63 Montserrat 6.50 31 December 2007 64 Guyana 6.50 31 December 2007 65 Grenada 6.50 31 December 2007 66 Dominica 6.50 31 December 2007 67 Bolivia 6.50 31 December 2007 68 Albania 6.25 31 December 2007 69 Norway 6.25 31 December 2007 70 Nepal 6.25 31 December 2007 71 Kuwait 6.25 31 December 2007 72 Chile 6.00 31 December 2007 73 Vanuatu 6.00 31 December 2007 74 Latvia 6.00 31 December 2007 75 India 6.00 31 December 2007 76 Hong Kong 5.75 31 December 2007 77 Peru 5.75 31 December 2007 78 Comoros 5.36 31 December 2007 79 Bahamas, The 5.25 31 December 2007 80 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5.25 31 December 2007 81 Cambodia 5.25 31 December 2007 82 Chad 5.25 31 December 2007 83 Gabon 5.25 31 December 2007 84 Equatorial Guinea 5.25 31 December 2007 85 Central African Republic 5.25 31 December 2007 86 Seychelles 5.13 31 December 2007 87 Aruba 5.00 31 December 2007 88 Poland 5.00 31 December 2007 89 European Union 5.00 31 December 2007 90 Cyprus 5.00 31 December 2007 91 Bangladesh 5.00 31 December 2007 92 Lithuania 4.85 31 December 2007 93 United States 4.83 31 December 2007 94 Bulgaria 4.58 31 December 2007 95 Canada 4.50 31 December 2007 96 Philippines 4.28 31 December 2007 97 Benin 4.25 31 December 2007 98 Slovakia 4.25 31 December 2007 99 Mali 4.25 31 December 2007 100 Senegal 4.25 31 December 2007 101 Burkina Faso 4.25 31 December 2007 102 Togo 4.25 31 December 2007 103 Guinea-Bissau 4.25 31 December 2007 104 Niger 4.25 31 December 2007 105 Cote d'Ivoire 4.25 31 December 2007 106 Algeria 4.00 31 December 2007 107 Israel 4.00 31 December 2007 108 Libya 4.00 31 December 2007 109 Denmark 4.00 31 December 2007 110 Thailand 3.75 31 December 2007 111 Czech Republic 3.50 31 December 2007 112 Sweden 3.50 31 December 2007 113 China 3.33 31 December 2007 114 Korea, South 3.25 31 December 2007 115 Morocco 3.25 31 December 2007 116 Switzerland 2.05 31 December 2007 117 Oman 1.98 31 December 2007 118 Japan 0.75 31 December 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2208

Rank Country Commercial bank prime lending rate(%) Date of Information

1 Zimbabwe 578.96 31 December 2007 2 Haiti 46.99 31 December 2007 3 Madagascar 45.00 31 December 2007 4 Brazil 43.72 31 December 2007 5 Sao Tome and Principe 32.40 31 December 2007 6 Laos 28.50 31 December 2007 7 Gambia, The 27.92 31 December 2007 8 Malawi 27.72 31 December 2007 9 Kyrgyzstan 25.32 31 December 2007 10 Paraguay 25.03 31 December 2007 11 Sierra Leone 25.00 31 December 2007 12 Tajikistan 22.87 31 December 2007 13 Peru 22.86 31 December 2007 14 Mauritius 21.87 31 December 2007 15 Georgia 20.41 31 December 2007 16 Iraq 19.74 31 December 2007 17 Mozambique 19.52 31 December 2007 18 Iceland 19.29 31 December 2007 19 Azerbaijan 19.13 31 December 2007 20 Uganda 19.11 31 December 2007 21 Zambia 18.89 31 December 2007 22 Moldova 18.83 31 December 2007 23 Afghanistan 18.14 31 December 2007 24 Yemen 18.00 31 December 2007 25 Angola 17.70 31 December 2007 26 Mongolia 17.54 31 December 2007 27 Armenia 17.52 31 December 2007 28 Jamaica 17.20 31 December 2007 29 Venezuela 17.11 31 December 2007 30 Sri Lanka 17.08 31 December 2007 31 Burma 17.00 31 December 2007 32 Nigeria 16.94 31 December 2007 33 Burundi 16.84 31 December 2007 34 Honduras 16.61 31 December 2007 35 Botswana 16.22 31 December 2007 36 Tanzania 16.03 31 December 2007 37 Bangladesh 16.00 31 December 2007 38 Rwanda 15.84 31 December 2007 39 Dominican Republic 15.83 31 December 2007 40 Colombia 15.38 31 December 2007 41 Liberia 15.05 31 December 2007 42 Timor-Leste 15.05 31 December 2007 43 Chad 15.00 31 December 2007 44 Congo, Republic of the 15.00 31 December 2007 45 Gabon 15.00 31 December 2007 46 Equatorial Guinea 15.00 31 December 2007 47 Central African Republic 15.00 31 December 2007 48 Cameroon 15.00 31 December 2007 49 Guyana 14.61 31 December 2007 50 Belize 14.33 31 December 2007 51 Lesotho 14.13 31 December 2007 52 Solomon Islands 14.12 31 December 2007 53 Albania 14.10 31 December 2007 54 Micronesia, Federated States of 14.03 31 December 2007 55 Bhutan 14.00 31 December 2007 56 Ukraine 13.90 31 December 2007 57 Indonesia 13.86 31 December 2007 58 Suriname 13.77 31 December 2007 59 Romania 13.35 31 December 2007 60 Kenya 13.34 31 December 2007 61 South Africa 13.17 31 December 2007 62 Swaziland 13.17 31 December 2007 63 Nicaragua 13.04 31 December 2007 64 India 13.02 31 December 2007 65 Maldives 13.00 31 December 2007 66 Namibia 12.88 31 December 2007 67 Bolivia 12.86 31 December 2007 68 Guatemala 12.84 31 December 2007 69 New Zealand 12.83 31 December 2007 70 Costa Rica 12.80 31 December 2007 71 Samoa 12.65 31 December 2007 72 Egypt 12.51 31 December 2007 73 Tonga 12.16 31 December 2007 74 Ecuador 12.08 31 December 2007 75 Iran 12.00 31 December 2007 76 Trinidad and Tobago 11.75 31 December 2007 77 Vietnam 11.18 31 December 2007 78 Serbia 11.13 31 December 2007 79 Argentina 11.05 31 December 2007 80 Aruba 11.01 31 December 2007 81 Italy 10.93 31 December 2007 82 Latvia 10.91 31 December 2007 83 Seychelles 10.89 31 December 2007 84 Barbados 10.80 31 December 2007 85 Cape Verde 10.55 31 December 2007 86 Comoros 10.50 31 December 2007 87 Antigua and Barbuda 10.44 31 December 2007 88 Montserrat 10.40 31 December 2007 89 Lebanon 10.26 31 December 2007 90 Macedonia 10.23 31 December 2007 91 Saint Lucia 10.12 31 December 2007 92 Russia 10.03 31 December 2007 93 Australia 10.02 31 December 2007 94 Bulgaria 10.00 31 December 2007 95 Spain 9.89 31 December 2007 96 Papua New Guinea 9.78 31 December 2007 97 Anguilla 9.76 31 December 2007 98 Grenada 9.76 31 December 2007 99 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9.61 31 December 2007 100 Croatia 9.33 31 December 2007 101 Saint Kitts and Nevis 9.28 31 December 2007 102 Netherlands Antilles 9.21 31 December 2007 103 Dominica 9.17 31 December 2007 104 Hungary 9.09 31 December 2007 105 Montenegro 9.09 31 December 2007 106 Fiji 9.01 31 December 2007 107 Uruguay 8.94 31 December 2007 108 Netherlands 8.72 31 December 2007 109 Philippines 8.69 31 December 2007 110 Jordan 8.68 31 December 2007 111 Chile 8.67 31 December 2007 112 Belarus 8.58 31 December 2007 113 Kuwait 8.54 31 December 2007 114 Bahrain 8.35 31 December 2007 115 Panama 8.25 31 December 2007 116 Vanuatu 8.16 31 December 2007 117 United States 8.05 31 December 2007 118 European Union 8.03 31 December 2007 119 Algeria 8.00 31 December 2007 120 Nepal 8.00 31 December 2007 121 Syria 8.00 31 December 2005 122 Slovakia 7.99 31 December 2007 123 Portugal 7.92 31 December 2007 124 Macau 7.81 31 December 2007 125 Gaza Strip 7.73 31 December 2006 126 West Bank 7.73 31 December 2006 127 Greece 7.71 31 December 2007 128 San Marino 7.58 31 December 2007 129 Mexico 7.56 31 December 2007 130 China 7.47 31 December 2007 131 Qatar 7.43 31 December 2007 132 Oman 7.29 31 December 2007 133 France 7.28 31 December 2007 134 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.17 31 December 2007 135 Thailand 7.05 31 December 2007 136 Ethiopia 7.00 31 December 2006 137 Belgium 6.98 31 December 2007 138 Lithuania 6.86 31 December 2007 139 Slovenia 6.82 31 December 2007 140 Hong Kong 6.75 31 December 2007 141 Cyprus 6.74 31 December 2007 142 Norway 6.65 31 December 2007 143 Korea, South 6.55 31 December 2007 144 Ireland 6.52 31 December 2007 145 Estonia 6.46 31 December 2007 146 Malaysia 6.41 31 December 2007 147 Austria 6.30 31 December 2007 148 Israel 6.27 31 December 2007 149 Malta 6.24 31 December 2007 150 Canada 6.10 31 December 2007 151 Libya 6.00 31 December 2007 152 Germany 5.96 31 December 2007 153 Czech Republic 5.79 31 December 2007 154 Finland 5.62 31 December 2007 155 United Kingdom 5.52 31 December 2007 156 Bahamas, The 5.50 31 December 2007 157 Brunei 5.50 31 December 2007 158 Poland 5.48 31 December 2006 159 Singapore 5.33 31 December 2007 160 Sweden 4.00 31 December 2004 161 Switzerland 3.15 31 December 2007 162 Japan 1.88 31 December 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2209

Rank Country Stock of money Date of Information

1 European Union 5,742,000,000,000.00 2 Japan 4,370,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 3 China 2,090,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 4 United States 1,374,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 5 Burma 598,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 6 Canada 391,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 7 Russia 303,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 8 Australia 298,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 9 India 250,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 10 Sweden 217,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 11 Switzerland 213,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 12 Denmark 148,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 13 Poland 137,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 14 Brazil 131,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 15 Mexico 103,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 16 Saudi Arabia 102,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 17 Korea, South 92,590,000,000.00 31 December 2007 18 Czech Republic 84,430,000,000.00 31 December 2007 19 Morocco 67,420,000,000.00 31 December 2007 20 Turkey 64,430,000,000.00 31 December 2007 21 Venezuela 63,180,000,000.00 31 December 2007 22 Syria 58,840,000,000.00 31 December 2006 23 South Africa 58,490,000,000.00 31 December 2007 24 Algeria 55,430,000,000.00 31 December 2007 25 Pakistan 52,760,000,000.00 31 December 2007 26 Hong Kong 51,250,000,000.00 31 December 2007 27 United Arab Emirates 49,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 28 Malaysia 49,410,000,000.00 31 December 2007 29 Indonesia 47,780,000,000.00 31 December 2007 30 Iran 46,130,000,000.00 31 December 2007 31 Singapore 44,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 32 Hungary 36,780,000,000.00 31 December 2007 33 Ukraine 35,970,000,000.00 31 December 2007 34 Argentina 33,930,000,000.00 31 December 2007 35 Thailand 28,620,000,000.00 31 December 2007 36 Egypt 27,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 37 Vietnam 27,150,000,000.00 31 December 2007 38 Slovakia 26,170,000,000.00 31 December 2007 39 Romania 25,170,000,000.00 31 December 2007 40 New Zealand 24,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 41 Colombia 21,810,000,000.00 31 December 2007 42 Nigeria 21,720,000,000.00 31 December 2007 43 Philippines 21,270,000,000.00 31 December 2007 44 Iraq 18,810,000,000.00 31 December 2007 45 Libya 18,040,000,000.00 31 December 2007 46 Chile 16,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 47 Bulgaria 15,580,000,000.00 31 December 2007 48 Israel 15,360,000,000.00 31 December 2006 49 Kuwait 15,120,000,000.00 31 December 2007 50 Peru 14,660,000,000.00 31 December 2007 51 Zimbabwe 14,180,000,000.00 31 December 2007 52 Kazakhstan 12,740,000,000.00 31 December 2007 53 Lithuania 11,840,000,000.00 31 December 2007 54 Croatia 11,610,000,000.00 31 December 2007 55 Qatar 9,718,000,000.00 31 December 2007 56 Tunisia 9,491,000,000.00 31 December 2007 57 Slovenia 9,347,000,000.00 31 December 2006 58 Bangladesh 8,444,000,000.00 31 December 2007 59 Latvia 8,196,000,000.00 31 December 2007 60 Estonia 7,158,000,000.00 31 December 2007 61 Jordan 6,765,000,000.00 31 December 2007 62 Iceland 6,640,000,000.00 31 December 2007 63 Guatemala 6,227,000,000.00 31 December 2007 64 Kenya 5,932,000,000.00 31 December 2007 65 Sudan 5,549,000,000.00 31 December 2007 66 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5,130,000,000.00 31 December 2007 67 Oman 5,044,000,000.00 31 December 2007 68 Serbia 4,632,000,000.00 31 December 2007 69 Malta 4,603,000,000.00 31 December 2007 70 Costa Rica 4,504,000,000.00 31 December 2007 71 Cote d'Ivoire 4,451,000,000.00 31 December 2007 72 Ecuador 4,395,000,000.00 31 December 2007 73 Azerbaijan 4,261,000,000.00 31 December 2007 74 Bahrain 4,169,000,000.00 31 December 2007 75 Angola 4,153,000,000.00 31 December 2007 76 Cyprus 4,094,000,000.00 31 December 2007 77 Dominican Republic 4,074,000,000.00 31 December 2007 78 Belarus 4,065,000,000.00 31 December 2007 79 Ethiopia 3,651,000,000.00 31 December 2006 80 Yemen 3,076,000,000.00 31 December 2007 81 Panama 3,054,000,000.00 31 December 2007 82 Bolivia 3,032,000,000.00 31 December 2007 83 Senegal 2,842,000,000.00 31 December 2007 84 Albania 2,707,000,000.00 31 December 2007 85 Brunei 2,674,000,000.00 31 December 2007 86 Trinidad and Tobago 2,646,000,000.00 31 December 2007 87 Cameroon 2,616,000,000.00 31 December 2007 88 Sri Lanka 2,465,000,000.00 31 December 2007 89 Lebanon 2,374,000,000.00 31 December 2007 90 Tanzania 2,263,000,000.00 31 December 2007 91 Nepal 2,184,000,000.00 31 December 2007 92 Ghana 2,179,000,000.00 31 December 2006 93 Namibia 2,149,000,000.00 31 December 2007 94 Uruguay 2,145,000,000.00 31 December 2007 95 Paraguay 1,943,000,000.00 31 December 2007 96 El Salvador 1,802,000,000.00 31 December 2007 97 Papua New Guinea 1,685,000,000.00 31 December 2007 98 Mauritius 1,673,000,000.00 31 December 2007 99 Mali 1,580,000,000.00 31 December 2007 100 Gaza Strip 1,574,000,000.00 31 December 2007 101 West Bank 1,574,000,000.00 31 December 2007 102 Honduras 1,573,000,000.00 31 December 2007 103 Gabon 1,547,000,000.00 31 December 2007 104 Armenia 1,507,000,000.00 31 December 2007 105 Barbados 1,478,000,000.00 31 December 2007 106 Afghanistan 1,426,000,000.00 31 December 2007 107 Congo, Republic of the 1,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 108 Jamaica 1,369,000,000.00 31 December 2007 109 Uganda 1,363,000,000.00 31 December 2007 110 San Marino 1,326,000,000.00 31 December 2007 111 Benin 1,324,000,000.00 31 December 2007 112 Bahamas, The 1,274,000,000.00 31 December 2007 113 Mozambique 1,261,000,000.00 31 December 2007 114 Macedonia 1,173,000,000.00 31 December 2007 115 Montenegro 1,172,000,000.00 31 December 2007 116 Madagascar 1,161,000,000.00 31 December 2007 117 Macau 1,160,000,000.00 31 December 2007 118 Georgia 1,154,000,000.00 31 December 2007 119 Netherlands Antilles 1,133,000,000.00 31 December 2007 120 Burkina Faso 1,051,000,000.00 31 December 2007 121 Fiji 1,042,000,000.00 31 December 2007 122 Botswana 1,026,000,000.00 31 December 2007 123 Zambia 995,800,000.00 31 December 2007 124 Moldova 965,000,000.00 31 December 2007 125 Kyrgyzstan 911,100,000.00 31 December 2007 126 Chad 874,500,000.00 31 December 2007 127 Equatorial Guinea 835,200,000.00 31 December 2007 128 Eritrea 749,100,000.00 31 December 2007 129 Haiti 704,700,000.00 31 December 2007 130 Aruba 640,900,000.00 31 December 2007 131 Togo 624,900,000.00 31 December 2007 132 Niger 604,500,000.00 31 December 2007 133 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 597,000,000.00 31 December 2007 134 Cape Verde 574,000,000.00 31 December 2007 135 Cambodia 513,600,000.00 31 December 2007 136 Mongolia 504,700,000.00 31 December 2007 137 Nicaragua 465,100,000.00 31 December 2007 138 Lesotho 439,200,000.00 31 December 2007 139 Suriname 416,600,000.00 31 December 2007 140 Bhutan 381,100,000.00 31 December 2007 141 Djibouti 380,000,000.00 31 December 2007 142 Malawi 361,500,000.00 31 December 2007 143 Maldives 344,100,000.00 31 December 2007 144 Seychelles 330,800,000.00 31 December 2007 145 Laos 327,900,000.00 31 December 2007 146 Belize 323,900,000.00 31 December 2007 147 Guyana 315,200,000.00 31 December 2007 148 Guinea 309,800,000.00 31 December 2005 149 Antigua and Barbuda 294,800,000.00 31 December 2007 150 Saint Lucia 264,700,000.00 31 December 2007 151 Swaziland 244,800,000.00 31 December 2007 152 Rwanda 233,600,000.00 31 December 2005 153 Central African Republic 218,300,000.00 31 December 2007 154 Burundi 208,700,000.00 31 December 2007 155 Gambia, The 186,700,000.00 31 December 2007 156 Sierra Leone 184,600,000.00 31 December 2007 157 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 155,500,000.00 31 December 2007 158 Grenada 151,200,000.00 31 December 2007 159 Liberia 145,600,000.00 31 December 2007 160 Guinea-Bissau 142,500,000.00 31 December 2007 161 Solomon Islands 118,300,000.00 31 December 2007 162 Vanuatu 107,100,000.00 31 December 2007 163 Saint Kitts and Nevis 97,310,000.00 31 December 2007 164 Tajikistan 91,590,000.00 31 December 2006 165 Comoros 76,680,000.00 31 December 2007 166 Timor-Leste 74,940,000.00 31 December 2007 167 Dominica 73,710,000.00 31 December 2007 168 Samoa 69,970,000.00 31 December 2007 169 Tonga 46,380,000.00 31 December 2007 170 Anguilla 23,570,000.00 31 December 2007 171 Micronesia, Federated States of 22,450,000.00 31 December 2007 172 Sao Tome and Principe 19,990,000.00 31 December 2007 173 Montserrat 17,900,000.00 31 December 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2210

Rank Country Stock of quasi money Date of Information

1 European Union 10,930,000,000,000.00 2 United States 10,100,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 3 Japan 4,783,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 4 China 3,437,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 5 Canada 1,381,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 6 Brazil 792,800,000,000.00 31 December 2007 7 Australia 667,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 8 India 647,300,000,000.00 31 December 2007 9 Hong Kong 578,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 10 Korea, South 541,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 11 Switzerland 450,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 12 Russia 292,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 13 Turkey 254,300,000,000.00 31 December 2007 14 Burma 216,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 15 Thailand 216,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 16 Malaysia 187,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 17 Mexico 168,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 18 Singapore 162,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 19 Israel 154,300,000,000.00 31 December 2007 20 South Africa 141,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 21 Indonesia 127,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 22 New Zealand 117,800,000,000.00 31 December 2007 23 Saudi Arabia 109,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 24 United Arab Emirates 104,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 25 Egypt 102,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 26 Poland 93,990,000,000.00 31 December 2007 27 Denmark 81,640,000,000.00 31 December 2007 28 Chile 80,420,000,000.00 31 December 2007 29 Iran 68,710,000,000.00 31 December 2007 30 Philippines 65,850,000,000.00 31 December 2007 31 Czech Republic 58,770,000,000.00 31 December 2007 32 Lebanon 57,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 33 Kuwait 55,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 34 Vietnam 51,080,000,000.00 31 December 2007 35 Sweden 48,490,000,000.00 31 December 2007 36 Syria 45,930,000,000.00 31 December 2006 37 Argentina 45,920,000,000.00 31 December 2007 38 Cyprus 43,930,000,000.00 31 December 2007 39 Hungary 43,070,000,000.00 31 December 2007 40 Ukraine 41,510,000,000.00 31 December 2007 41 Romania 34,960,000,000.00 31 December 2007 42 Bangladesh 32,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 43 Croatia 31,860,000,000.00 31 December 2007 44 Algeria 28,590,000,000.00 31 December 2007 45 Colombia 27,250,000,000.00 31 December 2007 46 Kazakhstan 25,750,000,000.00 31 December 2007 47 Qatar 22,600,000,000.00 31 December 2007 48 Macau 21,910,000,000.00 31 December 2007 49 Slovakia 21,110,000,000.00 31 December 2007 50 Peru 19,950,000,000.00 31 December 2007 51 Nigeria 19,070,000,000.00 31 December 2007 52 Pakistan 18,420,000,000.00 31 December 2007 53 Bulgaria 17,030,000,000.00 31 December 2007 54 Morocco 16,230,000,000.00 31 December 2007 55 Jordan 15,380,000,000.00 31 December 2007 56 Iceland 15,050,000,000.00 31 December 2006 57 Panama 14,260,000,000.00 31 December 2007 58 Tunisia 13,560,000,000.00 31 December 2007 59 Slovenia 12,690,000,000.00 31 December 2006 60 Serbia 12,190,000,000.00 31 December 2007 61 Oman 11,040,000,000.00 31 December 2007 62 Bahrain 10,630,000,000.00 31 December 2007 63 Sri Lanka 10,460,000,000.00 31 December 2007 64 Guatemala 8,928,000,000.00 31 December 2007 65 Venezuela 8,889,000,000.00 31 December 2007 66 Ecuador 7,974,000,000.00 31 December 2007 67 Uruguay 7,919,000,000.00 31 December 2007 68 Malta 7,645,000,000.00 31 December 2007 69 Angola 7,216,000,000.00 31 December 2007 70 Lithuania 6,917,000,000.00 31 December 2007 71 Belarus 6,823,000,000.00 31 December 2007 72 Mauritius 6,759,000,000.00 31 December 2007 73 Albania 6,433,000,000.00 31 December 2007 74 Kenya 6,273,000,000.00 31 December 2007 75 Trinidad and Tobago 5,707,000,000.00 31 December 2007 76 Dominican Republic 5,631,000,000.00 31 December 2007 77 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5,597,000,000.00 31 December 2007 78 Zimbabwe 5,349,000,000.00 31 December 2007 79 Honduras 5,266,000,000.00 31 December 2007 80 Latvia 5,113,000,000.00 31 December 2007 81 Nepal 4,745,000,000.00 31 December 2007 82 Bolivia 4,729,000,000.00 31 December 2007 83 San Marino 4,584,000,000.00 31 December 2007 84 Jamaica 4,540,000,000.00 31 December 2007 85 Yemen 4,526,000,000.00 31 December 2007 86 Botswana 4,336,000,000.00 31 December 2007 87 Bahamas, The 4,324,000,000.00 31 December 2007 88 Brunei 4,258,000,000.00 31 December 2007 89 Estonia 4,253,000,000.00 31 December 2007 90 Sudan 4,068,000,000.00 31 December 2007 91 Iraq 3,670,000,000.00 31 December 2007 92 Ethiopia 3,258,000,000.00 31 December 2007 93 Libya 3,192,000,000.00 31 December 2007 94 Macedonia 3,127,000,000.00 31 December 2007 95 Gaza Strip 3,048,000,000.00 31 December 2007 96 West Bank 3,048,000,000.00 31 December 2007 97 Tanzania 2,885,000,000.00 31 December 2007 98 Costa Rica 2,870,000,000.00 31 December 2007 99 Barbados 2,717,000,000.00 31 December 2007 100 Azerbaijan 2,593,000,000.00 31 December 2007 101 Cambodia 2,309,000,000.00 31 December 2007 102 Netherlands Antilles 2,309,000,000.00 31 December 2007 103 Ghana 2,174,000,000.00 31 December 2006 104 Cote d'Ivoire 1,915,000,000.00 31 December 2007 105 Nicaragua 1,802,000,000.00 31 December 2007 106 Zambia 1,709,000,000.00 31 December 2007 107 Cameroon 1,698,000,000.00 31 December 2007 108 Senegal 1,579,000,000.00 31 December 2007 109 Haiti 1,561,000,000.00 31 December 2007 110 Mongolia 1,539,000,000.00 31 December 2007 111 Namibia 1,493,000,000.00 31 December 2007 112 Papua New Guinea 1,482,000,000.00 31 December 2007 113 Mozambique 1,467,000,000.00 31 December 2007 114 Moldova 1,449,000,000.00 31 December 2007 115 Montenegro 1,446,000,000.00 31 December 2007 116 Georgia 1,379,000,000.00 31 December 2007 117 Paraguay 1,368,000,000.00 31 December 2007 118 Uganda 1,302,000,000.00 31 December 2007 119 Fiji 1,088,000,000.00 31 December 2007 120 Afghanistan 958,600,000.00 31 December 2007 121 Eritrea 932,900,000.00 31 December 2007 122 Antigua and Barbuda 902,000,000.00 31 December 2007 123 Suriname 824,400,000.00 31 December 2007 124 Gabon 799,300,000.00 31 December 2007 125 Aruba 792,900,000.00 31 December 2007 126 Armenia 765,200,000.00 31 December 2007 127 El Salvador 764,100,000.00 31 December 2007 128 Guyana 728,800,000.00 31 December 2007 129 Saint Lucia 720,900,000.00 31 December 2007 130 Laos 717,900,000.00 31 December 2007 131 Mali 697,100,000.00 31 December 2007 132 Cape Verde 689,000,000.00 31 December 2007 133 Saint Kitts and Nevis 688,600,000.00 31 December 2007 134 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 677,900,000.00 31 December 2007 135 Burkina Faso 663,000,000.00 31 December 2007 136 Benin 627,200,000.00 31 December 2007 137 Madagascar 577,400,000.00 31 December 2007 138 Belize 549,000,000.00 31 December 2007 139 Grenada 533,400,000.00 31 December 2007 140 Swaziland 529,400,000.00 31 December 2007 141 Anguilla 470,100,000.00 31 December 2007 142 Maldives 434,900,000.00 31 December 2007 143 Vanuatu 421,800,000.00 31 December 2007 144 Togo 383,900,000.00 31 December 2007 145 Kyrgyzstan 303,700,000.00 31 December 2007 146 Djibouti 284,100,000.00 31 December 2007 147 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 280,200,000.00 31 December 2007 148 Dominica 269,100,000.00 31 December 2007 149 Malawi 250,400,000.00 31 December 2007 150 Seychelles 249,000,000.00 31 December 2007 151 Rwanda 227,400,000.00 31 December 2005 152 Bhutan 220,300,000.00 31 December 2007 153 Congo, Republic of the 204,300,000.00 31 December 2007 154 Niger 193,700,000.00 31 December 2007 155 Gambia, The 180,400,000.00 31 December 2007 156 Sierra Leone 177,700,000.00 31 December 2007 157 Equatorial Guinea 174,500,000.00 31 December 2007 158 Samoa 168,700,000.00 31 December 2007 159 Tajikistan 161,000,000.00 31 December 2006 160 Lesotho 160,200,000.00 31 December 2007 161 Burundi 141,000,000.00 31 December 2007 162 Tonga 106,800,000.00 31 December 2007 163 Micronesia, Federated States of 72,490,000.00 31 December 2007 164 Timor-Leste 68,780,000.00 31 December 2007 165 Solomon Islands 57,890,000.00 31 December 2007 166 Chad 55,230,000.00 31 December 2007 167 Liberia 49,890,000.00 31 December 2007 168 Central African Republic 47,580,000.00 31 December 2007 169 Montserrat 43,900,000.00 31 December 2007 170 Sao Tome and Principe 33,500,000.00 31 December 2007 171 Comoros 23,390,000.00 31 December 2007 172 Guinea-Bissau 12,040,000.00 31 December 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Rank code: @2211

Rank Country Stock of domestic credit Date of Information

1 European Union 20,940,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 2 United States 14,150,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 3 Japan 9,653,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 4 United Kingdom 5,278,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 5 Germany 5,081,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 6 China 4,653,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 7 France 4,105,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 8 Spain 3,177,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 9 Italy 3,084,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 10 Canada 2,382,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 11 Netherlands 1,876,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 12 Brazil 1,377,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 13 Australia 1,312,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 14 Korea, South 1,061,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 15 Burma 887,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 16 Switzerland 855,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 17 India 769,300,000,000.00 31 December 2007 18 Ireland 768,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 19 Belgium 767,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 20 Denmark 684,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 21 Sweden 630,800,000,000.00 31 December 2007 22 Austria 599,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 23 Portugal 451,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 24 Greece 392,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 25 Turkey 358,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 26 Luxembourg 357,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 27 Mexico 349,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 28 Russia 339,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 29 Hong Kong 259,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 30 South Africa 254,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 31 Thailand 241,800,000,000.00 31 December 2007 32 Finland 240,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 33 Poland 223,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 34 Malaysia 220,000,000,000.00 31 December 2007 35 New Zealand 200,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 36 Indonesia 170,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 37 United Arab Emirates 155,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 38 Singapore 129,200,000,000.00 31 December 2007 39 Chile 127,100,000,000.00 31 December 2007 40 Egypt 113,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 41 Israel 113,400,000,000.00 31 December 2006 42 Iran 109,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 43 Hungary 109,500,000,000.00 31 December 2007 44 Czech Republic 103,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 45 Ukraine 87,130,000,000.00 31 December 2007 46 Colombia 85,340,000,000.00 31 December 2007 47 Kuwait 78,250,000,000.00 31 December 2007 48 Argentina 72,550,000,000.00 31 December 2007 49 Morocco 71,900,000,000.00 31 December 2007 50 Vietnam 68,630,000,000.00 31 December 2007 51 Saudi Arabia 66,940,000,000.00 31 December 2007 52 Philippines 65,660,000,000.00 31 December 2007 53 Pakistan 65,050,000,000.00 31 December 2007 54 Romania 58,760,000,000.00 31 December 2007 55 Cyprus 52,090,000,000.00 31 December 2007 56 Syria 50,920,000,000.00 31 December 2006 57 Venezuela 50,240,000,000.00 31 December 2007 58 Iceland 49,670,000,000.00 31 December 2006 59 Croatia 45,700,000,000.00 31 December 2007 60 Lebanon 45,510,000,000.00 31 December 2007 61 Kazakhstan 43,750,000,000.00 31 December 2007 62 Slovakia 41,760,000,000.00 31 December 2007 63 Bangladesh 40,150,000,000.00 31 December 2007 64 Qatar 30,520,000,000.00 31 December 2007 65 Latvia 27,560,000,000.00 31 December 2007 66 Tunisia 25,230,000,000.00 31 December 2007 67 Bulgaria 25,180,000,000.00 31 December 2007 68 Lithuania 25,050,000,000.00 31 December 2007 69 Zimbabwe 24,910,000,000.00 31 December 2007 70 Estonia 21,350,000,000.00 31 December 2007 71 Jordan 19,530,000,000.00 31 December 2007 72 Peru 17,880,000,000.00 31 December 2007 73 Panama 17,400,000,000.00 31 December 2007 74 Nigeria 16,150,000,000.00 31 December 2007 75 Dominican Republic 15,920,000,000.00 31 December 2007 76 Sri Lanka 14,820,000,000.00 31 December 2007 77 Guatemala 13,960,000,000.00 31 December 2007 78 Oman 13,880,000,000.00 31 December 2007 79 Serbia 13,440,000,000.00 31 December 2007 80 Costa Rica 12,910,000,000.00 31 December 2007 81 Belarus 12,160,000,000.00 31 December 2007 82 Malta 10,990,000,000.00 31 December 2007 83 Kenya 10,430,000,000.00 31 December 2007 84 Bahrain 10,320,000,000.00 31 December 2007 85 El Salvador 9,729,000,000.00 31 December 2007 86 Ecuador 8,926,000,000.00 31 December 2007 87 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8,895,000,000.00 31 December 2007 88 Sudan 8,659,000,000.00 31 December 2007 89 Mauritius 8,582,000,000.00 31 December 2007 90 San Marino 7,513,000,000.00 31 December 2007 91 Bahamas, The 7,395,000,000.00 31 December 2007 92 Albania 7,341,000,000.00 31 December 2007 93 Ethiopia 6,694,000,000.00 31 December 2006 94 Jamaica 6,609,000,000.00 31 December 2007 95 Uruguay 6,396,000,000.00 31 December 2007 96 Honduras 6,298,000,000.00 31 December 2007 97 Azerbaijan 5,726,000,000.00 31 December 2007 98 Nepal 5,636,000,000.00 31 December 2007 99 Bolivia 4,759,000,000.00 31 December 2007 100 Namibia 4,446,000,000.00 31 December 2007 101 Cote d'Ivoire 4,404,000,000.00 31 December 2007 102 Ghana 4,173,000,000.00 31 December 2006 103 Nicaragua 4,133,000,000.00 31 December 2007 104 Trinidad and Tobago 3,721,000,000.00 31 December 2007 105 Barbados 3,533,000,000.00 31 December 2007 106 Georgia 3,374,000,000.00 31 December 2007 107 Montenegro 3,083,000,000.00 31 December 2007 108 Senegal 2,970,000,000.00 31 December 2007 109 Netherlands Antilles 2,927,000,000.00 31 December 2007 110 Macedonia 2,924,000,000.00 31 December 2007 111 Paraguay 2,457,000,000.00 31 December 2007 112 Brunei 2,380,000,000.00 31 December 2007 113 Tanzania 2,250,000,000.00 31 December 2007 114 Yemen 2,224,000,000.00 31 December 2007 115 Zambia 1,968,000,000.00 31 December 2007 116 Fiji 1,948,000,000.00 31 December 2007 117 Moldova 1,896,000,000.00 31 December 2007 118 Eritrea 1,711,000,000.00 31 December 2007 119 Haiti 1,537,000,000.00 31 December 2007 120 Papua New Guinea 1,486,000,000.00 31 December 2007 121 Gaza Strip 1,455,000,000.00 31 December 2007 122 West Bank 1,455,000,000.00 31 December 2007 123 Angola 1,385,000,000.00 31 December 2007 124 Aruba 1,348,000,000.00 31 December 2007 125 Cameroon 1,300,000,000.00 31 December 2007 126 Armenia 1,256,000,000.00 31 December 2007 127 Saint Lucia 1,217,000,000.00 31 December 2007 128 Mongolia 1,191,000,000.00 31 December 2007 129 Liberia 1,157,000,000.00 31 December 2007 130 Cambodia 1,131,000,000.00 31 December 2007 131 Mali 1,099,000,000.00 31 December 2007 132 Maldives 1,080,000,000.00 31 December 2007 133 Cape Verde 1,049,000,000.00 31 December 2007 134 Antigua and Barbuda 1,002,000,000.00 31 December 2007 135 Uganda 907,300,000.00 31 December 2007 136 Burkina Faso 905,100,000.00 31 December 2007 137 Belize 877,600,000.00 31 December 2007 138 Mozambique 877,200,000.00 31 December 2007 139 Saint Kitts and Nevis 782,400,000.00 31 December 2007 140 Madagascar 767,500,000.00 31 December 2007 141 Guyana 739,300,000.00 31 December 2007 142 Seychelles 660,200,000.00 31 December 2007 143 Suriname 651,000,000.00 31 December 2007 144 Togo 590,700,000.00 31 December 2007 145 Grenada 575,800,000.00 31 December 2007 146 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 559,500,000.00 31 December 2007 147 Kyrgyzstan 558,300,000.00 31 December 2007 148 Benin 520,600,000.00 31 December 2007 149 Anguilla 447,700,000.00 31 December 2007 150 Guinea 422,100,000.00 31 December 2005 151 Tajikistan 417,400,000.00 31 December 2006 152 Malawi 406,200,000.00 31 December 2007 153 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 387,800,000.00 31 December 2007 154 Gabon 359,800,000.00 31 December 2007 155 Burundi 342,000,000.00 31 December 2007 156 Central African Republic 320,200,000.00 31 December 2007 157 Niger 318,900,000.00 31 December 2007 158 Laos 285,800,000.00 31 December 2007 159 Vanuatu 229,500,000.00 31 December 2007 160 Djibouti 224,700,000.00 31 December 2007 161 Samoa 215,100,000.00 31 December 2007 162 Rwanda 209,200,000.00 31 December 2005 163 Swaziland 204,100,000.00 31 December 2007 164 Dominica 193,100,000.00 31 December 2007 165 Bhutan 169,900,000.00 31 December 2007 166 Gambia, The 169,900,000.00 31 December 2007 167 Tonga 163,100,000.00 31 December 2007 168 Sierra Leone 162,900,000.00 31 December 2007 169 Solomon Islands 126,900,000.00 31 December 2007 170 Chad 82,810,000.00 31 December 2007 171 Guinea-Bissau 46,440,000.00 31 December 2007 172 Comoros 45,090,000.00 31 December 2007 173 Sao Tome and Principe 31,840,000.00 31 December 2007 174 Afghanistan 20,060,000.00 31 December 2007 175 Montserrat 5,537,000.00 31 December 2007

This file was last updated on 18 December, 2008

======================================================================

Appendix A - Abbreviations

ABEDA: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa

ACCT: Agency for the French-Speaking Community (see International
Organization of the French-speaking World)

ACP Group: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States

AfDB: African Development Bank

AFESD: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development

Air Pollution: Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides: Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of
Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants: Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent
Organic Pollutants

Air Pollution-Sulphur 85: Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long- Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at Least 30%

Air Pollution-Sulphur 94: Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-
Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur
Emissions

Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds: Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the
Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their
Transboundary Fluxes

AMF: Arab Monetary Fund

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol: Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic Marine Living Resources: Convention on the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Antarctic Seals: Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

ANZUS: Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty

APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Arabsat: Arab Satellite Communications Organization

ARF: ASEAN Regional Forum

ADB: Asian Development Bank

ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations

AU: African Union

Autodin: Automatic Digital Network

BA: Baltic Assembly

bbl/day: barrels per day

BCIE: Central American Bank for Economic Integration

BDEAC: Central African States Development Bank

Benelux: Benelux Economic Union

BIMSTEC: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation

Biodiversity: Convention on Biological Diversity

BGN: United States Board on Geographic Names

BIS: Bank for International Settlements

BSEC: Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone

C: Commonwealth

c.i.f.: cost, insurance, and freight

CACM: Central American Common Market

CAEU: Council of Arab Economic Unity

CAN: Andean Community of Nations

Caricom: Caribbean Community and Common Market

CB: citizen's band mobile radio communications

CBSS: Council of the Baltic Sea States

CCC: Customs Cooperation Council

CDB: Caribbean Development Bank

CE: Council of Europe

CEI: Central European Initiative

CEMAC: Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa

CEPGL: Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries

CERN: European Organization for Nuclear Research

CEPT: Conference Europeanne des Poste et Telecommunications

CIS: Commonwealth of Independent States

CITES: see Endangered Species

Climate Change: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol: Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change

COCOM: Coordinating Committee on Export Controls

Comsat: Communications Satellite Corporation

COMESA: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

CP: Colombo Plan

CPLP: Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa

CSTO: Collective Security Treaty Organization

CTBTO: Preparation commission for the Nuclear-Ban-Treaty Operation

CY: calendar year

DC: developed country

DDT: dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane

Desertification: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

DIA: United States Defense Intelligence Agency

DSN: Defense Switched Network

DST: daylight savings time

DWT: deadweight ton

EAC: East African Community

EADB: East African Development Bank

EAEC: Eurasian Economic Community

EAPC: Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

EBRD: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EC: European Community

ECA: Economic Commission for Africa

ECE: Economic Commission for Europe

ECLAC: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

ECO: Economic Cooperation Organization

ECOSOC: Economic and Social Council

ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States

ECSC: European Coal and Steel Community

EEC: European Economic Community

EFTA: European Free Trade Association

EEZ: exclusive economic zone

EIB: European Investment Bank

EMU: European Monetary Union

Endangered Species: Convention on the International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Entente: Council of the Entente

Environmental Modification: Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques

ESA: European Space Agency

ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

ESCWA: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

est.: estimate

EU: European Union

Euratom: European Atomic Energy Community

Eutelsat: European Telecommunications Satellite Organization

Ex-Im: Export-Import Bank of the United States

f.o.b.: free on board

FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization

FAX: facsimile

FLS: Front Line States

FOC: flags of convenience

FSU: former Soviet Union

FY: fiscal year

FZ: Franc Zone

G-2: Group of 2

G-3: Group of 3

G-5: Group of 5

G-6: Group of 6

G-7: Group of 7

G-8: Group of 8

G-9: Group of 9

G-10: Group of 10

G-15: Group of 15

G-11: Group of 11

G-24: Group of 24

G-77: Group of 77

GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; now WTO

GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council

GCTU: General Confederation of Trade Unions

GDP: gross domestic product

GMT: Greenwich Mean Time

GNP: gross national product

GRT: gross register ton

GSM: global system for mobile cellular communications

GUAM: Organization for Democracy and Economic Development; acronym for member states - Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova

GWP: gross world product

Hazardous Wastes: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

HF: high-frequency

HIV/AIDS: human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome

IADB: Inter-American Development Bank

IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency

IANA: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World
Bank)

ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization

ICC: International Chamber of Commerce

ICCt: International Criminal Court

ICJ: International Court of Justice (World Court)

ICRC: International Committee of the Red Cross

ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

ICSID: International Center for Secretariat of Investment Disputes

ICTR: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

ICTY: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

IDA: International Development Association

IDB: Islamic Development Bank

IDP: Internally Displaced Person

IEA: International Energy Agency

IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFC: International Finance Corporation

IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies

IGAD: Inter-Governmental Authority on Development

IHO: International Hydrographic Organization

ILO: International Labor Organization

IMF: International Monetary Fund

IMO: International Maritime Organization

IMSO: International Mobile Satellite Organization

Inmarsat: International Maritime Satellite Organization

InOC: Indian Ocean Commission

INSTRAW: International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women

Intelsat: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization

Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization

Intersputnik: International Organization of Space Communications

IOC: International Olympic Committee

IOM: International Organization for Migration

IPU: Inter-parliamentary Union

ISO: International Organization for Standardization

ISP: Internet Service Provider

ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellites Organization

ITU: International Telecommunication Union

ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation, the successor to ICFTU
(International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) and the WCL (World
Confederation of Labor)

kHz: kilohertz

km: kilometer

kW: kilowatt

kWh: kilowatt-hour

LAES: Latin American Economic System

LAIA: Latin American Integration Association

LAS: League of Arab States

Law of the Sea: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)

LDC: less developed country

LLDC: least developed country

London Convention: see Marine Dumping

LOS: see Law of the Sea

m: meter

Marecs: Maritime European Communications Satellite

Marine Dumping: Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by
Dumping Wastes and Other Matter

Marine Life Conservation: Convention on Fishing and Conservation of
Living Resources of the High Seas

MARPOL: see Ship Pollution

Medarabtel: Middle East Telecommunications Project of the
International Telecommunications Union

Mercosur: Southern Cone Common Market

MHz: megahertz

MICAH: International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti

MINURSO: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

MIGA: Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency

MINUSTAH: United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

MONUC: United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

NA: not available

NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement

NAM: Nonaligned Movement

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NC: Nordic Council

NEA: Nuclear Energy Agency

NEGL: negligible

NGA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

NIB: Nordic Investment Bank

NIC: newly industrializing country

NIE: newly industrializing economy

NIS: new independent states

nm: nautical mile

NMT: Nordic Mobile Telephone

NSG: Nuclear Suppliers Group

Nuclear Test Ban: Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the
Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

NZ: New Zealand

OAPEC: Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries

OAS: Organization of American States

OAU: Organization of African Unity; see African Union

ODA: official development assistance

OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OECS: Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

OHCHR: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

OIC: Organization of the Islamic Conference

OIF: International Organization of the French-speaking World

ONUB: United Nations Operation in Burundi

OOF: other official flows

OPANAL: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean

OPCW: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

OSCE: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Ozone Layer Protection: Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration

PFP: Partnership for Peace

PIF: Pacific Islands Forum

PPP: purchasing power parity

Ramsar: see Wetlands

RG: Rio Group

SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

SACU: Southern African Customs Union

SACEP: South Asia Co-opeative Environment Programme

SADC: Southern African Development Community

SCO: Shanghai Cooperation Organization

SAFE: South African Far East Cable

SECI: Southeast European Cooperative Initiative

SHF: super-high-frequency

Ship Pollution: Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

Sparteca: South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation
Agreement

SPC: Secretariat of the Pacific Communities

SPF: South Pacific Forum

sq km: square kilometer

sq mi: square mile

TAT: Trans-Atlantic Telephone

TEU: Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit

Tropical Timber 83: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

Tropical Timber 94: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

UAE: United Arab Emirates

UDEAC: Central African Customs and Economic Union

UHF: ultra-high-frequency

UK: United Kingdom

UMA: Arab Maghreb Union

UN: United Nations

UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone

UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also know as
LOS

UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNDCP: United Nations Drug Control Program

UNDOF: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

UNDP: United Nations Development Program

UNEP: United Nations Environment Program

UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization

UNFICYP: United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus

UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund

UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund

UNICRI: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research
Institute

UNIDIR: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization

UNIFIL: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

UNITAR: United Nations Institute for Training and Research

UNMEE: United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

UNMIK: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

UNMIL: United Nations Mission in Liberia

UNMIT: United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

UNMOGIP: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan

UNMOVIC: United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection
Commission

UNOCI: United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire

UNOMIG: United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia

UNOPS: United Nations Office of Project Services

UNRISD: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

UNSC: United Nations Security Council

UNSSC: Untied Nations System Staff College

UNTSO: United Nations Truce Supervision Organization

UNU: United Nations University

UNWTO: World Tourism Organization

UPU: Universal Postal Union

US: United States

USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991

UTC: Coordinated Universal Time

UV: ultra violet

VHF: very-high-frequency

VSAT: very small aperture terminal

WADB: West African Development Bank

WAEMU: West African Economic and Monetary Union

WCL: World Confederation of Labor

WCO: World Customs Organization

Wetlands: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Especially As Waterfowl Habitat

WEU: Western European Union

WFP: World Food Program

WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions

Whaling: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

WHO: World Health Organization

WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization

WMO: World Meteorological Organization

WP: Warsaw Pact

WTO: World Trade Organization

ZC: Zangger Committee

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups

advanced developing countries: another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)

advanced economies: a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino that are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"

African Development Bank Group (AfDB): note - regional multilateral development finance institution temporarily located in Tunis, Tunisia; the Bank Group consists of the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigerian Trust Fund

established - 10 September 1964

aim - to promote economic development and social progress

regional members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

nonregional members - (24) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

African Union (AU): note - replaces Organization of African Unity
(OAU)

established - 8 July 2001

aim - to achieve greater unity among African States; to defend states' integrity and independence; to accelerate political, social, and economic integration; to encourage international cooperation; to promote democratic principles and institutions

members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western
Sahara), Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,
Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group): established - 6 June 1975

aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU

members - (79) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL): note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)

established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco; effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification

aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons

members - (33) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

Andean Community of Nations (CAN): note - formerly known as the Andean
Group (AG) and the Andean Common Market (Ancom)

established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992; effective - 16 October 1969

aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration

members - (4) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

associate members - (5) Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

observers - (2) Mexico, Panama

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA): note - also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)

established - 18 February 1974; effective - 16 September 1974

aim - to promote economic development

members - (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen

Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD): established - 16 May 1968

aim - to promote economic and social development

members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Arab Maghreb Union (AMU): established - 17 February 1989

aim - to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa

members - (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia

Arab Monetary Fund (AMF): established - 27 April 1976; effective - 2
February 1977

aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs

members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Arctic Council: established - 18 September 1996

aim - to address the common concerns and challenges faced by Arctic governments and the people of the Arctic; to protect the Arctic environment

members - (8) Canada, Denmark (Greenland, Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, US

permanent participants - (6) Aleut International Association, Arctic
Athabaskan Council, Gwich'in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar
Conference, Russian Association of Indigenous People of the North,
Saami Council

observers - (8) China, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, UK

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): established - 25 July 1994

aim - to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern

members - (26) Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada,
China, EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos,
Malaysia, Mongolia, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, US, Vietnam

Asian Development Bank (ADB): established - 19 December 1966

aim - to promote regional economic cooperation

members - (48) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Georgia,
Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated
States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Palau,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri
Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam

nonregional members - (19) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): established - 7 November 1989

aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin

members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam

observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): established - 8 August 1967

aim - to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia

members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

dialogue partners - (11) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, South Korea, NZ, Russia, US, UNDP; note - ASEAN promotes cooperation with Pakistan in some areas of mutual interest

observers - (1) Papua New Guinea

Australia Group (AG): established - June 1985

aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons

members - (41) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European
Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US

Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS): established - 1 September 1951; effective - 29 April 1952

aim - to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings

members - (3) Australia, NZ, US

Baltic Assembly (BA): established - 12 May 1990

aim - to thoroughly discuss various cooperation issues between Baltic states

members - (3) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Bank for International Settlements (BIS): established - 20 January 1930; effective - 17 March 1930

aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements

members - (55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Central Bank, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central banks; their links with BIS are currently under review

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC): established - June 1997

aim - to foster socio-economic cooperation among members

members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Benelux Economic Union (Benelux): note - acronym from Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg

established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960

aim - to develop closer economic cooperation and integration

members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands

Big Seven: note - membership is the same as the Group of 7

established - 1975

aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies

members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US

Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC): established - 25 June 1992

aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation

members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is in the process of joining

observers - (17) Austria, Belarus, Black Sea Commission, Commission of the EC, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Energy Charter Secretariat, France, Germany, International Black Sea Club, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia, US; note - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia have applied for observer status

Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom): established - 4 July 1973; effective - 1 August 1973

aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries

members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago

associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

observers - (7) Aruba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): established - 18 October 1969; effective - 26 January 1970

aim - to promote economic development and cooperation

regional members - (21) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela

nonregional members - (5) Canada, China, Germany, Italy, UK

Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC): see Economic and
Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)

Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC): note - acronym from
Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale

established - 3 December 1975

aim - to provide loans for economic development

members - (10) African Development Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central African States Bank (BEAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Kuwait

Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE): note - acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico

established - 13 December 1960 signature of Articles of Agreement; 31 May 1961 began operations

aim - to promote economic integration and development

members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

nonregional members - (7) Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Taiwan

Central American Common Market (CACM): established - 13 December 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 1991

aim - to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market

members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; note - Panama, although not a member, pursues full regional cooperation

Central European Initiative (CEI): note - evolved from the
Quadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal Initiative

established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, July 1992 its present name was adopted

aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas

members - (18) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine

centrally planned economies: a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market- oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as the Communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, USSR, Vietnam

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): established - 7
October 2002

aim - to coordinate military and political cooperation, to develop multilateral structures and mechanisms of cooperation for ensuring national security of the member states

members - (7) Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Colombo Plan (CP): established - May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1 July 1951 commenced full operations

aim - to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific

members - (25) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Fiji,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mongolia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US, Vietnam

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): note - formerly known as Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA)

established - 5 November 1993

aim - recognizing, promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, commitment to the principles of liberty and rule of law, maintaining peace and stability through the promotion and strengthening of good neighborliness, commitment to peaceful settlement of disputes among member states

members - (19) Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

Commonwealth (C): note - also known as Commonwealth of Nations

established - 31 December 1931

aim - to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire

members - (53) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji (suspended), The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan (reinstated 2004), Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia; note - on 7 December 2003 Zimbabwe withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): established - 8 December 1991; effective - 21 December 1991

aim - to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR

members - (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Communist countries: traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the successor states are no longer Communist; see centrally planned economies

Comuinidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa (CPLP): established - 1996

aim - to establish a forum for friendship among Portuguese-speaking nations where Portuguese is an official language

members - (8) Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste

associate observers - (3) Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Senegal

Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM): established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members established a new organization, the Wassenaar Arrangement, with expanded membership on 12 July 1996 that focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East- West control of advanced technology

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA): note - also known as
CMEA or Comecon

established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies and abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)

Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU): established - 3 June 1957; effective - 30 May 1964

aim - to promote economic integration among Arab nations

members - (10 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Council of Europe (CE): established - 5 May 1949; effective - 3 August 1949

aim - to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe

members - (47) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK

observers - (5) Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico, US

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS): established - 6 March 1992

aim - to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication

members - (12) Denmark, Estonia, EC, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden

observers - (7) France, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, UK, US

Council of the Entente (Entente): established - 29 May 1959

aim - to promote economic, social, and political coordination

members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo

countries in transition: a term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; IMF statistics include the following 28 countries in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia

Customs Cooperation Council (CCC): note - see World Customs
Organization (WCO)

developed countries (DCs): the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 34 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" that adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey

developing countries: a term used by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) for the bottom group in its hierarchy of advanced economies,
countries in transition, and developing countries; IMF statistics
include the following 126 developing countries: Afghanistan, Algeria,
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,
Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - this category would
presumably also cover the following 46 other countries that are
traditionally included in the more comprehensive group of "less
developed countries": American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands,
Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands,
Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza
Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Isle
of Man, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat,
Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands,
Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu,
Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara

Developing Eight (D-8): established - 15 June 1997

aim - to improve developing countries' positions in the world economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at the international level, provide better standards of living

member - (8) Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey

East African Community (EAC): note - originally established in 1967, it was disbanded in 1977

established - January 2001

aim - to establish a political and economic union among the countries

members - (5) Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda

East African Development Bank (EADB): established - 6 June 1967; effective - 1 December 1967

aim - to promote economic development

members - (4) Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda

East Asia Summit (EAS): established - 14 December 2005

aim - to promote cooperation in political and security issues; to promote development, financial stability, energy security, economic integration and growth; to eradicate poverty and narrow the development gap in East Asia, and to promote deeper cultural understanding

members - (16) Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, NZ, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC): note - was formerly the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)

established - 8 December 1964; effective - 1 January 1966

aim - to promote the establishment of a Central African Common Market

members - (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): note - an integral part of the
European Union; also known as the European Economic and Monetary Union

established - 1-2 December 1969 (proposed at summit conference of heads of government; 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed)

aim - to promote a single market by creating a single currency, the euro; timetable - 2 May 1998: European exchange rates fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted

members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and nine functional commissions (Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Population and Development, Statistical Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice)

members - (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL): note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs

established - 20 September 1976

aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and integration

members - (3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda; note - organization collapsed because of fighting in 1998; reactivated in 2006

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): established - 28
May 1975

aim - to promote regional economic cooperation

members - (15) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO): established - 27-29 January 1985

aim - to promote regional cooperation in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development

members - (10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC or EurasEC): note - merged with
Central Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO) in 2005

established - May 2001

aim - to create a common economic and energy policy

members - (6) Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

observers - (3) Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC): note - began as the North
Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO

established - 8 November 1991; effective - 20 December 1991

aim - to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues

members - (50) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uzbekistan

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 (bank inaugurated)

aim - to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization

members - (63) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, EC, European Investment Bank
(EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
UK, US, Uzbekistan

European Community (or European Communities, EC): established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

European Free Trade Association (EFTA): established - 4 January 1960; effective - 3 May 1960

aim - to promote expansion of free trade

members - (4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland

European Investment Bank (EIB): established - 25 March 1957; effective - 1 January 1958

aim - to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC

members - (27) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire

established - 1 July 1953; effective - 29 September 1954

aim - to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only

members - (20) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

observers - (8) EC, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US

European Space Agency (ESA): established - 31 May 1975

aim - to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology

members - (17) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

cooperating states - (5) Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania

European Union (EU): note - see European Union entry at the end of the "country" listings

First World: another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): established - 16 October 1945

aim - to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products; a UN specialized agency

members - (192) includes all UN member countries except Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Singapore (189 total); plus Cook Islands, EC, Faroe Islands, and Niue

former Soviet Union (FSU): former term often used to identify as a group the successor nations to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE): the middle group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these countries are in political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia; this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia

Four Dragons: the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan; these countries are included in the IMF's "advanced economies" group

Franc Zone (FZ): note - also known as Conference des Ministres des
Finances des Pays de la Zone Franc

established - 1964

aim - to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies were linked to the French franc

members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo

Front Line States (FLS): established to achieve black majority rule in
South Africa; has since gone out of existence; members included Angola,
Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): see the World Trade
Organization (WTO)

General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU): established - 16 April 1992

aim - to consolidate trade union actions to protect citizens' social and labor rights and interests, to help secure trade unions' rights and guarantees, and to strengthen international trade union solidarity

members - (11) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Group of 2 (G-2): informal term that came into use about 1986; to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants; members were Japan, US

Group of 3 (G-3): established - September 1990

aim - mechanism for policy coordination

members - (2) Colombia, Mexico; note - Panama shows interest in joining

Group of 5 (G-5): established - 22 September 1985

aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major noncommunist economic powers

members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US

Group of 6 (G-6): also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement (not to be confused with the Big Six) was established in 22 May 1984 with the aim of achieving nuclear disarmament; its members were Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania

Group of 7 (G-7): note - membership is the same as the Big Seven

established - 22 September 1985

aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major noncommunist economic powers

members - (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy

Group of 8 (G-8): established - October 1975

aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the developed countries (DCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held in several sessions between December 1975 and 3 June 1977

members - (8) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US

Group of 9 (G-9): established - NA

aim - to discuss matters of mutual interest on an informal basis

members - (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Sweden

Group of 10 (G-10): note - also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists despite increased membership

established - October 1962

aim - to coordinate credit policy

members - (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

observers - (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD

Group of 11 (G-11): note - also known as the Cartagena Group

established in 21-22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia, aim was to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America; members were: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Group of 15 (G-15): note - byproduct of the Nonaligned Movement; name persists despite increased membership

established - September 1989

aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Nonaligned Movement

members - (18) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Group of 24 (G-24): established - 1 August 1989

aim - to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF

members - (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana,
Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru,
Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago,
Venezuela

observers - (1) China

Group of 77 (G-77): established - 15 June1964; October 1967 first ministerial meeting

aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership

members - (129 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of
Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): note - also known as the Cooperation
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

established - 25 May 1981

aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs

members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE

Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM): note- acronym standing for the member countries, Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova; formerly known as GUUAM before Uzbekistan withdrew in 5 May 2005

established - 7 June 2001

aim - commits the countries to cooperation and assistance in social and economic development, the strengthening and broadening of trade and economic relations, and the development and effective use of transport and communications, highways, and related infrastructure crossing the boundaries of the member states

members - (4) Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine

high income countries: another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)

Indian Ocean Commission (InOC): established - 21 December 1982

aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially economic

members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion and Mayotte), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles

industrial countries: another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs)

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): note - also known as Banco
Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)

established - 8 April 1959; effective - 30 December 1959

aim - to promote economic and social development in Latin America

members - (47) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France,
Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD): note - formerly known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)

established - 15-16 January 1986 as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development; revitalized - 21 March 1996 as the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development

aim - to promote a social, economic, and scientific community among its members

members - (6) Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda; note - Eritrea declared its suspension in 2007

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): established - 1889

aim - fosters contacts among parliamentarians, considers and expresses views of international interest and concern with the purpose of bringing about action by parliaments and parliamentarians, contributes to the defense and promotion of human rights, contributes to better knowledge of representative institutions

members - (154 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, Samoa, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Tajikistan,
Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine
Liberation Organization

associate members - (8) Andean Parliament, Central American Parliament, East African Legislative Assembly, European Parliament, Inter- Parliamentary Committee of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Latin American Parliament, Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): established - 26 October 1956; effective - 29 July 1957

aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy

members - (145) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe; note - membership pending for Bahrain, Burundi, Cape Verde,
Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Oman, Nepal until the necessary legal
instruments are deposited with the IAEA

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): note - also known as the World Bank

established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945

aim - to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency

members - (185) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, and Tuvalu

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): established - 1919

aim - to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels

members - (91 national committees) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela; note - Peru is
restructuring

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): established - 7
December 1944; effective - 4 April 1947

aim - to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency

members - (190) includes all UN member countries except Dominica, Liechtenstein, and Tuvalu (189 total); plus Cook Islands

International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH): established
17 December 1999 to promote respect for human rights; members included
Argentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo,
Tunisia, US; closed 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): established - 17
February 1863

aim - to provide humanitarian aid in wartime

members - (15-25 individuals) all Swiss nationals

International Court of Justice (ICJ): note - also known as the World
Court

established - 3 February 1946 superseded Permanent Court of International Justice

aim - primary judicial organ of the UN

members - (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems

International Criminal Court (ICCt): established - 11 April 2002

aim - to hold all individuals and countries accountable to international laws of conduct; to specify international standards of conduct; to provide an important mechanism for implementing these standards; to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice

members (countries that have ratified the treaty) - (108) Afghanistan,
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Lesotho,
Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal,
Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,
Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia

International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol): established - September 1923 set up as the International Criminal Police Commission; 13 June 1956 constitution modified and present name adopted

aim - to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime

members - (187) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy
See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

subbureaus - (11) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands

International Development Association (IDA): established - 26 January 1960; effective - 24 September 1960

aim - to provide economic loans for low-income countries; UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate

members - (168) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Energy Agency (IEA): established - 15 November 1974

aim - to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD

members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRCS): note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (LORCS)

established - 5 May 1919

aim - to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief actions; to promote humanitarian activities; to represent and encourage the development of National Societies; to bring help to victims of armed conflicts, refugees, and displaced people; to reduce the vulnerability of people through development programs

members - (185 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome
and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (2) Eritrea and Tuvalu

International Finance Corporation (IFC): established - 25 May 1955; effective - 24 July 1956

aim - to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate

members - (181) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Brunei, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Suriname, Tuvalu

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): established -
November 1974

aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency

members - (165)

List A - (23 industrialized aid contributors) Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US

List B - (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
UAE, Venezuela

List C - (130 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India,
Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea,
South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome
and Principe, Senegal, Serbia (suspended since 1992), Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-
Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): note - name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 September 1970

established - June 1919; effective - June 1921

aim - to train hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers to achieve standardization in nautical charts and electronic chart displays; to provide advice on nautical cartography and hydrography; to develop the sciences in the field of hydrography and techniques used for descriptive oceanograrphy

members - (80) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and
Macau), Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (suspended),
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic (suspended),
Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius,
Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname (suspended), Sweden, Syria,
Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE,
UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

International Labor Organization (ILO): established - 28 June 1919 set up as part of Treaty of Versailles; 11 April 1919 became operative; 14 December 1946 affiliated with the UN

aim - to deal with world labor issues; a UN specialized agency

members - (181) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Bhutan, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, and Tuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies: Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)

International Maritime Organization (IMO): note - name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982

established - 6 March 1948 set up as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization; effective - 17 March 1958

aim - to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency

members - (167) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan,
Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Central African Republic, Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho,
Liechtenstein, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niger,
Palau, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia

associate members - (3) Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macau

International Monetary Fund (IMF): established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945

aim - to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a UN specialized agency

members - (185) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest: China (Hong Kong and Macau), Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)

International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO): established - 15
April 1999

aim - acts as watchdog over Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellite Organization), a private company, to make sure it follows ICAO standards and recommended practices; plays an active role in the development of international telecommunications policies

members - (92) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Maurtius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco,
Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Venezuela, Vietnam

International Olympic Committee (IOC): established - 23 June 1894

aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada; 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK; 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia

National Olympic Committees - (204 and the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra,
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,
UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin
Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

International Organization for Migration (IOM): note - established as
Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants
from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration
(ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for
Migration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989

established - 5 December 1951

aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration

members - (122) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra
Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (16) Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Guyana, Holy See, Indonesia, Macedonia, Mozambique, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Turkmenistan

International Organization for Standardization (ISO): established -
February 1947

aim - to promote the development of international standards with a view to facilitating international exchange of goods and services and to developing cooperation in the sphere of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity

members - (105 national standards organizations) Algeria, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Zimbabwe

correspondent members - (41 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea,
Estonia, Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Rwanda, Senegal,
Seychelles, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen,
Zambia, Palestine Liberation Organization

subscriber members - (10) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominica, Guyana, Honduras, Laos, Lesotho, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname

International Organization of the French-speaking World (OIF): note - name changed from Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) in 1997; also known as Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

established - 20 March 1970

aim - founded around a common language to promote and spread the cultures of its members and to reinforce cultural and technical cooperation between them

members - (53) Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canada - New Brunswick, Canada - Quebec, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Community of Belgium, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam

associates - (3) Armenia, Cyprus, Ghana

observers - (14) Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Thailand, Ukraine

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM): established - 1928

aim - to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerly
League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime

National Societies - (185 countries and the Palestine Liberation Organization); note - same as membership for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

International Telecommunications Satellites Organization (ITSO): established - August 1964

aim - to act as a watchdog over Intelsat, Ltd., a private company, to make sure it provides on a global and non-discriminatory basis public telecommunication services

members - (148) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Telecommunication Union (ITU): established - 17 May 1865 set up as the International Telegraph Union; 9 December 1932 adopted present name; effective - 1 January 1934; affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947

aim - to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized agency

members - (191) includes all UN member countries except Palau, Timor- Leste (190 total); plus Holy See

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC): note - its predecessors were the Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labor (WCL)

established - 3 November 2006

aim - to promote the trade union movement

members - (311 affiliated organizations in the following 154 countries
and the Palestine Liberation Organization as of December 2007) Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Comoros, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,
Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, and the Palestine Liberation Organization

Islamic Development Bank (IDB): established - 15 December 1973 by declaration of intent; effective - 12 August 1974

aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development

members - (55 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,
Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,
Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Latin American Economic System (LAES): note - also known as Sistema
Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)

established - 17 October 1975

aim - to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation

members - (27) Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Secretaria General Iberoamericana (SEGIB), Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

Latin American Integration Association (LAIA): note - also known as
Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)

established - 12 August 1980; effective - 18 March 1981

aim - to promote freer regional trade

members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

observers - (26) China, Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, EC, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-
American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on
Agriculture, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latin America Economic System,
Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Pan-American Health
Organization, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine,
United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean

League of Arab States (LAS): note - also known as Arab League (AL)

established - 22 March 1945

aim - aim - to promote economic, social, political, and military cooperation

members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (3) Eritrea, India, Venezuela

least developed countries (LLDCs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen

less developed countries (LDCs): the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "developing countries" which adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey but omits in its recently published statistics American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara

low-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

middle-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA): established - 12
April 1988

aim - encourages flow of foreign direct investment among member countries by offering investment insurance, consultation, and negotiation on conditions for foreign investment and technical assistance; a UN specialized agency

members - (173) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,
Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Comoros, Cuba, Kiribati, North Korea,
Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, NZ, Niger, San Marino,
Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Tonga, Tuvalu

Near Abroad: Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security interest; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

new independent states (NIS): a term referring to all the countries of the FSU except the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)

newly industrializing countries (NICs): former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)

newly industrializing economies (NIEs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), and Brazil

Nonaligned Movement (NAM): established - 1-6 September 1961

aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs

members - (117 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (15) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvadore, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Serbia, Ukraine, Uruguay

guests - (24) Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Italy,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Nordic Council (NC): established - 16 March 1952; effective - 12
February 1953

aim - to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation

members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden

observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB): established - 4 December 1975; effective - 1 June 1976

aim - to promote economic cooperation and development

members - (8) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden

North: a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): established - 17 December 1992

aim - to eliminate trade barriers, promote fair competition, increase investment opportunities, provide protection of intellectual property rights, and create procedures to settle disputes

members - (3) Canada, Mexico, US

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): established - 4 April 1949

aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation

members - (26) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, UK, US

Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA): note - also known as OECD Nuclear Energy
Agency

established - 1 February 1958

aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD

members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG): note - also known as the London
Suppliers Group or the London Group

established - 1974; effective - 1975

aim - to establish guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, processing equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability

members - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,
UK, US

observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for the EU)

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): established - 14 December 1960; effective - 30 September 1961

aim - to promote economic cooperation and development

members - (30) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

special member - (1) EC

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): note - formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) established 3 July 1975

established - 1 January 1995

aim - to foster the implementation of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as an instrument of early warning, conflict prevention, and crisis management; and to serve as a framework for conventional arms control and confidence building measures

members - (56) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
UK, US, Uzbekistan

partners for cooperation - (11) Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Mongolia, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): established - 29 April 1997

aim - to enforce the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction; to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among the signatories of the Convention

members (countries that have ratified the Convention) - (184)
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbadoes, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Djibouti,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy
See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, the Convention) - (5) The Bahamas, Burma, Dominican Republic, Guinea- Bissau, Israel

Organization of African Unity (OAU): see African Union

Organization of American States (OAS): established - 14 April 1890 as the International Union of American Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted present charter; effective - 13 December 1951

aim - to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social development

members - (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

observers - (63) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU,
Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea,
Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vanuatu, Yemen

Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC): established - 9 January 1968

aim - to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry

members - (11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia (suspended), UAE

Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): established - 18 June 1981; effective - 4 July 1981

aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation

members - (9) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): established - 14
September 1960

aim - to coordinate petroleum policies

members - (13) Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC): established - 22-25
September 1969

aim - to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs

members - (56 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,
Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,
Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (14) AU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic,
ECO, Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, LAS,
Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, OAU, Parliamentary Union of the
OIC Member States, Russia, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community of
Kibris, UN

Pacific Community (SPC): local name of the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): note - formerly known as South Pacific
Forum (SPF)

established - 5 August 1971

aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters

members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

associate members - (2) French Polynesia, New Caledonia

partners - (13) Canada, China, EU, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, UK, US

observers - (5) Asia Development Bank, The Commonwealth, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna

Paris Club: established - 1956

aim - to provide a forum for debtor countries to negotiate rescheduling of debt service payments or loans extended by governments or official agencies of participating countries; to help restore normal trade and project finance to debtor countries

members - (19) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

Partnership for Peace (PFP): established - 10-11 January 1994

aim - to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO

members - (24) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - a nation that becomes a member of NATO is no longer a member of PFP

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA): established - 29 July 1899

aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes

members - (108) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

Rio Group (RG): note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established NA December 1986; composed of the Contadora Group and the Lima Group

established - 1988

aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues

members - (21) Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Uruguay, Venezuela

Schengen Convention: established - established - signed June 1990; effective March 1995

aim - aim - to allow free movement within an area without internal border controls

members - (25) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland; note - UK and Ireland have not joined; Liechtenstein and Cyprus will probably join in 2009; Bulgaria and Romania are still not fully implemented

Second World: another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC): established - 6 February 1947; effective 29 July 1948

aim - to serve island development in 22 Pacific countries; to develop technical assistance and professional, scientific, and research support; to build planning and management capability

members - (26) America Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France,
French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, NZ,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands,
Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, US, Wallis and Futuna

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): established - 15 June 2001

aim - to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism; to safeguard regional security through mutual trust, disarmament, and cooperative security; and to increase cooperation in political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, and educational fields

members - (6) China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

observers - (4) India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan

guests - (6) Afghanistan, ASEAN, CIS, EurAsEC, Turkmenistan, UN

socialist countries: in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries

South: a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)

South American Community of Nations (CSN): established - 9 December 2004

aim - to coordinate common policies regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur

members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela

observers - (2) Mexico, Panama

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): established - 8 December 1985

aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation

members - (8) Afghanistan. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

observers - (9) Australia, Burma, China, EU, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, US

South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP): established -
January 1983

aim - to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region

members - (8) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

South Pacific Forum (SPF): note - see Pacific Island Forum

South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
(Sparteca): established - 1981

aim - to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in the Pacific region

members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI): established - 6
December 1996

aim - to encourage cooperation among participating states and to facilitate their integration into European structures

members - (13) Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey

observers - (18) Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, UK, US

Southern African Customs Union (SACU): established - 11 December 1969

aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters

members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland

Southern African Development Community (SADC): note - evolved from the
Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)

established - 17 August 1992

aim - to promote regional economic development and integration

members - (14) Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) or Southern Common Market: note - also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur)

established - 26 March 1991

aim - to increase regional economic cooperation

members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

associate members - (5) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Third World: another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent; see less developed countries (LDCs)

African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID): established - 31 July 2007

aim - to contribute to the restoration of security conditions which will allow safe humanitarian assistance throughout Darfur, to contribute to the protection of civilian populations under imminent threat of physical attack, to monitor, observe compliance with, and verify the implementation of various ceasefire agreements

members - (31) Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, China, Egypt,
Ethiopia, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya,
Libya, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda,
Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, UK, Yemen,
Zambia

underdeveloped countries: refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)

undeveloped countries: refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)

Union Latina: established - 15 May 1954; became functional 1983

aim - to project, protect, and promote the common heritage and unifying idenitites of the Latin, and Latin-influenced, world

members - (37) Andorra, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile,
Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Italy,
Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,
Senegal, Spain, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Venezuela

observers - (3) Argentina, Holy See, Order of Malta

Union of South American Nations (UNASUR - Spanish; UNASUL - Portuguese): formerly South American Community of Nations which terminated on 16 April 2007

established - 23 May 2008

aim - to model a community after the European Union which will include a common currency, parliament, and passport

members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

United Nations (UN): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24
October 1945

aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems

constituent organizations - the UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:

1) Secretariat

2) General Assembly: Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UN-
AIDS), International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Organization for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Preparation Committee for the Nuclear-Test-
Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), United Nations Center for Human
Settlements (UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United
Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), United Nations Development Program
(UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP),United Nations Fund for International
Partnerships (UNFIP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR),
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United
Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI),
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office of
Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Research
Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), United Nations System Staff
College (UNSSC), United Nations University (UNU), World Food Program
(WFP)

3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),
United Nations Compensation Commission, United Nations Disengagement
Observer Force (UNDOF), African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation
in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
(UNMIT), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
(UNMIK), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), United
Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Military Observer
Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Operation in Cote
d'Ivoire (UNOCI), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western
Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Mission in the Central African
Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), United Nations Mission in the Sudan
(UNMIS), United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), United
Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(MONUC), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), United
Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and United Nations
Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for Social
Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,
Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commission on Population and
Development, Commission on Science and Technology for Development,
Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on the Status of
Women, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE),
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD), International Center for Secretariat of Investment
Disputes (ICSID), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
International Development Association (IDA), International Finance
Corporation (IFC), International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Maritime
Organization (IMO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), Multilateral Investment Geographic
Agency (MIGA), Statistical Commission, United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum on
Forests, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and World Trade
Organization (WTO)

5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)

6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF): note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization, UN International Children's Emergency Fund

established - 11 December 1946

aim - to help establish child health and welfare services

members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): established - 30 December 1964

aim - to promote international trade

members - (193) all UN members plus Holy See

United Nations Development Program (UNDP): established - 22 November 1965

aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development

members (executive board) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF): established - 31
May 1974

aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council

members - (6) Austria, Canada, Croatia, India, Japan, Poland

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO): established - 16 November 1945; effective - 4 November 1946

aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture

members - (193) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (191 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

associate members - (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Tokelau

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): established - 15 December 1972

aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters

members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations General Assembly: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN

members - (192) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): established - 3
December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951

aim - to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems

members (executive committee) - (76) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mexico, Montenegro,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yemen,
Zambia

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): established - 17 November 1966; effective - 1 January 1967

aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members

members - (172) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland,
Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Tuvalu, US

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR): established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing the Institute; effective - 24 March 1965

aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and research

members (Board of Trustees) - (21) Algeria, Brazil, Burkino Faso, China, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Estonia, France (2), Ghana, India, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland (2), Thailand, US; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT): established - 25 August 2006

aim - to support the Government, to support the electoral process, to ensure the restoration and maintenance of public security

members - (14) Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Singapore

United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK): established - 10 June 1999

aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and self- government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster relief

note - gives civilian support only; works closely with NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR)

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): established - 19
March 1978

aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council

members - (28) Belgium, China, Croatia, Cyprus, El Salvador, France,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland,
Italy, South Korea, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey

United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): established - 24 January 1949

aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council

members - (8) Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO): established - 29 April 1991

aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council

members - (28) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Croatia,
Djibouti, Egypt, El Slavador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Yemen

United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad
(MINURCAT): established - 25 September 2007

aim - to create the security and conditions which will to contribute to the protection of refugees, displaced persons, and citizens in danger, to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance in eastern Chad and the northeastern Central African Republic, to create favorable conditions for the recontruction and economic and social development of these areas

members - (22) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Spain, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established 31
July 2000; aim was to monitor the cessation of hostilities; mandate
ended July 2008; members were Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Namibia,
Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania,
Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Tunisia,
Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL): established - 19 September 2003

aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process, protect UN facilities and people, support humanitarian activities, and assist in national security reform

members - (45) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia,
Finland, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia,
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Togo, Ukraine, UK, US, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL): established on 22 October 1999; aim was to to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law; mandate ended 31 December 2005; members were Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS): established - March 2005

aim - to support implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement by Monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement, by observing and monitoring movements of armed groups, and by helping disarm, demobilizing and reintegrating armed bands

members - (61) Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South
Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherland, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sri
Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay,
UK, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET): established on 17 May 2002 to provide assistance to structures critical to public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to extenal security; members were Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden; completed its mandate 20 May 2005

United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC): formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM); established December 1999 with the aim to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them; commissioners were from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US; finished operations 29 June 2007

United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG): established - 24
August 1993

aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council

members - (32) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia,
Jordan, South Korea, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Yemen

United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB): was established 21 May 2004 to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation; members were Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Nambia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia; mandate was completed 31 December 2006

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (MONUC): established - 30 November 1999

aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement of forces

members - (48) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan,
Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal,
Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia

United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI): established - 27
February 2004

aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003

members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Chad, China,
Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia,
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda,
Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): established - 4
March 1964

aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council

members - (7) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, UK

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities

established - July 1967

aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems

members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA): established - 8 December 1949

aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees

members (advisory commission) - (22) Australia, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, EC, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon,
Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Turkey, UK, US

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD): established - 1963

aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth

members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 12 individual members

United Nations Secretariat: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24
October 1945

aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council

members - the UN Secretary General and staff

United Nations Security Council (UNSC): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to maintain international peace and security

permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US

nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Belgium (2007-08), Burkina Faso (2008-09), Costa Rica (2008-09), Croatia (2008-09), Indonesia (2007-08), Italy (2007-08), Libya (2008-09), Panama (2007-08), South Africa (2007-08), Vietnam (2008-09); note - Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda have been elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms starting 1 January 2009

United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH): established - 30 April 2004

aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months

members - (17) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay

United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -
June 1948

aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council

members - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,
China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,
Switzerland, US

United Nations Trusteeship Council: established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved

United Nations University (UNU): established - 3 December 1973

aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars

members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of UNESCO)

Universal Postal Union (UPU): established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947; effective - 1 July 1948

aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency

members - (191) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (189
total); plus Holy See and Overseas Territories of the UK; note -
includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest:
Australia (Norfolk Island), China (Hong Kong, Macau), Denmark (Faroe
Islands, Greenland), France (French Polynesia including Clipperton
Island, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia,
Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Scattered
Islands [Bassas da India, Europe, Juan de Nova, Glorioso Islands,
Tromelin], Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba, Netherlands
Antilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey, Isle of Man,
Jersey; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British
Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,
Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and South
Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos), US (American Samoa, Guam, Northern
Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Warsaw Pact (WP): established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Albania

West African Development Bank (WADB): note - also known as Banque
Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution of
WAEMU

established - 14 November 1973

aim - to promote regional economic development and integration

regional members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea- Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo

West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): note - also known as
Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)

established - 1 August 1994

aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market

members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo

Western European Union (WEU): established - 23 October 1954; effective - 6 May 1955

aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification

members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey

associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia

observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden

World Bank Group: includes International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA),
International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

World Confederation of Labor (WCL): established 19 June 1920 as the
International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4
October 1968; aim was to promote the trade union movement; on 31
October 2006 it merged with the International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions (ICFTU) to form the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC); members were (105 national organizations) Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,
Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

World Customs Organization (WCO): note - began as the Customs
Cooperation Council (CCC)

established - 15 December 1950

aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters

members - (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, EC, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint
Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU): established - 3 October 1945

aim - to promote the trade union movement

members - (174 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British
Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovo, Monaco,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Barthelemy, Saint Eustatius, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Martaan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia,
Somaliland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, US Virgin Islands,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna,
Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation
Organization

World Food Program (WFP): established - 24 November 1961

aim - to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization

members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

World Health Organization (WHO): established - 22 July 1946; effective - 7 April 1948

aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency

members - (193) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (191 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): established - 14 July 1967; effective - 26 April 1970

aim - to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency

members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (183 total); plus Holy See

World Meteorological Organization (WMO): established - 11 October 1947; effective - 4 April 1951

aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency

members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,
Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Nauru,
Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San
Marino, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu (180 total); plus Aruba and the Netherlands
Antilles, British Caribbean Territories, Cook Islands, French
Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, and Niue

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO): established - 2 January 1975

aim - to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace

members - (154) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico

observers - (1 plus Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization

World Trade Organization (WTO): note - succeeded General Agreement on
Tariff and Trade (GATT)

established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995

aim - to provide a forum to resolve trade conflicts between members and to carry on negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers

members - (153) Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EC, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands,
NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (30) Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Montenegro, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen; note - with the exception of the Holy See, an observer must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers

Zangger Committee (ZC): established - early 1970s

aim - to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT)

members - (36) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine, UK, US

observers - (1) European Commission

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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Appendix C - Selected International Environmental Agreements

Air Pollution

see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Air Pollution-Sulphur 85

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%

Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Antarctic - Environmental Protocol

see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic Treaty

opened for signature - 1 December 1959

entered into force - 23 June 1961

objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes only (such as international cooperation in scientific research); to defer the question of territorial claims asserted by some nations and not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for management of the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees south latitude

parties - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal

note - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes

opened for signature - 22 March 1989

entered into force - 5 May 1992

objective - to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate

parties - (167) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Afghanistan, Haiti, US

Biodiversity

see Convention on Biological Diversity

Climate Change

see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

note - abbreviated as Antarctic Seals

opened for signature - 1 June 1972

entered into force - 11 March 1978

objective - to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study, and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory balance within the ecological system of Antarctica

parties - (16) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) NZ

Convention on Biological Diversity

note - abbreviated as Biodiversity

opened for signature - 5 June 1992

entered into force - 29 December 1993

objective - to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity

parties - (186) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) US

Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High
Seas

note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation

opened for signature - 29 April 1958

entered into force - 20 March 1966

objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited

parties - (38) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina
Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland,
France, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal,
Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US,
Venezuela

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (20) Afghanistan,
Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Panama, Sri
Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution

opened for signature - 13 November 1979

entered into force - 16 March 1983

objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution

parties - (49) Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San Marino

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

note - abbreviated as Wetlands

opened for signature - 2 February 1971

entered into force - 21 December 1975

objective - to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value

parties - (153) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia

Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Marine Living Resources

opened for signature - 5 May 1980

entered into force - 7 April 1982

objective - to safeguard the environment and protect the integrity of the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, and to conserve Antarctic marine living resources

parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,
Chile, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland,
Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES)

note - abbreviated as Endangered Species

opened for signature - 3 March 1973

entered into force - 1 July 1975

objective - to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits

parties - (168) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos,
Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome
and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and
Other Matter (London Convention)

note - abbreviated as Marine Dumping

opened for signature - 29 December 1972

entered into force - 30 August 1975

objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention; the London Convention came into force in 1996

parties - (88) Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gabon,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (associate
member), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico,
Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu

associate members to the London Convention - (2) Faroe Islands, Macau countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Chad, Kuwait, Uruguay

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of
Environmental Modification Techniques

note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification

opened for signature - 10 December 1976

entered into force - 5 October 1978

objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations

parties - (68) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands,
NZ, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,
Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,
Yemen

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Bolivia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran,
Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal,
Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda

Desertification

see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

Endangered Species

see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Environmental Modification

see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques

Hazardous Wastes

see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

note - abbreviated as Whaling

opened for signature - 2 December 1946

entered into force - 10 November 1948

objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks

parties - (72) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Costa
Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway,
Oman, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino,
Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu, UK, US

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83

opened for signature - 18 November 1983

entered into force - 1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force

objective - to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources

parties - (54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,
Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94

opened for signature - 26 January 1994

entered into force - 1 January 1997

objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective

parties - (58) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal,
Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change

note - abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

opened for signature - 16 March 1998

entered into force - 23 February 2005

objective - to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries

parties - (181) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cental
African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Island,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (4) Kazakhstan, US

Law of the Sea

see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)

Marine Dumping

see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)

Marine Life Conservation

see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas

Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

note - abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection

opened for signature - 16 September 1987

entered into force - 1 January 1989

objective - to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of substances that deplete it

parties - (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

Nuclear Test Ban

see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

Ozone Layer Protection

see Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

note - abbreviated as Ship Pollution

opened for signature - 17 February 1978

entered into force - 2 October 1983

objective - to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances

parties - (139) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya,
Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

opened for signature - 4 October 1991

entered into force - 14 January 1998

objective - to provide for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; applies to the area covered by the Antarctic Treaty

consultative parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ,
Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay

non consultative parties - (12) Austria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

opened for signature - 31 October 1988

entered into force - 14 February 1991

objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes

parties - (31) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) Poland

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

opened for signature - 18 November 1991

entered into force - 29 September 1997

objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects

parties - (21) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Canada, EU, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

opened for signature - 14 June 1994

entered into force - 5 August 1998

objective - to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes

parties - (27) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Poland, Russia, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

opened for signature - 24 June 1998

entered into force - 23 October 2003

objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects

parties - (27) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary,
Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova,
Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (10) Armenia, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Philippines Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at Least 30%

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85

opened for signature - 8 July 1985

entered into force - 2 September 1987

objective - to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993

parties - (22) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,
Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

Ship Pollution

see Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

note - abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban

opened for signature - 5 August 1963

entered into force - 10 October 1963

objective - to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons

parties - (113) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma,
Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San
Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Algeria,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Ethiopia, Haiti, Libya, Mali,
Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Tanzania, Uruguay, Vietnam,
Yemen

Tropical Timber 83

see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

Tropical Timber 94

see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)

note - abbreviated as Law of the Sea

opened for signature - 10 December 1982

entered into force - 16 November 1994

objective - to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment

parties - (155) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UK,
Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (27) Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad,
Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
Ethiopia, Iran, North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Swaziland, Switzerland,
Thailand, UAE

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa

note - abbreviated as Desertification

opened for signature - 14 October 1994

entered into force - 26 December 1996

objective - to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements

parties - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-
Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

note - abbreviated as Climate Change

opened for signature - 9 May 1992

entered into force - 21 March 1994

objective - to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

parties - (195) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Iraq, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

Wetlands

see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

Whaling

see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

=====================================================================

Appendix D - Cross-Reference list of Country Data Codes

FIPS 10: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions (FIPS 10) is maintained by the Office of Targeting and Transnational Issues, National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency, and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce). FIPS 10 codes are intended for general use throughout the US Government, especially in activities associated with the mission of the Department of State and national defense programs.

ISO 3166:Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries (ISO 3166) is prepared by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3166 includes two- and three-character alphabetic codes and three-digit numeric codes that may be needed for activities involving exchange of data with international organizations that have adopted that standard. Except for the numeric codes, ISO 3166 codes have been adopted in the US as FIPS 104-1: American National Standard Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries, Dependencies, and Areas of Special Sovereignty for Information Interchange.

STANAG 1059: Letter Codes for Geographical Entities (8th edition, 2004) is a Standardization Agreement (STANAG) established and maintained by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO/OTAN) for the purpose of providing a common set of geo-spatial identifiers for countries, territories, and possessions. The 8th edition established trigraph codes for each country based upon the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 character sets. These codes are used throughout NATO.

Internet: The Internet country code is the two-letter digraph maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).

STANAG-
Entity FIPS 10 | ISO 3166 | 1059 Internet Comment

Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 AFG .af
Albania AL AL ALB 008 ALB .al
Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 DZA .dz
American Samoa AQ AS ASM 016 ASM .as
Andorra AN AD AND 020 AND .ad
Angola AO AO AGO 024 AGO .ao
Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 AIA .ai
Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 ATA .aq
ISO defines as the territory south of 60 degrees south latitude

Antigua and Barbuda AC AG ATG 028 ATG .ag
Argentina AR AR ARG 032 ARG .ar
Armenia AM AM ARM 051 ARM .am
Aruba AA AW ABW 533 ABW .aw
Ashmore and Cartier
Islands AT - - - AUS -
ISO includes with Australia

Australia AS AU AUS 036 AUS .au
ISO includes Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands

Austria AU AT AUT 040 AUT .at
Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 AZE .az
Bahamas, The BF BS BHS 044 BHS .bs
Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 BHR .bh
Baker Island FQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 BGD .bd Barbados BB BB BRB 052 BRB .bb Bassas da India BS - - - - - administered as part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands; no ISO codes assigned

Belarus BO BY BLR 112 BLR .by
Belgium BE BE BEL 056 BEL .be
Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 BLZ .bz
Benin BN BJ BEN 204 BEN .bj
Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 BMU .bm
Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 BTN .bt
Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 BOL .bo
Bosnia and
Herzegovina BK BA BIH 070 BIH .ba
Botswana BC BW BWA 072 BWA .bw
Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 BVT .bv
Brazil BR BR BRA 076 BRA .br
British Indian
Ocean
Territory IO IO IOT 086 IOT .io
British Virgin
Islands VI VG VGB 092 VGB .vg
Brunei BX BN BRN 096 BRN .bn
Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 BGR .bg
Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 BFA .bf
Burma BM MM MMR 104 MMR .mm
ISO uses the name Myanmar

Burundi BY BI BDI 108 BDI .bi
Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 KHM .kh
Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 CMR .cm
Canada CA CA CAN 124 CAN .ca
Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 CPV .cv
Cayman Islands CJ KY CYM 136 CYM .ky
Central African
Republic CT CF CAF 140 CAF .cf
Chad CD TD TCD 148 TCD .td
Chile CI CL CHL 152 CHL .cl
China CH CN CHN 156 CHN .cn
see also Taiwan

Christmas Island KT CX CXR 162 CXR .cx
Clipperton Island IP - - - FYP -
ISO includes with French Polynesia

Cocos (Keeling) IslandsCK CC CCK 166 AUS .cc
Colombia CO CO COL 170 COL .co
Comoros CN KM COM 174 COM .km
Congo, Democratic
Republic of the CG CD COD 180 COD .cd
formerly Zaire

Congo,
Republic of the CF CG COG 178 COG .cg
Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 COK .ck
Coral Sea Islands CR - - - AUS -
ISO includes with Australia

Costa Rica CS CR CRI 188 CRI .cr
Cote d'Ivoire IV CI CIV 384 CIV .ci
Croatia HR HR HRV 191 HRV .hr
Cuba CU CU CUB 192 CUB .cu
Cyprus CY CY CYP 196 CYP .cy
Czech Republic EZ CZ CZE 203 CZE .cz
Denmark DA DK DNK 208 DNK .dk
Djibouti DJ DJ DJI 262 DJI .dj
Dominica DO DM DMA 212 DMA .dm
Dominican Republic DR DO DOM 214 DOM .do
Ecuador EC EC ECU 218 ECU .ec
Egypt EG EG EGY 818 EGY .eg
El Salvador ES SV SLV 222 SLV .sv
Equatorial Guinea EK GQ GNQ 226 GNQ .gq
Eritrea ER ER ERI 232 ERI .er
Estonia EN EE EST 233 EST .ee
Ethiopia ET ET ETH 231 ETH .et
Europa Island EU - - - - -
administered as part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands;
no ISO codes assigned

Falkland Islands
(Islas Malvinas) FK FK FLK 238 FLK .fk
Faroe Islands FO FO FRO 234 FRO .fo
Fiji FJ FJ FJI 242 FJI .fj
Finland FI FI FIN 246 FIN .fi
France FR FR FRA 250 FRA .fr
France,
Metropolitan - FX FXX 249 - .fx
ISO limits to the European part of France, excluding French
Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna

French Guiana FG GF GUF 254 GUF .gf
French Polynesia FP PF PYF 258 PYF .pf
ISO includes Clipperton Island

French Southern
and Antarctic
Lands FS TF ATF 260 ATF .tf
FIPS 10-4 does not include the French-claimed portion of
Antarctica (Terre Adelie)

Gabon GB GA GAB 266 GAB .ga
Gambia, The GA GM GMB 270 GMB .gm
Gaza Strip GZ PS PSE 275 PSE .ps
ISO identifies as Occupied Palestinian Territory

Georgia GG GE GEO 268 GEO .ge Germany GM DE DEU 276 DEU .de Ghana GH GH GHA 288 GHA .gh Gibraltar GI GI GIB 292 GIB .gi Glorioso Islands GO - - - - - administered as part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands; no ISO codes assigned

Greece GR GR GRC 300 GRC .gr
Greenland GL GL GRL 304 GRL .gl
Grenada GJ GD GRD 308 GRD .gd
Guadeloupe GP GP GLP 312 GLP .gp
Guam GQ GU GUM 316 GUM .gu
Guatemala GT GT GTM 320 GTM .gt
Guernsey GK GG GGY 831 UK .gg
Guinea GV GN GIN 324 GIN .gn
Guinea-Bissau PU GW GNB 624 GNB .gw
Guyana GY GY GUY 328 GUY .gy
Haiti HA HT HTI 332 HTI .ht
Heard Island and
McDonald Islands HM HM HMD 334 HMD .hm
Holy See
(Vatican City) VT VA VAT 336 VAT .va
Honduras HO HN HND 340 HND .hn
Hong Kong HK HK HKG 344 HKG .hk
Howland Island HQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Hungary HU HU HUN 348 HUN .hu
Iceland IC IS ISL 352 ISL .is
India IN IN IND 356 IND .in
Indonesia ID ID IDN 360 IDN .id
Iran IR IR IRN 364 IRN .ir
Iraq IZ IQ IRQ 368 IRQ .iq
Ireland EI IE IRL 372 IRL .ie
Isle of Man IM IM IMN 833 UK .im
Israel IS IL ISR 376 ISR .il
Italy IT IT ITA 380 ITA .it
Jamaica JM JM JAM 388 JAM .jm
Jan Mayen JN - - - SJM -
ISO includes with Svalbard

Japan JA JP JPN 392 JPN .jp
Jarvis Island DQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Jersey JE JE JEY 832 UK .je
Johnston Atoll JQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Jordan JO JO JOR 400 JOR .jo
Juan de Nova Island JU - - - - -
administered as part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands;
no ISO codes assigned

Kazakhstan KZ KZ KAZ 398 KAZ .kz
Kenya KE KE KEN 404 KEN .ke
Kingman Reef KQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Kiribati KR KI KIR 296 KIR .ki
Korea, North KN KP PRK 408 PRK .kp
Korea, South KS KR KOR 410 KOR .kr
Kosovo KV - - - - -
ISO codes have not been designated

Kuwait KU KW KWT 414 KWT .kw
Kyrgyzstan KG KG KGZ 417 KGZ .kg
Laos LA LA LAO 418 LAO .la
Latvia LG LV LVA 428 LVA .lv
Lebanon LE LB LBN 422 LBN .lb
Lesotho LT LS LSO 426 LSO .ls
Liberia LI LR LBR 430 LBR .lr
Libya LY LY LBY 434 LBY .ly
Liechtenstein LS LI LIE 438 LIE .li
Lithuania LH LT LTU 440 LTU .lt
Luxembourg LU LU LUX 442 LUX .lu
Macau MC MO MAC 446 MAC .mo
Macedonia MK MK MKD 807 FYR .mk
Madagascar MA MG MDG 450 MDG .mg
Malawi MI MW MWI 454 MWI .mw
Malaysia MY MY MYS 458 MYS .my
Maldives MV MV MDV 462 MDV .mv
Mali ML ML MLI 466 MLI .ml
Malta MT MT MLT 470 MLT .mt
Marshall Islands RM MH MHL 584 MHL .mh
Martinique MB MQ MTQ 474 MTQ .mq
Mauritania MR MR MRT 478 MRT .mr
Mauritius MP MU MUS 480 MUS .mu
Mayotte MF YT MYT 175 FRA .yt
Mexico MX MX MEX 484 MEX .mx
Micronesia,
Federated
States of FM FM FSM 583 FSM .fm
Midway Islands MQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Moldova MD MD MDA 498 MDA .md
Monaco MN MC MCO 492 MCO .mc
Mongolia MG MN MNG 496 MNG .mn
Montenegro MJ ME MNE 499 - .me
Montserrat MH MS MSR 500 MSR .ms
Morocco MO MA MAR 504 MAR .ma
Mozambique MZ MZ MOZ 508 MOZ .mz
Myanmar - - - - - -
see Burma

Namibia WA NA NAM 516 NAM .na
Nauru NR NR NRU 520 NRU .nr
Navassa Island BQ - - - US -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Nepal NP NP NPL 524 NPL .np
Netherlands NL NL NLD 528 NLD .nl
Netherlands
Antilles NT AN ANT 530 ANT .an
New Caledonia NC NC NCL 540 NCL .nc
New Zealand NZ NZ NZL 554 NZL .nz
Nicaragua NU NI NIC 558 NIC .ni
Niger NG NE NER 562 NER .ne
Nigeria NI NG NGA 566 NGA .ng
Niue NE NU NIU 570 NIU .nu
Norfolk Island NF NF NFK 574 NFK .nf
Northern Mariana
Islands CQ MP MNP 580 MNP .mp
Norway NO NO NOR 578 NOR .no
Oman MU OM OMN 512 OMN .om
Pakistan PK PK PAK 586 PAK .pk
Palau PS PW PLW 585 PLW .pw
Palmyra Atoll LQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Panama PM PA PAN 591 PAN .pa
Papua New Guinea PP PG PNG 598 PNG .pg
Paracel Islands PF - - - - -
Paraguay PA PY PRY 600 PRY .py
Peru PE PE PER 604 PER .pe
Philippines RP PH PHL 608 PHL .ph
Pitcairn Islands PC PN PCN 612 PCN .pn
Poland PL PL POL 616 POL .pl
Portugal PO PT PRT 620 PRT .pt
Puerto Rico RQ PR PRI 630 PRI .pr
Qatar QA QA QAT 634 QAT .qa
Reunion RE RE REU 638 REU .re
Romania RO RO ROU 642 ROU .ro
Russia RS RU RUS 643 RUS .ru
Rwanda RW RW RWA 646 RWA .rw
Saint Barthelemy TB BL BLM 652 - .bl
ccTLD .fr and .gp may also be used

Saint Helena SH SH SHN 654 SHN .sh
Saint Kitts and NevisSC KN KNA 659 KNA .kn
Saint Lucia ST LC LCA 662 LCA .lc
Saint Martin RN MF MAF 663 - .mf
ccTLD .fr and .gp may also be used

Saint Pierre and
Miquelon SB PM SPM 666 SPM .pm
Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines VC VC VCT 670 VCT .vc
Samoa WS WS WSM 882 WSM .ws
San Marino SM SM SMR 674 SMR .sm
Sao Tome and
Principe TP ST STP 678 STP .st
Saudi Arabia SA SA SAU 682 SAU .sa
Senegal SG SN SEN 686 SEN .sn
Serbia RI RS SRB 688 - .rs
Seychelles SE SC SYC 690 SYC .sc
Sierra Leone SL SL SLE 694 SLE .sl
Singapore SN SG SGP 702 SGP .sg
Slovakia LO SK SVK 703 SVK .sk
Slovenia SI SI SVN 705 SVN .si
Solomon Islands BP SB SLB 090 SLB .sb
Somalia SO SO SOM 706 SOM .so
South Africa SF ZA ZAF 710 ZAF .za
South Georgia and
the Islands SX GS SGS 239 SGS .gs
Spain SP ES ESP 724 ESP .es
Spratly Islands PG - - - - -
Sri Lanka CE LK LKA 144 LKA .lk
Sudan SU SD SDN 736 SDN .sd
Suriname NS SR SUR 740 SUR .sr
Svalbard SV SJ SJM 744 SJM .sj
ISO includes Jan Mayen

Swaziland WZ SZ SWZ 748 SWZ .sz
Sweden SW SE SWE 752 SWE .se
Switzerland SZ CH CHE 756 CHE .ch
Syria SY SY SYR 760 SYR .sy
Taiwan TW TW TWN 158 TWN .tw
Tajikistan TI TJ TJK 762 TJK .tj
Tanzania TZ TZ TZA 834 TZA .tz
Thailand TH TH THA 764 THA .th
Timor-Leste TT TL TLS 626 TLS .tl
Togo TO TG TGO 768 TGO .tg
Tokelau TL TK TKL 772 TKL .tk
Tonga TN TO TON 776 TON .to
Trinidad and Tobago TD TT TTO 780 TTO .tt
Tromelin Island TE - - - - -
administered as part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands;
no ISO codes assigned

Tunisia TS TN TUN 788 TUN .tn
Turkey TU TR TUR 792 TUR .tr
Turkmenistan TX TM TKM 795 TKM .tm
Turks and
Caicos Islands TK TC TCA 796 TCA .tc
Tuvalu TV TV TUV 798 TUV .tv
Uganda UG UG UGA 800 UGA .ug
Ukraine UP UA UKR 804 UKR .ua
United Arab
Emirates AE AE ARE 784 ARE .ae
United Kingdom UK GB GBR 826 GBR .uk
United States US US USA 840 USA .us
United States Minor
Outlying Islands - UM UMI 581 - .um
ISO includes Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island,
Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island,
Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island

Uruguay UY UY URY 858 URY .uy
Uzbekistan UZ UZ UZB 860 UZB .uz
Vanuatu NH VU VUT 548 VUT .vu
Venezuela VE VE VEN 862 VEN .ve
Vietnam VM VN VNM 704 VNM .vn
Virgin Islands VQ VI VIR 850 VIR .vi
Virgin Islands (UK) - - - - - .vg
see British Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands (US) - - - - - .vi
see Virgin Islands

Wake Island WQ - - - UMI -
ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Wallis and Futuna WF WF WLF 876 WLF .wf
West Bank WE PS PSE 275 PSE .ps
ISO identifies as Occupied Palestinian Territory

Western Sahara WI EH ESH 732 ESH .eh Western Samoa - - - - - .ws see Samoa

World - - - - - - the Factbook uses the W data code from DIAM 65-18 Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data Standard No. 3, December 1994, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency

Yemen YM YE YEM 887 YEM .ye Zaire - - - - - - see Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zambia ZA ZM ZMB 894 ZMB .zm
Zimbabwe ZI ZW ZWE 716 ZWE .zw

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

=====================================================================

ference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

IHO 23-4th: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, Draft 4th Edition 1986, published by the International Hydrographic Bureau of the International Hydrographic Organization; note - this document has not yet been ratified and only the 3rd Edition (1953) remains in force

IHO 23-3rd: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, 3rd
Edition 1953, published by the International Hydrographic Organization

ACIC M 49-1: Chart of Limits of Seas and Oceans, revised January 1958,
published by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC),
United States Air Force; note - ACIC is now part of the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)

DIAM 65-18: Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data Standard No. 4, Defense Intelligence Agency Manual 65-18, December 1994, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency

The US Government has not yet adopted a standard for hydrographic codes similar to the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 10-4 country codes. The names and limits of the following oceans and seas are not always directly comparable because of differences in the customers, needs, and requirements of the individual organizations. Even the number of principal water bodies varies from organization to organization. Factbook users, for example, find the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean entries useful, but none of the following standards include those oceans in their entirety. Nor is there any provision for combining codes or overcodes to aggregate water bodies. The recently delimited Southern Ocean is not included.

Principal Oceans and Seas of the World
With Hydrographic Codes by Institution

IHO 23-4th IHO 23-3rd* ACIC M 49-1 DIAM 65-18
Arctic Ocean 9 17 A 5A
Atlantic Ocean - - - -
Baltic Sea 2 1 B26 7B
Eastern Mediterranean 3.1.2 28 B - 8E
Indian Ocean 5 45 F 6A
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 -
North Atlantic Ocean 1 23 B 1A
North Pacific Ocean 7 57 D 3A
Pacific Ocean - - - -
South Atlantic Ocean 4 32 C 2A
South China and Eastern
Archipelagic Seas 6 49, 48 D18 plus 3U plus
others others
South Pacific Ocean 8 61 E 4A
Western Mediterranean 3.1.1 28 A - 8W

*The letters after the numbers are subdivisions, not footnotes.

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

=====================================================================

Appendix F - Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Name Entry in The Latitude Longitude
World Factbook (deg min) (deg min)

Abidjan (capital) Cote d'Ivoire 5 19 N 4 02 W Abkhazia (region) Georgia 43 00 N 41 00 E Abu Dhabi (capital) United Arab 24 28 N 54 22 E Emirates Abu Musa (island) Iran 25 52 N 55 03 E Abuja (capital) Nigeria 9 12 N 7 11 E Abyssinia (former name for Ethiopia 8 00 N 38 00 E Ethiopia) Acapulco (city) Mexico 16 51 N 99 55 W Accra (capital) Ghana 5 33 N 0 13 W Adamstown (capital) Pitcairn Islands 25 04 S 130 05 W Addis Ababa (capital) Ethiopia 9 02 N 38 42 E Adelie Land (claimed by Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E France; also Terre Adelie) Aden (city) Yemen 12 46 N 45 01 E Aden, Gulf of Indian Ocean 12 30 N 48 00 E Admiralty Island United States 57 44 N 134 20 W (Alaska) Admiralty Islands Papua New Guinea 2 10 S 147 00 E Adriatic Sea Atlantic Ocean 42 30 N 16 00 E Adygey (region) Russia 44 30 N 40 10 E Aegean Islands Greece 38 00 N 25 00 E Aegean Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 25 00 E Afars and Issas, French Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E Territory of the (or FTAI; former name for Djibouti) Afghanestan (local name for Afghanistan 33 00 N 65 00 E Afghanistan) Agalega Islands Mauritius 10 25 S 56 40 E Agana (city; former name for Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E Hagatna) Ajaccio (city) France (Corsica) 41 55 N 8 44 E Ajaria (region) Georgia 41 45 N 42 10 E Akmola (city; former name Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E for Astana) Aksai Chin (region) China (de facto), 35 00 N 79 00 E India (claimed) Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah Saudi Arabia 25 00 N 45 00 E (local name for Saudi Arabia) Al Bahrayn (local name for Bahrain 26 00 N 50 33 E Bahrain) Al Imarat al Arabiyah al United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E Muttahidah (local name for Emirates the United Arab Emirates) Al Iraq (local name for Iraq 33 00 N 44 00 E Iraq) Al Jaza'ir (local name for Algeria 28 00 N 3 00 E Algeria) Al Kuwayt (local name for Kuwait 29 30 N 45 45 E Kuwait) Al Maghrib (local name for Morocco 32 00 N 5 00 W Morocco) Al Urdun (local name for Jordan 31 00 N 36 00 E Jordan) Al Yaman (local name for Yemen 15 00 N 48 00 E Yemen) Aland Islands Finland 60 15 N 20 00 E Alaska (state) United States 65 00 N 153 00 W Alaska, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 58 00 N 145 00 W Alboran Sea Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 2 30 W Aldabra Islands (Groupe Seychelles 9 25 S 46 22 E d'Aldabra) Alderney (island) Guernsey 49 43 N 2 12 W Aleutian Islands United States 52 00 N 176 00 W (Alaska) Alexander Archipelago United States 57 00 N 134 00 W (island group) (Alaska) Alexander Island Antarctica 71 00 S 70 00 W Alexandretta (region; former Turkey 36 34 N 36 08 E name for Iskenderun) Alexandria (city) Egypt 31 12 N 29 54 E Algiers (capital) Algeria 36 47 N 2 03 E Alhucemas, Penon de (island Spain 35 13 N 3 53 W group) Alma-Ata (city; former name Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E for Almaty) Almaty (former capital) Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E Alofi (capital) Niue 19 01 S 169 55 W Alphonse Island Seychelles 7 01 S 52 45 E Alsace (region) France 48 30 N 7 20 E Amami Strait Pacific Ocean 28 40 N 129 30 E Amindivi Islands (former India 11 30 N 72 30 E name for Laccadive Islands) Amirante Isles (island Seychelles 6 00 S 53 10 E group; also Les Amirantes) Amman (capital) Jordan 31 57 N 35 56 E Amsterdam (capital) Netherlands 52 23 N 4 54 E Amsterdam Island (Ile French Southern 37 52 S 77 32 E Amsterdam) and Antarctic Lands Amundsen Sea Southern Ocean 72 30 S 112 00 W Amur River China, Russia 52 56 N 141 10 E Amurskiy Liman (strait) Pacific Ocean 53 00 N 141 30 E Anadyrskiy Zaliv (gulf) Pacific Ocean 64 00 N 177 00 E Anatolia (region) Turkey 39 00 N 35 00 E Andaman Islands India 12 00 N 92 45 E Andaman Sea Indian Ocean 10 00 N 95 00 E Andorra la Vella (capital) Andorra 42 30 N 1 30 E Andros (island) Greece 37 45 N 24 42 E Andros Island The Bahamas 24 26 N 77 57 W Anegada Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 63 40 W Angkor Wat (ruins) Cambodia 13 26 N 103 50 E Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (former Sudan 15 00 N 30 00 E name for Sudan) Anjouan (island) Comoros 12 15 S 44 25 E Ankara (capital) Turkey 39 56 N 32 52 E Annobon (island) Equatorial Guinea 1 25 S 5 36 E Antananarivo (capital) Madagascar 18 52 S 47 30 E Antigua (island) Antigua and 14 34 N 90 44 W Barbuda Antipodes Islands New Zealand 49 41 S 178 43 E Antwerp (city) Belgium 51 13 N 4 25 E Aomen (local Chinese short- Macau 22 10 N 113 33 E form name for Macau) Aozou Strip (region) Chad 22 00 N 18 00 E Apia (capital) Samoa 13 50 S 171 44 W Aqaba, Gulf of Indian Ocean 29 00 N 34 30 E Arab, Shatt al (river) Iran, Iraq 29 57 N 48 34 E Arabian Sea Indian Ocean 15 00 N 65 00 E Arafura Sea Pacific Ocean 9 00 S 133 00 E Aral Sea Kazakhstan, 45 00 N 60 00 E Uzbekistan Argun River China, Russia 53 20 N 121 28 E Aru Sea Pacific Ocean 6 15 S 135 00 E As-Sudan (local name for Sudan 15 00 N 30 00 E Sudan) Ascension Island Saint Helena 7 57 S 14 22 W Ashgabat, Ashkhabad Turkmenistan 37 57 N 58 23 E (capital) Asmara, Asmera (capital) Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E Assumption Island Seychelles 9 46 S 46 34 E Astana (capital; formerly Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E Akmola) Asuncion (capital) Paraguay 25 16 S 57 40 W Asuncion Island Northern Mariana 19 40 N 145 24 E Islands Atacama (desert) Chile 23 00 S 70 10 W Atacama (region) Chile 24 30 S 69 15 W Athens (capital) Greece 37 59 N 23 44 E Attu Island United States 52 55 N 172 57 E Auckland (city) New Zealand 36 52 S 174 46 E Auckland Islands New Zealand 51 00 S 166 30 E Australes, Iles (island French Polynesia 23 20 S 151 00 W group; also Iles Tubuai) Avarua (capital) Cook Islands 21 12 S 159 46 W Axel Heiberg Island Canada 79 30 N 90 00 W Azad Kashmir (region) Pakistan 34 30 N 74 00 E Azarbaycan, Azerbaidzhan Azerbaijan 40 30 N 47 30 E (local name for Azerbaijan) Azores (islands) Portugal 38 30 N 28 00 W Azov, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 49 00 N 36 00 E Bab el Mandeb (strait) Indian Ocean 12 40 N 43 20 E Babuyan Channel Pacific Ocean 18 44 N 121 40 E Babuyan Islands Philippines 19 10 N 121 40 E Baffin Bay Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 66 00 W Baffin Island Canada 68 00 N 70 00 W Baghdad (capital) Iraq 33 21 N 44 25 E Baku (capital; also Baki, Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E Baky) Balabac Strait Pacific Ocean 7 35 N 117 00 E Balearic Islands Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E Balearic Sea (Iberian Sea) Atlantic Ocean 40 30 N 2 00 E Bali (island) Indonesia 8 20 S 115 00 E Bali Sea Indian Ocean 7 45 S 115 30 E Balintang Channel Pacific Ocean 19 49 N 121 40 E Balintang Islands Philippines 19 55 N 122 10 E Balkan Peninsula Albania, Bosnia 42 00 N 23 00 E and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey (European part) Balleny Islands Antarctica 67 00 S 163 00 E Balochistan (region) Pakistan 28 00 N 63 00 E Baltic Sea Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 19 00 E Bamako (capital) Mali 12 39 N 8 00 W Banaba (Ocean Island) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E Banat (region) Hungary, Romania, 45 30 N 21 00 E Serbia Banda Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 128 00 E Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei 4 53 N 114 56 E (capital) Bangka (island) Indonesia 2 30 S 106 00 E Bangkok (capital) Thailand 13 45 N 100 31 E Bangui (capital) Central African 4 22 N 18 35 E Republic Banjul (capital) The Gambia 13 28 N 16 39 W Banks Island Australia 10 12 S 142 16 E Banks Island Canada 75 15 N 121 30 W Banks Islands (Iles Banks) Vanuatu 14 00 S 167 30 E Barbuda (island) Antigua and 17 38 N 61 48 W Barbuda Barcelona (city) Spain 41 25 N 2 13 E Barents Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 36 00 E Barranquilla (city) Colombia 10 59 N 74 48 W Bashi Channel Pacific Ocean 22 00 N 121 00 E Basilan Strait Pacific Ocean 6 49 N 122 05 E Basque Provinces Spain 43 00 N 2 30 W Bass Strait Pacific Ocean 39 20 S 145 30 E Basse-Terre (capital) France 16 00 N 61 44 W (Guadeloupe) Basseterre (capital) Saint Kitts and 17 18 N 62 43 W Nevis Bastia (city) France (Corsica) 42 42 N 9 27 E Basutoland (former name for Lesotho 29 30 S 28 30 E Lesotho) Batan Islands Philippines 20 30 N 121 50 E Bavaria (region; also Germany 48 30 N 11 30 E Bayern) Beagle Channel Atlantic Ocean 54 53 S 68 10 W Bear Island (see Bjornoya) Svalbard 74 26 N 19 05 E Beaufort Sea Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 140 00 W Bechuanaland (former name Botswana 22 00 S 24 00 E for Botswana) Beijing (capital) China 39 56 N 116 24 E Beirut (capital) Lebanon 33 53 N 35 30 E Bekaa Valley Lebanon 34 00 N 36 05 E Belau (Palau Islands) Palau 7 30 N 134 30 E Belep Islands (Iles Belep) New Caledonia 19 45 S 163 40 E Belfast (city) United Kingdom 54 36 N 5 55 W Belgian Congo (former name Democratic 0 00 N 25 00 E for Democratic Republic of Republic of the the Congo) Congo Belgie, Belgique (local name Belgium 50 50 N 4 00 E for Belgium) Belgrade (capital) Serbia 44 50 N 20 30 E Belize City Belize 17 30 N 88 12 W Belle Isle, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 35 N 56 30 W Bellingshausen Sea Southern Ocean 71 00 S 85 00 W Belmopan (capital) Belize 17 15 N 88 46 W Belorussia (former name for Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E Belarus) Benadir (region; former name Somalia 4 00 N 46 00 E of Italian Somaliland) Bengal, Bay of Indian Ocean 15 00 N 90 00 E Berau, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 2 30 S 132 30 E Bering Island Russia 55 00 N 166 30 E Bering Sea Pacific Ocean 60 00 N 175 00 W Bering Strait Pacific Ocean 65 30 N 169 00 W Berkner Island Antarctica 79 30 S 49 30 W Berlin (capital) Germany 52 31 N 13 24 E Berlin, East (former name Germany 52 30 N 13 33 E for eastern sector of Berlin) Berlin, West (former name Germany 52 30 N 13 20 E for western sector of Berlin) Bern (capital) Switzerland 46 57 N 7 26 E Bessarabia (region) Moldova, Romania, 47 00 N 28 30 E Ukraine Bharat (local name for India 20 00 N 77 00 E India) Bhopal (city) India 23 16 N 77 24 E Biafra (region) Nigeria 5 30 N 7 30 E Big Diomede Island Russia 65 46 N 169 06 W Bijagos, Arquipelago dos Guinea-Bissau 11 25 N 16 20 W (island group) Bikini Atoll Marshall Islands 11 35 N 165 23 E Bilbao (city) Spain 43 15 N 2 58 W Bioko (island) Equatorial Guinea 3 30 N 8 42 E Biscay, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 44 00 N 4 00 W Bishkek (capital) Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E Bishop Rock United Kingdom 49 52 N 6 27 W Bismarck Archipelago (island Papua New Guinea 5 00 S 150 00 E group) Bismarck Sea Pacific Ocean 4 00 S 148 00 E Bissau (capital) Guinea-Bissau 11 51 N 15 35 W Bjornoya (Bear Island) Svalbard 74 26 N 19 05 E Black Forest (region) Germany 48 00 N 8 15 E Black Rock (island) South Georgia and 53 39 S 41 48 W the South Sandwich Islands Black Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 00 N 35 00 E Bloemfontein (judicial South Africa 29 12 S 26 07 E capital) Bo Hai (gulf) Pacific Ocean 38 00 N 120 00 E Boa Vista (island) Cape Verde 16 05 N 22 50 W Bogota (capital) Colombia 4 36 N 74 05 W Bohemia (region) Czech Republic 50 00 N 14 30 E Bombay (city; see Mumbai) India 18 58 N 72 50 E Bonaire (island) Netherlands 12 10 N 68 15 W Antilles Bonifacio, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 41 01 N 14 00 E Bonin Islands Japan 27 00 N 142 10 E Bonn (former capital) Germany 50 44 N 7 05 E Bophuthatswana (region; South Africa 26 30 S 25 30 E enclave) Bora-Bora (island) French Polynesia 16 30 S 151 45 W Bordeaux (city) France 44 50 N 0 34 W Borneo (island) Brunei, Indonesia, 0 30 N 114 00 E Malaysia Bornholm (island) Denmark 55 10 N 15 00 E Bosna i Hercegovina (local Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E name for Bosnia and Herzegovina Herzegovina) Bosnia (political region) Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E Herzegovina Bosporus (strait) Atlantic Ocean 41 00 N 29 00 E Bothnia, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 63 00 N 20 00 E Bougainville (island) Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E Bougainville Strait Pacific Ocean 6 40 S 156 10 E Bounty Islands New Zealand 47 43 S 174 00 E Bourbon Island (former name Reunion 21 06 S 55 36 E of Reunion) Brasilia (capital) Brazil 15 47 S 47 55 W Bratislava (capital) Slovakia 48 09 N 17 07 E Brazzaville (capital) Republic of the 4 16 S 15 17 E Congo Bridgetown (capital) Barbados 13 06 N 59 37 W Brisbane (city) Australia 27 28 S 153 02 E Bristol Bay Pacific Ocean 57 00 N 160 00 W Bristol Channel Atlantic Ocean 51 18 N 3 30 W Britain (see Great Britain) United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W British Bechuanaland South Africa 27 30 S 23 30 E (region; former name for northwest South Africa) British Central African Malawi 13 30 S 34 00 E Protectorate (former name of Nyasaland) British East Africa (former Kenya, Tanzania, 1 00 N 38 00 E name for British possessions Uganda in eastern Africa) British Guiana (former name Guyana 5 00 N 59 00 W for Guyana) British Honduras (former Belize 17 15 N 88 45 W name for Belize) British Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E (former name for Solomon Islands) British Somaliland (former Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E name for northern Somalia) Brussels (capital) Belgium 50 50 N 4 20 E Bubiyan (island) Kuwait 29 47 N 48 10 E Bucharest (capital) Romania 44 26 N 26 06 E Budapest (capital) Hungary 47 30 N 19 05 E Buenos Aires (capital) Argentina 34 36 S 58 27 W Bujumbura (capital) Burundi 3 23 S 29 22 E Bukovina (region) Romania, Ukraine 48 00 N 26 00 E Byelarus (local name for Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E Belarus) Byelorussia (former name for Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E Belarus) Cabinda (province) Angola 5 33 S 12 12 E Cabo Verde (local name for Cape Verde 16 00 N 24 00 W Cape Verde) Cabot Strait Atlantic Ocean 47 20 N 59 30 W Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos 21 56 N 71 58 W Islands Cairo (capital) Egypt 30 03 N 31 15 E Calcutta (city) India 22 32 N 88 21 E Calgary (city) Canada 51 02 N 114 04 W California, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 28 00 N 112 00 W Cameroun (local name for Cameroon 6 00 N 12 00 E Cameroon) Campbell Island New Zealand 52 33 S 169 09 E Campeche, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 20 00 N 94 00 W Canal Zone (former name for Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W US possessions in Panama) Canarias Sea Atlantic Ocean 28 00 N 16 00 W Canary Islands Spain 28 00 N 15 30 W Canberra (capital) Australia 35 17 S 149 08 E Cancun (city) Mexico 21 10 N 86 50 W Canton (city; now Guangzhou) China 23 06 N 113 16 E Canton Island (Kanton Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W Island) Cape Juby (region; former Morocco 27 53 N 12 58 W name for Southern Morocco) Cape Province (region; South Africa 31 30 S 22 30 E former name for Northern, Western, and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa) Cape Town (legislative South Africa 33 57 S 18 25 E capital) Cape of Good Hope (cape; South Africa 34 15 S 18 20 E also alternate name for Cape Province of South Africa) Caracas (capital) Venezuela 10 30 N 66 56 W Cargados Carajos Shoals Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E Caribbean Sea Atlantic Ocean 15 00 N 73 00 W Caroline Islands Federated States 7 30 N 148 00 E of Micronesia, Palau Carpatho-Ukraine (region; Ukraine 48 22 N 23 32 E former name for Zakarpats'ka oblast') Carpentaria, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 14 00 S 139 00 E Casablanca (city) Morocco 33 35 N 7 34 W Castries (capital) Saint Lucia 14 01 N 61 00 W Catalonia (region) Spain 42 00 N 2 00 E Cato Island Australia 23 15 S 155 32 E Caucasus (region) Russia 42 00 N 45 00 E Cayenne (capital) French Guiana 4 56 N 52 20 W Celebes (island) Indonesia 2 00 S 121 00 E Celebes Sea Pacific Ocean 3 00 N 122 00 E Celtic Sea Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 6 30 W Central African Empire Central African 7 00 N 21 00 E (former name for Central Republic African Republic) Ceram (Seram) Sea Pacific Ocean 2 30 S 129 30 E Ceska Republika (local name Czech Republic 49 45 N 15 30 E for Czech Republic) Ceskoslovensko (former local Czech Republic, 49 00 N 17 30 E name for Czechoslovakia) Slovakia Cetinje (capital city) Montenegro 42 24 N 18 55 E Ceuta (city) Spain 35 53 N 5 19 W Ceylon (former name for Sri Sri Lanka 7 00 N 81 00 E Lanka) Chafarinas, Islas (island) Spain 35 12 N 2 26 W Chagos Archipelago (Oil British Indian 6 00 S 71 30 E Islands) Ocean Territory Challenger Deep (Mariana Pacific Ocean 11 22 N 142 36 E Trench) Channel Islands Guernsey, Jersey 49 20 N 2 20 W Charlotte Amalie (capital) Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 56 W Chatham Islands New Zealand 44 00 S 176 30 W Chechnya (region; also Russia 43 15 N 45 40 E Chechnia) Cheju Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 126 30 E Cheju-do (island) Korea, South 33 20 N 126 30 E Chengdu (city) China 30 43 N 104 04 E Chennai (city; also Madras) India 13 04 N 80 16 E Chesterfield Islands (Iles New Caledonia 19 52 S 158 15 E Chesterfield) Chihli, Gulf of (see Bo Hai) Pacific Ocean 38 30 N 120 00 E Chiloe (island) Chile 42 50 S 74 00 W China, People's Republic of China 35 00 N 105 00 E China, Republic of Taiwan 23 30 N 121 00 E Chisinau (capital; also Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E Kishinev) Choiseul (island) Solomon Islands 7 05 S 121 00 E Choson (local name for North North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E Korea) Christmas Island (Indian Australia 10 25 S 105 39 E Ocean) Christmas Island (Pacific Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W Ocean; also Kiritimati) Chukchi Sea Arctic Ocean 69 00 N 171 00 W Chuuk Islands (Truk Islands) Federated States 7 25 N 151 47 W of Micronesia Cilicia (region) Turkey 36 50 N 34 30 E Ciskei (enclave) South Africa 33 00 S 27 00 E Citta del Vaticano (local Holy See 41 54 N 12 27 E name for Vatican City) Cochin China (region) Vietnam 11 00 N 107 00 E Coco, Isla del (island) Costa Rica 5 32 N 87 04 W Cocos Islands Cocos (Keeling) 12 30 S 96 50 E Islands Colombo (capital) Sri Lanka 6 56 N 79 51 E Colon, Archipielago de Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W (Galapagos Islands) Commander Islands Russia 55 00 N 167 00 E (Komandorskiye Ostrova) Comores (local name for Comoros 12 10 S 44 15 E Comoros) Con Son (islands) Vietnam 8 43 N 106 36 E Conakry (capital) Guinea 9 31 N 13 43 W Confederatio Helvetica Switzerland 47 00 N 8 00 E (local name for Switzerland) Congo (Brazzaville) (former Republic of the 1 00 S 15 00 E name for Republic of the Congo Congo) Congo (Leopoldville) (former Democratic 0 00 N 25 00 E name for the Democratic Republic of the Republic of the Congo) Congo Constantinople (city; former Turkey 41 01 N 28 58 E name for Istanbul) Cook Strait Pacific Ocean 41 15 S 174 30 E Copenhagen (capital) Denmark 55 40 N 12 35 E Coral Sea Pacific Ocean 15 00 S 150 00 E Corfu (island) Greece 39 40 N 19 45 E Corinth (region) Greece 37 56 N 22 56 E Corisco (island) Equatorial Guinea 0 55 N 9 19 E Corn Islands (Islas del Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W Maiz) Corocoro Island Guyana, Venezuela 3 38 N 66 50 W Corsica (island; also Corse) France 42 00 N 9 00 E Cosmoledo Group (island Seychelles 9 43 S 47 35 E group; also Atoll de Cosmoledo) Cotonou (former capital) Benin 6 21 N 2 26 E Cotopaxi (volcano) Ecuador 0 39 S 78 26 W Courantyne River Guyana, Suriname 5 57 N 57 06 W Cozumel (island) Mexico 20 30 N 86 55 W Crete (island) Greece 35 15 N 24 45 E Crimea (region) Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E Crimean Peninsula Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E Crooked Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 22 55 N 74 35 W Crozet Islands (Iles Crozet) French Southern 46 30 S 51 00 E and Antarctic Lands Cyclades (island group) Greece 37 00 N 25 10 E Cyrenaica (region) Libya 31 00 N 22 00 E Czechoslovakia (former name Czech Republic, 49 00 N 18 00 E for the entity that Slovakia subsequently split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) D'Entrecasteaux Islands Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 150 40 E Dagestan (region) Russia 43 00 N 47 00 E Dahomey (former name for Benin 9 30 N 2 15 E Benin) Daito Islands Japan 43 00 N 17 00 E Dakar (capital) Senegal 14 40 N 17 26 W Dalmatia (region) Croatia 43 00 N 17 00 E Daman (city; also Damao) India 20 10 N 73 00 E Damascus (capital) Syria 33 30 N 36 18 E Danger Islands (see Pukapuka Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W Atoll) Danish Straits Atlantic Ocean 58 00 N 11 00 E Danish West Indies (former Virgin Islands 18 20 N 64 50 W name for the Virgin Islands) Danmark (local name) Denmark 56 00 N 10 00 E Danzig (city; former name Poland 54 23 N 18 40 E for Gdansk) Dao Bach Long Vi (island) Vietnam 20 08 N 107 44 E Dar es Salaam (capital) Tanzania 6 48 S 39 17 E Dardanelles (strait) Atlantic Ocean 40 15 N 26 25 E Davis Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 57 00 W Dead Sea Israel, Jordan, 32 30 N 35 30 E West Bank Deception Island Antarctica 62 56 S 60 34 W Denmark Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 24 00 W Desolation Islands (Isles French Southern 49 30 S 69 30 E Kerguelen) and Antarctic Lands Deutschland (local name for Germany 51 00 N 9 00 E Germany) Devils Island (Ile du French Guiana 5 17 N 52 35 W Diable) Devon Island Canada 76 00 N 87 00 W Dhaka (capital) Bangladesh 23 43 N 90 25 E Dhivehi Raajje (local name Maldives 3 15 N 73 00 E for Maldives) Dhofar (region) Oman 17 00 N 54 10 E Diego Garcia (island) British Indian 7 20 S 72 25 E Ocean Territory Diego Ramirez (islands) Chile 56 30 S 68 43 W Dili (capital) Timor-Leste 8 35 S 125 36 E Dilmun (former name for Bahrain 7 00 N 81 00 E Bahrain) Diomede Islands Russia (Big 65 47 N 169 00 W Diomede), United States (Little Diomede) Diu (region) India 20 42 N 70 59 E Djibouti (capital) Djibouti 11 30 N 43 15 E Dnieper (river) Belarus, Russia, 46 30 N 32 18 E Ukraine (Dnyapro, Dnepr, Dnipro) Dniester (river) Moldova, Ukraine 46 18 N 30 17 E (Nistru, Dnister) Dobruja (region) Bulgaria, Romania 43 30 N 28 00 E Dodecanese (island group) Greece 36 00 N 27 05 E Dodoma (city) Tanzania 6 11 S 35 45 E Doha (capital) Qatar 25 17 N 51 32 E Donets Basin Russia, Ukraine 48 15 N 38 30 E Douala (city) Cameroon 4 03 N 9 42 E Douglas (capital) Man, Isle of 54 09 N 4 28 W Dover, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 1 30 E Drake Passage Atlantic Ocean, 60 00 S 60 00 W Southern Ocean Druk Yul (local name for Bhutan 27 30 N 90 30 E Bhutan) Dubai, Dubayy (city) United Arab 25 18 N 55 18 E Emirates Dublin (capital) Ireland 53 20 N 6 15 W Duesseldorf (city) Germany 51 13 N 6 47 E Durban (city) South Africa 29 51 S 31 02 E Dushanbe (capital) Tajikistan 38 35 N 68 48 E Dutch Antilles (former name Netherlands 12 10 N 68 30 W for the Netherlands Antilles Antilles) Dutch East Indies (former Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E name for Indonesia) Dutch Guiana (former name Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W for Suriname) Dutch West Indies (former Netherlands 12 10 N 68 30 W name for the Netherlands Antilles Antilles) Dzungarian Gate (valley) China, Kazakhstan 45 25 N 82 25 E East China Sea Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 126 00 E East Frisian Islands Germany 53 44 N 7 25 E East Germany (German Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E Democratic Republic; former name for eastern portion of Germany) East Korea Strait (Eastern Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E Channel or Tsushima Strait) East Pakistan (former name Bangladesh 24 00 N 90 00 E for Bangladesh) East Siberian Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 166 00 E Easter Island (Isla de Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W Pascua) Eastern Channel (East Korea Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E Strait or Tsushima Strait) Eastern Samoa (former name American Samoa 14 20 S 170 00 W for American Samoa) Edinburgh (city) United Kingdom 55 57 N 3 11 W Eesti (local name for Estonia 59 00 N 26 00 E Estonia) Eire (local name for Ireland 53 00 N 8 00 W Ireland) Elba (island) Italy 42 46 N 10 17 E Elemi Triangle (region) Ethiopia 5 00 N 35 30 E (claimed), Kenya (de facto), Sudan (claimed) Ellada, Ellas (local name Greece 39 00 N 22 00 E for Greece) Ellef Ringnes Island Canada 78 00 N 103 00 W Ellesmere Island Canada 81 00 N 80 00 W Ellice Islands Tuvalu 8 00 S 178 00 E Ellsworth Land (region) Antarctica 75 00 S 92 00 W Elobey, Islas de (island Equatorial Guinea 0 59 N 9 33 E group) Enderbury Island Kiribati 3 08 S 171 05 W Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E Atoll) England (region) United Kingdom 52 30 N 1 30 W English Channel Atlantic Ocean 50 20 N 1 00 W Eniwetok Atoll (see Enewetak Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E Atoll) Eolie, Isole (island group) Italy 38 30 N 15 00 E Epirus, Northern (region) Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E Episkopi Cantonment Akrotiri, Dhekelia 34 40 N 32 51 E (capital) Ertra (local name for Eritrea 15 00 N 39 00 E Eritrea) Espana Spain 40 00 N 4 00 W Essequibo (region; claimed Guyana 6 59 N 58 23 W by Venezuela) Etorofu (island; also Russia (de facto) 44 55 N 147 40 E Iturup) Farquhar Group (island Seychelles 10 10 S 51 10 E group; also Atoll de Farquhar) Fergana Valley Kyrgyzstan, 41 00 N 72 00 E Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Fernando Po (island; see Equatorial Guinea 3 30 N 8 42 E Bioko) Fernando de Noronha (island Brazil 3 51 S 32 25 W group) Filipinas (local name for Philippines 13 00 N 122 00 E the Philippines; also Pilipinas) Finland, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 60 00 N 27 00 E Fiume (city; former name for Croatia 45 19 N 14 25 E Rijeka) Florence (city) Italy 43 46 N 11 16 E Flores (island) Indonesia 8 45 S 121 00 E Flores Sea Pacific Ocean 7 40 S 119 45 E Florida, Straits of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 79 45 W Fongafale (largest island of Tuvalu 8 30 S 179 12 E Funafuti) Former Soviet Union (FSU) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Formosa (island) Taiwan 23 30 N 121 00 E Formosa Strait (see Taiwan Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E Strait) Foroyar (local name for Faroe Islands 62 00 N 7 00 W Faroe Islands) Fort-de-France (capital) Martinique 14 36 N 61 05 W Frankfurt am Main (city) Germany 50 07 N 8 41 E Franz Josef Land (island Russia 81 00 N 55 00 E group) Freetown (capital) Sierra Leone 8 30 N 13 15 W French Cameroon (former name Cameroon 6 00 N 12 00 E for Cameroon) French Guinea (former name Guinea 11 00 N 10 00 W for Guinea) French Indochina (former Cambodia, Laos, 15 00 N 107 00 E name for French possessions Vietnam in southeast Asia) French Morocco (former name Morocco 32 00 N 5 00 W for Morocco) French Somaliland (former Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E name for Djibouti) French Sudan (former name Mali 17 00 N 4 00 W for Mali) French Territory of the Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E Afars and Issas (or FTAI; former name for Djibouti) French Togoland (former name Togo 8 00 N 1 10 E for Togo) French West Indies (former Guadeloupe, 16 30 N 62 00 W name for French possessions Martinique in the West Indies) Friendly Islands Tonga 20 00 S 175 00 W Frisian Islands Denmark, Germany, 53 35 N 6 40 E Netherlands Frunze (city; former name Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E for Bishkek) Funafuti (capital, atoll) Tuvalu 8 30 S 179 12 E Fundy, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 45 00 N 66 00 W Futuna Islands (Hoorn Wallis and Futuna 14 19 S 178 05 W Islands/Iles de Horne) Fyn (island) Denmark 55 20 N 10 25 E Gaborone (capital) Botswana 24 45 S 25 55 E Galapagos Islands Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W (Archipielago de Colon) Galicia (region) Poland, Ukraine 49 30 N 23 00 E Galicia (region) Spain 42 45 N 8 10 E Galilee (region) Israel 32 54 N 35 20 E Galleons Passage Atlantic Ocean 11 00 N 60 55 W Gambier Islands (Iles French Polynesia 23 09 S 134 58 W Gambier) Gaspar Strait Pacific Ocean 3 00 S 107 00 E Gdansk (city; formerly Poland 54 23 N 18 40 E Danzig) Geneva (city) Switzerland 46 12 N 6 10 E Genoa (city) Italy 44 25 N 8 57 E George Town (capital) Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 23 W George Town (city) Malaysia 5 26 N 100 16 E George Town (city) The Bahamas 23 30 N 75 46 W Georgetown (capital) Guyana 6 48 N 58 10 W Georgetown (city) The Gambia 13 30 N 14 47 W German Democratic Republic Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E (East Germany; former name for eastern portion of Germany) German Southwest Africa Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E (former name for Namibia) Germany, Federal Republic of Germany 51 00 N 9 00 E Gibraltar (city, peninsula) Gibraltar 36 11 N 5 22 W Gibraltar, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 35 57 N 5 36 W Gidi Pass Egypt 30 13 N 33 09 E Gilbert Islands Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E Goa (state) India 15 20 N 74 00 E Gobi (desert) China, Mongolia 42 30 N 107 00 E Godthab (capital; also Nuuk) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W Golan Heights (region) Syria 33 00 N 35 45 E Gold Coast (former name for Ghana 8 00 N 2 00 W Ghana) Golfo San Jorge (gulf) Atlantic Ocean 46 00 S 66 00 W Golfo San Matias (gulf) Atlantic Ocean 41 30 S 64 00 W Good Hope, Cape of South Africa 34 24 S 18 30 E Goteborg (city) Sweden 57 43 N 11 58 E Gotland (island) Sweden 57 30 N 18 33 E Gough Island Saint Helena 40 20 S 9 55 W Graham Land (region) Antarctica 65 00 S 64 00 W Gran Chaco (region) Argentina, 24 00 S 60 00 W Paraguay Grand Bahama (island) The Bahamas 26 40 N 78 35 W Grand Banks (fishing ground) Atlantic Ocean 47 06 N 55 48 W Grand Cayman (island) Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 20 W Grand Turk (capital; also Turks and Caicos 21 28 N 71 08 W Cockburn Town) Islands Great Australian Bight Indian Ocean 35 00 S 130 00 E Great Belt (strait; also Atlantic Ocean 55 30 N 11 00 E Store Baelt) Great Bitter Lake Egypt 30 20 N 32 23 E Great Britain (island) United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W Great Channel Indian Ocean 6 25 N 94 20 E Great Inagua (island) The Bahamas 21 00 N 73 20 W Great Rift Valley Ethiopia, Kenya 0 30 N 36 00 E Greater Sunda Islands Brunei, Indonesia, 2 00 S 110 00 E Malaysia Green Islands Papua New Guinea 4 30 S 154 10 E Greenland Sea Arctic Ocean 79 00 N 5 00 W Grenadines, Northern (island Saint Vincent and 13 15 N 61 12 W group) the Grenadines Grenadines, Southern (island Grenada 12 07 N 61 40 W group) Grytviken (town; on South South Georgia and 54 15 S 36 45 W Georgia) the South Sandwich Islands Guadalahara (city) Mexico 20 40 N 103 24 W Guadalcanal (island) Solomon Islands 9 32 S 160 12 E Guadalupe, Isla de (island) Mexico 29 11 N 118 17 W Guangzhou (city; also China 23 09 N 113 21 E Canton) Guantanamo Bay (US Naval Cuba 20 00 N 75 08 W Base) Guatemala (capital) Guatemala 14 38 N 90 31 W Guine-Bissau (local name for Guinea-Bissau 12 00 N 15 00 W Guinea-Bissau) Guinea Ecuatorial (local Equatorial Guinea 2 00 N 10 00 E name for Equatorial Guinea) Guinea, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 3 00 N 2 30 E Guinee (local name for Guinea 11 00 N 10 00 W Guinea) Gustavia (capital) Saint Barthelemy 17 53 N 62 51 W Guyane Francaise (local name French Guiana 4 00 N 53 00 W for French Guiana) Ha'apai Group (island group) Tonga 19 42 S 174 29 W Habomai Islands Russia (de facto) 43 30 N 146 10 E Hadhramaut (region) Yemen 15 00 N 50 00 E Hagatna (capital; formerly Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E Agana) Hague, The (seat of Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E government) Haifa (city) Israel 32 50 N 35 00 E Hainan Dao (island) China 19 00 N 109 30 E Haiphong (city) Vietnam 20 52 N 106 41 E Hala'ib Triangle (region) Egypt (claimed), 22 30 N 35 00 E Sudan (de facto) Halifax (city) Canada 44 39 N 63 36 W Halmahera (island) Indonesia 1 00 N 128 00 E Halmahera Sea Pacific Ocean 0 30 S 129 00 E Hamburg (city) Germany 53 34 N 9 59 E Hamilton (capital) Bermuda 32 17 N 64 46 W Han-guk (local name for South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E South Korea Hanoi (capital) Vietnam 21 02 N 105 51 E Harare (capital) Zimbabwe 17 50 S 31 03 E Harvey Islands (former name Cook Islands 21 14 S 159 46 W for Cook Islands) Hatay (province) Turkey 36 30 N 36 15 E Havana (capital) Cuba 23 08 N 82 22 W Hawaii (island) United States 19 45 N 155 45 W Hawaiian Islands United States 21 00 N 157 45 W Hawar (island) Bahrain 25 40 N 50 47 E Hayastan (local name for Armenia 40 00 N 45 00 E Armenia) Heard Island Heard Island and 53 06 S 73 30 E McDonald Islands Hejaz (region) Saudi Arabia 24 30 N 38 30 E Helsinki (capital) Finland 60 10 N 24 58 E Herzegovina (political Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E region) Herzegovina Hiiumaa (island) Estonia 58 50 N 22 30 E Hispaniola (island) Dominican 18 45 N 71 00 W Republic, Haiti Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E Saigon) Hokkaido (island) Japan 44 00 N 143 00 E Holland (region) Netherlands 52 30 N 5 45 E Hong Kong (special Hong Kong 22 15 N 114 10 E administrative region) Honiara (capital) Solomon Islands 9 26 S 159 57 E Honshu (island) Japan 36 00 N 138 00 E Hormuz, Strait of Indian Ocean 26 34 N 56 15 E Horn of Africa (region) Djibouti, Eritrea, 8 00 N 48 00 E Ethiopia, Somalia Horn, Cape (Cabo de Hornos) Chile 55 59 S 67 16 W Horne, Iles de (island Wallis and Futuna 14 19 S 178 05 W group) Hrvatska (local name for Croatia 45 10 N 15 30 E Croatia) Hudson Bay Arctic Ocean 60 00 N 86 00 W Hudson Strait Arctic Ocean 62 00 N 71 00 W Hunter Island New Caledonia, 22 24 S 172 06 E Vanuatu Iberian Peninsula Portugal, Spain 40 00 N 5 00 W Iceland Sea Arctic Ocean 68 00 N 20 00 W Ifni (region; former name of Morocco 29 22 N 10 09 W part of Spanish West Africa) Inaccessible Island Saint Helena 37 17 S 12 40 W Indochina (region) Cambodia, Laos, 15 00 N 107 00 E Vietnam Ingushetia (region) Russia 43 15 N 45 00 E Inhambane (region) Mozambique 22 30 S 34 30 E Inini (former name for French Guiana 4 00 N 53 00 W French Guiana) Inland Sea Japan 34 20 N 133 30 E Inner Hebrides (islands) United Kingdom 56 30 N 6 20 W Inner Mongolia (region; also China 42 00 N 113 00 E Nei Mongol) Ionian Islands Greece 38 30 N 20 30 E Ionian Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 18 00 E Irian Jaya (province) Indonesia 5 00 S 138 00 E Irish Sea Atlantic Ocean 53 30 N 5 20 W Iron Gate (river gorge) Romania, Serbia 44 41 N 22 31 E Iskenderun (region; formerly Turkey 36 34 N 36 08 E Alexandretta) Islamabad (capital) Pakistan 33 42 N 73 10 E Island (local name for Iceland 65 00 N 18 00 W Iceland) Islas Malvinas (island Falkland Islands 51 45 S 59 00 W group) (Islas Malvinas) Istanbul (city) Turkey 41 01 N 28 58 E Istrian Peninsula Croatia, Slovenia 45 00 N 14 00 E Italia (local name for Italy 42 50 N 12 50 E Italy) Italian East Africa (former Eritrea, Ethiopia, 8 00 N 38 00 E name for Italian possessions Somalia in eastern Africa) Italian Somaliland (former Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E name for southern Somalia) Ittihad al-Imarat al- United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E Arabiyah (local name for the Emirates United Arab Emirates) Iturup (island; see Etorofu) Russia (de facto) 44 55 N 147 40 E Ityop'iya (local name for Ethiopia 8 00 N 38 00 E Ethiopia) Ivory Coast (former name for Cote d'Ivoire 8 00 N 5 00 W Cote d'Ivoire) Iwo Jima (island) Japan 24 47 N 141 20 E Izmir (region) Turkey 38 25 N 27 10 E Jakarta (capital) Indonesia 6 10 S 106 48 E James Bay Arctic Ocean 54 00 N 80 00 W Jamestown (capital) Saint Helena 15 56 S 5 44 W Jammu (city) India 32 42 N 74 52 E Jammu and Kashmir (region) India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E Japan, Sea of Pacific Ocean 40 00 N 135 00 E Jars, Plain of Laos 19 27 N 103 10 E Java (island) Indonesia 7 30 S 110 00 E Java Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 110 00 E Jerusalem (capital, Israel, West Bank 31 47 N 35 14 E proclaimed) Jiddah, Jeddah (city) Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E Johannesburg (city) South Africa 26 15 S 28 00 E Joseph Bonaparte Gulf Pacific Ocean 14 00 S 128 45 E Juan Fernandez, Islas de Chile 33 00 S 80 00 W (island group) Juan de Fuca, Strait of Pacific Ocean 48 18 N 124 00 W Jubal, Strait of Indian Ocean 27 40 N 33 55 E Judaea (region) Israel, West Bank 31 35 N 35 00 E Jugoslavia, Jugoslavija Bosnia and 43 00 N 21 00 E (local names for Yugoslavia, Herzegovina, a former Balkan federation) Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia Jutland (region) Denmark 56 00 N 9 15 E Juventud, Isla de la (Isle Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W of Youth) Kabardino-Balkaria (region) Russia 43 30 N 43 30 E Kabul (capital) Afghanistan 34 31 N 69 12 E Kaduna (city) Nigeria 10 33 N 7 27 E Kailas Range China, India 30 00 N 82 00 E Kalaallit Nunaat (local name Greenland 72 00 N 40 00 W for Greenland) Kalahari (desert) Botswana, Namibia 24 30 S 21 00 E Kalimantan (region) Indonesia 0 00 N 115 00 E Kaliningrad (region; Russia 54 30 N 21 00 E formerly part of East Prussia) Kamaran (island) Yemen 15 21 N 42 34 E Kamchatka Peninsula Russia 56 00 N 160 00 E (Poluostrov Kamchatka) Kampala (capital) Uganda 0 19 N 32 25 E Kampuchea (former name for Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E Cambodia) Kane Basin (portion of Arctic Ocean 79 30 N 68 00 W channel) Kanton Island Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W Kara Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 80 00 E Karachevo-Cherkessia Russia 43 40 N 41 50 E (region) Karachi (city) Pakistan 24 51 N 67 03 E Karafuto (island; former Russia 50 00 N 143 00 E name for southern Sakhalin Island) Karakoram Pass China, India 35 30 N 77 50 E Karelia, Kareliya (region) Finland, Russia 63 15 N 30 48 E Karelian Isthmus Russia 60 25 N 30 00 E Karimata Strait Pacific Ocean 2 05 S 108 40 E Kashmir (region) India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E Katanga (region) Democratic 10 00 S 26 00 E Republic of the Congo Kathmandu (capital) Nepal 27 43 N 85 19 E Kattegat (strait) Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 11 00 E Kauai Channel Pacific Ocean 21 45 N 158 50 W Kazakstan (former name for Kazakhstan 48 00 N 68 00 E Kazakhstan) Keeling Islands Cocos (Keeling) 12 30 S 96 50 E Islands Kerguelen, Iles (island French Southern 49 30 S 69 30 E group) and Antarctic Lands Kermadec Islands New Zealand 29 50 S 178 15 W Kerulen River China, Mongolia 48 48 N 117 00 E Khabarovsk (city) Russia 48 27 N 135 06 E Khanka, Lake China, Russia 45 00 N 132 24 E Khartoum (capital) Sudan 15 36 N 32 32 E Khios (island) Greece 38 22 N 26 04 E Khmer Republic (former name Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E for Cambodia) Khuriya Muriya Islands Oman 17 30 N 56 00 E (Kuria Muria Islands) Khyber Pass Afghanistan, 34 05 N 71 10 E Pakistan Kibris (Turkish local name Cyprus 35 00 N 33 00 E for Cyprus) Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Atlantic Ocean 53 53 N 9 08 E Kanal) Kiev (city; former name for Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E Kyiv) Kigali (capital) Rwanda 1 57 S 30 04 E Kingston (capital) Jamaica 18 00 N 76 48 W Kingston (capital) Norfolk Island 29 03 S 167 58 E Kingstown (capital) Saint Vincent and 13 09 N 61 14 W the Grenadines Kinshasa (capital) Democratic 4 18 S 15 18 E Republic of the Congo Kipros (Greek local name for Cyprus 35 00 N 33 00 E Cyprus) Kirghiziya, Kirgizia (former Kyrgyzstan 41 00 N 75 00 E name for Kyrgyzstan) Kirguizstan (local name for Kyrgyzstan 41 00 N 75 00 E Kyrgyzstan) Kiritimati (Christmas Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W Island) Kishinev (see Chisinau) Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E Kithira Strait Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 23 00 E Kobe (city) Japan 34 41 N 135 10 E Kodiak Island United States 57 49 N 152 23 W Kola Peninsula (Kol'skiy Russia 67 20 N 37 00 E Poluostrov) Kolonia (town; former Federated States 6 58 N 158 13 E capital; changed to Palikir) of Micronesia Korea Bay Pacific Ocean 39 00 N 124 00 E Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E Korea, Democratic People's North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E Republic of Korea, Republic of South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E Koror (capital) Palau 7 20 N 134 29 E Kosovo (region) Serbia 42 30 N 21 00 E Kosrae (island) Federated States 5 20 N 163 00 E of Micronesia Kowloon (city) Hong Kong 22 18 N 114 10 E Kra, Isthmus of Burma, Thailand 10 20 N 99 00 E Krakatoa (volcano) Indonesia 6 07 S 105 24 E Krakow (city) Poland 50 03 N 19 56 E Kuala Lumpur (capital) Malaysia 3 10 N 101 42 E Kunashiri (island; also Russia (de facto) 44 20 N 146 00 E Kunashir) Kunlun Mountains China 36 00 N 84 00 E Kuril Islands Russia (de facto) 46 10 N 152 00 E Kuwait (capital) Kuwait 29 20 N 47 59 E Kuznetsk Basin Russia 54 00 N 86 00 E Kwajalein Atoll Marshall Islands 9 05 N 167 20 E Kyiv (capital) Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E Kyushu (island) Japan 33 00 N 131 00 E La Paz (administrative Bolivia 16 30 S 68 09 W capital) La Perouse Strait Pacific Ocean 45 45 N 142 00 E Labrador (peninsula, region) Canada 54 00 N 62 00 W Labrador Sea Atlantic Ocean 60 00 N 55 00 W Laccadive Islands India 10 00 N 73 00 E Laccadive Sea Indian Ocean 7 00 N 76 00 E Lagos (former capital) Nigeria 6 27 N 3 24 E Lahore (city) Pakistan 31 33 N 74 23 E Lake Erie Atlantic Ocean 42 30 N 81 00 W Lake Huron Atlantic Ocean 45 00 N 83 00 W Lake Michigan Atlantic Ocean 43 30 N 87 30 W Lake Ontario Atlantic Ocean 43 30 N 78 00 W Lake Superior Atlantic Ocean 48 00 N 88 00 W Lakshadweep (Laccadive India 10 00 N 73 00 E Islands) Lantau Island Hong Kong 22 15 N 113 55 E Lao (local name for Laos) Laos 18 00 N 105 00 E Laptev Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 126 00 E Las Palmas (city) Spain (Canary 28 06 N 15 24 W Islands) Latakia (region) Syria 36 00 N 35 50 E Latvija (local name for Latvia 57 00 N 25 00 E Latvia) Lau Group (island group) Fiji 18 20 S 178 30 E Lefkosa (see Nicosia) Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E Leipzig (city) Germany 51 21 N 12 23 E Lemnos (island) Greece 39 54 N 25 21 E Leningrad (city; former name Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E for Saint Petersburg) Lesser Sunda Islands Indonesia 9 00 S 120 00 E Lesvos (island) Greece 39 15 N 26 15 E Leyte (island) Philippines 10 50 N 124 50 E Liancourt Rocks (claimed by South Korea 37 15 N 131 50 E Japan) Liaodong Wan (gulf) Pacific Ocean 40 30 N 121 20 E Liban (local name for Lebanon 33 50 N 36 50 E Lebanon) Libreville (capital) Gabon 0 23 N 9 27 E Lietuva (local name for Lithuania 56 00 N 24 00 E Lithuania) Ligurian Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 30 N 9 00 E Lilongwe (capital) Malawi 13 59 S 33 44 E Lima (capital) Peru 12 03 S 77 03 W Lincoln Sea Arctic Ocean 83 00 N 56 00 W Line Islands Jarvis Island, 0 05 N 157 00 W Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Palmyra Atoll Lion, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 43 20 N 4 00 E Lisbon (capital) Portugal 38 43 N 9 08 W Little Belt (strait; also Atlantic Ocean 55 05 N 9 55 E Lille Baelt) Ljubljana (capital) Slovenia 46 03 N 14 31 E Llanos (region) Venezuela 8 00 N 68 00 W Lobamba (city) Swaziland 26 27 S 31 12 E Lombok (island) Indonesia 8 28 S 116 40 E Lombok Strait Indian Ocean 8 30 S 115 50 E Lome (capital) Togo 6 08 N 1 13 E London (capital) United Kingdom 51 30 N 0 10 W Longyearbyen (capital) Svalbard 78 13 N 15 33 E Lord Howe Island Australia 31 30 S 159 00 E Lorraine (region) France 48 42 N 6 11 E Louisiade Archipelago Papua New Guinea 11 00 S 153 00 E Lourenco Marques (city; Mozambique 25 56 S 32 34 E former name for Maputo) Loyalty Islands (Iles New Caledonia 21 00 S 167 00 E Loyaute) Luanda (capital) Angola 8 48 S 13 14 E Lubnan (local name for Lebanon 33 50 N 36 50 E Lebanon) Lubumbashi (city) Democratic 11 40 S 27 28 E Republic of the Congo Lusaka (capital) Zambia 15 25 S 28 17 E Luxembourg (capital) Luxembourg 49 45 N 6 10 E Luzon (island) Philippines 16 00 N 121 00 E Luzon Strait Pacific Ocean 20 30 N 121 00 E Lyakhov Islands Russia 73 45 N 138 00 E Macao Macau 22 10 N 113 33 E Macau (special China 22 10 N 113 33 E administrative region) Macquarie Island Australia 54 36 S 158 54 E Madagasikara (local name for Madagascar 20 00 S 47 00 E Madagascar) Maddalena, Isola Italy 41 13 N 09 24 E Madeira Islands Portugal 32 40 N 16 45 W Madras (city; see Chennai) India 13 04 N 80 16 E Madrid (capital) Spain 40 24 N 3 41 W Magellan, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 54 00 S 71 00 W Maghreb (region) Algeria, Libya, 34 00 N 3 00 E Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia Magreb (local name for Morocco 32 00 N 5 00 W Morocco) Magyarorszag (local name for Hungary 47 00 N 20 00 E Hungary) Mahe Island Seychelles 4 41 S 55 30 E Maiz, Islas del (Corn Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W Islands) Majorca Island (Isla de Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E Mallorca) Majuro (capital) Marshall Islands 7 05 N 171 08 E Makassar Strait Pacific Ocean 2 00 S 117 30 E Makedonija (local name for Macedonia 41 50 N 22 00 E Macedonia) Malabo (capital) Equatorial Guinea 3 45 N 8 47 E Malacca, Strait of Indian Ocean 2 30 N 101 20 E Malagasy Republic Madagascar 20 00 S 47 00 E Malay Archipelago Brunei, Indonesia, 2 30 N 120 00 E Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines Malay Peninsula Malaysia, Thailand 7 10 N 100 35 E Male (capital) Maldives 4 10 N 73 31 E Mallorca, Isla de (island; Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E also Majorca) Malmady (region) Belgium 50 26 N 6 02 E Malpelo, Isla de (island) Colombia 4 00 N 90 30 W Malta Channel Atlantic Ocean 56 44 N 26 53 E Malvinas, Islas (island Falkland Islands 51 45 S 59 00 W group) (Islas Malvinas) Mamoutzou (capital) Mayotte 12 47 S 45 14 E Managua (capital) Nicaragua 12 09 N 86 17 W Manama (capital) Bahrain 26 13 N 50 35 E Manchukuo (former state) China 44 00 N 124 00 E Manchuria (region) China 44 00 N 124 00 E Manila (capital) Philippines 14 35 N 121 00 E Manipa Strait Pacific Ocean 3 20 S 127 23 E Mannar, Gulf of Indian Ocean 8 30 N 79 00 E Manua Islands American Samoa 14 13 S 169 35 W Maputo (capital) Mozambique 25 58 S 32 35 E Marcus Island (Minami-tori- Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E shima) Margarita, Isla (island) Venezuela 10 00 N 64 00 W Mariana Islands Guam, Northern 16 00 N 145 30 E Mariana Islands Marie Byrd Land (region) Antarctica 77 00 S 130 00 W Marigot (capital) Saint Martin 18 04 N 63 05 W Marion Island South Africa 46 51 S 37 52 E Marmara, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 15 E Marquesas Islands (Iles French Polynesia 9 00 S 139 30 W Marquises) Marseille (city) France 43 18 N 5 23 E Martin Vaz, Ilhas (island Brazil 20 30 S 28 51 W group) Mas a Tierra (Robinson Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W Crusoe Island) Mascarene Islands Mauritius, Reunion 21 00 S 57 00 E Maseru (capital) Lesotho 29 28 S 27 30 E Mata-Utu (capital) Wallis and Futuna 13 57 S 171 56 W Matsu (island) Taiwan 26 13 N 119 56 E Matthew Island New Caledonia, 22 20 S 171 20 E Vanuatu Mauritanie (local name for Mauritania 20 00 N 12 00 W Mauritania) Mazatlan (city) Mexico 23 13 N 106 25 W Mbabane (capital) Swaziland 26 18 S 31 06 E McDonald Islands Heard Island and 53 06 S 73 30 E McDonald Islands Mecca (city) Saudi Arabia 21 27 N 39 49 E Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 15 00 E Melbourne (city) Australia 37 49 S 144 58 E Melilla (exclave) Spain 35 19 N 2 58 W Memel (region) Lithuania 55 43 N 21 30 E Mesopotamia (region) Iraq 33 00 N 44 00 E Messina, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 38 15 N 15 35 E Mexico City (capital) Mexico 19 24 N 99 09 W Mexico, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 90 00 W Middle Congo (former name Republic of the 1 00 S 15 00 E for Republic of the Congo) Congo Milan (city) Italy 45 28 N 9 11 E Milwaukee Deep (Puerto Rico Atlantic Ocean 19 55 N 65 27 W Trench) Minami-tori-shima (Marcus Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E Island) Mindanao (island) Philippines 8 00 N 125 00 E Mindanao Sea Pacific Ocean 9 15 N 124 30 E Mindoro (island) Philippines 12 50 N 121 05 E Mindoro Strait Pacific Ocean 12 20 N 120 40 E Mingrelia (region) Georgia 42 30 N 41 52 E Minicoy Island India 8 17 N 73 02 E Minorca Island (Isla de Spain 40 00 N 4 00 E Menorca) Minsk (capital) Belarus 53 54 N 27 34 E Misr (local name for Egypt) Egypt 27 00 N 30 00 E Mitla Pass Egypt 30 02 N 32 54 E Mocambique (local name for Mozambique 18 15 S 35 00 E Mozambique) Mogadishu (capital) Somalia 2 04 N 45 22 E Moldavia (region) Moldova, Romania 47 00 N 29 00 E Molucca Sea Pacific Ocean 2 00 N 127 00 E Moluccas (Spice Islands) Indonesia 2 00 S 128 00 E Mombasa (city) Kenya 4 03 S 39 40 E Mona Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 67 45 W Monaco (capital) Monaco 43 44 N 7 25 E Mongol Uls (local name for Mongolia 46 00 N 105 00 E Mongolia) Monrovia (capital) Liberia 6 18 N 10 47 W Monterrey (city) Mexico 25 40 N 100 19 W Montevideo (capital) Uruguay 34 53 S 56 11 W Montreal (city) Canada 45 31 N 73 34 W Moravia (region) Czech Republic 49 30 N 17 00 E Moravian Gate (pass) Czech Republic 49 35 N 17 50 E Moroni (capital) Comoros 11 41 S 43 16 E Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Federated States 5 30 N 153 40 E Islands) of Micronesia Moscow (capital) Russia 55 45 N 37 35 E Mount Pinatubo (volcano) Philippines 15 08 N 120 21 E Mozambique Channel Indian Ocean 19 00 S 41 00 E Mumbai (city; also Bombay) India 18 58 N 72 50 E Munich, Muenchen (city) Germany 48 08 N 11 35 E Muritaniyah (local name for Mauritania 20 00 N 12 00 W Mauritania) Musandam Peninsula Oman, United Arab 26 18 N 56 24 E Emirates Muscat (capital) Oman 23 37 N 58 35 E Muscat and Oman (former name Oman 21 00 N 57 00 E for Oman) Myanma, Myanmar Burma 22 00 N 98 00 E N'Djamena (capital) Chad 12 07 N 15 03 E Nagorno-Karabakh (region) Azerbaijan 40 00 N 46 40 E Nairobi (capital) Kenya 1 17 S 36 49 E Namib (desert) Namibia 24 00 S 15 00 E Nampo-shoto (island group) Japan 30 00 N 140 00 E Nan Madol (ruins) Federated States 6 85 N 158 35 E of Micronesia Naples (city) Italy 40 51 N 14 15 E Nassau (capital) The Bahamas 25 05 N 77 21 W Natal (region) South Africa 29 00 S 30 25 E Natuna Besar Islands Indonesia 3 30 N 102 30 E Natuna Sea Pacific Ocean 3 30 N 108 00 E Naxcivan (region) Azerbaijan 39 20 N 45 20 E Naxos (island) Greece 37 05 N 25 30 E Nederland (local name for Netherlands 52 30 N 5 45 E the Netherlands) Nederlandse Antillen (local Netherlands 12 15 N 68 45 W name for the Netherlands Antilles Antilles) Negev (region) Israel 30 30 N 34 55 E Negros (island) Philippines 10 00 N 123 00 E Nejd (region) Saudi Arabia 24 05 N 45 15 E Netherlands East Indies Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E (former name for Indonesia) Netherlands Guiana (former Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W name for Suriname) Nevis (island) Saint Kitts and 17 09 N 62 35 W Nevis New Britain (island) Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 150 00 E New Delhi (capital) India 28 36 N 77 12 E New Guinea (island) Indonesia, Papua 5 00 S 140 00 E New Guinea New Hebrides (island group) Vanuatu 16 00 S 167 00 E New Ireland (island) Papua New Guinea 3 20 N 152 00 E New Siberian Islands Russia 75 00 N 142 00 E New Territories (mainland Hong Kong 22 24 N 114 10 E region) Newfoundland (island, with Canada 52 00 N 56 00 W mainland area, and a province) Niamey (capital) Niger 13 31 N 2 07 E Nicobar Islands India 8 00 N 93 30 E Nicosia (capital; also Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E Lefkosia) Nightingale Island Saint Helena 37 25 S 12 30 W Nihon, Nippon (local name Japan 36 00 N 138 00 E for Japan) Nomoi Islands (Mortlock Federated States 5 30 N 153 40 E Islands) of Micronesia Norge (local name for Norway 62 00 N 10 00 E Norway) Norman Isles (Channel Guernsey, Jersey 49 20 N 2 20 W Islands) North Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean 30 00 N 45 00 W North Channel Atlantic Ocean 55 10 N 5 40 W North Frisian Islands Denmark, Germany 54 50 N 8 12 E North Greenland Sea Arctic Ocean 78 00 N 5 00 W North Island New Zealand 39 00 S 176 00 E North Ossetia (region) Russia 43 00 N 44 10 E North Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 165 00 W North Sea Atlantic Ocean 56 00 N 4 00 E North Vietnam (former name Vietnam 23 00 N 106 00 E for northern portion of Vietnam) North Yemen (Yemen Arab Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E Republic; now part of Yemen) Northeast Providence Channel Atlantic Ocean 25 40 N 77 09 W Northern Areas Pakistan 36 0 N 75 0 E Northern Cyprus (region) Cyprus 35 15 N 33 44 E Northern Epirus (region) Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E Northern Grenadines Saint Vincent and 12 45 N 61 15 W (political region) the Grenadines Northern Ireland United Kingdom 54 40 N 6 45 W Northern Rhodesia (former Zambia 15 00 S 30 00 E name for Zambia) Northwest Passages Arctic Ocean 74 40 N 100 00 W Norwegian Sea Atlantic Ocean 66 00 N 6 00 E Nouakchott (capital) Mauritania 18 06 N 15 57 W Noumea (capital) New Caledonia 22 16 S 166 27 E Nouvelle-Caledonie (local New Caledonia 21 30 S 165 30 E name for New Caledonia) Nouvelles Hebrides (former Vanuatu 16 00 S 167 00 E name for Vanuatu) Novaya Zemlya (islands) Russia 74 00 N 57 00 E Nubia (region) Egypt, Sudan 20 30 N 33 00 E Nuku'alofa (capital) Tonga 21 08 S 175 12 W Nunavut (region) Canada 72 00 N 90 00 W Nuuk (capital; also Godthab) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W Nyasaland (former name for Malawi 13 30 S 34 00 E Malawi) Nyassa (region) Mozambique 13 30 S 37 00 E Oahu (island) United States 21 30 N 158 00 W (Hawaii) Ocean Island (Banaba) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E Ocean Island (Kure Island) United States 28 25 N 178 20 W Oesterreich (local name for Austria 47 20 N 13 20 E Austria) Ogaden (region) Ethiopia, Somalia 7 00 N 46 00 E Oil Islands (Chagos British Indian 6 00 S 71 30 E Archipelago) Ocean Territory Okhotsk, Sea of Pacific Ocean 53 00 N 150 00 E Okinawa (island group) Japan 26 30 N 128 00 E Oland (island) Sweden 56 45 N 16 40 E Oman, Gulf of Indian Ocean 24 30 N 58 30 E Ombai Strait Pacific Ocean 8 30 S 125 00 E Oran (city) Algeria 35 43 N 0 43 W Orange River Colony (region; South Africa 28 20 S 26 40 E former name of Free State Province of South Africa) Oranjestad (capital) Aruba 12 33 N 70 06 W Oresund (The Sound) (strait) Atlantic Ocean 55 50 N 12 40 E Orkney Islands United Kingdom 59 00 N 3 00 W Osaka (city) Japan 34 42 N 135 30 E Oslo (capital) Norway 59 55 N 10 45 E Osumi Strait (Van Diemen Pacific Ocean 31 00 N 131 00 E Strait) Otranto, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 40 00 N 19 00 E Ottawa (capital) Canada 45 25 N 75 40 W Ouagadougou (capital) Burkina Faso 12 22 N 1 31 W Outer Hebrides (islands) United Kingdom 57 45 N 7 00 W Outer Mongolia (region) Mongolia 46 00 N 105 00 E P'yongyang (capital) North Korea 39 01 N 125 45 E Pacific Islands, Trust Marshall Islands, 10 00 N 155 00 E Territory of the (former Federated States name of a large area of the of Micronesia, western North Pacific Ocean) Northern Mariana Islands, Palau Pagan (island) Northern Mariana 18 08 N 145 47 E Islands Pago Pago (capital) American Samoa 14 16 S 170 42 W Palawan (island) Philippines 9 30 N 118 30 E Palermo (city) Italy 38 07 N 13 21 E Palestine (region) Israel, West Bank 32 00 N 35 15 E Palikir (capital) Federated States 6 55 N 158 08 E of Micronesia Palk Strait Indian Ocean 10 00 N 79 45 E Pamirs (mountains) China, Tajikistan 38 00 N 73 00 E Pampas (region) Argentina 35 00 S 63 00 W Panama (capital) Panama 8 58 N 79 32 W Panama Canal Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W Panama, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 8 00 N 79 30 W Panay (island) Philippines 11 15 N 122 30 E Pantelleria, Isola di Italy 36 47 N 12 00 E (island) Papeete (capital) French Polynesia 17 32 S 149 34 W Paramaribo (capital) Suriname 5 50 N 55 10 W Parece Vela (island) Japan 20 20 N 136 00 E Paris (capital) France 48 52 N 2 20 E Pascua, Isla de (Easter Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W Island) Pashtunistan (region) Afghanistan, 32 00 N 69 00 E Pakistan Passion, Ile de la (island) Clipperton Island 10 17 N 109 13 W Patagonia (region) Argentina 48 00 S 61 00 W Peking (see Beijing) China 39 56 N 116 24 E Pelagian Islands (Isole Italy 35 40 N 12 40 E Pelagie) Peleliu (Beliliou) (island) Palau 7 01 N 134 15 E Peloponnese (peninsula) Greece 37 30 N 22 25 E Pemba Island Tanzania 5 20 S 39 45 E Penang Island Malaysia 5 23 N 100 15 E Pentland Firth (channel) Atlantic Ocean 58 44 N 3 13 W Perim (island) Yemen 12 39 N 43 25 E Perouse Strait, La Pacific Ocean 44 45 N 142 00 E Persia (former name for Iran 32 00 N 53 00 E Iran) Persian Gulf Indian Ocean 27 00 N 51 00 E Perth (city) Australia 31 56 S 115 50 E Pescadores (islands) Taiwan 23 30 N 119 30 E Peshawar (city) Pakistan 34 01 N 71 40 E Peter I Island Antarctica 68 48 S 90 35 W Petrograd (city; former name Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E for Saint Petersburg) Philip Island Norfolk Island 29 08 S 167 57 E Philippine Sea Pacific Ocean 20 00 N 134 00 E Phnom Penh (capital) Cambodia 11 33 N 104 55 E Phoenix Islands Kiribati 3 30 S 172 00 W Pinatubo, Mount (volcano) Philippines 15 08 N 120 21 E Pines, Isle of (island; Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W former name for Isla de la Juventud) Pleasant Island Nauru 0 32 S 166 55 E Plymouth (capital) Montserrat 16 44 N 62 14 W Podgorica (administrative Montenegro 42 26 N 19 16 E capital) Polska (local name) Poland 52 00 N 20 00 E Polynesie Francaise (local French Polynesia 15 00 S 140 00 W name for French Polynesia) Pomerania (region) Germany, Poland 53 40 N 15 35 E Ponape (Pohnpei) (island) Federated States 6 55 N 158 15 E of Micronesia Port Louis (capital) Mauritius 20 10 S 57 30 E Port Moresby (capital) Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 147 10 E Port-Vila (capital) Vanuatu 17 44 S 168 19 E Port-au-Prince (capital) Haiti 18 32 N 72 20 W Port-of-Spain (capital) Trinidad and 10 39 N 61 31 W Tobago Porto-Novo (capital) Benin 6 29 N 2 37 E Portuguese East Africa Mozambique 18 15 S 35 00 E (former name for Mozambique) Portuguese Guinea (former Guinea-Bissau 12 00 N 15 00 W name for Guinea-Bissau) Portuguese Timor (former Timor-Leste 9 00 S 126 00 E name for Timor-Leste) Poznan (city) Poland 52 25 N 16 55 E Prague (capital) Czech Republic 50 05 N 14 28 E Praia (capital) Cape Verde 14 55 N 23 31 W Prathet Thai (local name for Thailand 15 00 N 100 00 E Thailand) Pretoria (administrative South Africa 25 42 S 28 13 E capital) Prevlaka peninsula Croatia 42 24 N 18 31 E Pribilof Islands United States 57 00 N 170 00 W Prince Edward Island Canada 46 20 N 63 20 W Prince Edward Islands South Africa 46 35 S 38 00 E Prince Patrick Island Canada 76 30 N 119 00 W Principe (island) Sao Tome and 1 38 N 7 25 E Principe Prussia (region) Germany, Poland, 53 00 N 14 00 E Russia Pukapuka Atoll Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W Punjab (region) India, Pakistan 30 50 N 73 30 E Puntland (region) Somalia 8 21 N 49 08 E Qazaqstan (local name for Kazakhstan 48 00 N 68 00 E Kazakhstan) Qita Ghazzah (local name Gaza Strip 31 25 N 34 20 E Gaza Strip) Quebec (city) Canada 46 48 N 71 15 W Queen Charlotte Islands Canada 53 00 N 132 00 W Queen Elizabeth Islands Canada 78 00 N 95 00 W Queen Maud Land (claimed by Antarctica 73 30 S 12 00 E Norway) Quemoy (island) Taiwan 24 27 N 118 23 E Quito (capital) Ecuador 0 13 S 78 30 W Rabat (capital) Morocco 34 02 N 6 51 W Ralik Chain (island group) Marshall Islands 8 00 N 167 00 E Rangoon (capital; also Burma 16 47 N 96 10 E Yangon) Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W Ratak Chain (island group) Marshall Islands 9 00 N 171 00 E Red Sea Indian Ocean 20 00 N 38 00 E Redonda (island) Antigua and 16 55 N 62 19 W Barbuda Republica Dominicana (local Dominican Republic 19 00 N 70 40 W name for Dominican Republic) Republique Centrafricain Central African 7 00 N 21 00 E (local name for Central Republic African Republic) Republique Francaise (local France 46 00 N 2 00 E name for France) Republique Gabonaise (local Gabon 1 00 S 11 45 E name for Gabon) Republique Rwandaise (local Rwanda 2 00 S 30 00 E name for Rwanda) Republique Togolaise (local Togo 8 00 N 1 10 E name for Togo) Revillagigedo Island United States 55 35 N 131 06 W (Alaska) Revillagigedo Islands Mexico 19 00 N 112 45 W Reykjavik (capital) Iceland 64 09 N 21 57 W Rhodes (island) Greece 36 10 N 28 00 E Rhodesia, Northern (former Zambia 15 00 S 30 00 E name for Zambia) Rhodesia, Southern (former Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E name for Zimbabwe) Riga (capital) Latvia 56 57 N 24 06 E Riga, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 57 30 N 23 30 E Rio Muni (mainland region) Equatorial Guinea 1 30 N 10 00 E Rio de Janiero (city) Brazil 22 55 S 43 17 W Rio de Oro (region) Western Sahara 23 45 N 15 45 W Rio de la Plata (gulf) Atlantic Ocean 35 00 S 59 00 W Riyadh (capital) Saudi Arabia 24 38 N 46 43 E Road Town (capital) British Virgin 18 27 N 64 37 W Islands Robinson Crusoe Island (Mas Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W a Tierra) Rocas, Atol das (island) Brazil 3 51 S 33 49 W Rockall (island) United Kingdom 57 35 N 13 48 W Rodrigues (island) Mauritius 19 42 S 63 25 E Rome (capital) Italy 41 54 N 12 29 E Roncador Cay (island) Colombia 13 32 N 80 03 W Roosevelt Island Antarctica 79 30 S 162 00 W Roseau (capital) Dominica 15 18 N 61 24 W Ross Dependency (claimed by Antarctica 80 00 S 180 00 E New Zealand) Ross Island Antarctica 81 30 S 175 00 W Ross Sea Antarctica, 76 00 S 175 00 W Southern Ocean Rossiya (local name for Russia 60 00 N 100 00 E Russia) Rota (island) Northern Mariana 14 10 N 145 12 E Islands Rotuma (island) Fiji 12 30 S 177 05 E Ruanda (former name for Rwanda 2 00 S 30 00 E Rwanda) Rub al Khali (desert) Saudi Arabia 19 30 N 49 00 E Rumelia (region) Albania, Bulgaria, 42 00 N 22 30 E Macedonia Ruthenia (region; former Ukraine 48 22 N 23 32 E name for Carpatho-Ukraine) Ryukyu Islands Japan 26 30 N 128 00 E Saar (region) Germany 49 25 N 7 00 E Saaremaa (island) Estonia 58 25 N 22 30 E Saba (island) Netherlands 17 38 N 63 10 W Antilles Sabah (state) Malaysia 5 20 N 117 10 E Sable Island Canada 43 55 N 59 50 W Safety Islands (Iles du French Guiana 5 20 N 52 37 W Salut) Sahara Occidental (former Western Sahara 24 30 N 13 00 W name for Western Sahara) Sahel (region) Burkina Faso, 15 00 N 8 00 W Chad, The Gambia, Guinea- Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal Saigon (city; former name Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E for Ho Chi Minh City) Saint Barthelemy (island; Guadeloupe 17 55 N 62 52 W also Saint Bart's) Saint Brandon (Cargados Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E Carajos Shoals) Saint Christopher (island) Saint Kitts and 17 20 N 62 45 W Nevis Saint Christopher and Nevis Saint Kitts and 17 20 N 62 45 W Nevis Saint Eustatius (island) Netherlands 17 30 N 63 00 W Antilles Saint George's (capital) Grenada 12 03 N 61 45 W Saint George's Channel Atlantic Ocean 52 00 N 6 00 W Saint Helena Island Saint Helena 15 57 S 5 42 W Saint Helens, Mount United States 46 15 N 122 12 W (volcano) Saint Helier (capital) Jersey 49 12 N 2 07 W Saint John (city) Canada (New 45 16 N 66 04 W Brunswick) Saint John's (capital) Antigua and 17 06 N 61 51 W Barbuda Saint Lawrence Island United States 49 30 N 67 00 W Saint Lawrence Seaway Atlantic Ocean 49 15 N 67 00 W Saint Lawrence, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 48 00 N 62 00 W Saint Paul Island Canada 47 12 N 60 09 W Saint Paul Island United States 57 11 N 170 16 W Saint Paul Island (Ile Saint-French Southern 38 43 S 77 29 E Paul) and Antarctic Lands Saint Peter Port (capital) Guernsey 49 27 N 2 32 W Saint Peter and Saint Paul Brazil 0 23 N 29 23 W Rocks (Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo) Saint Petersburg (city; Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E former capital) Saint Thomas (island) Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 55 W Saint Vincent Passage Atlantic Ocean 13 30 N 61 00 W Saint-Denis (capital) Reunion 20 52 S 55 28 E Saint-Pierre (capital) Saint Pierre and 46 46 N 56 11 W Miquelon Saipan (island) Northern Mariana 15 12 N 145 45 E Islands Sak'art'velo (local name for Georgia 42 00 N 43 30 E Georgia) Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Russia 51 00 N 143 00 E Sakhalin) Sakishima Islands Japan 24 30 N 124 00 E Sala y Gomez, Isla (island) Chile 26 28 S 105 00 W Salisbury (city; former name Zimbabwe 17 50 S 105 00 W for Harare) Salzburg (city) Austria 47 48 N 13 02 E Samar (island) Philippines 12 00 N 125 00 E Samaria (region) West Bank 32 15 N 35 10 E Samoa Islands American Samoa, 14 00 S 171 00 W Samoa Samos (island) Greece 37 48 N 26 44 E San Ambrosio, Isla (island) Chile 26 21 S 79 52 W San Andres y Providencia, Colombia 13 00 N 81 30 W Archipielago (island group) San Bernardino Strait Pacific Ocean 12 32 N 124 10 E San Felix, Isla (island) Chile 26 17 S 80 05 W San Jose (capital) Costa Rica 9 56 N 84 05 W San Juan (capital) Puerto Rico 18 28 N 66 07 W San Marino (capital) San Marino 43 56 N 12 25 E San Salvador (capital) El Salvador 13 42 N 89 12 W Sanaa (capital) Yemen 15 21 N 44 12 E Sandzak (region) Montenegro, Serbia 43 05 N 19 45 E Santa Cruz (city) Bolivia 17 48 S 63 10 W Santa Cruz Islands Solomon Islands 11 00 S 166 15 E Santa Sede (local name for Holy See 41 54 N 12 27 E the Holy See) Santiago (capital) Chile 33 27 S 70 40 W Santo Antao (island) Cape Verde 17 05 N 25 10 W Santo Domingo (capital) Dominican Republic 18 28 N 69 54 W Sao Paulo (city) Brazil 23 35 S 46 43 W Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, Brazil 0 23 N 29 23 W Penedos de (rocks) Sao Tiago (island) Cape Verde 15 05 N 23 40 W Sao Tome (island) Sao Tome and 0 12 N 6 39 E Principe Sapporo (city) Japan 43 04 N 141 20 E Sapudi Strait Pacific Ocean 7 05 S 114 10 E Sarajevo (capital) Bosnia and 43 52 N 18 25 E Herzegovina Sarawak (state) Malaysia 2 30 N 113 30 E Sardinia (island) Italy 40 00 N 9 00 E Sargasso Sea (region) Atlantic Ocean 30 00 N 55 00 W Sark (island) Guernsey 49 26 N 2 21 W Savage Island (former name Niue 19 02 S 169 52 W for Niue) Savu Sea Pacific Ocean 9 30 S 122 00 E Saxony (region) Germany 51 00 N 13 00 E Schleswig-Holstein (region) Germany 54 31 N 9 33 E Schweiz (local German name Switzerland 47 00 N 8 00 E for Switzerland) Scopus, Mount Israel, West Bank 31 48 N 35 14 E Scotia Sea Atlantic Ocean, 56 00 S 40 00 W Southern Ocean Scotland (region) United Kingdom 57 00 N 4 00 W Scott Island Antarctica 67 24 S 179 55 W Senegambia (region; former The Gambia, 13 50 N 15 25 W name of confederation of Senegal Senegal and The Gambia) Senyavin Islands Federated States 6 55 N 158 00 E of Micronesia Seoul (capital) South Korea 37 34 N 127 00 E Serendib (former name for Sri Lanka 7 00 N 81 00 E Sri Lanka) Serrana Bank (shoal) Colombia 14 25 N 80 16 W Serranilla Bank (shoal) Colombia 15 51 N 79 46 W Settlement, The (capital) Christmas Island 10 25 S 105 43 E Severnaya Zemlya (island Russia 79 30 N 98 00 E group; also Northland) Shaba (region) Democratic 8 00 S 27 00 E Republic of the Congo Shag Island Heard Island and 53 00 S 72 30 E McDonald Islands Shag Rocks South Georgia and 53 33 S 42 02 W the South Sandwich Islands Shanghai (city) China 31 14 N 121 30 E Shenyang (city; also Mukden) China 41 46 N 123 24 E Shetland Islands United Kingdom 60 30 N 1 30 W Shikoku (island) Japan 33 45 N 133 30 E Shikotan (island) Russia (de facto) 43 47 N 146 45 E Shqiperia (local name for Albania 41 00 N 20 00 E Albania) Siam (former name for Thailand 15 00 N 100 00 E Thailand) Siberia (region) Russia 60 00 N 100 00 E Sibutu Passage Pacific Ocean 4 50 N 119 35 E Sicily (island) Italy 37 30 N 14 00 E Sicily, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 37 20 N 11 20 E Sidra, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 31 30 N 18 00 E Sikkim (state) India 27 50 N 88 30 E Silesia (region) Czech Republic, 51 00 N 17 00 E Germany, Poland Sinai Peninsula Egypt 29 30 N 34 00 E Singapore (capital) Singapore 1 17 N 103 51 E Singapore Strait Pacific Ocean 1 15 N 104 00 E Sinkiang (autonomous region; China 42 00 N 86 00 E also Xinjiang) Sint Eustatius (island) Netherlands 17 29 N 62 58 W Antilles Sint Maarten (island; also Netherlands 18 04 N 63 04 W Saint-Martin) Antilles Sjaelland (island) Denmark 55 30 N 12 00 E Skagerrak (strait) Atlantic Ocean 57 45 N 9 00 E Skopje (capital) Macedonia 41 59 N 21 26 E Slavonia (region) Croatia 45 27 N 18 00 E Slovenija (local name for Slovenia 46 00 N 15 00 E Slovenia) Slovensko (local name for Slovakia 48 40 N 19 30 E Slovakia) Smyrna (region; former name Turkey 38 25 N 27 10 E for Izmir) Society Islands (Iles de la French Polynesia 17 00 S 150 00 W Societe) Socotra (island) Yemen 12 30 N 54 00 E Sofia (capital) Bulgaria 42 41 N 23 19 E Solomon Islands, northern Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E Solomon Islands, southern Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E Solomon Sea Pacific Ocean 8 00 S 153 00 E Somaliland (region) Somalia 9 30 N 46 00 E Somers Islands (former name Bermuda 32 20 N 64 45 W for Bermuda) Songkhla (city) Thailand 7 12 N 100 36 E Sound, The (strait; also Atlantic Ocean 55 50 N 12 40 E Oresund) South Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean 30 00 S 15 00 W South China Sea Pacific Ocean 10 00 N 113 00 E South Georgia (island) South Georgia and 54 15 S 36 45 W the South Sandwich Islands South Island New Zealand 43 00 S 171 00 E South Korea South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E South Orkney Islands Antarctica 61 00 S 45 00 W South Ossetia (region) Georgia 42 20 N 44 00 E South Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 30 00 S 130 00 W South Sandwich Islands South Georgia and 57 45 S 26 30 W the South Sandwich Islands South Shetland Islands Antarctica 62 00 S 59 00 W South Tyrol (region) Italy 46 30 N 10 30 E South Vietnam (former name Vietnam 12 00 N 108 00 E for the southern portion of Vietnam) South Yemen (People's Yemen 14 00 N 48 00 E Democratic Republic of Yemen; now part of Yemen) South-West Africa (former Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E name for Namibia) Southern Grenadines (island Grenada 12 20 N 61 30 W group) Southern Rhodesia (former Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E name for Zimbabwe) Soviet Union (former name of Armenia, a large Eurasian empire, Azerbaijan, roughly coequal with the Belarus, Estonia, former Russian Empire) Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Spanish Guinea (former name Equatorial Guinea 2 00 N 10 00 E for Equatorial Guinea) Spanish Morocco (former name Morocco 32 00 N 7 00 W for northern Morocco) Spanish North Africa Spain (Ceuta, 35 15 N 4 00 W (exclaves) Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera) Spanish Sahara (former name) Western Sahara 24 30 N 13 00 W Spanish West Africa (former Morocco, Western 25 00 N 13 00 W name for Ifni and Spanish Sahara Sahara) Spice Islands (Moluccas) Indonesia 2 00 S 28 00 E Spitsbergen (island) Svalbard 78 00 N 20 00 E Srbija (local name for Serbia 44 00 N 21 00 E Serbia) St. John's (city) Canada 47 34 N 52 43 W (Newfoundland) Stanley (capital) Falkland Islands 51 42 S 57 41 W (Islas Malvinas) Stockholm (capital) Sweden 59 20 N 18 03 E Strasbourg (city) France 48 35 N 7 44 E Stuttgart (city) Germany 48 46 N 9 11 E Sucre (constitutional Bolivia 19 02 S 65 17 W capital) Suez Canal Egypt 29 55 N 32 33 E Suez, Gulf of Indian Ocean 28 10 N 33 27 E Suisse (local French name Switzerland 47 00 N 8 00 E for Switzerland) Sulawesi (island; Celebes) Indonesia 2 00 S 121 00 E Sulawesi Sea Pacific Ocean 3 00 N 122 00 E Sulu Archipelago (island Philippines 6 00 N 121 00 E group) Sulu Sea Pacific Ocean 8 00 N 120 00 E Sumatra (island) Indonesia 0 00 N 102 00 E Sumba (island) Indonesia 10 00 S 120 00 E Sumba Strait Pacific Ocean 9 10 S 120 00 E Sumbawa (island) Indonesia 8 30 S 118 00 E Sunda Islands (Soenda Isles) Indonesia, 2 00 S 110 00 E Malaysia Sunda Strait Indian Ocean 6 00 S 105 45 E Suomi (local name for Finland 64 00 N 26 00 E Finland) Surabaya (city) Indonesia 7 13 S 112 45 E Surigao Strait Pacific Ocean 10 15 N 125 23 E Surinam (former name for Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W Suriname) Suriyah (local name for Syria 35 00 N 38 00 E Syria) Surtsey (volcanic island) Iceland 63 17 N 20 40 W Suva (capital) Fiji 18 08 S 178 25 E Sverdlovsk (city; also Russia 56 50 N 60 39 E Yekaterinburg) Sverige (local name for Sweden 62 00 N 15 00 E Sweden) Svizzera (local Italian name Switzerland 47 00 N 8 00 E for Switzerland) Swains Island American Samoa 11 03 S 171 15 W Swan Islands Honduras 17 25 S 83 56 W Sydney (city) Australia 33 53 S 151 13 E T'bilisi (capital) Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E Tadzhikistan (former name Tajikistan 39 00 N 71 00 E for Tajikistan) Tahiti (island) French Polynesia 17 37 S 149 27 W Taipei (capital) Taiwan 25 03 N 121 30 E Taiwan Strait Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E Tallinn (capital) Estonia 59 25 N 24 45 E Tanganyika (former name for Tanzania 6 00 S 35 00 E the mainland portion of Tanzania) Tangier (city) Morocco 35 48 N 5 45 W Tannu-Tuva (region) Russia 51 25 N 94 45 E Tarawa (island) Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E Tartary, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 50 00 N 141 00 E Tashkent (capital) Uzbekistan 41 20 N 69 18 E Tasman Sea Pacific Ocean 4 30 S 168 00 E Tasmania (island) Australia 43 00 S 147 00 E Tatar Strait Pacific Ocean 50 00 N 141 00 E Taymyr Peninsula (Poluostrov Russia 76 00 N 104 00 E Taymyr) Tchad (local name for Chad) Chad 15 00 N 19 00 E Tegucigalpa (capital) Honduras 14 06 N 87 13 W Tehran (capital) Iran 35 40 N 51 26 E Tel Aviv (capital, de facto) Israel 32 05 N 34 48 E Teluk Bone (gulf) Pacific Ocean 4 00 S 120 45 E Teluk Tomini (gulf) Pacific Ocean 0 30 S 121 00 E Terre Adelie (claimed by Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E France; also Adelie Land) Terres Australes et French Southern 43 00 S 67 00 E Antarctiques Francaises and Antarctic (local name for the French Lands Southern and Antarctic Lands) Thailand, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 10 00 N 101 00 E The Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia 41 50 N 22 00 E of Macedonia Thessaloniki (city; also Greece 40 38 N 22 57 E Salonika) Thimphu (capital) Bhutan 27 28 N 89 39 E Thuringia (region) Germany 51 00 N 11 00 E Thurston Island Antarctica 72 20 S 99 00 W Tiberias, Lake Israel 32 48 N 35 35 E Tibet (autonomous region; China 32 00 N 90 00 E also Xizang) Tibilisi (see T'bilisi) Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E Tien Shan (mountains) China, Kyrgyzstan 42 00 N 80 00 E Tierra del Fuego (island, Argentina, Chile 54 00 S 69 00 W island group) Timor (island) Timor-Leste, 9 00 S 125 00 E Indonesia Timor Lorosa'e (local name Timor-Leste 9 00 N 126 00 E for Timor-Leste) Timor Sea Pacific Ocean 11 00 S 128 00 E Tinian (island) Northern Mariana 15 00 N 145 38 E Islands Tiran, Strait of Indian Ocean 28 00 N 34 27 E Tirana, Tirane (capital) Albania 41 20 N 19 50 E Tirol, Tyrol (region) Austria, Italy 47 00 N 11 00 E Tobago (island) Trinidad and 11 15 N 60 40 W Tobago Tokyo (capital) Japan 35 42 N 139 46 E Tonkin, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 20 00 N 108 00 E Toronto (city) Canada 43 40 N 79 23 W Torres Strait Pacific Ocean 10 25 S 142 10 E Torshavn (capital) Faroe Islands 62 01 N 6 46 W Toshkent (see Tashkent) Uzbekistan 41 20 N 69 18 E Transcarpathia (region; Ukraine 48 22 N 23 32 E alternate name for Carpatho- Ukraine) Transjordan (former name for Jordan 31 00 N 36 00 E Jordan) Transkei (enclave) South Africa 32 15 S 28 15 E Transvaal (region; former South Africa 25 10 S 29 25 E name for northeastern South Africa) Transylvania (region) Romania 46 30 N 24 00 E Trindade, Ilha de (island) Brazil 20 31 S 29 20 W Trinidad (island) Trinidad and 10 22 N 61 15 W Tobago Tripoli (capital) Libya 32 54 N 13 11 E Tripoli (city) Lebanon 34 26 N 35 51 E Tripolitania (region) Libya 31 00 N 14 00 E Tristan da Cunha Group Saint Helena 37 15 S 12 30 W (island group) Trobriand Islands Papua New Guinea 8 38 S 151 04 E Trucial Coast (former name United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E for the United Arab Emirates Emirates) Trucial Oman (former name United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E for the United Arab Emirates Emirates) Trucial States (former name United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E for the United Arab Emirates Emirates) Truk Islands (former name Federated States 7 25 N 151 47 E for the Chuuk Islands) of Micronesia Tsugaru Strait Pacific Ocean 41 35 N 141 00 E Tuamotu Islands (Iles French Polynesia 19 00 S 142 00 W Tuamotu) Tubuai Islands (Iles Tubuai) French Polynesia 23 00 S 150 00 W Tunb al Kubra (island) Iran 26 14 N 55 19 E Tunb as Sughra (island) Iran 26 14 N 55 09 E Tunis (capital) Tunisia 36 48 N 10 11 E Turin (city) Italy 45 04 N 7 40 E Turkish Straits (see Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 00 E Bosporus and Dardenelles) Turkiye (local name for Turkey 39 00 N 35 00 E Turkey) Turkmenia, Turkmeniya Turkmenistan 40 00 N 60 00 E (former name for Turkmenistan) Turks Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 21 40 N 71 00 W Tuscany (region) Italy 43 25 N 11 00 E Tutuila (island) American Samoa 14 18 S 170 42 W Tyrrhenian Sea Atlantic Ocean 40 00 N 12 00 E Ubangi-Shari (former name Central African 6 38 N 20 33 E for the Central African Republic Republic Ukrayina (local name for Ukraine 49 00 N 32 00 E Ukraine) Ulaanbaatar (capital) Mongolia 47 55 N 106 53 E Ullung-do (island) South Korea 37 29 N 130 52 E Ulster (region) Ireland, United 54 35 N 7 00 W Kingdom Uman (local name for Oman) Oman 21 00 N 57 00 E Unimak Pass (strait) Pacific Ocean 54 20 N 164 50 W Union of Soviet Socialist Armenia, Republics or USSR (former Azerbaijan, name of a large Eurasian Belarus, Estonia, empire, roughly coequal with Georgia, the former Russian Empire) Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan United Arab Republic or UAR Egypt, Syria (former name for a federation between Egypt and Syria) Upper Volta (former name for Burkina Faso 13 00 N 2 00 W Burkina Faso) Ural Mountains Kazakhstan, Russia 60 00 N 60 00 E Urdunn (local name for Jordan 31 00 N 36 00 E Jordan) Urundi (former name for Burundi 3 30 S 30 00 E Burundi) Ussuri River China, Russia 48 28 N 135 02 E Vaduz (capital) Liechtenstein 47 09 N 9 31 E Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) Afghanistan 37 00 N 73 00 E Valletta (capital) Malta 35 54 N 14 31 E Valley, The (capital) Anguilla 18 13 N 63 04 W Van Diemen Strait (Osumi Pacific Ocean 31 00 N 131 00 E Strait) Vancouver (city) Canada 49 16 N 123 08 W Vancouver Island Canada 49 45 N 126 00 W Vatican City (capital) Holy See 41 54 N 12 27 E Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Spain 35 11 N 4 18 W (island) Venda (enclave) South Africa 23 00 S 31 00 E Verde Island Passage Pacific Ocean 13 34 N 120 51 E Victoria (capital) Seychelles 4 38 S 55 27 E Victoria (island) Canada 71 00 N 110 00 W Victoria Land (region) Antarctica 72 00 S 155 00 E Vienna (capital) Austria 48 12 N 16 22 E Vientiane (capital) Laos 17 58 N 102 36 E Vilnius (capital) Lithuania 54 41 N 25 19 E Viti Levu (island) Fiji 18 00 S 178 00 E Vladivostok (city) Russia 43 10 N 131 56 E Vojvodina (region) Serbia 45 35 N 20 00 E Volcano Islands Japan 25 00 N 141 00 E Vostok Island Kiribati 10 06 S 152 23 W Wake Atoll Wake Island 19 17 N 166 39 E Wakhan Corridor (see Vakhan) Afghanistan 37 00 N 73 00 E Walachia (region) Romania 44 45 N 26 05 E Wales (region) United Kingdom 52 30 N 3 30 W Wallis Islands Wallis and Futuna 13 17 S 176 10 W Walvis Bay (city; former Namibia 22 59 S 14 31 E exclave) Warsaw (capital) Poland 52 15 N 21 00 E Washington, DC (capital) United States 38 53 N 77 02 W Weddell Sea Southern Ocean 72 00 S 45 00 W Wellington (capital) New Zealand 41 28 S 174 51 E West Frisian Islands Netherlands 53 26 N 5 30 E West Germany (Federal Germany 53 22 N 5 20 E Republic of Germany; former name for western portion of Germany) West Island (capital) Cocos (Keeling) 12 10 S 96 55 E Islands West Korea Strait (Western Pacific Ocean 34 40 N 129 00 E Channel) West Pakistan (former name Pakistan 30 00 N 70 00 E for present-day Pakistan) West Siberian Plain Russia 60 00 N 75 00 E Western Channel (West Korea Pacific Ocean 34 40 N 129 00 E Strait) Western Samoa (former name Samoa 13 35 S 172 20 W for Samoa) Wetar Strait Pacific Ocean 8 20 S 126 30 E White Sea Arctic Ocean 65 30 N 38 00 E Wilkes Land (region) Antarctica 71 00 S 120 00 E Willemstad (capital) Netherlands 12 06 N 68 56 W Antilles Windhoek (capital) Namibia 22 34 S 17 06 E Windward Passage Atlantic Ocean 20 00 N 73 50 W Winnipeg (city) Canada 49 53 N 97 10 W Wrangel Island (Ostrov Russia 71 14 N 179 36 W Vrangelya) Xianggang (local name for Hong Kong 22 15 N 114 10 E Hong Kong) Y'israel (local name for Israel 31 30 N 34 45 E Israel) Yaitopya (local name for Ethiopia 8 00 N 38 00 E Ethiopia) Yalu River China, North Korea 39 55 N 124 20 E Yamoussoukro (capital) Cote d'Ivoire 6 49 N 5 17 W Yangon (see Rangoon) Burma 16 47 N 96 10 E Yaounde (capital) Cameroon 3 52 N 11 31 E Yap Islands Federated States 9 30 N 138 00 E of Micronesia Yaren (governmental center) Nauru 0 32 S 166 55 E Yekaterinburg (city; Russia 56 50 N 60 39 E formerly Sverdlovsk) Yellow Sea Pacific Ocean 36 00 N 123 00 E Yemen Arab Republic (also Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E Yemen (Sanaa); former name for northern portion of Yemen) Yemen, People's Democratic Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E Republic of (also Yemen (Aden); former name for southern portion of Yemen) Yerevan (capital) Armenia 40 11 N 44 30 E Yokohama (city) Japan 35 26 N 139 37 E Youth, Isle of (Isla de la Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W Juventud) Yucatan Channel Atlantic Ocean 21 45 N 85 45 W Yucatan Peninsula Mexico 19 30 N 89 00 W Yugoslavia (former name for Montenegro, Serbia 43 00 N 21 00 E a federation of Serbia and Montenegro) Yugoslavia, Kingdom of Bosnia and 43 00 N 19 00 E (former name for a Balkan Herzegovina, federation) Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia Yugoslavia, Socialist Bosnia and 43 00 N 19 00 E Federal Republic of (former Herzegovina, name for a Balkan Croatia, federation) Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia Zagreb (capital) Croatia 45 48 N 15 58 E Zaire (former name for the Democratic 15 00 S 30 00 E Democratic Republic of the Republic of the Congo) Congo Zakhalinskiy Zaliv (bay) Pacific Ocean 54 00 N 142 00 E Zaliv Shelikhova (bay) Pacific Ocean 60 00 N 157 30 E Zambezia (region) Mozambique 16 00 S 37 00 E Zanzibar (island) Tanzania 6 10 S 39 11 E Zhong Guo, Zhonghua (local China 35 00 N 105 00 E name for China) Zion, Mount (locale in Israel, West Bank 31 46 N 35 14 E Jerusalem) Zurich (city) Switzerland 47 23 N 8 32 E

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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Appendix G - Weights and Measures

Note: At this time, only three countries - Burma, Liberia, and the US - have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric system) as their official system of weights and measures. Although use of the metric system has been sanctioned by law in the US since 1866, it has been slow in displacing the American adaptation of the British Imperial System known as the US Customary System. The US is the only industrialized nation that does not mainly use the metric system in its commercial and standards activities, but there is increasing acceptance in science, medicine, government, and many sectors of industry.

Mathematical Notation

Mathematical Power Name

10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 one quintillion 10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000 one quadrillion 10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000 one trillion 10^9 or 1,000,000,000 one billion 10^6 or 1,000,000 one million 10^3 or 1,000 one thousand 10^2 or 100 one hundred 10^1 or 10 ten 10^0 or 1 one 10^-1 or 0.1 one-tenth 10^-2 or 0.01 one-hundredth 10^-3 or 0.001 one-thousandth 10^-6 or 0.000 001 one-millionth 10^-9 or 0.000 000 001 one-billionth 10^-12 or 0.000 000 000 001 one-trillionth 10^-15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001 one-quadrillionth 10^-18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 001 one-quintillionth

Metric Interrelationships

Prefix Symbol Length, weight, or capacity

yotta Y 10^24 zetta Z 10^21 exa E 10^18 peta P 10^15 tera T 10^12 giga G 10^9 mega M 10^6 kilo k 10^3 hecto h 10^2 deka da 10^1 basic unit - 1 meter, 1 gram, 1 liter deci d 10^-1 centi c 10^-2 milli m 10^-3 micro u 10^-6 nano n 10^-9 pico p 10^-12 femto f 10^-15 atto a 10^-18 zepto z 10^-21 yocto y 10^-24

Conversion Factors

To Convert From To Multiply By

acres ares 40.468 564 224 acres hectares 0.404 685 642 24 acres square feet 43,560 acres square kilometers 0.004 046 856 422 4 acres square meters 4,046.856 422 4 acres square miles (statute) 0.001 562 50 acres square yards 4,840 ares square meters 100 ares square yards 119.599 barrels, US beer gallons 31 barrels, US beer liters 117.347 77 barrels, US petroleum gallons (British) 34.97 barrels, US petroleum gallons (US) 42 barrels, US petroleum liters 158.987 29 barrels, US proof spirits gallons 40 barrels, US proof spirits liters 151.416 47 bushels (US) bushels (British) 0.968 9 bushels (US) cubic feet 1.244 456 bushels (US) cubic inches 2,150.42 bushels (US) cubic meters 0.035 239 07 bushels (US) cubic yards 0.046 090 96 bushels (US) dekaliters 3.523 907 bushels (US) dry pints 64 bushels (US) dry quarts 32 bushels (US) liters 35.239 070 17 bushels (US) pecks 4 cables fathoms 120 cables meters 219.456 cables yards 240 carat milligrams 200 centimeters feet 0.032 808 40 centimeters inches 0.393 700 8 centimeters meters 0.01 centimeters yards 0.010 936 13 centimeters, cubic cubic inches 0.061 023 744 centimeters, square square feet 0.001 076 39 centimeters, square square inches 0.155 000 31 centimeters, square square meters 0.000 1 centimeters, square square yards 0.000 119 599 chains, square surveyor's ares 4.046 86 chains, square surveyor's square feet 4,356 chains, surveyor's feet 66 chains, surveyor's meters 20.116 8 chains, surveyor's rods 4 cords of wood cubic feet 128 cords of wood cubic meters 3.624 556 cords of wood cubic yards 4.740 7 cups liquid ounces (US) 8 cups liters 0.236 588 2 degrees Celsius degrees Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8 and add 32 degrees Fahrenheit degrees Celsius subtract 32 and divide by 1.8 dekaliters bushels 0.283 775 9 dekaliters cubic feet 0.353 146 7 dekaliters cubic inches 610.237 4 dekaliters dry pints 18.161 66 dekaliters dry quarts 9.080 829 8 dekaliters liters 10 dekaliters pecks 1.135 104 drams, avoirdupois avoirdupois ounces 0.062 55 drams, avoirdupois grains 27.344 drams, avoirdupois grams 1.771 845 2 drams, troy grains 60 drams, troy grams 3.887 934 6 drams, troy scruples 3 drams, troy troy ounces 0.125 drams, liquid (US) cubic inches 0.226 drams, liquid (US) liquid drams (British) 1.041 drams, liquid (US) liquid ounces 0.125 drams, liquid (US) milliliters 3.696 69 drams, liquid (US) minims 60 fathoms feet 6 fathoms meters 1.828 8 feet centimeters 30.48 feet inches 12 feet kilometers 0.000 304 8 feet meters 0.304 8 feet statute miles 0.000 189 39 feet yards 0.333 333 3 feet, cubic bushels 0.803 563 95 feet, cubic cubic decimeters 28.316 847 feet, cubic cubic inches 1,728 feet, cubic cubic meters 0.028 316 846 592 feet, cubic cubic yards 0.037 037 04 feet, cubic dry pints 51.428 09 feet, cubic dry quarts 25.714 05 feet, cubic gallons 7.480 519 feet, cubic gills 239.376 6 feet, cubic liquid ounces 957.506 5 feet, cubic liquid pints 59.844 16 feet, cubic liquid quarts 29.922 08 feet, cubic liters 28.316 846 592 feet, cubic pecks 3.214 256 feet, square acres 0.000 022 956 8 feet, square square centimeters 929.030 4 feet, square square decimeters 9.290 304 feet, square square inches 144 feet, square square meters 0.092 903 04 feet, square square yards 0.111 111 1 furlongs feet 660 furlongs inches 7,920 furlongs meters 201.168 furlongs statute miles 0.125 furlongs yards 220 gallons, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.133 680 6 gallons, liquid (US) cubic inches 231 gallons, liquid (US) cubic meters 0.003 785 411 784 gallons, liquid (US) cubic yards 0.004 951 13 gallons, liquid (US) gills (US) 32 gallons, liquid (US) liquid gallons (British) 0.832 67 gallons, liquid (US) liquid ounces 128 gallons, liquid (US) liquid pints 8 gallons, liquid (US) liquid quarts 4 gallons, liquid (US) liters 3.785 411 784 gallons, liquid (US) milliliters 3,785.411 784 gallons, liquid (US) minims 61,440 gills (US) centiliters 11.829 4 gills (US) cubic feet 0.004 177 517 gills (US) cubic inches 7.218 75 gills (US) gallons 0.031 25 gills (US) gills (British) 0.832 67 gills (US) liquid ounces 4 gills (US) liquid pints 0.25 gills (US) liquid quarts 0.125 gills (US) liters 0.118 294 118 25 gills (US) milliliters 118.294 118 25 gills (US) minims 1,920 grains avoirdupois drams 0.036 571 43 grains avoirdupois ounces 0.002 285 71 grains avoirdupois pounds 0.000 142 86 grains grams 0.064 798 91 grains kilograms 0.000 064 798 91 grains milligrams 64.798 910 grains pennyweights 0.042 grains scruples 0.05 grains troy drams 0.016 6 grains troy ounces 0.002 083 33 grains troy pounds 0.000 173 61 grams avoirdupois drams 0.564 383 39 grams avoirdupois ounces 0.035 273 961 grams avoirdupois pounds 0.002 204 622 6 grams grains 15.432 361 grams kilograms 0.001 grams milligrams 1,000 grams troy ounces 0.032 150 746 6 grams troy pounds 0.002 679 23 hands (height of horse) centimeters 10.16 hands (height of horse) inches 4 hectares acres 2.471 053 8 hectares square feet 107,639.1 hectares square kilometers 0.01 hectares square meters 10,000 hectares square miles 0.003 861 02 hectares square yards 11,959.90 hundredweights, long avoirdupois pounds 112 hundredweights, long kilograms 50.802 345 hundredweights, long long tons 0.05 hundredweights, long metric tons 0.050 802 345 hundredweights, long short tons 0.056 hundredweights, short avoirdupois pounds 100 hundredweights, short kilograms 45.359 237 hundredweights, short long tons 0.044 642 86 hundredweights, short metric tons 0.045 359 237 hundredweights, short short tons 0.05 inches centimeters 2.54 inches feet 0.083 333 33 inches meters 0.025 4 inches millimeters 25.4 inches yards 0.027 777 78 inches, cubic bushels 0.000 465 025 inches, cubic cubic centimeters 16.387 064 inches, cubic cubic feet 0.000 578 703 7 inches, cubic cubic meters 0.000 016 387 064 inches, cubic cubic yards 0.000 021 433 47 inches, cubic dry pints 0.029 761 6 inches, cubic dry quarts 0.014 880 8 inches, cubic gallons 0.004 329 0 inches, cubic gills 0.138 528 1 inches, cubic liquid ounces 0.554 112 6 inches, cubic liquid pints 0.034 632 03 inches, cubic liquid quarts 0.017 316 02 inches, cubic liters 0.016 387 064 inches, cubic milliliters 16.387 064 inches, cubic minims (US) 265.974 0 inches, cubic pecks 0.001 860 10 inches, square square centimeters 6.451 600 inches, square square feet 0.006 944 44 inches, square square meters 0.000 645 16 inches, square square yards 0.000 771 605 kilograms avoirdupois drams 564.383 4 kilograms avoirdupois ounces 35.273 962 kilograms avoirdupois pounds 2.204 622 622 kilograms grains 15,432.36 kilograms grams 1,000 kilograms long tons 0.000 984 2 kilograms metric tons 0.001 kilograms short hundredweights 0.022 046 23 kilograms short tons 0.001 102 31 kilograms troy ounces 32.150 75 kilograms troy pounds 2.679 229 kilometers meters 1,000 kilometers statute miles 0.621 371 192 kilometers, square acres 247.105 38 kilometers, square hectares 100 kilometers, square square meters 1,000,000 kilometers, square statute miles 0.386 102 16 knots (nautical mi/hr) kilometers/hour 1.852 knots (nautical mi/hr) statute miles/hour 1.151 leagues, nautical kilometers 5.556 leagues, nautical nautical miles 3 leagues, statute kilometers 4.828 032 leagues, statute statute miles 3 links, square surveyor's square centimeters 404.686 links, square surveyor's square inches 62.726 4 links, surveyor's centimeters 20.116 8 links, surveyor's chains 0.01 links, surveyor's inches 7.92 liters bushels 0.028 377 59 liters cubic feet 0.035 314 67 liters cubic inches 61.023 74 liters cubic meters 0.001 liters cubic yards 0.001 307 95 liters dekaliters 0.1 liters dry pints 1.816 166 liters dry quarts 0.908 082 98 liters gallons 0.264 172 052 liters gills (US) 8.453 506 liters liquid ounces 33.814 02 liters liquid pints 2.113 376 liters liquid quarts 1.056 688 2 liters milliliters 1,000 liters pecks 0.113 510 4 meters centimeters 100 meters feet 3.280 839 895 meters inches 39.370 079 meters kilometers 0.001 meters millimeters 1,000 meters statute miles 0.000 621 371 meters yards 1.093 613 298 meters, cubic bushels 28.377 59 meters, cubic cubic feet 35.314 666 7 meters, cubic cubic inches 61,023.744 meters, cubic cubic yards 1.307 950 619 meters, cubic gallons 264.172 05 meters, cubic liters 1,000 meters, cubic pecks 113.510 4 meters, square acres 0.000 247 105 38 meters, square hectares 0.000 1 meters, square square centimeters 10,000 meters, square square feet 10.763 910 4 meters, square square inches 1,550.003 1 meters, square square yards 1.195 990 046 microns meters 0.000 001 microns inches 0.000 039 4 mils inches 0.001 mils millimeters 0.025 4 miles, nautical kilometers 1.852 0 miles, nautical statute miles 1.150 779 4 miles, statute centimeters 160,934.4 miles, statute feet 5,280 miles, statute furlongs 8 miles, statute inches 63,360 miles, statute kilometers 1.609 344 miles, statute meters 1,609.344 miles, statute rods 320 miles, statute yards 1,760 miles, square nautical square kilometers 3.429 904 miles, square nautical square statute miles 1.325 miles, square statute acres 640 miles, square statute hectares 258.998 811 033 6 miles, square statute sections 1 miles, square statute square kilometers 2.589 988 110 336 miles, square statute square nautical miles 0.755 miles miles, square statute square rods 102,400 milligrams grains 0.015 432 358 35 milliliters cubic inches 0.061 023 744 milliliters gallons 0.000 264 17 milliliters gills (US) 0.008 453 5 milliliters liquid ounces 0.033 814 02 milliliters liquid pints 0.002 113 4 milliliters liquid quarts 0.001 056 7 milliliters liters 0.001 milliliters minims 16.230 73 millimeters inches 0.039 370 078 7 minims (US) cubic inches 0.003 759 77 minims (US) gills (US) 0.000 520 83 minims (US) liquid ounces 0.002 083 33 minims (US) milliliters 0.061 611 52 minims (US) minims (British) 1.041 ounces, avoirdupois avoirdupois drams 16 ounces, avoirdupois avoirdupois pounds 0.062 5 ounces, avoirdupois grains 437.5 ounces, avoirdupois grams 28.349 523 125 ounces, avoirdupois kilograms 0.028 349 523 125 ounces, avoirdupois troy ounces 0.911 458 3 ounces, avoirdupois troy pounds 0.075 954 86 ounces, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.001 044 38 ounces, liquid (US) centiliters 2.957 35 ounces, liquid (US) cubic inches 1.804 687 5 ounces, liquid (US) gallons 0.007 812 5 ounces, liquid (US) gills (US) 0.25 ounces, liquid (US) liquid drams 8 ounces, liquid (US) liquid ounces (British) 1.041 ounces, liquid (US) liquid pints 0.062 5 ounces, liquid (US) liquid quarts 0.031 25 ounces, liquid (US) liters 0.029 573 53 ounces, liquid (US) milliliters 29.573 529 6 ounces, liquid (US) minims 480 ounces, troy avoirdupois drams 17.554 29 ounces, troy avoirdupois ounces 1.097 143 ounces, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.068 571 43 ounces, troy grains 480 ounces, troy grams 31.103 476 8 ounces, troy pennyweights 20 ounces, troy troy drams 8 ounces, troy troy pounds 0.083 333 3 paces (US) centimeters 76.2 paces (US) inches 30 pecks (US) bushels 0.25 pecks (US) cubic feet 0.311 114 pecks (US) cubic inches 537.605 pecks (US) cubic meters 0.008 809 77 pecks (US) cubic yards 0.011 522 74 pecks (US) dekaliters 0.880 976 75 pecks (US) dry pints 16 pecks (US) dry quarts 8 pecks (US) liters 8.809 767 5 pecks (US) pecks (British) 0.968 9 pennyweights grains 24 pennyweights grams 1.555 173 84 pennyweights troy ounces 0.05 pints, dry (US) bushels 0.015 625 pints, dry (US) cubic feet 0.019 444 63 pints, dry (US) cubic inches 33.600 312 5 pints, dry (US) dekaliters 0.055 061 05 pints, dry (US) dry pints (British) 0.968 9 pints, dry (US) dry quarts 0.5 pints, dry (US) liters 0.550 610 47 pints, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.016 710 07 pints, liquid (US) cubic inches 28.875 pints, liquid (US) deciliters 4.731 76 pints, liquid (US) gallons 0.125 pints, liquid (US) gills (US) 4 pints, liquid (US) liquid ounces 16 pints, liquid (US) liquid pints (British) 0.832 67 pints, liquid (US) liquid quarts 0.5 pints, liquid (US) liters 0.473 176 473 pints, liquid (US) milliliters 473.176 473 pints, liquid (US) minims 7,680 points (typographical) inches 0.013 837 points (typographical) millimeters 0.351 459 8 pounds, avoirdupois avoirdupois drams 256 pounds, avoirdupois avoirdupois ounces 16 pounds, avoirdupois grains 7,000 pounds, avoirdupois grams 453.592 37 pounds, avoirdupois kilograms 0.453 592 37 pounds, avoirdupois long tons 0.000 446 428 6 pounds, avoirdupois metric tons 0.000 453 592 37 pounds, avoirdupois quintals 0.004 535 92 pounds, avoirdupois short tons 0.000 5 pounds, avoirdupois troy ounces 14.583 33 pounds, avoirdupois troy pounds 1.215 278 pounds, troy avoirdupois drams 210.651 4 pounds, troy avoirdupois ounces 13.165 71 pounds, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.822 857 1 pounds, troy grains 5,760 pounds, troy grams 373.241 721 6 pounds, troy kilograms 0.373 241 721 6 pounds, troy pennyweights 240 pounds, troy troy ounces 12 quarts, dry (US) bushels 0.031 25 quarts, dry (US) cubic feet 0.038 889 25 quarts, dry (US) cubic inches 67.200 625 quarts, dry (US) dekaliters 0.110 122 1 quarts, dry (US) dry pints 2 quarts, dry (US) dry quarts (British) 0.968 9 quarts, dry (US) liters 1.101 221 quarts, dry (US) pecks 0.125 quarts, dry (US) pints, dry (US) 2 quarts, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.033 420 14 quarts, liquid (US) cubic inches 57.75 quarts, liquid (US) deciliters 9.463 53 quarts, liquid (US) gallons 0.25 quarts, liquid (US) gills (US) 8 quarts, liquid (US) liquid ounces 32 quarts, liquid (US) liquid pints (US) 2 quarts, liquid (US) liquid quarts (British) 0.832 67 quarts, liquid (US) liters 0.946 352 946 quarts, liquid (US) milliliters 946.352 946 quarts, liquid (US) minims 15,360 quintals avoirdupois pounds 220.462 26 quintals kilograms 100 quintals metric tons 0.1 rods feet 16.5 rods meters 5.029 2 rods yards 5.5 rods, square acres 0.006 25 rods, square square meters 25.292 85 rods, square square yards 30.25 scruples grains 20 scruples grams 1.295 978 2 scruples troy drams 0.333 sections (US) square kilometers 2.589 988 1 sections (US) square statute miles 1 spans centimeters 22.86 spans inches 9 steres cubic meters 1 steres cubic yards 1.307 95 tablespoons milliliters 14.786 76 tablespoons teaspoons 3 teaspoons milliliters 4.928 922 teaspoons tablespoons 0.333 333 ton-miles, long metric ton-kilometers 1.635 169 ton-miles, short metric ton-kilometers 1.459 972 tons, gross register cubic feet of permanently enclosed space 100 tons, gross register cubic meters of permanently enclosed space 2.831 684 7 tons, long (deadweight) avoirdupois ounces 35,840 tons, long (deadweight) avoirdupois pounds 2,240 tons, long (deadweight) kilograms 1,016.046 909 8 tons, long (deadweight) long hundredweights 20 tons, long (deadweight) metric tons 1.016 046 908 8 tons, long (deadweight) short hundredweights 22.4 tons, long (deadweight) short tons 1.12 tons, metric avoirdupois pounds 2,204.623 tons, metric kilograms 1,000 tons, metric long hundredweights 19.684 130 3 tons, metric long tons 0.984 206 5 tons, metric quintals 10 tons, metric short hundredweights 22.046 23 tons, metric short tons 1.102 311 3 tons, metric troy ounces 32,150.75 tons, net register cubic feet of permanently enclosed space for cargo and passengers 100 tons, net register cubic meters of permanently enclosed space for cargo and passengers 2.831 684 7 tons, shipping cubic feet of permanently enclosed cargo space 42 tons, shipping cubic meters of permanently enclosed cargo space 1.189 307 574 tons, short avoirdupois pounds 2,000 tons, short kilograms 907.184 74 tons, short long hundredweights 17.857 14 tons, short long tons 0.892 857 1 tons, short metric tons 0.907 184 74 tons, short short hundredweights 20 townships (US) sections 36 townships (US) square kilometers 93.239 572 townships (US) square statute miles 36 miles, square statute acres 640 miles, square statute hectares 258.998 811 033 6 miles, square statute square feet 27,878,400 miles, square statute square meters 2,589,988.110 336 miles, square statute square yards 3,097,600 yards centimeters 91.44 yards feet 3 yards inches 36 yards meters 0.914 4 yards miles 0.000 568 18 yards, cubic bushels 21.696 227 yards, cubic cubic feet 27 yards, cubic cubic inches 46,656 yards, cubic cubic meters 0.764 554 857 984 yards, cubic gallons 201.974 0 yards, cubic liters 764.554 857 984 yards, cubic pecks 86.784 91 yards, square acres 0.000 206 611 6 yards, square hectares 0.000 083 612 736 yards, square square centimeters 8,361.273 6 yards, square square feet 9 yards, square square inches 1,296 yards, square square meters 0.836 127 36 yards, square square miles 0.000 000 322 830 6

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